My First Crash...

[madjak30]

I decided at the start of the summer that I would be taking a ride through the Rocky Mountains in the late summer or early fall this year...so I planned the route and picked a date for the ride...September 10th, 2011 to September 12th, 2011...sounded like a great weekend to do it...kids are back in school (so less travelers on the road)...I even found a couple of like minded friends that wanted to come along...

The date finally came, and we were all as excited as the kids when summer break starts tomorrow...we all met up in Sylvan Lake and had breakfast at the Humpty's Restaurant...then we were off...

This is a pic of us stopped in Canmore, AB trying to find some ice cream (it was 28C outside)



Stopped and took some nice pictures while mounting our POV cameras...





This pic is where we stopped to stretch before reaching Cranbrook, BC...




The next day, someone broke their key in their saddle lock...



we got the piece out, but trying to find someone to cut a motorcycle key on a Sunday was a pain...so we improvised and found that an older Ford trunk key (if sanded or filed to be thinner) will work in an '87 Honda Hurricane ignition...   ...we were off...at 2pm

We made it to Creston and turned up Hwy 3a...heading for the ferry across the Kootenay Lake...what a beautiful, twisty road!! We were in heaven...turn after turn, carving our way toward the ferry launch...the closer we got, the twistier the road got...it was AWESOME...until the third to last turn when I entered the turn on the left side of the lane on a left turn...the turn was a decreasing radius turn so I ended up having to lean the bike WAY OVER...I ground the peg and my boot, which startled me...so I wiggled and went a little wide, right out to the white line...and that's when I saw the gravel...next thing I know I'm sliding through the gravel and I am no longer on my bike...

These pictures still make me ill to know what I did to my baby...







The major damage was to the left fork...bent...the shift lever is broken, the air filter cover is dented and scratched and the heat cover on the left exhaust is crushed...I don't know about the rim and tire...the impact popped the bead off, but I couldn't see any physical damage to the rubber...

I ended up getting it towed to a storage place in Nelson, BC...the guy there was excellent to deal with...he rides as well and felt bad for me, so he is holding it until this weekend for free so that I can go pick it up without missing work...I did have to pay $245 for coming to tow it...but it was Sunday night at 8:45pm...so there was a call out fee and mileage plus HST...

What about me, you ask? Well thanks for being concerned...but the speed limit on the road was 60kph, so I was travelling at 70kph...the turn had a "SLOW" sign, but no speed (usually the tighter turns said slow to 40kph...or something along that line)...so we slowed to 60kph ish...then as the corner presented itself I hit the brakes some more just as I entered the corner, so probably going around 40-50kph...thankfully I was wearing my gloves, jacket, helmet, hiking boots and jeans (I know, I should have riding boots and riding pants...)

I came out with some minor scrapes where my jacket rode up my arm a bit and the glove didn't cover...and my left ankle took a beating when the bike fell over...so I came away with a scrape that wouldn't impress anyone and a limp...

I also found out that riding pillion on a Honda VFR800 Interceptor isn't my prefered mode of transport, especially for a 800kms run...

But I made it home and I'm relatively unharmed...and I know what my winter project is... 

mister asked me to add a "what did I learn" comment...

The biggest thing I learned...GEAR WORKS, WEAR IT!!
The other thing I learned...don't make assumptions about the road you are riding...just because the last 50 corners were one way, doesn't mean this one will be the same...decreasing radius, no "Slow to..." markings, sand/gravel, a stopped vehicle...anything can be around the corner and you need to leave yourself enough time to deal with these things...

I was very lucky...if the line up for the ferry was just around that corner, the result would have been much worse and it probably wouldn't have been just me that had an accident...my buddies would have probably crashed as well...or worse...

What I did get to ride was pretty awesome, so I will try that trip again...just with more caution this time...

Later.

[missk8t]

Ah crap!!! Sorry to hear about your crash madjak but I'm really glad to hear you only came away with minor scraps and bruises. I drove that rode a couple of months ago when I was over there, lovely scenery, sh!tty road in a car though!

Good luck on your project over the winter. I hope the Beast comes through alright at the end of it's surgery.

[Ourea]

[POST HAS BEEN REMOVED BY USER]

[mister]

Mad, Thanks for sharing.

There is a place in the USA that Removed their speed advisory signs and crashes went Down. If there had been no signs elsewhere you would have been Forced to judge the road for yourself, right? Forced to come in slower, correct? This is precisely the concept behind Pace Riding. You are Forced to become a better judge of the road.

In your case you became lazy and relied too much on the advised speed signs instead of your own judgement. Also, unfamiliar road gotcha. Also, bad line into the corner. I'd hazard a guess you were also looking at the gravel too (obstacle fixation) right? The others obviously made it around the corner under the same conditions so your line might have been the biggest contributor, unless they also took that same line 

The bike can be fixed. Glad you are alright, although, I guess, somewhat brow beaten from the missus 

Man, you're just going to have to give her "no crash guarantees" from now on. 

Michael

[The Buddha]

But now ... well, road rash hates competetion ... so you're good now, first crash hurts the mostest.
Glad you're OK.
Canmore ? you talk to "Mike ..... from canmore " ?
Cool.
Buddha.

[madjak30]

Mad, Thanks for sharing.

There is a place in the USA that Removed their speed advisory signs and crashes went Down. If there had been no signs elsewhere you would have been Forced to judge the road for yourself, right? Forced to come in slower, correct? This is precisely the concept behind Pace Riding. You are Forced to become a better judge of the road.

In your case you became lazy and relied too much on the advised speed signs instead of your own judgement. Also, unfamiliar road gotcha. Also, bad line into the corner. I'd hazard a guess you were also looking at the gravel too (obstacle fixation) right? The others obviously made it around the corner under the same conditions so your line might have been the biggest contributor, unless they also took that same line 

The bike can be fixed. Glad you are alright, although, I guess, somewhat brow beaten from the missus 

Man, you're just going to have to give her "no crash guarantees" from now on. 

Michael

Yup, you pretty much nailed it...became complacent & target fixation got me...I saw the gravel and went straight for it...I just watched the video from the guy two bikes back and you can see my bike is on the inside of my turn to start, which was the biggest part...then the peg ground and I straightened up and then I stared straight at the gravel...guess where I went??

And yeah, wifey wasn't too impressed...but she is calm now...still a little ticked, but the worry is over...now to rebuild the BEAST...and time for the experienced rider course...

I agree about the signs...I think if I had ignored them all along, I would have been riding more cautiously...I'm not blaming the signs though, it was rider error...no doubt about it...lack of experience and adrenaline got the best of me...

I'll post a link to the video tonight...the video makes the corner look like a sweeper, but it was a 40kph corner (or maybe even less)...you just can't tell from the angle of the video...

Later.

[SAFE-T]

The roads in BC have claimed many Alberta bikes over the years. We're just not used to that kind of riding all day out here in the flat and straight Prairies. I have been there with people who have literally ridden up the sides of the concrete barriers because they couldn't negotiate a turn. We spent all day in the hospital with a 22 yr. old kid that launched himself and his ZX6R through a ditch and fractured his pelvis and crushed a few vertebrae on the DH1 (http://www.destinationhighways.com/dh/9SouthKootenays/1sum.htm) and tore his bike in half.

One rider I know who lives in Nelson said if the corner is posted 40 or below it means it. This same guy goes three times the posted limit most everywhere else on his ZX10R.

[SAFE-T]

There is a place in the USA that Removed their speed advisory signs and crashes went Down. If there had been no signs elsewhere you would have been Forced to judge the road for yourself, right? Forced to come in slower, correct? This is precisely the concept behind Pace Riding. You are Forced to become a better judge of the road.

The main idea of The Pace is to not use your brakes, which forces you to reduce your entry speed in the first place.

The alternative is what most people do, which is to get all excited and charge into the corner on the brakes like they were Valentino Rossi, only to discover they can't or don't know how to brake hard enough to get down to the speed they need to. 

[mister]

There is a place in the USA that Removed their speed advisory signs and crashes went Down. If there had been no signs elsewhere you would have been Forced to judge the road for yourself, right? Forced to come in slower, correct? This is precisely the concept behind Pace Riding. You are Forced to become a better judge of the road.

The main idea of The Pace is to not use your brakes, which forces you to reduce your entry speed in the first place.

That's right... cause you use no brakes you are Forced to judge the road better to know When to come off the brake, change down gears etc.

Michael

[PachmanP]

Glad you're ok. I "layed my bike down" in a similar scenario on a trip to the dragon. I think MC trips can be pretty dangerous. Lots of saddle time on unfamiliar and challenging roads, but I'll be darned if I don't go on 'em...

Mad, Thanks for sharing.

There is a place in the USA that Removed their speed advisory signs and crashes went Down. If there had been no signs elsewhere you would have been Forced to judge the road for yourself, right? Forced to come in slower, correct? This is precisely the concept behind Pace Riding. You are Forced to become a better judge of the road.

Removing the signs probably isn't the worst thing that could happen. I've been known to shoot for twice the recommended speed as my minimum in my car. I'm generally more conservative on my bike likely for reason related to above...

[mcgimp]

Glad you're ok.  I did that ride in June and really enjoyed it. Then in August, about a week before your Drumheller trip, a group of us went from Medicine Hat to Drum and then up to the hotel in Wayne for lunch. This one wasn't so good as I did exactly what you did at Crawford Bay. Misjudged a low speed left, dragged a peg, hit gravel and it was all over. Also had gear but had unzipped sleeve and it rode up leaving lower arm bare and road rash. Boots completely saved my ankle but glove didn't do as well. Was able to ride bike back home, had broken windshield, bent shifter and scrapes. I guess we live and learn.
The four friends I was with just completed the Three Flags ride to Mexico and back to Penticton. For two of them this was the 18th time they have done this.

[Twisted]

Glad you're ok. I "layed my bike down" in a similar scenario on a trip to the dragon. I think MC trips can be pretty dangerous. Lots of saddle time on unfamiliar and challenging roads, but I'll be darned if I don't go on 'em...

Did any of them dudes with the cameras that sit on that bend capture you're mishap?

[madjak30]

Did any of them dudes with the cameras that sit on that bend capture you're mishap?

Nope...no one sitting on the corner with a camera, but the guy two bikes back had his GoPro taping and caught it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8EutOCaZ8s&feature=player_embedded

Completely rider error...started the corner on the inside of the turn, instead of the outside...going too fast for the corner...not used to grinding a peg, so I "panic'd" a little when I did...then target fixation on the gravel...and off the road I go...

It was a rookie rider error all the way...got carried away and paid the price...

Later.

[scratch]

Glad you're allright and lived to learn a valuable lesson.

[SAFE-T]

cause you use no brakes you are Forced to judge the road better to know When to come off the brake, change down gears etc.

Michael

If you use no brakes in the first place, there is no reason to "come off the brake" at all...

Honestly, I have ridden almost the entire length of the DH1 without using my brakes.

[mister]

cause you use no brakes you are Forced to judge the road better to know When to come off the brake, change down gears etc.

Michael

If you use no brakes in the first place, there is no reason to "come off the brake" at all...

Honestly, I have ridden almost the entire length of the DH1 without using my brakes.

Oops... typo... obviously "cause you use no brakes you are forced to... know when to come off the brakes" makes no sense. SHOULD have been... come off the throttle.



Michael

[Phil B]

Seems like single-vehicle crashes are mostly... (always?) on left-hand turns. I see videos on youtube, they're lefthanders.
When I crashed, it was a left hander.
I'm definately going to take it down a notch, on all my left turns on twisties from now on :-/

[Anaconda]

I totally agree. I can lean aggressively on my right turns, but those lefties just make me a bit nervous

[mister]

Everyone has a Lean Preference - a side of the bike they feel more comfortable leaning into.

I would say I have (had) a left leaning preference. But, with forced increased right leaning on various roads, it's drummed out of me and now, sometimes, I prefer leaning right, but that's just a specific corner preference instead of an overall leaning preference.

Michael

[yamahonkawazuki]

Glad you're ok. I "layed my bike down" in a similar scenario on a trip to the dragon. I think MC trips can be pretty dangerous. Lots of saddle time on unfamiliar and challenging roads, but I'll be darned if I don't go on 'em...

Mad, Thanks for sharing.

There is a place in the USA that Removed their speed advisory signs and crashes went Down. If there had been no signs elsewhere you would have been Forced to judge the road for yourself, right? Forced to come in slower, correct? This is precisely the concept behind Pace Riding. You are Forced to become a better judge of the road.

Removing the signs probably isn't the worst thing that could happen. I've been known to shoot for twice the recommended speed as my minimum in my car. I'm generally more conservative on my bike likely for reason related to above...

i almost did on the dragon. via target fixation. on my harley. well on my gs briefly too. caught myself looking, then bitchslapped myself emntally for falling into the same old thing again. so now i dont look at hte view unless im stopped