Intentionally grounding bike to avoid accident?

HyperM3 · 09-13-2011, 10:51 AM

Caught on tape: Motorcyclist rescued from fiery crash - TODAY People - TODAY.com

So in this news report that just happened, they state "Wright intentionally grounded his cycle to avoid getting hit..."

Ive never heard of this technique before. Maybe I feel that with ABS on my bike its better to try stopping instead?

Any comments?

S1000RR ROB · 09-13-2011, 12:21 PM

that is quite extreme Jesus friggin mad stuff...

i love the way his dragged from under the car dont get me wrong ya cant complain but his leg is quite obviously fukt and broken in many places as it flops back to the ground urgh it made me shudder....

**1000RR** · 09-13-2011, 02:13 PM

Very sad... hope everyone ends up OK.

The risk you have if grounding a motorcycle is always going under stuff.

V8M3 · 09-13-2011, 02:15 PM

That was in our area. No helmet either. I don't think you can intentionally ground a bike. I think he had his brakes locked up and went down.

**1000RR** · 09-13-2011, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V8M3

That was in our area. No helmet either. I don't think you can intentionally ground a bike. I think he had his brakes locked up and went down.

If you let me borrow your bike, I can show you intentional grounding

I do get to use the rear brakes though

V8M3 · 09-13-2011, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1000RR

If you let me borrow your bike, I can show you intentional grounding

I do get to use the rear brakes though

Its already been "grounded" once. So, why not.

Yes, I can see locking up the rear brake and going into a slide. I do it on my dirt bike all of the time, but in the split second that you see the car, I don't know how you could react to "intentionally" ground a bike. More like, accidentally grounded the bike.

**1000RR** · 09-13-2011, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V8M3

Its already been "grounded" once. So, why not.

Yes, I can see locking up the rear brake and going into a slide. I do it on my dirt bike all of the time, but in the split second that you see the car, I don't know how you could react to "intentionally" ground a bike. More like, accidentally grounded the bike.

It is truly amazing what your subconscious mind has picked up on before you actual "know" (or should I say realize) what your body should do or is doing. After having some things go on at the track, I personally have been amazed at how quick reactions take place.

You're right, it may have been an accident that the bike was grounded, but I wouldn't rule out intentional either. You and I may not do that (ground it) but reactions that take place this fast are usually just an output of that individuals own experiences and how they're wired.

**JACOX** · 09-13-2011, 11:01 PM

If you can lock up the rear tire (no ABS), yes , you can "lay it down" intentionally. Check out the old Steve McQueen movie "Bullet" near the end of the chase scene. Not my first choice of collision avoidance, but I've had to do it before on the street when somebody pulled out in front of me, no where for me to go, but enough time to lay it down. But if you want to learn this trick, practice on a dirt bike!

newt117 · 09-13-2011, 11:43 PM

A body sliding on the pavement will come to a stop quicker than a bike at 100% braking. So in some cases it is better to be sliding with out the bike.

A lot of collisions can be avoided by going around them instead of trying to stop. People tend to target fixate, and try to stop, instead of looking around the obstacle.

Vidaeis · 09-14-2011, 03:19 AM

I'd like to start with the statement that I've never had to avoid anything more dangerous than a raccoon in the road. The following is just my inexperienced opinion...

I think that while riding a bike that isn't much wider than the dotted line separating the lanes it seems that swerving around a car and riding the dotted line should be more than possible. I took a three day Motorcycle Safety Foundation course and we practiced just such a maneuver. Another example is that in California lane splitting in a motorcycle is perfectly legal. You can spend your whole ride to work slipping between car after car. If you can't stop soon enough and decide to ditch the bike, is the dump truck or soccer mom SUV behind you going to stop short of your quickly decelerating body?

This is a big reminder of how naked we are out there on the road. I know I don't have enough experience in accident avoidance so I plan on setting up some cones in a parking lot and doing some practice. With any luck I can change my panic response into a quick swerve instead of grabbing too much brake.