I crashed today too. Properly crashed.

[phatgixer]

Glad you're not too hurt

Check to see how much rubber is on the front tyre at 45 degrees from centre. I had a set of Bridgestones that went triangular in section on the front and the thing tucked everywhere! I could lift the rubber off the canvass but it looked fine except the shape...

[moab78]

Glad that you are OK.

The centres of the lanes look filthy - far dirtier than they are in the google maps pictures. Is that section downhill, more so than the pictures indicate?

[Charlie Foxtrot]

That corner is level, a little incline from the direction I was travelling. The one that follows to the right does go down.

[amancalledrob]

Charlie Foxtrot said:

Certainly. Firstly if you click on the google earth link above you can follow the bend round to the left and see how tight it isn't. It's definitly a sweeper.

I had lifted a little before entry, I may even have braked slightly. But I was definitly holding a steady throttle through the corner, I always do. I was in 5th gear but the engine wasn't screaming. I turned in, centre of my lane not even at the apex and the front end just slid out. Lots of speculation above as to how. It's just one of those things.

Thanks for replying. Well that's scary. I had read the whole thread before I posted, and looked at the pic - hence the question. From what you say I'm inclined to agree with what others have said - ie that there could have been some sort of mechanical failure. Anyway I hope you're feeling better soon mate

[Hooli]

I've been thinking about this & I'd be looking at the front tyre for a puncture CF. I know from experience that 80mph+ is enough to keep a tyre feeling ok even with a 1" square hole in it! so normal (legal) road speeds would be enough to disguise a low pressue, but then you turn & the tyre folds under the load.
It'd explain the massive black line as you say you didn't brake.

[moanthebairns]

Does sound like a puncture, doesnt look like there is anything on the road.

have you got the bike back OP?

[13aines]

13aines said:

Are those Spada Predator gloves? .... How did they crash test? I might replace mine with another pair this summer.

[King Eric]

It is recordable if you damaged road furniture so being breath tested is standard plod procedure.

[amancalledrob]

Hooli said:

I've been thinking about this & I'd be looking at the front tyre for a puncture CF. I know from experience that 80mph+ is enough to keep a tyre feeling ok even with a 1" square hole in it! so normal (legal) road speeds would be enough to disguise a low pressue, but then you turn & the tyre folds under the load.
It'd explain the massive black line as you say you didn't brake.

Good call

[Charlie Foxtrot]

The gloves aren't spada. They're unbranded cheap things.

Got the bike home. The recovery guy estimates speed at 80-90. The bike is fked. Smashed to pieces. There isn't a panel ubtouched. Engine case smashed, frame twisted. The front took a bang and the forks are bent. Tyre is still inflated. The thing is covered in oil and fuel.

Aparantly it's repairable. But i just want to strip it, sell what i can and scrap the fking thing.

[moanthebairns]

TYRES HOW ARE THEY

[Charlie Foxtrot]

The tyres are fine. Still inflated, no obvious sign the front cought or locked. Wheels still spin freely. Although the front brake did get fked to pieces so if it did bind it's unbound now.

The bits




nothing left on the front. Parked it so I don't have to look at it. I feel sick just seeing it.

[Herman Toothrot]

Hooli said:

I've been thinking about this & I'd be looking at the front tyre for a puncture CF. I know from experience that 80mph+ is enough to keep a tyre feeling ok even with a 1" square hole in it! so normal (legal) road speeds would be enough to disguise a low pressue, but then you turn & the tyre folds under the load.
It'd explain the massive black line as you say you didn't brake.

I'd been reading thinking wtf and how? That's the only thing that could explain it as far as i can see.

Edit: tyres look fine, did you check pressure?

Hope the shoulder heals all ok

Edited by Herman Toothrot on Tuesday 18th June 15:40

[naka]

Hey Matt glad to know you're ok (ish) I didn't know about the crash until John told me earlier! Just remember bikes can be replaced the good thing is you'll be ok for another east mids meet soon

[heretheygo]

interesting post this for a few reasons,

the 2 offs I've had I couldn't understand what the hell happened. I certainly couldn't remember much of the detail particularly whether or not I was braking.

at the speed 80/90 mph the op was doing on the bend (as is suggested by the recovery bloke) would it be instinctive to be dabbing the brake lightly?
the point at which the skid starts is more or less where a rider would be getting the first view round the bend imo.
the op stated categorically that he wasn't braking in the first post and then lated that he might have been braking
in the absense of any obvious crap on the road or a defective front tyre - (would you get a skid mark if the tyre was deflated?), and the op's recollection of whether he braked or not, it might be that he simply did brake at the apex and with the lean and speed simply slid off into the verge.

my 2 offs were down to my braking too sharply and losing it.
but I only arrived at that by accepting that there was no other probable cause.

hope op gets his head round what happened - bugged me for ages/ revisiting site etc till I accepted what happened.
...........and is back on his new bike soon.

[Charlie Foxtrot]

You're right and the thought has crossed my mind that i did brake. From day one of riding i've always made a consious effort to get all my braking done before the corner.

I'm still quite certain i didn't brake in this corner. I didn't know anything was wrong untill i was crashing. But given the absense of anything else. The slightness of the corner and speed it gets more probable that i may have grabbed the brake.

[Olly RM]

Daft question, but were you trying to get your knee down? Or even in that riding position?

[Charlie Foxtrot]

No. I move my shoulders and upper body. My arse stays with both cheecks on seat.

[Biker's Nemesis]

Hey, pleased you're OK fella.

[Olly RM]

Charlie Foxtrot said:

No. I move my shoulders and upper body. My arse stays with both cheecks on seat.

Just wondered in case the inertia was wrong and it was trying to go too low, if that makes sense. Hope you're doing ok fella.

Many many moons ago, when I was in the 'knee down' frame of mind, I took a very tight left (was on my way home so est 1000 uses over the years) I really aimed to get my knee down, set it up, shifted weight etc. Got into apex and the wheel started to tuck, I then got a 'wobble' and then tried to rectify mid bend (est 60ish) and then bike became very unstable. my left foot came off the peg and went under the back wheel unsettling her (and me) more, I then sort of Super manned the CBR and sickeningly target fixed on a ditch. managed to ride into the ditch, but the front wheel hit soft mud and the next thing was my wedding veg denting the tank, me doing a nicely executed summersault, flying up the embankment and landing on me head. slid down the bank onto a rock and buggered me back. First on scene was a transit full of workers. Opening gambit, "fk me mate, you ok?" my reply, "yeah am no bad like, any one smoke??" got all my gear off prior to ambulance and refused treatment a few times to save my gear. (couldn't on the recent 'off')

So hence the question.

All the best, hope you are on the mend.