| Author | Message | ||
     Corider |
A couple of weeks ago, went out w/ the local Buellers for our monthly Sun. ride. About a mile into the ride, on the first right hander up the canyon, my back tire slid out. I was pretty sideways, & definitely going down, so I just shut the throttle and wouldn't ya' know it, traction came back. With a vengeance. The jolt from the rear end sent the front into the most insane stop-to-stop tank slapper I've ever had. Hung on for about 100 ft., just enough to skillfully straighten 'er out to stay in my lane, then OTB!. Got to test a lot of gear.  Pretty impressive how the front fairing didn't explode into plastic confetti. The arrow denotes 1st impact.   Thanks to Skully for these fine units.(Dark Horse Moto). Worth every penny.  This is the scariest part. Would I have recovered if I'd had a stabilizer? No one knows, but I'd sure like to.--CR (Message edited by corider on April 18, 2008) | ||
| Jedi74 |
Man looks like you got pretty lucky how fast were you going? Did your back tire hit some gravel or something? | ||
| New12r |
Glad you are alright. Bikes can be fixed and it looks like your faired pretty well. I was pretty sideways, & definitely going down, Well I dont know for sure as I was not there, but a good many can be saved. I came out of a powerslide with the steering at full lock in traffic over the winter. Cold Pilot Race tires and a hiccup caused the back end to drift out till the steering stop hit, smooth throttle kept me on two. The lesson you should have learned is to not shut the gas in a slide, you are lucky you did not highside and break a bunch of bones. The stabilizer would have only helped after your mistake. Go get a dirtbike and learn to slide, that way when it happens you dont panic and shut the throttle.  | ||
| Glitch |
The lesson you should have learned is to not shut the gas in a slide Can't be said enough. I know it's opposite of instinct, but if the rear slides, try acting like it's not. Steady on the gas, when you let off traction comes back too fast, and often pointing in a bad direction. If you just hold the throttle position the bike will regain traction a lot smoother, and in more control, not yanking the grips from your hands. If the slide is more than the bike can recover from, using the technique New12r suggested you'll lowside,anyone given the choice between those two evils will choose lowside over highside any day. | ||
| Glitch |
Glad you're ok! | ||
| Swordsman |
In the MSF course, they told us if the rear slides due to locked brakes, just ride it out until you come to a stop, and DON'T let off the rear brake, because if it regains traction it'll straighten up "aggressively" and you'll high side. Sounds like the same theory applies to normal slides...? ~SM | ||
| Skully |
Brian - Glad to hear that you are ok! Keith | ||
| Corider |
how fast were you going? Did your back tire hit some gravel or something? I think that was about 60. Not much junk on the roads around here lately, just kinda' cold tires, & not-so-smooth riding technique. I think you guys are right about throttle manipulation, I thought I was getting kind of good at it. Guess I'll have to fix 'er up and practice some more. Thanks Keith. Still limping just a little, but do feel incredibly lucky.--CR | ||
| Firebolt32 |
Looks a lot like mine does right now. Good to hear your ok. My fix was only about $100.00. | ||
| Azxb9r |
A few weeks ago I was going faster than I should have been on a road I was unfamiliar with. I mis judged a turn, and when my tires hit the center stripe, the back end started to slide. I stayed as still as I could on the bike, and fortunately it gathered itself back up. Afterwords I started thinking that I should get some frame pucks and axle sliders. I see that your Dark Horse sliders did their job. Go get a dirtbike and learn to slide, that way when it happens you dont panic and shut the throttle Riding in the dirt definitely helps your brains ability to cope with a slide | ||
| No_rice |
i like power slides! i grew up gravel racing my mustang in the middle of the night, with no lights on most of the time. (yep, young, dumb, and...) i figured out along time ago that you can be well beyond where your brain says your out of luck, and still come out ok as long as you learn out how to ignore that voice! the buells are really good at correcting them selfs if you give them a little leeway, it boils down to just being to stubborn to admit your going down. | ||
| Firebolt32 |
(yep, young, dumb, and...) ...full of the stuff that allowed me to have a child at 18 when I totally wasn't ready for one and now I pay $400 a month for a kid I've seen only twice in 8 yrs because he is in Illinois and I'm in Florida and my babies mom doesn't want me to come up there because she's afraid I'd whoop her husbands ass because my boy calls him daddy?  Oh no...I'm not bitter! | ||
| Spatten1 |
I was in front of Brian and did not see the crash, but this is what I heard: Cold tires and liberal throttle caused the rear to light up. After saving the high-side, the tank slapper was very violent and would not stop. Those behind Brian said they had never seen such a violent tank slapper. We can all have the back end step out then get traction. I've seen Rainey, Lawson, and Doohan highside, we are not immune by just staying on the throttle. It helps, but it's no guarantee. My point is that what happened to Brian can happen to any of us, and that the tank slapper is the focus here, and a steering dampener may have kept him from crashing. | ||
| Spatten1 |
FYI, Brian is a good rider, he is being tough on himself now, and it was a mistake to let off the throttle, but he can ride his 'bolt well. (Message edited by spatten1 on April 17, 2008) | ||
| Glitch |
If the tank slapper was as violent as you say, no damper would have saved it. No one is saying he's a poor rider, only offering advise from those of us that learned the hard way as well. Poor riders have not this kind of form.  | ||
| Spatten1 |
I guess I get defensive for my riding bro's. | ||
| Spatten1 |
I also have to wonder if the tank slapper would have ever gotten so violent with a steering stabilzer. The oscillations may have been quelled early. I can't even remember the last time I saw a race bike with a violent tank slapper. It's all academic now, but it does make me consider a steering stabilizer for the first time. (Message edited by spatten1 on April 18, 2008) | ||
| Corider |
Thanks for the kind words guys. I should also mention how this incident reinforced what a super cool bunch of people I have to ride with. I say people because Kate, Kitty, & Lisa aren't exactly 'guys'. I'll bet the whole scene was cleaned up in under a minute, & I was home with my bike in the garage, feet up, & wife tearing my ass by 11:00. Someone has called or e-mailed every day since. The support is nearly overwhelming. I still have nothing bad to say about Buell. I'm convinced that, (based on experience), NO other bike would have handled the situation better. It's not the slide that surprises me. That happens every time I ride. It's the tank slapper that just shocked the shit out of me. I just couldn't believe it was happening, after all the ••••••• maneuvers my 'bolt has pulled me out of. Still, it'll go back together w/ a steering dampener. | ||
| Glitch |
I guess I get defensive for my riding bro's. Can't fault you for that, I'm the same way when it comes to any of the 3%ers! Still, it'll go back together w/ a steering dampener. After a spill, the first thing my wife asks is, "How's the bike?" She says it wouldn't be the first question if I looked hurt. I do wonder about that  Not enough to test it though  | ||
| Oldfz |
Glad you're OK and thanks for posting those pictures. I was under the mistaken impression that I could get away with sliders on the rear axle only. Looks like Dark Horse will be getting another order. | ||
| Azxb9r |
I have a Hyper-pro dampener that I had on my bike for about 3 weeks, I took it off because I did not like the way it made the bike handle on the street. Anyway, I have been thinking about putting it up for sale since it is just collecting dust in my garage. It is red with gold mounting brackets. If you are interested, we might be able to work something out. Hope this is not inappropriate.  (Message edited by azxb9r on April 18, 2008) | ||
| Glitch |
Hope this is not inappropriate. You're not doing anything inappropriate. Buell on! | ||
| Teddagreek |
Kinda amazing how fast it happens... Hey your in the club now if that's any consolation  How are you feeling so far, Still doing alright? I felt worse a week after my accident, and even worse after a month..  Don't beat your self up over it to much... You can only figure out so much Figure out what you can and move on.. The Slide?  The Temps, Cold Asphalt isn't good when your riding aggressive. I noticed your rear tire, was the road dusty Suspension settings You mentioned the tires maybe not warmed up enough yet. Tire PSI. Suspension settings. I like my LSL damper.. Someone had a pretty slick Ohlins damper that mounts in front of the forks on a fire bolt, similar to the XBRR If I remember the site I link it.. | ||
| Teddagreek |
looks like the site is down... http://www.racingmotorcycles.com/ Other option for your bolt is a XBRR damper, if I remember Retail for a bit over 400, Bad web Discount probably put you in around 370... Good Luck...  |
