Lost the front today...but held it

[Mattberkshire]

When I set off home after work it was glorious sunshine. I was having mucho fun really working the gearbox, using 2nd and 3rd to get up to speed then clicking through into top to cruise on the short straight bits. Then after 20 miles it started raining, not too hard but enough to really grease the roads up. I slowed right down. I've got quite a lot of experience in the wet so was happy with my pace and feeling confident. Then I slowed down coming to a t-junction, using only the front brake, and the front wheel skidded out then slightly to the right. I immediately loosened the brake and reapplied with just enough pressure to stop at the junction.

It must have only been 18 inches or so but enough to give me a big scare. I guess I was either being overconfident or too grabby with the brake, or both.

So, you live and learn. It won't affect my confidence as my philosophy is that anything like this just adds to my experience. I'm pleased I saved it and it's just another incident for the memory banks

 

[chunkygoat]

Yeah you gotta be careful when it just starts raining. If its been raining for days, your safer than the first few minutes of the rain beginning. It makes the oils in the pavement rise to the surface making it much more slippery until the continuous rain washes the oils away.

I did that once too, except on a painted straight arrow coming to a red light. That's how i learned to use both brakes and progressively squeeze them tighter and tighter rather than just grab a handful of brake (or foot full with the rear).

I'm glad to hear you didn't drop it though and you learned from it. What doesn't hurt you makes you stronger, eh?

 

[Smittyboy]

Well done bud! Not too often you hear about an accidental slide of the front that didn't end in "so that's how I learned how to pick the bike up off it's side..." Good save!

 

[reiobard]

glad that you held it together, better to learn your lesson the scary way than to learn it the hard way.


:thumbup:

 

[Norm]

You did well under fire! Nice work. I appreciate the heads up.

 

[dean2287]

Thanks for the post. You got yer head square on yer shoulders bro, nice save. This kind of brings me back to the thread on using front and back brakes...might be a good situation to use the back more.

 

[Raid The Revenge]

Just curious...what tires do you have?

 

[alanrim]

It must have only been 18 inches or so but enough to give me a big scare. I guess I was either being overconfident or too grabby with the brake, or both.

I had very similar step out of the front in the winter, lovely dry ish roads, but below/near freezing. Rounded a corner to find water from the fields frozen across the road. Braked as much as I dare to scrub a little more speed, and the front stepped out, what felt a massive amount.

Got home and reviewed the bike cam footage, and you guessed it the step was virtually not visible

It is all good experience if you manage to keep her shiny side up

Edit:- The video [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9xurIEawFk[/ame] not a lot to see

 

[ferrariman]

hard on the front brakes with none applied in the rare on a wet surface...u are asking for trouble.I learnt it the hard way too...a month back..but again..held it at the right time..lesson learnt..never over estimate urself ...we r always the learners in life...we will never reach the "learnt" section...unless we r the ROSI(but even he did mistakes didnt he???):thumbup:

KB

 

[alanrim]

I am not sure the back brake is the answer, the rear locks so easily with only a tiny amount of pressure, and if the bike is already twitchy having the back end trying to overtake you is no fun.

 

[xj750_Pete]

Sounds like you stayed in control, good job! I think having a cool head in these situations really help. Experience also helps too. Thanks for the lesson.

 

[Mattberkshire]

Just curious...what tires do you have?

BT021's. 500 miles on the front, 1500 on the back