****

[rasta]

Well it finally happened. Just when you start to think you got by the n00b curse, you lowside into an oncoming car.

Happened on Pinehurst. Not really sure what happened, I think I was leaning too far for my given speed. I was mid-curve, and the next thing I know, I'm sliding and my bike is hitting a car. I'm looking over the video now; I'll post that once I get it uploaded. Here are some pics.

Exhaust took the worst of it


Scrapes on my left peg/brake lever


Some rash on the fairings. Looks really shallow and should be an easy fix..?


Right-turn signal


I'm most concerned about this one.


My rear wheel is banged up.



Bike isn't in tooooo bad of shape; I was able to ride it home. I was all leathered up, so there's not a scratch one me...that's the good thing.

[csmith12]

Your good, GEAR FTW!

Nothing too bad really, it's and excuse to get you a slip on or full system now. The rest will clean up pretty good with replacement parts or a bit of sandpaper and ColorRite. Your lucky those turn signal posts didn't crack the fairing. Now is a good time to think about flush mounts. You got lucky once, don't expect it again.

fyi, The wheel pic is broken.

Welcome to the crash club.

[Sirref]

first off, good thing you're allright
from there, fairing isn't cracked so that's a plus
excuse to get flushmount turn signals, a nice sounding can, and some sporty rearset pegs.

the paint scratches aren't the biggest deal those can be painted over pretty easily I think. I'd know for sure but I decided to ditch the fairings on my 250 rather than replace them. as for the wheel, I think it's fine but if it doesn't hold tire pressure then it needs to be replaced as well. same goes for the rear tire.

overall it could be worse, just a reminder that we are all noobs as even motogp legends like lorenzo/rossi/pedrosa/marquez(? does he qualify as a legend yet or does he have to wait for his rookie season championship win for that) know that they have plenty left to learn/refine

[rasta]

I was getting ready to sell the damn thing too

[Motofool]

Sorry to watch those pictures, Wes !!!

It seems that the wall of the tire has been irreversibly damaged.

[rasta]

Here's the video. I have no idea how it happened. Any ideas?

Link to original page on YouTube.

[rasta]

Also, what is this part called? I'm looking at OEM parts and have no idea what to search for

[Alex]

Looks like too much lean angle. It's way past 45 degrees and maybe at 50 degrees before you can hear the tire start sliding. It wouldn't have scraped the kickstand mount on the right side, but at some point it would touch the exhaust down. If it didn't hit hard parts, then it just exceeded the available traction. Would have to see different video vantage points, but this is the type of crash that can be mitigated with better BP.

[rasta]

Originally Posted by Alex

but this is the type of crash that can be mitigated with better BP.

By that do you mean shift my weight over before I enter the turn?

[Byakkotai]

Sorry to hear about this as well Glad you you weren't hurt though

The part circled (found under FootRests) - 35063-0696-18R STAY,STEP HOLDER,RR,RH,BLACK

[csmith12]

Ah crap, that video is very telling yo. You leaned that bike over like you thought it was glued to the road. No chopped throttle or nuttin'. Well done for crashing like a boss. And yea, Alex means better bp would yield less lean angle needed to complete a corner. Your video doesn't show your position on the bike though, so I will not judge your skill (I am sure he is not either). Was the road damp? It kinda looks that way.

Looks like your pretty much ready for a track day.

[tfkrocks]

Glad you're not hurt. Guess you gotta keep that bike and soup it up now eh?

[Alex]

Don't forget to update the sticky thread.

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=25913

[rasta]

Originally Posted by Alex

Don't forget to update the sticky thread.

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=25913

I already voted in that......I said I never crashed

[csmith12]

First, click here to unvote.

Now you can vote again!

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by rasta

Here's the video. I have no idea how it happened. Any ideas?

Do you remember braking when you did see that car?

You were doing 35 mph, speed at which is hard to slide a tire without combining braking or slippery surface.

[rasta]

Originally Posted by Motofool

Do you remember braking when you did see that car?

You were doing 35 mph, speed at which is hard to slide a tire without combining braking or slippery surface.

I don't 100% remember, but I'm fairly certain I didn't touch the brakes. I didn't even see the oncoming car until I slipped.

[Trailerboy531]

Originally Posted by rasta

Also, what is this part called? I'm looking at OEM parts and have no idea what to search for

I believe that is called "Part that Trailerboy531 has in mint condition and will sell to me for $30 + shipping"

[rasta]

Originally Posted by Trailerboy531

I believe that is called "Part that Trailerboy531 has in mint condition and will sell to me for $30 + shipping"

lol you're a few minutes too late....just bought that part from another member of the forum.

[Trailerboy531]

Dammit! lol

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by rasta

I don't 100% remember, but I'm fairly certain I didn't touch the brakes. I didn't even see the oncoming car until I slipped.

Then, it was a combination of slippery pavement and excessive lean.

These techniques could help in the future:
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showp...2&postcount=18

[subxero]

Everyone says "well finally crashed"

1st, you shouldn't be waiting to check off Crashed, from your list of things to do on a motorcycle. Someone might say, "finally dragged knee" that would make sense as its something some riders work towards.

2nd, "finally crashed" kind of implies a decent amount of time IMO. (A 40 year old virgin says "I finally got laid") Finally crashed doesn't seem to fit for someone who has been riding for under a year (<-- just a guess) Perhaps "Already crashed..." works better.

Don't mean to sound like a hard *** but it seems like a lot of new riders expectations are low or they have warped perception on what is actually capable as a new rider.

IDK?

Either way, glad you are ok, thank your lucky stars or whoever you thank. you said you were getting ready to sell the bike? R6?

Watched vid a few times, it's hard to tell what happened, roads did look slightly damp, and it looked like your turn in point/line choice wasn't the greatest. From the start of that turn it doesn't look like you are going to finish it on your side of the road (but hard to tell from vid, JMO) and maybe you were looking for a way to turn a little harder, you leaned the bike further but tires had no more to give?

Hopefully everything works out with the bike insurance ect...

keep us posted

[rasta]

Don't think I'm gona get insurance involved in this

[tfkrocks]

You should see if Gerry at GP Frame and Wheel can fix your wheel. If he can't fix it, the attempt won't cost you anything. You can just ship the wheel to him.

[rojoracing53]

Dude that lean angle was epic even by my standars so I'm guessing your like most street riders and not getting your upper body off the bike combined with exessive speed so you just lost traction.

1. slow down, not everyone can be a canyon hero nor should anyone strive to be
2. slow down and work on you supportive riding skills, you know all those ones everyone is always talking about so I won't repeat them here.
3. slow down your still on a crappy front tire that's not design for mid corner saves nor would you have the needed skills to perform such a feat.
4. Glad your OK and in positive spirits but please let the gravity of what just happened set in and reflect.
5. Don't do it again because lady luck is a fickle mistress.

[CycleCam303]

That's a shame. I had someone who was going to make you a solid offer on that bike too.

@csmith12 - I know that road very well. Rode it this morning actually. Rasta crashed because its a pretty steep downhill. Not hanging off and braking late into the corner will easily overload the front that's why the bike seemed like it just instantly washed out. On downhill corners you have to brake early so you can roll on the throttle through the turn like you normally would. But because its downhill you'll gain speed so you have to "over" brake if you will. It's extra important on tight downhill corners to be able to get hard on the gas because not only are you trying to get weight off the front but you have to compensate for gravity too. So while your buddies might late brake into it and initially go faster. I'll be passing you on the exit or basically mid corner while they are trying to carefully acrub speed without tucking the front.

Now no more secrets about how to go fast on that road lol.

[csmith12]

Interesting perspective Cameron. My first though was... I see a rider that looses the rear while under acceleration.

Setting a good entry speed seems to be the source of the crash here, because I hear decent throttle control and even though the line selection wasn't ideal, it wasn't super terrible either. We also can't see if there were any steering corrections either. But yea, it seems to be too much weight on the front for unknown (to me) reasons. I do understand about downhill sections of pavement. After all, I do live in the hilly backwoods of KY.

[deeno415]

I'll give you 10 egg rolls for your 250...

Wait... you didn't win 'Member of the Month'?! You're not allowed to crash/upgrade to an R6!

Sorry to hear about your accident bro! Glad you are in good spirits and that the damage on the bike is minor. Maybe you were a little 'too spirited' on your ride? I'm just glad you're ok and not killing any turkeys out there!

Joking aside bro... (just trying to make you laugh)! I'm glad you're ok!

[deeno415]

It looks like you started to roll on the throttle thru the right turn and the rear tire lost traction?!

Again, I'm glad you are ok...

[adouglas]

Originally Posted by subxero

Everyone says "well finally crashed"

1st, you shouldn't be waiting to check off Crashed, from your list of things to do on a motorcycle. Someone might say, "finally dragged knee" that would make sense as its something some riders work towards.
…..

Don't mean to sound like a hard *** but it seems like a lot of new riders expectations are low or they have warped perception on what is actually capable as a new rider.

To tell you the truth I'm with you, Joe.

I have laid a bike down only once in 27 years, not counting just plain dropping it in the driveway during maintenance. That was my first bike and I'd been riding only weeks. I didn't know what I did wrong then. I do now (failed to give it enough power through a low-speed turn).

Nothing since, in many thousands of miles.

Crashing is not inevitable. It is not a badge of honor or a rite of passage. It is not a "club."

It's a bullet you dodged. I'm glad to hear you're okay.

Never crashing is a laudable goal.

[adouglas]

Originally Posted by rasta

By that do you mean shift my weight over before I enter the turn?

I would say yes.

Lead with your head. Get your chin pointing at the inside mirror.

[greenaero]

Wes, Sorry about the damage to your bike, I'm glad you weren't hurt too badly and are already getting your bike fixed up.

[rasta]

I guess I never really thought I was riding at a pace where body positioning would cause a crash.

That sounds stupid, what I mean is...

I always see these other riders hanging-off around the curves on Redwood, but those guys are always mashing. I took this particular curve at 35 mph, which I didn't think was fast enough to warrant that kind of body position (clearly I was wrong). I still tend to apex too soon, don't I? That's been a tough one to solve.

Kinda just thinking out loud here...

[tfkrocks]

Originally Posted by rasta

I guess I never really thought I was riding at a pace where body positioning would cause a crash.

That sounds stupid, what I mean is...

I always see these other riders hanging-off around the curves on Redwood, but those guys are always mashing. I took this particular curve at 35 mph, which I didn't think was fast enough to warrant that kind of body position (clearly I was wrong). I still tend to apex too soon, don't I? That's been a tough one to solve.

Kinda just thinking out loud here...

Speed is relative to conditions.

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by rasta

I guess I never really thought I was riding at a pace where body positioning would cause a crash.

That sounds stupid, what I mean is...

I always see these other riders hanging-off around the curves on Redwood, but those guys are always mashing. I took this particular curve at 35 mph, which I didn't think was fast enough to warrant that kind of body position (clearly I was wrong). I still tend to apex too soon, don't I? That's been a tough one to solve.

Kinda just thinking out loud here...

I used to think like that then I just decided to hang off for every corner that I think may require a decent lean angle speed out of the equation. the reasoning behind that is with my 250 I would scrape the exhaust cans while the rear would go all sketchy on me if I didn't and the habit is still with me. hanging off has nothing to do with speed and everything to do with preventing lean angle for more traction.


to be fair the road does look a bit damp too, though you haven't mentioned that so I'm not really sure it is.

[crazymadbastard]

Cant really say anything other than "sorry you effed up!" Oh and glad you're ok.

My guess is maybe you were crossed up BP and had too lean too much to make the turn.

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by tfkrocks

Speed is relative to conditions.

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by adouglas

Crashing is not inevitable. It is not a badge of honor or a rite of passage. It is not a "club."

I hope you guys know I was being facetious when I said "welcome to the crash club". Maybe I am assuming too much.

While it shouldn't be inevitable to crash, it is also virtually guaranteed to error as a human being. No one is perfect 100% of the time. The only thing under your control is how prepared you are at any given point in time. And rasta was prepared.

[adouglas]

Another thing not mentioned yet:

Those look like stock tires. Yes? And how old?

Stock tires are hard and non-grippy to begin with. If they're old, they're even more like hockey pucks.

When I sold my 08 it still had the original tires. The bike had almost 15,000 miles on it and the tires were only half- to two-thirds down to the wear bars.

[subxero]

Originally Posted by csmith12

I hope you guys know I was being facetious when I said "welcome to the crash club". Maybe I am assuming too much.

While it shouldn't be inevitable to crash, it is also virtually guaranteed to error as a human being. No one is perfect 100% of the time. The only thing under your control is how prepared you are at any given point in time. And rasta was prepared.

Assuming to much

Back to the crash.
Perhaps there was a bit of foreshadowing or could have been intervention as it seems we are mostly giving same tips/constructive criticism as we were in prior thread
Here is thread from OP from few weeks ago you be the judge, something to think about.

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=148449