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The Hidden Danger of locking up you rear tire in an emergency stop
There are several hidden dangers that exist when locking up your rear tire, understand what they are can help with making the best choice in an emergency. But first we need to review and agree on a few things. Motorcycles at speed needs very little change to steer or turn, by pushing or pressing the same side of the bar you wish to turn, this is forcing the bike to use the smaller circumference of the tire to make the bike turn. However for all this to work we need a few other things, momentum, wheels in alignment and equal traction.
Have you ever had to make a quick stop and locked up your rear brake, and the back of the bike start to slide out, realizing this you let off the brake, and the bike then violently wiggles. If this has happened to you then you've almost caused your bike to Highside, potentially making a bad situation even worst. Highsiding is getting hurled over and in front of your bike, violently slamming into the ground, and then your bike usually hits you.
So you need to stop quickly and have applied to much brake locking up the back tire, and now only have one tire with traction, nor is the traction equal. Since the rear tire no longer has traction, it is now subject to momentum, and starts to slide out to the side, dramatically changing your wheel alignment fast. the dilemma is once you let off the brake the rear wheel will now have traction and start pushing the bike in the direction its facing, and it is not in the same direction as the front or in alignment.
Unfortunately in the worst case scenario the remedy is far from desirable (Lowside). In order to stop a motorcycle to its maximum potential you need to be upright, wheels in alignment and equal pressure applied to both front and rear brakes. In a emergency stop, space and time are our greatest enemies. The problem is once you've locked up you rear wheel, and after you've let off the brake, your bike will still need time to get back into alignment, before you can reapply the brakes, probably too late.
Lowsiding is laying a bike down which usually slides the bike ahead of you, as momentum offsets much of the effect of gravity the fall is minimal in many cases. If one is wearing riding gear, injury can be limited, and at lower speeds Lowsiding can be less damaging to your bike, excluding any impending impact. Sometimes it's better to take the Lowside, especially if you've gone past the point of no return. The natural result of our example is to lowside, the rear tire swings right, the bike and you falls to the left, placing the bike ahead you.
Still there's a few things we can do, now that you know the mechanics, respond immediately, and don't let it happen, practice braking, also you can lock up your bike in a controlled environment, see how your bike will react, remember don't allow it to skid for long just get the feel.
Other conditions can exacerbate this effect, over weighted or unbalanced bike, curves, loose road debris. Carrying a passenger or cargo will add weight and will require a greater distance to stop, Tire pressure and the condition of your tires are just as important. In fact there several thing that can cause the rear end to slide out, besides locking up the rear brake, decelerating to quickly on slick roads surfaces like rain, ice, snow or oil and locking up you front tire, and even an evasive maneuver.
Have you ever had to Lowside?
Tags: Breaking, Highside, Lowside
Miles: 2706
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Steve on -
Nomad I've often thought, for those of us who starter riding when we were kid's, have had the advantage of doing stupid things when we were young and invincible. Ironically these experience are invaluable today. I Highsided my bike some 40 years ago, only doing about 15mph, I swear I hit the ground at 50 like a rag doll. I just can't imagine doing that now at my age, the reason for the post. Great Info Thanks.
Nomad Nomlaki said:I was riding in two lane next to center line about 40 mph my bro in other lane slightly behind me. A opposite direction cager turns from center lane into mine, sees me and locked up brakes stopping about 50-60 feet in front of me. I couldn't swerve into other lane or I would have hit my bro. I hit rear brake letting bike go down. I put both my feet on seat and curled into fetal position right before impact. My bike hit car and it flipped up my legs acted as shock absorbers and I also came up and hit passenger door with my head. I had on full bell helmet. To my surprise my bike only suffered some rash on right side of tank and the brake lever broke slightly cutting my right finger. I had road rash on my right arm and ass above my belt line. The car door wasn't as lucky. I gave the car a round house kick, called the woman in the car some really bad names. Picked my bike up and it started, so I drove away giving the cager a one finger salute and more verbiage. I pulled over down the road next to my friend. The lady in car just took off. Being in my mid 20's at time the effects weren't too bad, just road rash and soreness for a couple days. Two years ago I had just bought a new 07' dyna and was going to make a U turn to get some gas. As I slowed to maybe 5mph to turn I shifted down to 1st gear and turned barely moving. This was after a week of deluge rain storms road was dry and looked really clean. What I didn't see was fine sand on edge of road. Rear tire skidded about three feet I put down my right leg and caught the bike. This was about same time fat rear tire caught traction. The bike went over and I was body slammed like the pro wrestlers onto pavement.
Being ex-airborne ranger and football player until I was 34 years old. I did the paratrooper roll when I hit pavement. No road rash, but had a owie on arthritic elbow. I immediately jumped up and uprighted bike. People stopped and asked me if I was okay. I was fine and bike had brake lever curled up. At 62 years old now I felt the fall for 3 months though. I believe in keeping eyes moving at all times, beware of what is directly in front of you and as far as possible to what is in front of you. KEEP ALERT keep ALIVE a thing from combat experience applies to riding my bikes. My reflexes are slower so I drive more cautious and don't do stupid or foolish things anymore. Hope to keep riding as long as I can still mount my scooter and turn the throttle. No more hold the throttle wide open until you see God and then brake. And if you emergency brake better know how and when to do it.
That brings up when do you say-Good bye to bike and bail rather than do impact with solid object. Was a time or two I climbed on bike as it was sliding on pavement @ 70 mph in foolish days and bike got rashed and I didn't. I am just too old to be making love to the pavement anymore-LOL
I have been riding motorsickles since I was 9 yrs old and still doing it at 63 yrs old. Another no-brainer is don't ride if you are buzzed or have been drinking alcohol, or even overly tired as your reaction time is compromised severely. And you are not respectying the safety of your riding partners or others... RIDE SAFE!
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Permalink Reply by Steve on
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Excellent BikerBecca, without a doubt, down shift at too high a speed will exacerbate and even cause this effect. This is vital contribution, Thanks Becca.
BikerBecca said:That was a great discussion and something everyone should know. I would also like to add an important bit of information to your last paragraph. You wrote, "Other conditions can exacerbate this effect." I'd like to add, down shifting. If you ride a bike without a slipper clutch and you down shift at too high a speed for that gear you will lock up your rear tire.
Have I ever had a lowside?
Oh goodness yes! A little over twenty years ago when I was young and stupid and knew better than everyone. I was flying low on a Ducati out on Long Island when I hit a 90 degree, left-hand, downward sloping turn at too high a speed. Did I mention I was only wearing shorts and a spaghetti string tee?
Too much front brake in the turn and she laid right down.
My body slid across the pavement, over the shoulder and then into the woods. I had road rash from my left ankle all the way up to my left shoulder and arm. My friends called for help and just as the ambulance pulled up I was having trouble seeing, breathing, standing, talking/thinking and lost consciousness. Apparently whatever was in the woods got ground into my hugely open wound of road rash and was putting me in Anaphylaxis.
I learned two important lessons that day.
1. Don't panic and grab the front-brake when already well into the turn.
2. and this was the most important lesson, DRESS FOR THE CRASH!!!!!!!Ride Safe Everyone.
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Permalink Reply by Face on -
Hi Steve, great truthful story! I'm still riding , since age 16 , now 62 ! Had those same experiences, and yes, we do have to slow our asses down! Keep riding safe!
Steve said:Nomad I've often thought, for those of us who starter riding when we were kid's, have had the advantage of doing stupid things when we were young and invincible. Ironically these experience are invaluable today. I Highsided my bike some 40 years ago, only doing about 15mph, I swear I hit the ground at 50 like a rag doll. I just can't imagine doing that now at my age, the reason for the post. Great Info Thanks.
Nomad Nomlaki said:I was riding in two lane next to center line about 40 mph my bro in other lane slightly behind me. A opposite direction cager turns from center lane into mine, sees me and locked up brakes stopping about 50-60 feet in front of me. I couldn't swerve into other lane or I would have hit my bro. I hit rear brake letting bike go down. I put both my feet on seat and curled into fetal position right before impact. My bike hit car and it flipped up my legs acted as shock absorbers and I also came up and hit passenger door with my head. I had on full bell helmet. To my surprise my bike only suffered some rash on right side of tank and the brake lever broke slightly cutting my right finger. I had road rash on my right arm and ass above my belt line. The car door wasn't as lucky. I gave the car a round house kick, called the woman in the car some really bad names. Picked my bike up and it started, so I drove away giving the cager a one finger salute and more verbiage. I pulled over down the road next to my friend. The lady in car just took off. Being in my mid 20's at time the effects weren't too bad, just road rash and soreness for a couple days. Two years ago I had just bought a new 07' dyna and was going to make a U turn to get some gas. As I slowed to maybe 5mph to turn I shifted down to 1st gear and turned barely moving. This was after a week of deluge rain storms road was dry and looked really clean. What I didn't see was fine sand on edge of road. Rear tire skidded about three feet I put down my right leg and caught the bike. This was about same time fat rear tire caught traction. The bike went over and I was body slammed like the pro wrestlers onto pavement.
Being ex-airborne ranger and football player until I was 34 years old. I did the paratrooper roll when I hit pavement. No road rash, but had a owie on arthritic elbow. I immediately jumped up and uprighted bike. People stopped and asked me if I was okay. I was fine and bike had brake lever curled up. At 62 years old now I felt the fall for 3 months though. I believe in keeping eyes moving at all times, beware of what is directly in front of you and as far as possible to what is in front of you. KEEP ALERT keep ALIVE a thing from combat experience applies to riding my bikes. My reflexes are slower so I drive more cautious and don't do stupid or foolish things anymore. Hope to keep riding as long as I can still mount my scooter and turn the throttle. No more hold the throttle wide open until you see God and then brake. And if you emergency brake better know how and when to do it.
That brings up when do you say-Good bye to bike and bail rather than do impact with solid object. Was a time or two I climbed on bike as it was sliding on pavement @ 70 mph in foolish days and bike got rashed and I didn't. I am just too old to be making love to the pavement anymore-LOL
I have been riding motorsickles since I was 9 yrs old and still doing it at 63 yrs old. Another no-brainer is don't ride if you are buzzed or have been drinking alcohol, or even overly tired as your reaction time is compromised severely. And you are not respectying the safety of your riding partners or others... RIDE SAFE!
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Permalink Reply by Steve on
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Yes sir Face! know when to hold them, know when to fold them, can make all the difference. Who said anything about slowing down! Yeah..... your right, but I'm not going to admit it. Ride Safe my Friend.
Face said:Yes! And walked away with minimal road rash ...
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