I lowsided

[the big mike]

So, yesterday I found a deserted roundabout somewhere which had perfect asphalt. It was in some industrial territory and as it was pretty late, I was the only one there.
After doing a lot (really a lot) of laps around the roundabout I finally got my left knee on the ground for the first time ever. It was the best feeling in a long time

Today, I went back and yet again, it was deserted. I managed to get my left knee scraping over the ground again and even reached out with my left hand to carress the ground. Great feeling (don't worry, I wear gloves )

Trying to do the same while turning right, I noticed it was much harder to get my knee down. When it finally touched I should have said: I'm great, let's go home and enjoy the rest of the day.

But instead I continued turning right because I didn't want my knee to just touch the ground. It had do drag for a few seconds and I actually succeeded in doing that. Once was not enough, trying to do it a second time I pushed the bike to its limits ... and beyond. So I lowsided...

Yet I was very lucky, the bike itself only has a broken mirror, no fairings cracked, no paint scratched, no levers bent, only a small ding in the chrome exhaust cover, which is coming off anyway when I put another exhaust system on it.

I'm ATGATT, so I'm perfectly fine, I only have some small holes in my riding pants where the kevlar is.

I guessed this fitted this section of the forum

[Live2ride]

Well, at least you had fun, right?

[the big mike]

I really had A LOT OF fun

Only, when I had muscled the bike up, it wouldn't start, that freaked me out. After all, I only fell like 30 cm. 5 minutes later I had no problem firing it up... pfieuw

[jamesio]

glad youre ok..guess u just got too proud haha

[blink]

haha at least you lowsided trying to go and push yourself!

[the big mike]

yeah, if it really would have happened by accident, I'd be scared to take corners for a long time. Now I know what the bike can do, and can't do

[the big mike]

When it happened, I saw this flashing before my eyes:

Link to original page on YouTube.

[itsa250bro]

Glad to hear you are OK - the bike looks pretty scraped up but, at least you are not.

You're much braver than me to even try it... I'm not sure how you are supposed find the traction limit on a bike - cars are much easier and safer to test on a "skid pad" like you were doing. It seems like every time I lean into a turn I'm just hoping for the best - without any real feel for the safety margin.

[binlagin]

Glad to see your OK and very happy to see your where wearing your gear! But...

YOU reached your limits, and not the bikes. While learning/pushing your limits, you really should consider practice in a closed parking lot or on the track.

Anyways.. I'll stop being your mom... ride safe and smart!

[Malicious Logic]

Good to hear you're ok and the bike isn't too damaged.

Also, hope you were keeping good form and not just going for the "famed" knee-down. I've seen so many videos of people being proud of getting their knee down and the bike is BARELY leaned over.

[Chuffmonkey]

Glad you're ok. I am nowhere near confident enough in the bends yet. Did you just figure out the 'how' or have you studied something?

My friend lowsided his 2 month old Ninja 500 yesterday and pretty much tore everything from the right side of his bike off, plus pushed the frame against the forks. He got a broken collarbone to show for it but, looking at the bike, I'm going to say he was lucky.

[the big mike]

for the record, the bike in the vid is not mine, I only have a broken mirror lucky me

and yes, I've been studying almost every video I could find on youtube about cornering techniques and body positioning. I mean, if you want to do something cool, you want to do it right, no?

[n4mwd]

Roundabouts are fun. I'm not aware of any in abandoned areas around here, but the regular ones are always fun. I usually have to slow way down to make sure cars ahead of me can get through because they always slow down the works.

However, in testing the limits of the bike, just remember that there are numerous variables such as tire age, tire pressure, tire rubber compound and temperature. So you might be able to get your knee down today, but maybe not on a different day.

Have fun, but ride safe.

BTW, how fast and how big was the radius?