Hornet Crashed :(

Adrian · Spanner Monkey Joined: 05 Mar 2009 Karma :

Hi guys,

First of all I would like to thank my friend Ben, the ambulance service and everyone that offered me all the help they could to make sure I was ok. Thank You!!!!

Unfortunately my worst nightmare came true. I managed to crash my Hornet.

Bank holiday Saturday I was out at the H Cafe (Oxfordshire) waiting for a friend to come so we can enjoy a few rides together.

It was around 10:30 am, the sun was out and a perfect biking day was going to come true.

My friend turns up, we have a quick chat and decide to go past my house first to pick up my wallet that I had forgotten and then enjoy the rest of the day...

We left the H cafe and after about 5 - 10 minutes I remember doing around 80 - 90 mph and looking down at my front tire that was slightly following some linear grooves on the road. This is when it all started.

By the time I had lifted my head up again I thought I was carrying to much speed for the corner ahead and I panicked. Started braking which stood the bike right up, mounted the central reservation area between the lanes, rode on that for a few seconds, started braking some more but with no real stopping due to loads of skidding, came off the middle bit riding towards the oncoming traffic, crossed this lane also and managed to mount the last kerb which after a little more riding on grass and heading towards a metal pole I ended up crashing in the trees and bushes that were on the side of the road a few meters before the sign.

The bike hit the tree first ripping in two and I landed head first which led to the helmet splitting my head on the forehead causing blood to go all over the visor, eyes etc. There was also barbed wire through these bushed but I think the bike ripped them just in time before I went though them.

I remember getting up and looking around shocked by what has happened. I could not believe it. I took my helmet off quickly and ran up out of the ditch.

My friend calls the ambulance but even before they turned up which was around 2 minutes a biker stopped who was a paramedic and his pillion a nurse. Another car stops and the driver is a GP. When the ambulance came these guys were reporting everything they had already checked. Loads of bikers and cars were all slowing right down and asking if we need more help...

My bike is damaged but nothing that can't be repaired and I still can't believe my luck. I was facing two cars when I came off the middle reservation area and if they hadn't slammed their brakes on it would of been very bad news. I never thought I'd end up facing oncoming traffic at 80 mph. I've only got cuts and bruises everywhere but nothing broken Shocked

Wafer_Thin_Ham · Super Spammer Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Karma :

Get yourself some advanced training/read up on techniques.
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Acemastr · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Oct 2008 Karma :

ouch, sorry to hear... but...er... there's not a corner there Confused

Could have taken at that 150 and still been comfortable!
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Paxovasa · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Apr 2010 Karma :

That could have ended a lot worse Shocked

Not having a go, but have you thought about having extra training?
You should have been able to take that corner at 80 easily.
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locked · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 22 Oct 2009 Karma :

ouch dude, glad your ok though Thumbs Up

You telling your insurance of fixing it up yourself?
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Devans · Spanner Monkey Joined: 14 May 2008 Karma :

Wow man, got lucky there. I'm glad your ok!!

DrDonnyBrago · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Jan 2010 Karma :

Sorry to hear about the crash, bike should be ok with a few quid spent on it.

As for the bend, could have taken that much much faster. As you said you needed the confidence to lean it, it's easy to panic and not think straight when the prospect of ploughing into a car is in your mind though.

Important thing is you are in one piece Thumbs Up

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Adrian · Spanner Monkey Joined: 05 Mar 2009 Karma :

Thanks for the replies.

I know! I should of just gone through with no problem at all but I froze...

Training is the first thing I want to do when I recover.

I know this crash could of been avoided if I trusted to lean the bike just a little more but that's that! I have learned a lot from it and i'm 100% considering training, tack days, reading etc...
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Paxovasa · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Apr 2010 Karma :

It was a combination of braking and target fixation.
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JP7 · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Dec 2008 Karma :

Sorry to hear about the crash, it sounds like you've been very lucky!

I can't believe you managed to get a paramedic, a nurse and a GP there before an ambulance arrived! All you needed was an off-duty copper and a fire chief and you're sorted!

Adrian · Spanner Monkey Joined: 05 Mar 2009 Karma :

Third party fire and theft so...fixing it myself.

Like everyone here said, you can't believe how happy I am i'm ok...I thought that was going to be it!

I've absolutely s***ing myself. Very unique feeling that I never want to experience again. Hitting the ground at fast speed is very aggressive and draining moment.

One of the ambulance women was a rider herself. I kept on asking about my bike and she was like Shocked

"you're asking about the bike?" She even said I cannot believe your in one piece.
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pinkyfloyd · Super Spammer Joined: 20 Jul 2010 Karma :

Something similar happened to me only not as disastrous. I was hammering along a country road and I thought I was carrying too much speed. I saw the white lines heading towards the front wheel at the edge of the road thinking "oh fuck, beyond that is grass and hedge and I'm off"

Luckily with a combination of brakes and target fixation (eyes never left the white line) I managed to slow down enough and coast round with my wheels on the line.

Bumped into my instructor a few days after at a local and told him of my near disaster and he said I should have trusted the bike more and kept my eyes where I wanted to go and not worry about looking where the bike is going. He said that because I kept my eyes on the white line I followed it. I should have looked at the exit of the corner and the bike would have leant over for me.

Lesson was learnt.

Glad you survived to tell the tale bud.
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Adrian · Spanner Monkey Joined: 05 Mar 2009 Karma :

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

I know that corner... and it isn't a corner.

This is going to sound rude, and I don't mean it to but I'm writing this in a hurry.

So you're telling us we've got a choice. We can either wear full gear, or we can learn to ride properly?

Obviously we should do both, but seriously this is what advanced riding does... it teaches you to actually ride. The test, license and everything, that just teaches you how to ride around town, not to control the bike at speed. This is where the whole licensing system in the UK falls down.

Get back on, gain a little bit of confidence back, and get yourself some advanced training.
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621andy · Scooby Slapper Joined: 07 Jun 2010 Karma :

MaybeGuy · Super Spammer Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Karma :

ive been around corners as sharp as that on one wheel. Its actually hilarious that you managed to crash on it from panic braking. So heres a big hahahaa from me.

Ps: hate to say it but it looks like your headstock is bent. Usd forks dont bend, but your frame does.
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Blackwolf · Burgerfist Joined: 19 Nov 2006 Karma :

Ah shit man, i know that corner to and as MJ said, its not really a corner. ( Sorry its harsh I know you can take that at over a ton happily)

But I do know of the tracking as you said in the road.

Loos like you and the bike have come off lightly, espically going over the reservation and the ditch. sorry to hear fella, hopefully see you at H soon.

GWS Thumbs Up

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MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

Just out of interest, when did you pass your test?
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Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

L4Isoside · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Mar 2010 Karma :

What tyres have you got on? Get some lovely sticky ones

get on a roundabout, get a KD

then you'll start to understand what the bike and tyres can do.

Also, get something like twist of the wrist 2, that'll teach ya what you need to do at high speeds etc.

Also, id suggest some advanced training, just to help you out that little bit more.

I have to say, a silly place to crash yes, and very lucky considering. Just learn from your mistakes and take things easy (esp as winter is approaching)

Put a thread up on workshop about fixing yer bike up Thumbs Up

Adrian · Spanner Monkey Joined: 05 Mar 2009 Karma :

I know it was a really stupid crash. It shouldn't of happened. I totally froze and I feel really silly cause the bend is sooo forgiving. Like some said 80 even 100+ should of been comfortable but... I don't know how I managed that. The thing is I know what I've done wrong, I will take training, I have learnt my lesson and I'm alive so...

I know some people are capable of taking that on one wheel but I clearly wasn't. I rode to fast for ME and that was enough to cause the crash.

I passed my test last summer.

I've got BT012 tires on which are the stock ones the Hornet comes with.

I doubt the frame is bent but is there any way I can find out? Where can I take the bike to get the frame checked?

Blackwolf thanks for offering to help mate. I'll let you know when I recover and can start doing some work Smile

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Hetzer · Super Spammer Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Karma :

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colin1 · Captain Safety Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :

Congratulations on still being alive. A friend of mine head butted a tree in similar circumstances a few years ago, and died after lots of pain and a trip in an air ambulance.

I dont know if you hit the tree at a low speed than he did, but he was wearing a flip up lid, and the fact that you had a normal lid that protected you, and didnt die, adds to my suspicion that flip up lids offer no protection in a frontal impact. They are basically an open face helmet and just look as if they have a chinbar, but its purely cosmetic and has no strength.

If it feels like you are going too fast for a corner, try to lean it over further. Never brake hard with the front brake for any length of time when turning. You can scrub off quite a bit of speed with your back brake as you are going into a corner, and its a lot easier to control if the back wheel loses grip than the front wheel.

Racers can brake hard quite deep into a corner, but its not something to be tried by someone struggling to make corners on the road. You will never run out of grip on the road by leaning the bike over, but its quite easy to brake traction by braking too hard when leaning the bike over.

If you find yourself distracted as with looking down at the road, reduce your speed by letting go of the throttle, so when you look up, you dont have to suddenly deal with something that caught you by surprise.

Take things easy.An accident that doesnt kill you is gods way of telling you to slow down to a speed you can cope with. If you dont learn the lessons from this accident, your next one could be a lot worse.

You are very lucky.
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JP7 · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Dec 2008 Karma :

Bubbs · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 May 2009 Karma :

Lucky your still in one piece.

I know how that blind panic can take over all your senses. I've had a few of these panic moments and managed to get my concentration back quickly and avoid damage. Once was on a corner that was by no means a tight corner, with the mrs on the back. It was after 200miles of night time riding in the rain and I was knackered.. target fixation as i was coming round the corner and almost ditched the bike.... man that woke me right up... horrible feeling.

Well you learned the hard way.
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