Right way to crash.....

[Dischord]

What a load of shit. Was talking to a friend the other day and he was telling me all about 'When you fall off, tuck your arms etc' wtf is he on about, if you fall there's no way in hell you're going to have the time to 'crash right' unless your anticipating it at every second. Just wondering about what you all think? and before you say it I've had my share of crashes!
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2012 KTM EXC 250

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[Robby]

I always think about what do to, just don't always have time to get it all done.

Haven't crashed since I was a broke student, back then I always tried to stay under the bike to stop it getting too damaged. My body heals for free, fixing bike costs money.

[G]

First time I crashed on track (at some speed) I tried to get up while still sliding - got onto knees and hands/elbows and realised that I didn't fancy running at 30+mph.

The last time I crashed on track I actually remember thinking not only "lie straight and still, don't move until I've stopped properly" but also thought "wow - I've done the right thing and actually thought about it".

Maybe doing something like Judo might help (I don't, well not since I was 9), but I'm sure that it's an instinct that can be developed. Maybe you just need to crash more .

[Luke_Retrofly]

Hi
When i crashed @ snett i did actually have time to think, proberly the adrenalin kicking in, as it also make things seem slower so u can react quicker, if that makes sense. I fell off and though "good im sliding, ill be ok if i keep doing this".
Somethign must have clipped a crack or a change in surfcae of the track, cause next thing i knew i was rolling like a rag-doll.

I think u can think what you are doing, but at the end of the day its gunna be down to luck aswell.

Luke
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[loply]

A nice gentle low side on a track followed by 10 seconds of smooth sliding is one thing,

Suddenly loosing the front on a pothole whilst on the road is another though!
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Yamaha SZR660 Caution to the wind, the throttle pinned!

[freestyler_onli]

He!

I tried to roll when i came off mine-i was glad id bought crash bungs- only to see my gixxer k4 get crushed under a range rover!

[G]

[bish777]

I *try* to lie on my back if its a slide.

The main trick is to relax as things break easier when you are stiff as a board.

In many situations, particularly high sides, you have no choice but to accept fate. And pain.
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GSXR1100J

[lurker]

whatever way you react during an off its down to luck whether you come out of it unscathed or not.
i mean you may tuck your arms in to stop fingers/arms getting broken but depending on your speed and environment this might not be an issue and youre legs could end up getting steamrollered(to put it nicely).
me personally i think trying as hard as you can to imitate a ball and tucking everything in is prob a decent idea, but then again you might roll right into a wall.

[paulthewitt]

every person seems to crash differently. keeping everything in seems to be a good idea at first. but if you start rolling the more central mass means you spin quicker which hurts more when you hit the ground each revolution. sliding is most definatly the best if you have proper gear on.

i have crashed 4 times. slid twice, once on my head, not pleasantthe other on my front, was fine. once i rolled and bounced fairly violently. hurt the most at the time. once just stopped and dropped.
all were at about 20 - 30mph

i hope you all never have to learn how to crash (tho the odds arent in your favour i'm afraid!

Paul

[stinkwheel]

Sliding is overrated on the road. In my oppinion you want to stop moving pretty quickly, it is by sliding into something solid that you are going to do yourself serious damage. You are going to roll about half the distance you would slide, and how many roads do you know that have enough room to slide to a halt without hitting a kerb/tree/wall from a high speed crash.

This revalation came to me a few years ago when I suddenly found myself sitting on my arse on the A6 at Shap doing about 70mph towards an armco barrier. I remember thinking "I'm going to hit that kerb, then I'm going to hit that barrier and it will bloody hurt.". Your brain goes into overdrive in that kind of situation, my train of thought went something like:

YOU DON'T WANT TO HIT THAT!
Need to slow down.
What slows you down when sliding down the road???
FRICTION! Need more friction.
How? AH! More surface area on road.
You need to lie back on your jacket.
But it's cordura, it's going to ragdoll you at this sort of speed.
Ah well, better than hitting a metal barrier
Tuck head in, adopt foetal position.
Ow! Fuck! ooohya! Damn! Ow! Shit!

Oh, I appear to have stopped.
NOW GET OFF THE ROAD!
Anything broken?

So yes, you have plenty of time to decide how you are going to crash. I think the one thing that will get you every time though is putting your hands out to stop yourself, which is why so many people break their wrists in bike crashes
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[Luke_Retrofly]

Hi

[Chriss]

When I came off two weeks ago, I went head first into a roundabout. No rolling or sliding involved. Broke my collar bone and knocked myself clean out.

Not recommended.
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TheShaggyDA: I've got 3 or 4 pairs that predate my wife, so at least 11.5 years old.

[Visitor Q]

I agree with G, Judo probably is what helps me. Ive never hit my head in a crash. Its innate now that when i go arse over tits i hold my head off the floor. Completely subconscious. And alledgedly the best thing is rendering yourself unconscious, which you will probably do in serious crashes anyway. This keeps you limp, where as has been said, otherwise your trying to stop yourself crashing and lock your arms out, causing your bones to shatter.

One thing i dislike is when you are sliding, you can do sweet dick all to change trajectory. Thats what upsets me, if something comes at you... I went clean down the oncoming lane for 20 feet when i came off the other week. Luckily nothing was coming, but i usually break into that corner from 100 down to 40 odd (i came off trying to do it at closer to 60... got my peg down before it lowsided mind) so if im anything to go by, i was damn lucky no one was coming.

Anyone else find you kick away from the bike?
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[Chriss]

[stinkwheel]

Nope, I agree with Bonny. The further away I am from 300lb of slowly rotating metal and sharp bits during a crash, the happier I will be. If this requires the assistance of a boot, so be it.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[ZaphodBeeble]

I haven't crashed on the road yet but I've come off a few times on the mountain and I always find that I kick away from the bike. I've never injured myself badly on the mountains, it's only ever been bruising or small cuts.
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Current bike: VTR1000F Firestorm. Previous: Firestorm (written off) - XJ600 Divvy - NSR125 - DT125 and a load of offroaders.

[iCraig]

Having crashed this weekend all I can say is don't headbutt the kerb, cos it hurts with a helmet on too!

Only advise I can give you is too slide, and wear full gear too.

[mchaggis]

Head-first into the ground at 30mph isn't recommended. I seem to have acquired an innate ability to hold my head off the ground on every occasion since. Having an expensive helmet to replace if I do nut the ground must make some difference.
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[paulthewitt]

i try to keep my head off the ground, conciously doing all i can to not hit my head. i still hit it tho!

as for kicking away, i seem to naturally part from the bike anyway. no conciousness about it. it just happens!

Paul

[veeeffarr]

What worries me is how you guys seem to talk abou this like it's an everyday occurance!

I'm really scared of starting to ride now!

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

The best way to crash is not to.

With me It was over so quickly all I knew was id been taken out and that my knee hurt from hitting the kerb. I went down on my back which was ok and my backpack protected me.

tobyr, its like crashing a pushbike only it wont end up in soo many grazes but more chance of thigns broken. And you wallet will hurt more.
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[sandman]

[bish777]

[Dark]

Sliding is definitely best, but get away from that bike however you can, it could crush you or burst into flames!

If your sliding fast enough it is possible to steer yourself, i remember sliding down a country round at about 110mph and having to steer myself back accross the centre line onto my side of the road again in case something was coming the other way. Thank god i had the proper kit on!

On my last crash, a low side at about 60 mph, i made the mistake of trying to hold it on my knee. But that just meant i got stuck under the bike all the way into the ditch and ended up with 210kg's of ZX7R on top of me and it hurt