Posted by Bob C on February 23, 2000 at 20:08:31:
Harold,
IN ORDER TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS AS ACCURATELY AS POSSIBLE, I AM TYPING IN CAPS AND HAVE COPIED YOUR QUESTIONS INTO MY RESPONSE. YOUR POST AND MY ANSWERS IN CAPS FOLLOW...
Having been involved in a high-side at the age of 13, I remember, all to well, the drama/trama of flying off the bike like a missle only to have the bike fly behind me and in my case land on top of me (not pretty). The side-stand of the motorcycle caused a rather pronounced scar across the bridge of my nose and through my left eyebrow (lucky I still have my left eye - to be sure). Almost 30 years later, the scar and my memory of the event remain. Hence my desire to learn more about the phenomena (specifically how to avoid it). I would like to discuss the dynamics of the accident, and lessons learned at another time.
What I have been able to accertain is:
1. MSF teaches - head up - look straight and the bike will go straight even if the back wheel is locked (really?) A: YES REALLY! LOOK STRAIGHT, GO STRAIGHT. IF IT FISHTAILS, STEER STRAIGHT TOWARDS YOUR FOCAL POINT.
2. If you are in a emergency braking situation and the rear tire is locked - and "coming around" - don't let up on the rear brake (doing so will result in a high-side). A: DON'T LET UP... PRESS DOWN HARDER TO INSURE THAT IT STAYS LOCKED. A MOTORCYCLE IS A SINGLE TRACK VEHICLE, MEANING THAT THE REAR WHEEL WANTS TO TRACK DIRECTLY IN LINE WITH THE FRONT WHEEL. SKIDDING THE REAR WHEEL CAN, AND WILL CAUSE SOME MISALIGNMENT OF THE WHEELS AND FISHTAILING. RELEASING A REAR WHEEL SKID REGAINS TRACTION SUDDENLY AND CAUSES A RAPID SNAP BACK INTO ALIGNMENT, IN MORE SEVERE CASES THIS IS FOLLOWED BY AN UNINTENDED LAUNCHING OF THE RIDER(S). AS YOUR EXPERIENCE INDICATES, THE LANDING IS NOT NECESSARILY THE WORST PART. THE MOTORCYCLE IS USUALLY FLYING THROUGH THE AIR RIGHT BEHIND YOU...
3. If the rear tire is locked, and "coming around", and the front brake has been applied as well - "feather" the front brake in an effort to get the front tire to go faster (Hum... this sounds like it would take more skill than I have). A:WHEN LOCKED, THE REAR WHEEL DOESN'T "COME AROUND" IF YOU LOOK STRAIGHT AND STEER STRAIGHT. FISHTAIL MAY OCCUR BUT IS CONTROLLED BY LOOKING/STEERING STRAIGHT. NEVER FEATHER THE FRONT BRAKE. APPLY IT, THEN PROGRESSIVELY INCREASE THE PRESSURE (AS THE WEIGHT TRANSFERS FORWARD) UNTIL STOPPED. REMEMBER, JUST BECAUSE THE REAR IS SKIDDING DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE REASON FOR EMERGENCY BRAKING WENT AWAY. CONTINUE TO STOP WITH THE FRONT BRAKE. THE ONLY EXCEPTION TO CONTINUING THE FRONT BRAKING MAY BE IF YOU WERE PULLING A HEAVY TRAILER AND IT WAS REALLY TRYING TO PUSH THE REAR AROUND. THEN RELEASING THE FRONT BRAKE WOULD BE APPROPRIATE UNTIL STRAIGHTENED OUT. STILL, MAINTAIN THE REAR WHEEL SKID.
4. The bike will naturally "counter-steer" in the direction of the skid (don't know if I am using the right terms - but I think most will understand what I am saying). A: "COUNTER STEERING" IS NOT A TERM USED IN BRAKING OR SKIDDING. WHEN YOU SKID THE REAR WHEEL AND LOOK/STEER STRAIGHT AHEAD YOU WILL BE STEERING INTO THE SKID. (COUNTER STEERING IS THE TECHNIQUE USED TO LEAN THE BIKE INTO A TURN)
Now, here is my question... I am in an emergency breaking situation (dry/flat/straight road), and despite my head-up looking straight posture - I find the back wheel is locked and coming around. I am about to hit the steering limits in my counter-steering efforts. Conventional wisdom indicates, I am probably about to high-side (right?) A: IF, AS YOU SAY, YOU ARE LOOKING (AND STEERING) STRAIGHT THE REAR WHEEL WILL NOT COME AROUND... ONLY FISHTAIL. STEERING LIMITS SHOULD NOT BE APPROACHED. IF IT DID YOU WOULD PROBABLY LOW SIDE. RELEASING THE BRAKE WOULD CAUSE THE HIGH SIDE.
What should I do?
1. Climb on the front brake (lock up the front wheel) to force a low-side? Will this action force a low-side? Given a choice - low-side is preferred - trust me! A: NEVER "CLIMB ON" ANY BRAKE. NEVER INTENTIONALLY LAY A BIKE DOWN OR TRY TO FORCE IT DOWN.
2. Do I have other options? A: YOU SURE DO...
Realize - the best scenario is to avoid locking the rear wheel - but what I am after here is what to do if you should find yourself in the indicated scenario. It never ceases to amaze me just how easy it is to lock the rear wheel. I imagine it is a result of having most of the weight transferred to the front wheel in a braking situation which cause the rear to so easily lock. When I ride, I always practice technique in order to make good technique a habit. Recently I've been concentrating on using my front brake almost exclusively for stopping - so as to break my habit of using too much rear brake for stopping. To be sure, the skills I use in an emergency will be out of habit - vice thinking it out (there usually is not enough time to think about it :) ) A: BRAKING WITHOUT USING THE REAR ONLY GETS YOU IN THE HABIT OF GIVING UP 30 PERCENT OF YOUR STOPPING POWER AND WON'T HELP YOU TO DEVELOP PROPER BRAKING SKILLS. IN AN EMERGENCY IT COULD CAUSE YOU TO OVERBRAKE ON THE FRONT CAUSING IT TO LOCK. THIS NORMALLY RESULTS IN AN IMMEDIATE FALL.
I'd be interested to hear constructive comments from all. Thanks.... Harold....
HAROLD, THERE ARE NO ABSOLUTES TO THESE TECHNIQUES BUT THEY ARE GENERALLY PROVEN TO WORK. BECAUSE OF YOUR BAD EXPERIENCE, I UNDERSTAND YOUR FEAR OF HIGH SIDING BUT IT IS CAUSING YOU TO RIDE SCARED AND DO SOME INEFFECTIVE BRAKING TECHNIQUES THAT CAN GET YOU HURT. I URGE YOU TO FIND AND SIGN UP FOR AN EXPERIENCED RIDER COURSE PRONTO. YOU WON'T BE SORRY.
BOB C
CHAPTER EDUCATOR NYM