Well they say there are 2 types of riders - the ones who have gone down and the ones who will. I am now officially a member of the former. Happened Saturday before last 5-10.
I was on my way to work and was making a left hand turn from a turn lane on a 4 lane road. There was one car coming and I thought I had the turn arrow. Halfway into the turn I realized I just had a green light and the car actually had the right of way. So I let off the throttle, tapped the front brake and down she went. It happened so quick it took me a second to realize what was happening.
I had on all my gear except boots. Just had tennis shoes on. I ended up picking up the bike and riding on to work but my left ankle was killing me. When I got to work I called my wife to take me to the emergency room to have it x-rayed. No broken bones, just a really bad sprain. Walked on crutches most of last week. I'm now walking without them, but still have some pain and a good limp.
The bike faired OK. I figure I've done about $300 worth of damage. Maybe less. Thank God for frame sliders. Skinned the rear fender pretty good. Skinned the bottom of the left crankcase cover. Bent the gearshift lever. I've straightened the gearshift and actually took the bike out for a little spin last Thursday. Still hurt bad to shift so it'll be a little while before I ride again.
The next track day here is June 15 so I've got to be up and running by then. :)
The moral of the story is to wear all your gear all the time! If I would've been wearing my boots I probably wouldn't have been hurt at all.
I'll try to put up some pics as soon as I get the bike home. It's still here at work.

Bummer! Glad you're relatively unharmed and were wearing most of your gear.

I'm trying to think about the situation and how it could have been avoided. Yes, if you waited for the green arrow, that would have been great... but given that you didn't (it's okay, lapses in attention do happen), given that you didn't - what could you have done to stop without spilling?

How fast were you going? What was your lean? Did you attempt to straighten the bike up before braking? Were you on a slippery road (wet or on a white arrow)? What do you think?

I'd like to see a lesson in this - both for you and others. Let's think this through.

A low speed dump sounds way better than getting T-boned.

Heal up buddy!

How fast were you going? What was your lean? Did you attempt to straighten the bike up before braking? Were you on a slippery road (wet or on a white arrow)? What do you think?

I'd like to see a lesson in this - both for you and others. Let's think this through.
I was doing about 25-30. Leaning into it and no I didn't straighten up. The road wasn't slippery but I didn't go back afterword to see if there was something slippery( oil, gravel, etc.) in the road. The bottom line is it was completely my fault. I was in a hurry to get to work, hungry, whatever excuse you want to put in here and not wearing the proper gear. Lesson learned. Could have been a lot worse. I just read 2 newspaper articles this morning about motorcyclists getting killed here in south La. this weekend.
I really have been trying to play this out in my head over and over again.
Everything happened so fast but I really believe that leaning, turning and tapping the front brake is what caused the bike to fall.

FWIW when I'm going slow and turning, like into a parking lot or driveway, I just use my back brake. It prevents the front wheel from doing exactly that.

Everything I've ever read says to avoid using the rear brake altogether.
Any thoughts on that?

The rear brake is there for a reason. You always stop faster when you use all your brakes, but, it's also easier to lock up the rear wheel so you have to be gentile with it.

If you're leaned over using full braking, (front or rear) is not an option. You need to stand up the bike before getting on the binders hard.

Sorry to hear that, but glad that you're ok. You and I both need to do some healing. The lean + braking is probably what did you in.

When you slid, did you go into their lane of traffic? Where did you end up and how far did you slide? Did cars have to stop to help you?

I like to use the rear brake through the corners to scrub some speed coming into the corner because it doesn't load up the front suspension.

If i'm straight up and I'm emergency stopping I hammer on the rear sometimes til it locks up and then I let off a bit but using both breaks helps out a lot!

Theres a reason both breaks are there they both have their application.

Gotta be careful at low speeds and when the tire is turned w/ the front brake it has a tendency to lock up and then you are done!

Hey at least you avoided the T-Bone! That would have been a lot worse.

I went down in a similar fashion, but it was because I wasn't paying attention to the car in front of me that had stopped in a turn.

I've learned to lightly brake in a turn if I need to, but to straighten it up if I need to get on it hard. You probably panicked and just grabbed it, right? And rear brake is definitely useful. There's a very noticeable different with and without it. I just can't understand people that don't use it. I can't stand the for sale ads that say "rear brake in brand new condition because I never use it."

Well they say there are 2 types of riders -
Funny enough, after you graduate... well that's the funny part... there is no graduating in this saying. :wink:

Glad you are alright. Yeah, once you lean in to a turn... on a bike you are committed. Really gotta project when getting there.

And about the track day, don't push it... take it easy it's just a blast to be out there... and if just being out there is pushing it, let it go. If you can't get a rain check it's only money. There will be more.

Everything I've ever read says to avoid using the rear brake altogether.
Any thoughts on that?

You've read a lot of bad advice. Even though the front does provide you with another stopping power - there are situations when using your rear brake can save your ass.

I often frequent a forum where many experienced SF Bay Area riders hang out, and there were a number of discussions about the usage of the rear brake. Here's one you should read: http://www.southbayriders.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57598 and this http://www.southbayriders.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16456

Personally, I use the rear brake ALL THE TIME. If I go into a turn a bit fast, I use a little bit of rear brake to scrub off some speed and help the bike turn. There were certain times when using the back brake helped me stop in time during emergency braking. (The trick here is to not let go of the rear brake until you're stopped!!!)

I'd like to add that I'm no expert - the above is just my view on things.

Okay... I'll let others take the floor.

Ditto on the benifits of the rear brake. Once you adjust the lever to the right position for your foot so you don't lock it up. Test it a few times to find out how far you have to push it for that happen and then use it. You'll find it's not scary at all, and quite helpful.

Glad you are okay. And take your time to heal, there will be other trackdays and you are not getting paid to race... yet.

Glad you're OK pp. Take it easy out there. And as a habit i just always
use both brakes. Glad you were geared up. Boots are so important tho'.

Ditto on the benifits of the rear brake. Once you adjust the lever to the right position for your foot so you don't lock it up. Test it a few times to find out how far you have to push it for that happen and then use it. You'll find it's not scary at all, and quite helpful.

Glad you are okay. And take your time to heal, there will be other trackdays and you are not getting paid to race... yet.
Just noticed your sig so
"As you wish"

Yeowch. Glad to hear you're alright and that it wasn't more serious.

I've eased up on my rear brake use a LOT since my emergency braking slide the other week, but seems like I'd best get back in the habit.

Just noticed your sig so
"As you wish"
:lol: :lol: :lol:

I just watched a youtube video of Jerry motorman Palladino. He is a cop that does instructional video ride like a pro I think it is called. He says at slow speed if you hit the front break when the wheel is turned you will get pulled to the ground like a magnet. He promotes the use of the rear brake for control to stabalize the bike. It sounds like that might be what happened to you. Practicing can surely help technique but we all do what we do when it comes to an emergency. Glad you are alright

I guess my first thought was some practice braking with the rear while turning and practice straightening and braking might have helped. That along with some boots. Re-enforces to me that I need to get back to doing some quick practice stops more frequently.

Glad you are OK. I've ridden three bikes but admittedly I do not have a lot of miles (about 5000 miles). Dropped my first bike at an intersection, that's it as far as mishaps go.