Ducati Monster Forum

Well I thought I would get over being embarassed by telling you all about my dumb ass reaction :-[.

 I work out here in St. Helens, Or and I meet up with fellow riders in Scappose. He has been riding for about a year, I have been riding since Sept., and then his friend had bought his first bike the day before.(not the best combination of experince). We rode down HWY thirty and turned on to McNamme. I was in the middle of the two with the brand new rider behind. Everything was going good the guy in front took off and I wasn't even about to try and catch up with him but I did start to flow through the curve's pretty well. Now I was going down a short stretch and as I was just about to go into the turn I checked my mirror to see where the other rider was and I saw a headlight in the ditch. :o. That one second I had noticed that; I didn't even think about trying to make the turn, I just threw on my brakes and went in to the ditch. :-[. I wasn't hurt , the other guy wasn't hurt. Which is the most important thing!

 But I feel ashamed of my choice's. 
1. If he was hurt , and I got hurt I wouldn't of been able to help!
2. I should've concetrated on the turn and followed through with it!
3. Shouldn't of taken a brand new rider up Mcnamee!
4. should of reacted calmly and looked through the turn!
5. I reacted with out thinking first!

The bike got messed up a bit. the triple's were make the beast with two backsed, yet the forks are straight which seems odd to me. Axle was bent but the wheel and hubs were in good shape. Bent the Handle bars, which is the second time I make the beast with two backsed up the bars. Scott Araujo, thank you he way for  helping me out the first time. I went ahead and purchased the oem clip-ons from the original owner that I bought the bike from. I got Triples/axle from m9hundo aka GIL, which worked perfectly and now are painted black. And I went ahead and bought me some bar-end mirrors.
I didn't take it to insurance cause I've had two speeding tickets in the last year( not while on the Bike ) and I didn't want a higher preminum.
All I can say is that if I had reacted more clearly and was more focused on where I was going, I would of been able to help if needed.
I now know not to react with out thinking and to be more focused and ready for the unexpected. Good lesson, I should known better the first time. [thumbsup]

Well, at least you know what mistakes you made. ;D

The hardest reflex to get over is the one to slam on the brakes.  You're most likely better off trying to ride it out, unless it's a situation where emergency braking is required.  Like when someone pulls out in front of you.

Remember that target fixation will lead you straight off the road, so look through the turn. [thumbsup]

Last year, in Colorado, while on a group ride at DitR, the guy in front of me went off the road, (he didn't crash, just a little trip on the gravel), but I had to say to myself "Don't look at him!!!!", or I might have followed him into the gravel. :-\

Glad your ok, but trust me when I say "you learn a lot from crashing".  :)

I have never officially "crashed" on the street, but I have hit the pavement on the track a few, ok, well maybe more then a few, or is it double a few,... in any case, I have crashed a lot on the track, and I've learned a little more about my limits each time.

Look through the turn...

Don't check your mirrors till the strait aways.

And trust Visolara ... he has good advice (except for anything involving Gin)

Jeebus, mang, glad you're both okay.  [beer]

You should post us in Crash Analysis (http://tinyurl.com/5bejt6). Sounds like you've got the format down.  ;)

I started riding last September as well. My "in the ditch" experience is chronicled here (http://ducatimonsterworldwide.org/index.php?topic=2565.0).

dam that sucks, but dont feel bad we have all come close to wiping out at some point.  As victor, johnny ducati and a few others on here can attest to I am slower than most on the canyons, but i just got my bike last September and dont want to ride faster than my abilities, it sounds like the reason you crashed was cause you were distracted by your buddy crashing, which could happen to anyone.  Its better to arrive a few minutes later than the leader then not to arrive at all is my opinion.  It is really hard not to slam on the brakes when you dont think you will make it around a turn, i know i put my brakes on right when i went into a turn last week cause i hit it way to hard on a downhill tight turn, and put the brakes on just out of reaction. i kicked myself a few times after that i knew that was the wrong thing to do. Dont know if this will help or just annoy you cause you already know, but what ive found helps is get a book on cornering, learn how to take corners using the late apex method and learn how to countersteer consciously through turns.   Ive been practicing turns using the late apex method and its helped my cornering abilities a bunch, im able to take corners much faster than before, and seem to have alot more control when i take them.

Man theres nothing worse than hitting a corner too hot, nothing gets your adreneline going more than thinking "oh make the beast with two backs, im running out of road Im going to crash!"

I learned a lot about the pucker principle "You brake faster/harder the tighter your ass puckers." from going into a few corners too hot.  Lesson learned . . . move on.

Glad you and your buddy are OK.

Sport Riding Techniques (http://www.amazon.com/Sport-Riding-Techniques-Develop-Confidence/dp/1893618072) is a good start.

Cause it has a Ducati on the cover.  ;D

thank you all for your concern :). I definitly still have a lot to learn. Crashing was a good experince [bang]. It will make more aware for sure. I am going to invest in the SRT book and possible try and get in teh intermideate class with team oregon. Couldn't hurt.

Also one good thing about the crash was I got to know my bike better. I was able to take the whole front end, replace all the damaged parts and changed from  handle bars to clip's, bunny ear mirrors to bar-end mirrors. It feels like a totally different bike with the OEM clip-ons. It feels great.

Thank you all for all of your tips and I will see you on the road.

ryandalling-love your image [clap]

that is actually her...him..her

anyway i get them confused

but I think ryan looks great after the surgery

Dude... if that were me... I would never leave the house.. just sit in front of a mirror nekkid all damn day.  [evil]

you would envite me over for ice cream and pudding though

right?

Mo, Motha, and 1 cup?  [puke]