Post-lowside bike pics. Not too bad.

[Guest]

Hey, I've updated my album to include better damage assessment pics.

Overall, doesn't look bad. Dale (rustybronco) is sending an advancer and signal generator (and a cover to boot - Thanks Dale!), and I think that oughta get me running again.

Here's the link again - http://picasaweb.google.com/joshua.r...eat=directlink

I'm focusing the rest of my energy on fixing the problems I suspect contributed to the crash, namely long-overdue suspension upgrades. Check out the rear shock bushings in the album. Does that look right?

I'm bought myself a new rear tire (Shinko Tourmaster) while I was at it - it was time. Speaking of which, any one of you live in Northern Alabama and have equipment to change a tire? I know what to do, but I left my buddy with the bead breaker etc. back in Phoenix!

As for me, I'm healing up great. Got to the point where I was pain-free with Advil, so, not wanting to forget I'm injured and do something dumb, I stopped the Advil about 24hrs ago and feel a little achy but otherwise fine. It's been 3-1/2 weeks, so I feel good about the progress.

Here's the original thread about the crash if you're interested. http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=155472

[TheCafeKid]

Josh, I hadnt been on the board in a while so I must have completely missed your crash. Im sorry to hear about it brother, but Im glad that you're coming through it ok, and the damage to you was nearly as minimal as it was to the bike. Oddly enough, I had an experience a couple summers ago pretty similar to yours, only there wasnt a pot hole.

I was coming up US35 toward home, round a LOOOONG sweeper. The speed limit through there is 55, but it's only two lanes, and cuts through the heart of Downtown Dayton, so if you're not doing 70 in the slow lane, you're gonna get run down by semis. Along with that, this particular section of highway is notorious for being full of hastily repaired chuck holes (its a concrete highway, and it gets busted up by the ice and the plows every winter) so the surface is much like riding off road really. Well, here I am blasting along on my 1100G (which is pretty much YOUR bike just a larger bore) and in the middle of this long sweeper, I hit a nice patch of said busted up road and I hear a loud scraaaaaape.. I look down and my side stand is DOWN!! Somehow, either the spring was loose enough (which it was, and was replaced after this) or I never got it all of the way up or something, i dunno, but it had come down to the locked position (full extension) I desperately stabbed at it with my foot, while still trying to pay attention to the traffic surrounding me, and also, the upcoming "on" ramp that traffic was coming up to merge into my lane. I missed the stand a couple of times. The left hand sweeper was starting to get a little deeper, but I was absolutely NOT going to lean that bike to the left and have that stand contact the road at this speed.. It might have flicked it back up, but it also might have pole vaulted me into certain death. I wasnt going to find out either way.. So, I stood the bike up, pointed it to the grass between the up coming on ramp and my lane and prayed that i could stop it in the grass before i hit the on ramp and the cars on it..

I didnt think i was going to stop.. I applied BOTH brakes as equally as possible. All my years riding dirt have basicly trained my brain into NEVER braking with more front than back at ANY time, unless in a complete panic stop. And in the grass, I wasnt panic stopping. My one and only get off on a street bike came from grabbing too much front brake while demanding as much traction from my wheel as i was from the brake, and that is a bad combo. So I just kept slowly squeezing the front, while applying more and more to the rear. Eventually the back end locked up on the grass and the bike fish tailed just a bit, but it's easier to control fishtail than expect your front wheel to do much but go straight and slow you down in that situation. I did get stopped, and JUST before i ran out of room. Upright. But I could have just as easily have gone down. I sat there for a bit and collected myself. My nerves were pretty rattled.

I guess my point, or lesson here, in order to help you in the future, is that in your assesment, you seem to refer to the front brake as your primary stopping power. It is. over 70% comes from the front. But in a situation like that, you need to use all of your braking power. You did the right thing, kept the bike upright as long as you could, and straight. This allows you to demand all of your braking power, and need minimal traction. But, and hindsight is 20/20 and Im certainly not trying to sound like im judging or scolding, the more front brake you apply, the more the CG of the bike is loading the front suspension, the harder it is to redirect the bike when needed...This is why its important to try to brake equally, to keep the CG as centered as possible, the front suspension as unloaded as possible. In reality, you would have stopped much faster than i think you might have thought at the time. Again, not judging, so much is happening at that point, you did what instinct told you. But, when you're back up and riding, practice some panic type stops with both brakes, then with just the front brake, and see how much of a difference it makes. Im sure you know this stuff, but it's instances like this that remind us how important practicing some of this stuff sometimes really is!

Glad you're getting better, and if I have any parts (and lord i have way too many) that might help you, just let me know!!

-Josh

[Roostabunny]

Josh, Dude, I agree. I'm habitually light on the rear brake, but in an emergency stop, straight upright like I was, even if I had come to the point of locking the rear at all I probably would have been able to modulate it and stop that much faster.

I have a friend who only rides in the dirt, and he's trying to get me to go with him. I'm going to take him up on it, partly because it sounds like a blast (I was a mountain biker back in the day), but partly because I know it'll make me a better rider in less-than-perfect conditions like these. Either way, I'll also be taking your advice on practicing using both brakes.

[TheCafeKid]

Josh, Dude, I agree. I'm habitually light on the rear brake, but in an emergency stop, straight upright like I was, even if I had come to the point of locking the rear at all I probably would have been able to modulate it and stop that much faster.

I have a friend who only rides in the dirt, and he's trying to get me to go with him. I'm going to take him up on it, partly because it sounds like a blast (I was a mountain biker back in the day), but partly because I know it'll make me a better rider in less-than-perfect conditions like these. Either way, I'll also be taking your advice on practicing using both brakes.

Believe me, I am A LONG WAY from the greatest rider on earth, and I had to break A LOT of bad 'dirt' habits when i started riding street, but I have to say, riding dirt taught me A LOT of stuff it might have taken me much longer to learn had I started out on the street. Thankfully, my one street get off was only at about 10-15MPH, and in a parking lot, but Ive had countless dirt getoffs, broken bones, and even been on fire!! (DONT ASK!! LOL) but I credit alot of what street skill I have to my dirt riding years.. It WILL help, but dont go into it trying to ride like the street, there are some SERIOUS differences (like counter-steering in the dirt will get you a face full of just that depending on how you're riding) Take it slow, get back into it, and take your buddy up on that offer for fun in the dirt. But above all, while you should learn from your accident, and keep that little bit of fear tucked away (that fear keeps us from crossing our limits!!) DO NOT let it overcome you, or control your actions. I definately think that you're pretty accurate with your assesment of your accident, just hearing it from you. Target fixation is every riders mortal enemy. It's like a beautiful woman, enticing you to look at her, but in doing so, your wife will MURDER you. You dont want to look, but at the same time you cant help it!! I still struggle with it myself, and Im pretty sure every rider does, and just about all of them who go down will tell you it had some part in their end result.

Stay safe brother, and if I can help at all, let me know!!!