Lowsided 1 month in

blessthenoobs · March 9th, 2014, 03:20 AM

So I had my first crash today. Was raining for around 10 minutes before I left home and came up to the lights taking a right turn and the rear wheel lost traction and I lowsided :'(

Bike slid for around 15 m, and I slid for around 10. I was wearing all my gear(Full face helmet, Jacket, pants, full gauntlet gloves and tall riding boots). Picked the bike up and rode to football training and played for 3 hrs lol

Bike is cosmetically damaged, exhaust and indicator got a nice sanding off, while the engine case has deep scratches on it and looks pretty bad. I was doing around 40 kmph, nearly the same speed I do in the dry. I'm not sure if it was the speed, the wet, oil/painted line/metal grate, fact that the rear tire was brand new or my general inexperience.

Pic related

Motofool · March 9th, 2014, 07:35 AM

Sorry to read about this and painful to watch that picture.

Good that you had skin and head protection.

I guess this is part of feeling so alive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by blessthenoobs

Rode it for 3 hours today... holy f*cking **** never felt more alive.

Definitely need some self control though....

Raining for around 10 minutes before a ride is a very bad news.
Oil and dirt accumulated on the road mix with the water and makes a slippery mess.

Waiting 30 minutes is the safe thing to do.
If you cannot wait, then reduce your normal speed in half.

Not knowing what took you down is bad; you must see with enough anticipation and evaluate each square inch over which you plan on rolling.

Sirref · March 9th, 2014, 07:40 AM

So what you're saying is that you did the same speed you do in dry on a brand new tire in the wet? Without knowing the corner I can't say whether that should be possible or not but new tires and wet are two different levels of lack of traction added together so you should have been going slower than you were used to. Did you ride over any painted lines? those tend to have a ridiculous lack of traction in the rain as well and the combination of all 3 factors could have you on the ground immediately if you aren't careful. The engine casing should be fine, just check it to make sure it's not leaking oil. If it is then just replace it, it doesn't take too much effort.

dcj13 · March 9th, 2014, 08:10 AM

The important thing is you're OK. And the bike is rideable (with a little work on indicators, and the like).

You're learning stuff. That's why it's good to start out on older, cheapish bikes. And wear the proper gear.

Floki · March 9th, 2014, 08:39 AM

That's okay, I lowsided one week in.

DEFY · March 9th, 2014, 11:19 AM

Long as you are ok that is all that matters.

rasta · March 9th, 2014, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blessthenoobs

I was doing around 40 kmph, nearly the same speed I do in the dry. I'm not sure if it was the speed, the wet, oil/painted line/metal grate, fact that the rear tire was brand new or my general inexperience.

It sounds like the issue was all of the above. Sorry to hear about the crash though

blessthenoobs · March 9th, 2014, 10:48 PM

Yeah should have done that turn way slower now thinking about it. New tires in the rain don't have much grip. But my confidence is kinda low on corners now, I'm afraid to lean even in the dry because I'm not sure the tires will grip the road properly :/

Motofool · March 10th, 2014, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blessthenoobs

........But my confidence is kinda low on corners now, I'm afraid to lean even in the dry because I'm not sure the tires will grip the road properly :/

That is only imaginary fear, generated by your mind, which is projecting the past onto the future.

You ride in the now and there is enough grip between your rubber and dry clean asphalt as to support your weight plus the weight of the bike sideways.

Please, read these:
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=119958

http://forums.superbikeschool.com/in...showtopic=4035

nickjpass · March 11th, 2014, 06:27 AM

Heal up and ride again...

ProdigyRacingLA · March 11th, 2014, 10:11 PM

glad your alright and were geared up.
I low slided one month in also. there was construction, on the right side of the road. which forced a lane to merge. once the cones cleared a car from the left lane turned right and knocked me off my bike. he bumped me with his passenger door.
i had no insurance at the time. so automatically it was my fault and the bill was over 4k for his damage. Ugh. lesson learned though. evaluate as much as you can at all times.

safe riding man!

akima · March 12th, 2014, 01:51 PM

Glad you're ok.

Just out of curiosity; do you recall suddenly closing the throttle or braking during the turn? I ask that, because, wet roads offer a nice amount of grip. They are just less forgiving if you do something which suddenly demands a ton of grip (like brake or chop the throttle while leaned over).

Of course, if it was the first time it had rained in a while (creating that slippy grimey surface @Motofool mentioned), or there was oil, a metal drain cover or painted road markings, that would drastically reduce the grip making it unsafe to give the bike anything more than a very gentle lean angle.

March 9th, 2014, 03:20 AM	#1
blessthenoobs ninjette.org member Name: . Location: Brisbane Join Date: Aug 2013 Motorcycle(s): None yet Posts: 22	Lowsided 1 month in So I had my first crash today. Was raining for around 10 minutes before I left home and came up to the lights taking a right turn and the rear wheel lost traction and I lowsided :'( Bike slid for around 15 m, and I slid for around 10. I was wearing all my gear(Full face helmet, Jacket, pants, full gauntlet gloves and tall riding boots). Picked the bike up and rode to football training and played for 3 hrs lol Bike is cosmetically damaged, exhaust and indicator got a nice sanding off, while the engine case has deep scratches on it and looks pretty bad. I was doing around 40 kmph, nearly the same speed I do in the dry. I'm not sure if it was the speed, the wet, oil/painted line/metal grate, fact that the rear tire was brand new or my general inexperience. Pic related

March 9th, 2014, 07:40 AM	#3
Sirref Private Joker Name: Ben Location: Towson, MD Join Date: Nov 2012 Motorcycle(s): '99/'01 Ninja 250 "sketchy", '13 Ninja 300 "yoshi", '03 GSXR 600 "merlin" Posts: A lot. MOTM - Mar '14	So what you're saying is that you did the same speed you do in dry on a brand new tire in the wet? Without knowing the corner I can't say whether that should be possible or not but new tires and wet are two different levels of lack of traction added together so you should have been going slower than you were used to. Did you ride over any painted lines? those tend to have a ridiculous lack of traction in the rain as well and the combination of all 3 factors could have you on the ground immediately if you aren't careful. The engine casing should be fine, just check it to make sure it's not leaking oil. If it is then just replace it, it doesn't take too much effort.
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

March 9th, 2014, 08:10 AM	#4
dcj13 Participant Name: Dave Location: South of Seattle Join Date: Oct 2012 Motorcycle(s): '94 K75 std Posts: Too much. MOTM - Aug '15	The important thing is you're OK. And the bike is rideable (with a little work on indicators, and the like). You're learning stuff. That's why it's good to start out on older, cheapish bikes. And wear the proper gear.
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

March 11th, 2014, 06:27 AM	#10
nickjpass #squid Name: nickypoo Location: Five Guys Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): Track dedicated 2008 ZX6R Posts: A lot. MOTM - Jul '16	Heal up and ride again... __________________________________________________

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March 9th, 2014, 08:39 AM	#5
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March 9th, 2014, 11:19 AM	#6
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March 9th, 2014, 10:48 PM	#8
blessthenoobs ninjette.org member Name: . Location: Brisbane Join Date: Aug 2013 Motorcycle(s): None yet Posts: 22	Yeah should have done that turn way slower now thinking about it. New tires in the rain don't have much grip. But my confidence is kinda low on corners now, I'm afraid to lean even in the dry because I'm not sure the tires will grip the road properly :/

March 11th, 2014, 10:11 PM	#11
ProdigyRacingLA ninjette.org member Name: Brian Location: Los Angeles Join Date: Mar 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250r Red Posts: 93	glad your alright and were geared up. I low slided one month in also. there was construction, on the right side of the road. which forced a lane to merge. once the cones cleared a car from the left lane turned right and knocked me off my bike. he bumped me with his passenger door. i had no insurance at the time. so automatically it was my fault and the bill was over 4k for his damage. Ugh. lesson learned though. evaluate as much as you can at all times. safe riding man!

March 12th, 2014, 01:51 PM	#12
akima Nooblet Name: Akima Location: England Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250R FI Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '13	Glad you're ok. Just out of curiosity; do you recall suddenly closing the throttle or braking during the turn? I ask that, because, wet roads offer a nice amount of grip. They are just less forgiving if you do something which suddenly demands a ton of grip (like brake or chop the throttle while leaned over). Of course, if it was the first time it had rained in a while (creating that slippy grimey surface @Motofool mentioned), or there was oil, a metal drain cover or painted road markings, that would drastically reduce the grip making it unsafe to give the bike anything more than a very gentle lean angle.