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From: marauder@fluke.UUCP (Bill Landsborough)
Newsgroups: net.cycle
Subject: Re: Screeeech.....
Message-ID: <2954@vax4.fluke.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 12-Dec-85 11:11:29 EST
Article-I.D.: vax4.2954
Posted: Thu Dec 12 11:11:29 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 13-Dec-85 20:37:44 EST
References: <158@ingres.ARPA> <355@tekig5.UUCP> <2944@vax4.fluke.UUCP> <924@ihlpa.UUCP>
Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., Everett, WA
Lines: 48

In article <924@ihlpa.UUCP> animal@ihlpa.UUCP (D. Starr) writes:
>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.
>
Dan, you are right about the Hurt report.  Most riders do not touch
the front brake.  However the ones who use it "just for emergencies"
do what I described above.  And it is quite easy to lock your front
brake with most motorcycles on dry pavement, especially when you turn
the front wheel sideways!  We use to play a game in the Bay Area  as
to who could lock their front brake the longest on pavement and still 
keep going.  Believe me it is quite easy on most bikes. (I ride a
Kawasaki GPZ 1100 with Dunlop Sport Elite tires)

>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).
  
>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

I read in I think Cycle Guide magazine that Mississippi does not allow
crash bars.  I don't necessarily agree with their reasoning but I can
believe that it is true.

Bill Landsborough