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From: animal@ihlpa.UUCP (D. Starr)
Newsgroups: net.cycle
Subject: Re: Screeeech.....
Message-ID: <924@ihlpa.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 10-Dec-85 13:40:38 EST
Article-I.D.: ihlpa.924
Posted: Tue Dec 10 13:40:38 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 11-Dec-85 04:39:24 EST
References: <158@ingres.ARPA> <355@tekig5.UUCP> <2944@vax4.fluke.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 42

While discussing the phenomenon of "laying it down," Bill Landsborough
remarked that:
> What usually happens to cause a rider faced with a collision is the
> rider panics and grabs a death grip on the front brake, locks the
> wheel and at the same time tries to turn to avoid the collision.  The
> result is the bike goes down and both the rider and bike go under the
> car (or whatever).
> 
This is not quite true.  According to Harry Hurt's study of motorcycle
accidents, in the vast majority of collisions the front brake is never
touched.  Instead, the car-driver reflex (stomp the right foot on the
brake) comes into play and the rear end slides out, putting the bike on
its side.  With the combination of modern front tires and the weight
transfer effects typical of motorcycles, it is rather difficult to lock
up the front wheel on dry pavement (if you don't believe me, try it some
time).  Regardless of the above nit-pick, the advice to use the front
brake as the normal method of stopping is still sound.

As an aside, I wonder if the idea of "laying it down" originally evolved
in the days before paved roads.  On loose gravel or dirt, a motorcycle
may very well stop more quickly on its side.  More likely, I suspect, is
that "I laid it down" sounds better than "I fell over."

Another nit-pick:

> ...crash bars or aluminum cases on pavement make excellent slide rails
> and the bike will never stop. (By the way, crash bars have been
> outlawed in some states for this reason).
> 
Outlawing crashbars <another aside:  did you know that only one motorcycle
manufacturer (BMW) actually calls the things CRASH bars?  The others use
less frightening language like safety bars, case protectors, dresser bars,
etc.> makes little sense.  They don't hurt anything if you stay upright,
and if you fall over they will at least keep your leg from getting stuck
under the bike, and reduce the engine damage somewhat.  Are you sure that
some states have outlawed them--the only regulations concerning crashbars
that I know of is that Arkansas *requires* them on 750cc or larger bikes
(although the law is not enforced in my experience).

	Dan Starr

"Wash your bike regularly; the salt season is upon us!"