Crash Analysis: learning from our mistakes

[EvilSteve]

Did you notice the car coming out from the side of the road blocking a whole lane before it came into your lane? It sounds as though you rolled off a bit as you saw what was going on but it wasn't until the car came into your lane that you even reached for the clutch? You also seemed to be traveling a little faster than the average compared to the traffic I can see on the video? Most of us like to ride a little faster than traffic so I understand why that might be the case.

I'm not suggesting for a second that you're in the wrong but I'd have been on high alert, slowing down and ready for a panic stop if I'd been in that situation *AND* seen what *SEEMS* evident from the video.

Being in the right doesn't mean anything, unfortunately.

[beetlejude]

So this happened to me today...

I had a low speed drop today. I misjudged the speed of a car and had to brake too hard while already having entered the right turn. It was a total brain fart on my end. I should have gone into the turn (T intersection with the oncoming car approaching around a bend that was obscured) much slower and maybe even stopped anyway even though there is no sign at the intersection. I panic grabbed too much front brake and went over at about 2-3 mph (as I had more or less stopped). I'm fine, except for a bruised ego. Bike took a small 1/4" chunk off the frame slider and scratched up the front brake lever a bit.

My only concern is that when I had her righted and was getting ready to go on my not-so-merry-way again, I noticed the check engine light had come on. As I was only a few blocks from my house, I babied her home. When I got home and after a little bit of cussing myself out, I turned on the ignition again, and the light did not come back. Should I have her checked out anyway? (Monster 821, if you're wondering).

Thanks,
Tim

[beetlejude]

Found out that the CEL was the tip sensor. Lesson learned in more than one way, and I'm the better for it I hope.

[ungeheuer]

I guess I need to hang out here more often 

[koko64]

So, any info on how it happened?

[ungeheuer]

So, any info on how it happened?

So there I was zipping along a quiet country road... a straight quiet country road... that I know quite well and all was fun.  I experienced a split second of the beginnings of a violent tank slapper....  what instigated it I do not know and what I did about it and all that followed is totally unknown to me. 

I was found unconscious by a kindly passer-by, about 20 metres away from the bike.  How long I was out, I dunno.  Can't have been long.  But I remember nothing between Happy Days and WTF Just Happened

Returning to the scene some days later revealed that the road surface is in quite poor condition.... narrow (of course), lateral pot holes and broken up edges.  But there was nobody riding that bike but me, no other vehicles and no wayward animals.  So not sure what I learn from that mistake other than ... I made it.

[stopintime]

..... other than ... I made it.

Glad you did 

[koko64]

Glad you're ok mate. Any front rim impact damage?

[ungeheuer]

...Any front rim impact damage?

None.   Why do you ask?

[koko64]

In relation to the role of pot holes or road damage. If there was a tell tale mark on the rim (or tyre).

Bike not too bad?

[Howie]

Not a tank slapper, but scary head shake happened to me once when I wasn't able to avoid a pothole.  The pothole (not big by NYC standards was not the problem.  The loose single rock in the pothole did it.

To a speedy complete recovery Ung