M
Mike Causer
Guest
On Tue, 24 Oct 2006 21:54:40 +0000, Tim Woodall wrote:
> I've never riden a motorbike but I think "lay the bike down" is something
> that is done when a collision is inevitable.
There is a nasty period in getting a motorbike up to speed where if you
change your mind about what you need to do you can very easily "drop it".
It exists for bicycles too because the geometric/dynamic considerations of
steering are the same, but the mass of a bicycle is so much lower it's
easier to deal with.
The result is that if you get "wrong-footed" on a motorbike just as you
move off you'll have a low-speed tumble. Rather like the dreaded
"clipless moment". Every fall I've had on a motorbike, with one exception
on ice, has been at low speed due to changing my mind. I suspect this is
what happened here. For the record, I currently own motorbikes of
nominally 500cc, 660cc, and 750cc, the last of which is of similar
performance to a 995cc Triumph.
> I think the idea is to try to put the motorbike (and your legs) between
> you and whatever you are going to hit.
Hmmm, I'd put this as serendipity, or wishful thinking. When you go down
on a two-wheel vehicle there really isn't enough time, unless you're
Valentino Rossi, Mike Hailwood, etc. In a 4 wheeler there's more of a
chance, unless you hit an oil-patch.
Mike
> I've never riden a motorbike but I think "lay the bike down" is something
> that is done when a collision is inevitable.
There is a nasty period in getting a motorbike up to speed where if you
change your mind about what you need to do you can very easily "drop it".
It exists for bicycles too because the geometric/dynamic considerations of
steering are the same, but the mass of a bicycle is so much lower it's
easier to deal with.
The result is that if you get "wrong-footed" on a motorbike just as you
move off you'll have a low-speed tumble. Rather like the dreaded
"clipless moment". Every fall I've had on a motorbike, with one exception
on ice, has been at low speed due to changing my mind. I suspect this is
what happened here. For the record, I currently own motorbikes of
nominally 500cc, 660cc, and 750cc, the last of which is of similar
performance to a 995cc Triumph.
> I think the idea is to try to put the motorbike (and your legs) between
> you and whatever you are going to hit.
Hmmm, I'd put this as serendipity, or wishful thinking. When you go down
on a two-wheel vehicle there really isn't enough time, unless you're
Valentino Rossi, Mike Hailwood, etc. In a 4 wheeler there's more of a
chance, unless you hit an oil-patch.
Mike