Lost the front end this morning

[jerry993]

Ok

Here is the sp,

in slow traffic overtaking a lorry on the outside and I had to pull in a bit quicker than I would have liked because of a traffic island.

So I flick in and the traffic in front is backing up from a ped crossing

Next I know I am heading for the deck.

both feet down and the front end is locked and sliding

I thought I had it never believed I could hold the bird up right !

But I did.

Now the road was dry although it had been trying to snow but only flaking nothing that would slow u down

I am also running on 3 week old Avons !!!

I have never had this before

What happened ?

a) slippy road / diesel
b) crappy tyres
c) pilot error

I take some responsibility for going in a bit hard but this is a normal every day manover and I use the bird every day and have done for 4 years.

Me, I blame the rubber

and

Another factor is I have handle bar mits on to keep warm and they seriously restrict your bar control. This I think played a part, they are comming off before I leave for home,

Also the heated grips on the trottle side keep slipping ie the glue had not stuch the grip to the bar.

Cue Jaws: Heated grips dont really work without mits !

 

[Bob Pinder]

I'll guess c) pilot error

 

[Adam Rickenberg]

I suspect......

Pilot error........

You instinctively grabbed a handful of front brake and locked up the front.... Simple!

 

[Bob Pinder]

Are we going for best of three on this answer :dunno:

 

[stormer]

Obviously hats off to the lorry driver!

 

[Jaws]

If it was in a place that often suffers traffic backing up almost certainly a build up of oil on a damp ( not wet ) surface

I would say bad luck rather than any of the other options.. and a timely warning about oil build up at junctions

 

[gypsy]

option d = Blame Lumpy

 

[Alan Hodges]

good man

at least u kept it upright!! well done and remember the arse twitching next time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:bow:

Alan:yo:

 

[Minkey]

Why did it happen

Overtaking where there was not enough room hence the swing in and then grabbing a big handfull of front brake in panic.
Let me see.................. pilot error sorry h1d1ng2

 

[jerry993]

Avons

Avons and pilot error

i wont get another set

and as usual a nail in the back tyre I wonder if that played a part ?

 

[jerry993]

As I said

Did not grab the front brake in Panic mate, its a routine manover in heavy city traffic !

 

[stormer]

What? nearly falling off?

 

[Duck n Dive]

Thank god you stayed on ... I had the horrible feeling I was about to read annother off story....... just a nearly one.


Guess only you can know for sure what cuased it..............

If you're using bar mits you do have to give yourself some extra margin as control is not always quite as easy as without 'em....

I still believe that heated inner gloves are the best thing since sliced bread.

Anyway glad there's damage to either you or the bike apart from maybe some seat stains!! :yo:


Just a though on the bar mitts - it helps if you remove bar end weights, make a small hole in the mitts and thread the bolt through the mits with the bar end weight on the outside. That way you can position the mits exactly where you want them and hold 'em off the levers etc... you end up with the bar end weight on the outside of the mitt.... if you see what I mean?

 

[Minkey]

well it must be

Did not grab the front brake in Panic mate, its a routine manover in heavy city traffic !

well I ride in heavy city traffic every day, if I should be braking hard enough to be locking the front wheel whilst in heavy traffic, then I am doing something wrong because I dont.
Now whats the words I am looking for oh yes "foreward planning".

I dont like Avons personally but they are not that bad to lock up easily, not the tyres just pilot error. sorry mate d04l1ng

 

[jerry993]

Minkey

Happy to accept that

I am looking at nearly 20 years of london cummuting in all weathers and I have made errors !, the thing is you know you made them

ie over cooking it
spinning out the rear
misjudjing gaps etc

This took me by total suprise !

Anyway its fucking snowing outside and I am off into it

becarefull everyone

 

[Centaur]

Lot to be said for

a lightweight winter hack. Won't break the bank if it goes down and if it's light you stand a better chance of keeping it up with a foot down. I successfully did it once with a blackbird when I locked up the backend doing exactly what jerry did. Left it a bit late overtaking going into a roundabout and braked too enthusiastically. Too many years riding in the desert and instinctively stuck the foot down. I was lucky I didn't break my leg!. Maybe it was cos I was on my way to see DK. Perhaps God was trying to tell me something! Trouble is I've only got my winter hack now so I'm on under false pretences :cry:

 

[Jono]

Can someone enlighten me why the name on the tyre would make you almost drop the bike? Worried 'cause I've got Avons fitted.

 

[Centaur]

Gateau

Can someone enlighten me why the name on the tyre would make you almost drop the bike? Worried 'cause I've got Avons fitted.

Bolleau Jono....fook all to do with the make of tyre..... In my humble opinion!

 

[Jono]

T'ank god fer t'at ser! :bow: