Nearly lost it last night...

[twin4me]

Hacking home through the traffic and as I filtered towards the front of some lights they changed. The guy just in front of me was dawdling so I thought I had time to nip past him and cut in front just before the traffic island. I was halfway past him when the bastard speeded up, I had to jam on the brakes as the traffic island was rapidly approaching. The only problem was the area just in front of it was covered in dust and grit, locked the front, big wobble, foot down, saved it. The bloke in front only realised what was going on when my tyre starting spealing and I filled his mirrors.

When do the council NEVER sweep these areas? I hate riding through them unless I really have to, they are always covered in crap. Nails and screws always seem to hibernate there as well.

REMINDER TO SELF - Don't do this again...

[Rich_Tuono]

Good save - at least you and your bike are ok.

Road planners in the UK need a good slapping - some of the measures taken to slow down roads or 'make them safer' are downright dangerous.

The stupid buggers where I live have painted the centre section of previous nice, wide sweeping road with 6-foot white chevrons for all of its 3 mile length, trying to seperate traffic going in opposite directions.

Whereas cars previously kept the entire road clean by using all the width of the road there is now a greasy 6-foot wide deathtrap for anyone tempted to overtake. f###g madness.

Road furniture is appearing everywhere like its going out of fashion.

rant over

[Gold]

I have ridden a motorbike only about 20 times.

Once a friends and 19 times my new RS50.

I have never ever been able to save a "moment".

I crashed once. It was my friends.

He had a moped, I was braking hard in southern Greece (anyone that's been there knows the roads are all just gravel.

The front locked up, and the bike went right under me, I went left.

I remember rolling and also remember seeing my friend run towards his moped, (while I hadn't even finished rolling yet).

Does any one have any tips on how to "save it".

[cornercarver]

Does any one have any tips on how to "save it".

It is pretty much just instinct and different in every circumstance. The only way to plan in advance to 'save it' is to not lose it in the first place, I'm afraid. The best way to do that is to practice your skills in a safe environment like a parking lot. Practice max braking over and over again with front, rear, and both brakes. Practice making shapr turns. Create a couple of corners with orange cones or rocks marking the corner and practice safely making the turn. Then practice stopping halfway through a turn (stand the bike up and stop at first, then learn just how hard you can brake while still leaned over). Continue to practice exercises like these every month or two for the rest of your riding career and you will always be as prepared to handle an emergency as you can possibly be. Track days help build skills for higher speed events, by the way, although most high speed problems aren't 'saveable,' at least you'll be less likely to have a problem at speed if you've built your skills on a track. Do they un RS50's on cart tracks anywhere near where you live?

--sam

[The Dr.Jon]

REMINDER TO SELF - Don't do this again...

But you will!

That's happened to me on several occassions, as I ride around London. I too have made (and broken) many resolutions to stop riding like a twat, but when I come up to the first set of lights post promise and take a place in the queue with the cagers, I just can't help but ride through the road crap, nails, glass and all, to take my place at the front for the next grand prix start with the rest of the madding crowd and hoon away as the red turns to green!

[twin4me]

Dr Jon
I noticed on Tuesday that the road around the islands on the A217 through Mitcham and Streatham have all been swept!
Perhaps someone was going to sue them...

Gold
There is no trick to saving it, instinct takes over and I just stick a leg out, however one day I expect I'll get my leg snapped doing it.