[Crimson Guard]

We had some serious rains yesterday and against my better judgment I was going pretty quick in local canyon when I saw some gravel in my path. No time to avoid so before I hit the gravel, I pulled in the clutch and closed throttle and hoped for the best.

Well the bike slid (and lateral scrub marks all along the perimeter of tires show that BOTH tires lost traction less than 1/4 of an inch away from edge of the tires). I then when into two serious tank slappers and was sure I was about to go down. I raised myself off the seat (so 100% of my weight on the pegs) because I was ready to jump off when the bike when it was about to go down. Miraculously, the bike settled down.

So, did my rising off the seats have anything to do with the recovery? Being off the gas and clutch? Thanks for our input. It was a very, very, very, very close call.

(It's also a good thing I didn't jump off the bike prematurely because I was about a few tenths of a seconds away for ejecting because I really thought it was a lost cause. )

[dimbaratto]

Originally Posted by Crimson Guard

We had some serious rains yesterday and against my better judgment I was going pretty quick in local canyon when I saw some gravel in my path. No time to avoid so before I hit the gravel, I pulled in the clutch and closed throttle and hoped for the best.

Well the bike slid (and lateral scrub marks all along the perimeter of tires show that BOTH tires lost traction less than 1/4 of an inch away from edge of the tires). I then when into two serious tank slappers and was sure I was about to go down. I raised myself off the seat (so 100% of my weight on the pegs) because I was ready to jump off when the bike when it was about to go down. Miraculously, the bike settled down.

So, did my rising off the seats have anything to do with the recovery? Being off the gas and clutch? Thanks for our input. It was a very, very, very, very close call.

(It's also a good thing I didn't jump off the bike prematurely because I was about a few tenths of a seconds away for ejecting because I really thought it was a lost cause. )

Honestly, you are probably just lucky you tires regained traction and didn't high side you.

Not that it matters all that much, but you probably should not have pulled in the clutch. You could have had a minute more time to have the engine slow the bike down, in theory of course b/c it happens all so fast.

As for throttle, def good you shut it off.

As for standing on the pegs, that shouldn't do much at all except shift a small amount of weight onto the rear tire, but since you said both tires lost traction, that wouldn't matter.

So, IMHO, buy a lottery ticket...

[chipset]

I am not sure I agree with cutting the throttle.

I have run into the same situation. In my case, the gravel was in the middle of the road, I was nearly straight up (coming out of a curve). In my case, the entire bike squirmed hitting the patch of gravel and then settled itself.

As I understand it, when you hit something that would normally cause you to lose traction, if you cut the throttle, you are going to upset the suspension. It's better to modulate the power rather than cut it by pulling in the throttle.

It's a panic moment, so I understand, but keep your hand on the throttle. If you unload your suspension, then the bike may come loose rather than still having some suspension to play with.

As for getting up out of the seat.. I am all for it. Your legs become another suspension component and make it easier for the suspension to do it's job.

So, dimbaratto and I have given you differing opinions. It will be interesting to see what others say.

[tye1138]

You were lucky.

Few words of advice; Take it to the track. Seriously, if you get that itch to play in the canyons and can't contain yourself even after it was clearly too wet to ride, next time you do something silly, you might not be around to tell us about it.

Never pull in the clutch. The only reason why the clutch exists is to start. You need the engine breaking and the motor itself to get out of problems like you were in.

Finally, a tip... Find some time, get some money and take a introduction to motocross course. In learning how to ride a dirt bike, a situation like you had, would be instinct. Foot would be on the ground, throttle would be applied and you would have just slid around the problem. Yea, your heart would have been racing, but you would have been upright. All I do on my spare time is ride motocross because it teaches the skills you need to keep the bike upright in all sorts of situations like the one you were in.

Sorry for sounding like a dick, I just hate to see people get into trouble because of stupid things like riding right after a storm...

[dimbaratto]

Originally Posted by chipset

I am not sure I agree with cutting the throttle.

I have run into the same situation. In my case, the gravel was in the middle of the road, I was nearly straight up (coming out of a curve). In my case, the entire bike squirmed hitting the patch of gravel and then settled itself.

As I understand it, when you hit something that would normally cause you to lose traction, if you cut the throttle, you are going to upset the suspension. It's better to modulate the power rather than cut it by pulling in the throttle.

It's a panic moment, so I understand, but keep your hand on the throttle. If you unload your suspension, then the bike may come loose rather than still having some suspension to play with.

As for getting up out of the seat.. I am all for it. Your legs become another suspension component and make it easier for the suspension to do it's job.

So, dimbaratto and I have given you differing opinions. It will be interesting to see what others say.

I agree you shouldn't cut the throttle abruptly and if your rear gets a little loose you want to keep some throttle for suspension and traction (dig through the gravel as opposed to 'hydroplane' on it) reasons like you said.

But I was under the impression both his tires lost contact, so it's hard to say what part of your suspension you want to work less in that scenerio, but I would assume you want that front tire to contact foremost.

[Crimson Guard]

Actually, I pulled in the clutch and cut the throttle when I saw the gravel patch not while I was in it. So, it was about a second before contact.

[brettc63]

I agree with chipset.

I've trained myself to go neutral throttle when you have the time and I also for some strange reason, usually lift myself out of the seat. Or is it the bike moving from under you? It happens so quick sometimes. Not sure if it's instinct from learning on dirt bikes but I think my reasoning is that in the process you are keeping your body where it should be (going straight) and the bike does what it needs to underneath you & hopefully comes back underneath you when it's ready.

Planting your foot on bitumen is not a good idea imo - Smooth is the answer - no sudden chops in throttle, brakes or steering.

If track riding was what it's all about Tye then I'd still be on a tricyle in my back yard.

[Crimson Guard]

I don't think my legs are long enough to effectively plant it on the ground and not make it worse.

Technically, I wasn't "playing". It was a case of the "red midst" -enough so that even after the slide, I didn't let up!

[j-mal]

In all honesty it doesn't sound like you did anything to help your chances you just had a moment and got lucky. No you don't pull in the clutch and no you shouldn't chop the throttle ( as has already been stated). Be careful out there man there's no point in pushing under road conditions you know are less than ideal or just down right dangerous.

[doorsdude]

have you ever seen the one where the guy loses control of the bike, both start to go down, and then the rider falls off and the bike keeps going almost perfectly straight. well normally the bike does not crash by itself, it is always rider input that causes it.

it sounds to me what saved you probably had more to do with what you did not do, as apposed to what you did right.