Highside / lowside - Terminology thread
Discussion
Morning Guys n Gals,
Being the wishful non-biker that I am I have been enjoying quite a few threads in BB. I must confess to not always understanding some of the terms used.
Most recently the term highside / lowside.
Also, if there are any other biker specific terms I should know please feel free to share!
Being the wishful non-biker that I am I have been enjoying quite a few threads in BB. I must confess to not always understanding some of the terms used.
Most recently the term highside / lowside.
Also, if there are any other biker specific terms I should know please feel free to share!
a highside is generally very painful and likely to result in some broken bones, a lowside is likely to result in a dented ego.
A highside is typically when the back wheel loses grips, slides then suddenly regains grip. when this happens, the bike tends to stand up violently and literally flick the rider over the top of the bike in the direction the bike has stood up. It is almost impossible to stay on such is the force of the biking 'righting' itself. If you feel the back end going, the advice is either to hold the throttle constant, probably resulting in the back end spinning up - and trying to ride out the slide (not as hard as it sounds) - or in severe cases, cracking the throttle to make the rear spin up a lot and give you a low side (less likely to result in serious injury). Snapping the throttle shut is the worst thing you can do, but is the most instinctive.
A low side is when the front or back wash out completely and drop you on the deck. Can be 'sved on your knee', but only if the slide is marginal or the road surface is even and the slide is progressive. On oil/ice, the low side is going to be the typical crash.
You can practice the highside constant throttle technique on a supermoto or MX bike. Feet up slides aren't too difficult on these bikes, but with the extra grip of a road tyre, the speeds/forces involved are a lot higher, meaning things happen faster when they do. Caveat emptor!
A highside is typically when the back wheel loses grips, slides then suddenly regains grip. when this happens, the bike tends to stand up violently and literally flick the rider over the top of the bike in the direction the bike has stood up. It is almost impossible to stay on such is the force of the biking 'righting' itself. If you feel the back end going, the advice is either to hold the throttle constant, probably resulting in the back end spinning up - and trying to ride out the slide (not as hard as it sounds) - or in severe cases, cracking the throttle to make the rear spin up a lot and give you a low side (less likely to result in serious injury). Snapping the throttle shut is the worst thing you can do, but is the most instinctive.
A low side is when the front or back wash out completely and drop you on the deck. Can be 'sved on your knee', but only if the slide is marginal or the road surface is even and the slide is progressive. On oil/ice, the low side is going to be the typical crash.
You can practice the highside constant throttle technique on a supermoto or MX bike. Feet up slides aren't too difficult on these bikes, but with the extra grip of a road tyre, the speeds/forces involved are a lot higher, meaning things happen faster when they do. Caveat emptor!
the first vid's a high side:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-Rg34VTDTk
this ones a lowside:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJYi4_sBUiQ
Here's the summary from Timberwoof's Motorcycle FAQ:
A high-side is where the bike suddenly regains traction after beginning to skid and spits the rider over the bike. The rider typically exits on the high side of the bike�the side not closest to the ground.
A low-side is simply where the bike loses traction and skids into the ground with the rider remaining on the low side of the bike�the side closest to the ground.
High-sides are usually more severe. The most common high-side accident scenario is where the rider loses traction at the rear wheel (due to excessive power or over-braking), the bike starts to skid, the rider regains traction suddenly by releasing the brake or chopping the power, and the bike immediately regains traction and spits the rider over the bike and tumbles. The key to avoiding this is learning not to chop the power and not to overuse the rear brake.
Low sides mean you slide out on your bum or side. High sides literally throw you over the bike into the air, often with the bike landing on top of you. Try not to high side.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-Rg34VTDTk
this ones a lowside:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJYi4_sBUiQ
Here's the summary from Timberwoof's Motorcycle FAQ:
A high-side is where the bike suddenly regains traction after beginning to skid and spits the rider over the bike. The rider typically exits on the high side of the bike�the side not closest to the ground.
A low-side is simply where the bike loses traction and skids into the ground with the rider remaining on the low side of the bike�the side closest to the ground.
High-sides are usually more severe. The most common high-side accident scenario is where the rider loses traction at the rear wheel (due to excessive power or over-braking), the bike starts to skid, the rider regains traction suddenly by releasing the brake or chopping the power, and the bike immediately regains traction and spits the rider over the bike and tumbles. The key to avoiding this is learning not to chop the power and not to overuse the rear brake.
Low sides mean you slide out on your bum or side. High sides literally throw you over the bike into the air, often with the bike landing on top of you. Try not to high side.
Highside http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqcUtx1ioCI&fea...
Lowside http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJYi4_sBUiQ&fea...
Ah you beat me to the vids! Hopkins is good to watch anyway
Lowside http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJYi4_sBUiQ&fea...
Ah you beat me to the vids! Hopkins is good to watch anyway
Edited by Seademon on Thursday 16th October 11:02
Excellent info guys - thanks.
I shall have to wait till after work to watch the video's but I have a good idea as to what they look like now.
I remember watching the moto GP a little while ago when a rider came off highside and ended up sliding on his arse in front of the bike and demonstrated some fantastically quick reactions of pulling his hand out the way as the bike piroutted (sp?) towards him at speed.
Right, so while I'm at it any other bike terms I should know?
I shall have to wait till after work to watch the video's but I have a good idea as to what they look like now.
I remember watching the moto GP a little while ago when a rider came off highside and ended up sliding on his arse in front of the bike and demonstrated some fantastically quick reactions of pulling his hand out the way as the bike piroutted (sp?) towards him at speed.
Right, so while I'm at it any other bike terms I should know?
MrMoonyMan said:
Right, so while I'm at it any other bike terms I should know?
Tankslapper http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=xUBwCX_Mv2Q another nasty one......Edited by catso on Thursday 16th October 18:28
Perhaps slightly off topic, but as this is a "biker banter" forum, the correct response to anyone who says:
"I had my knee down, was spinning up the rear and backing it in..."
is always "er, no you didn't sonny".
(Before anyone objects - those than can do this don't need to bragg about the fact. Anyone who tells you they can - can't.)
Dave
"I had my knee down, was spinning up the rear and backing it in..."
is always "er, no you didn't sonny".
(Before anyone objects - those than can do this don't need to bragg about the fact. Anyone who tells you they can - can't.)
Dave
This is a highsider
Generally the back end beeaks away and the suddeny grips slingshotting the rider forwards and up wards
This is a highside
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=bhykTfysKas&feat...
A low side is when the bike looses grip and lays down
Generally the back end beeaks away and the suddeny grips slingshotting the rider forwards and up wards
This is a highside
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=bhykTfysKas&feat...
A low side is when the bike looses grip and lays down
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