[jumpstart89]

I recently totaled my bike. I was going uphill into a right hander and I was leaned off the bike and tucked in when the rear wheel lost traction. I could sware that I've taken the same curve at the same speed but not leaned off the bike with no problem but I could be wrong. According to the police officer I loaded the front end up to much causing the rear wheel to get lose an maybe being close to the yellow line when it touched it it went all the way. My knee wasn't even close to touching when I lost it either. I have had to other crashes but they are totally avoidable but this one has got me concerned about my ability to know where the limit is. This crash has me considering not buying another one even though I still want one. If I do buy another one I am going to encounter the same curve and many like it and knowing me I am going to want to go fast through it. Any input will be appreciated.

[jhonda41]

to the org.

There's only one person who will really know and only one way to find out the answer.

What kind of experience do you have on a bike?


-jh

[slayer]

Don't be a pissy get up and ride!

[IRISH MIKE]

[slayer]

WTF?

[ldavis]

seriously.. just do it.. !!!

[denzee]

I'm certainly no expert jumpstart89 but it sounds as though you were braking either too hard already into the turn or just going too fast. Remember, all of your braking should be completed just before you tip into the turn with the exception of some trail braking with experienced riders. If you were braking too hard after already in the turn you would normally loose your front. If you lost the back as you describe, you may have just been going too fast for the turn or hit some loose material on the road surface. I'm assuming you're not using the rear brake at this point.
Because the end result of coming into a turn too hot is so dangerous, you should practice entering a turn slightly less than you think you can and practice being super smooth during transition and enjoy the drive out after nailing the apex. Much safer.

[jumpstart89]

i only have about six months riding experience.

[woodchuck]

I crashed 2 times none were bad , my friend who got me into riding told me on the first one there are 2 kinds of riders the kind that went down and the kind that are gonna go down, so I got back on 2 years later it happened again both times were my fault. I was going to give it up, but got back on and so glad I did! denzee has some good points that was my problem braking in the turn to hard when I was leaning. Brake before that turn!! I learned to trust them tires if your not sure., but you have to know what you want to do.

[Doomwitha929]

Assuming you did not hit loose surface, hit the brakes or gas, the road surface and your tires were no colder then other times you took that turn and air pressure was the same the only other change was you leaning off. Not to make it sound like leaning off will make you crash but HOW you lean may. I read somewhere (and on retrospect have done this myself) that people sometimes lean off and choke up on the front of the bike too much. You should be centered with your normal riding position and to the side. When leaned off sometimes you want to pull up toward the front of the bike. At the limit this could have shifted some weight off your rear tire onto the front. Less weight on the rear = loss of grip.

[THE JESTER]

Look at it this way... It's only got two wheels, at some point in time it's bound to fall over . It can happen to anyone at any time the thing is to get up dust your self off and get back on as soon as possible , do it now before you doubt yourself any further or you will never do it....let us know what you decide to do.

[jhonda41]

6 months is just the time period from the first time you've gotten on the bike. The total mileage you have under your belt is more important.


If you havent already, get some formal training. The BRC is free for Pennsylvania residents, so sign up for a class asap. They fill up quick.

in case you missed the link (click here)

-jh