Laying it down = practical??

[butcher bergs]

I say stuff sometimes
Your wheels are done.

I'll call you at some point this weekend.

I have a shit ton of sidework at the moment so I'm looking to flip it and get paid (all hopefully before VIR).

[richw]

Laying it down probably not deliberate

Lock Em up fall down "I laid it down"

However

If you attempted to miss something by leaning beyond all reason

Usually you might make the miss or worst case you are still kinda on the motorcycle and it will hit the hard thing 1st affording a small amount of additional protection to you down side leg not so much. It also will not hit you after the impact.

[Ken C]

It's hard to tell who actually believes that "laying it down" is really a good technique. I ask myself why the reporter would write that statement unless,
1. he either is an ignorant rider himself or knows other ignorant riders who have shared this "wisdom".
2. Was told by the rider that he acted like a hero by using this technique (Mom will be proud and not demand that he sell the bike)
3. was told by the cop that this is what happened and when asked to clarify, the cop explained that it is a known technique for stopping.

The sad thing is that a lot of good work trying to dispel this myth gets undone by one reporter.

[richw]

Back in the day.....

Many bikes came with full front and rear crash bars

Metal hoops that the bike could roll or slide on without resting on the operator. Surprisingly most of the roads in the USA are dirt roads where this technique might be more successful then direct line braking.

SO perhaps on a Hog in the 50's on a dirt road laying it down got it stopped sooner and safer then direct frontal impact.

It took till I was almost 50 to learn this wisdom

"Never assume your predecessor was an idiot. If you don't understand why he did it a certain way perhaps its just you don't understand"

[nixoid]

MSF course should be a requirement from now on.

It is in Rhode Island. All licensed riders have to take the MSF and the state runs the program through the Community Colleges. I took it there and as a resident it was only $40. out of staters were at the time $125. So if you want to take the class beginner or advanced you should check out them out: http://www.ccri.edu/cwce/motorcycle/

[Ken C]

Back in the day.....

"Never assume your predecessor was an idiot. If you don't understand why he did it a certain way perhaps its just you don't understand"

Thanks for the reminder about what life on a motorcycle was like. I remember when nobody would have argued with the logic of laying it down. But, that was 30+ years ago.

I meet a lot of different types of riders and I can say that many hang on to preconceived notions about bikes and the skills it takes to ride them. And I don't care who you are, you will have a tough time convincing them otherwise. There are exceptions.

[richw]

I actually practice panic stops and panic slow followed by avoidance every year

[benVFR]

And so it begins...

I "started" my season Saturday.

Didn't see a single rider wearing a stitch of gear other then one guy with a brain bucket on the highway (in MA). Of course the dude hadn't been able to figure out hooded sweatshirts and motorcycling don't mix, it was seriously amusing to watch him fighting the windblast while maintaining his Jesse James (TM) scowl.

Looking forward to way more riding this year then last year...

[palanon]

I've heard that story at least 5,432 times over the last 30 years.

At least 9 out of 10 were nothing more than an excuse to justify the crash after the fact.

I never argue with people about it any more. Their ego is way to fragile to admit that they panicked or could have avoided crashing if they had more skill.

[nixoid]

And so it begins...

I "started" my season Saturday.

Didn't see a single rider wearing a stitch of gear other then one guy with a brain bucket on the highway (in MA). Of course the dude hadn't been able to figure out hooded sweatshirts and motorcycling don't mix, it was seriously amusing to watch him fighting the windblast while maintaining his Jesse James (TM) scowl.

Looking forward to way more riding this year then last year...

I live in Southern mass but have family in Central CT. I see way more riders wearing gear here than ANYWHERE in CT. Since a bunch of dummies defeated the Helmet Law there everyone has gotten very far away from protective gear - wouldn't want to be seen as a supporter of mandatory protective aparatai.

[butcher bergs]

I meet a lot of different types of riders and I can say that many hang on to preconceived notions about bikes and the skills it takes to ride them. And I don't care who you are, you will have a tough time convincing them otherwise. There are exceptions.

So true on so many levels.

I try to explain that, yes, you may have been riding for 100 years but did you ever consider increasing your skill set beyond the rear brakes? To this day I wait to hear a "yes" from any of these riders. Unfortunate, really.

There was a thread on the CBR forum not too long ago. A new rider had lowsided during his first time out. So all the "WSBK riders" chimed in with comments such as "Use the rear brake to slide the bike around" or "You'll have way more control over the bike if you lock the rear..."

People, it's not a bicycle!

[rbrais]

Back in the day.....

Many bikes came with full front and rear crash bars

Metal hoops that the bike could roll or slide on without resting on the operator. Surprisingly most of the roads in the USA are dirt roads where this technique might be more successful then direct line braking.

SO perhaps on a Hog in the 50's on a dirt road laying it down got it stopped sooner and safer then direct frontal impact.

It took till I was almost 50 to learn this wisdom

"Never assume your predecessor was an idiot. If you don't understand why he did it a certain way perhaps its just you don't understand"

Yea, like maybe he was trying to slide under the Tahoe to avoide the collision!

[rbrais]

Thanks for the reminder about what life on a motorcycle was like. I remember when nobody would have argued with the logic of laying it down. But, that was 30+ years ago.

I meet a lot of different types of riders and I can say that many hang on to preconceived notions about bikes and the skills it takes to ride them. And I don't care who you are, you will have a tough time convincing them otherwise. There are exceptions.

Keep in mind that 30+ years ago, the front break was only used while stopped so that you could put your foot on the ground and keep from rolling. In that case, laying it down was a better option most of the time. We have since evolved.

[richw]

I put a second disk on my kz1000 cafe

Old front drum brakes though weren't strong enough to skid the tire

Old bikes also had like a 65 35 rear weight bias

Olden days being Sportsters and Brit bikes

[beet]

never lay it down its not even a option ........

[BostonSVkid]

I binned a bike last year "laying it down" but it sure as F U C K wasnt on purpose! I meant to stop and at some point applied to much pressure the the front end washed out becuase my head/shoulder hit the ground first not my side like you get in a low side. I will do better next time and go around the f'ing person who pulls out in front of me instead of breaking so hard! MY BAD !

[beet]

I've washed out to thats not a lay down. And dont hold on your bike will kill you..

[richw]

Let see if that's Dad

He was better looking
He was in better shape
He was a snappy dresser
His bike is immaculate
and that looks like a dirt road behind him try doing a brakey

[OreoGaborio]

From what I've been told, and my limited experience backs this up, the front brake still provides the majority of your stopping power in the dirt... just gotta be more careful about locking it up.

[richw]

Agree to disagree

If you had a saddlebagged, front crash bar, skinny bias ply tire'd, old harley on a wet or loose dirt road while Lee Marvin was checking out your ass you would be safer and stop sooner if the hard parts were dragging