What went wrong?

[Old Surf Dog]

You're all wrong! The concrete blocks were obviously in his way! If it had been a straight empty road there would have been no problem!

[JunkyardDog]

Maybe this guy would have been safer riding a dirt bike in the middle of the Sahara. Oh but then there is the sand, so he probably would have still crashed. At least it would have been a soft fall.

[URSUS PURPUREOUS]

It seems like the two hardest things I've had to learn is to look deeper into the turn when you feel like you're gettting in trouble and to pull back on the yoke when you're too high on a landing. I'ts no biggy in a plane because you can do several things to get back on the glideslope or just go around. On the bike, once you fixate on your departure point......there generally isn't time to realize what you are doing wrong and fix it.
My brother took the BRC, only rode for about 7,000 miles, then came out to CA from Utah for a week of riding with me. We met in Las Vegas, rode around the Valley Fire, then rode to Fresno. No problems. Next day we rode to Windsor....mostly freeways, still no problem. Next day were to ride 128 to Fort Bragg......problem about 5 miles before 128 blended in with 1. That's where my Brother drifted out of a left turn into the side of the mountain.
He was only going about 35 MPH, it wasn't a sharp turn, he just entered late then fixated on the edge of the road. Broke his leg, got a ride in an ambulance, and a totaled bike.

[AzItLies]

The MSF just put this out on one of it's bulletins to Rider Coaches:

"Looking Through Curves

Gathering Visual Information
Does a motorcycle go where its rider looks? No; this is a common
misconception. If this were true, a rider could simply avoid a crash by
looking elsewhere. And a rider would swerve every time a blind spot was
checked or he/she looked at scenery off to the side. Reality requires
switching the words around a bit: A rider should look where he wants
the motorcycle to go. Not because looking will aim the motorcycle,
but because you need to gather visual information and evaluate the path to
assist in your navigation. Turning your head in the direction of the turn
helps you form a good visual picture, but to cause a motorcycle to move
from a straight path of travel, there must be some physical input and the
handlebars normally must be moved."

It's a complicated thing really, there's a combination of things going on all at once.

[seo_urani]

Originally Posted by stephenwc

The rider looked only at the point s/he did NOT want to hit.

So s/he hit it.

Doh!

The bike goes where your eyes go. A lesson that passed this rider by.

Stephen

Thanks a lot!
Regards

[hrlyman]

Originally Posted by AzItLies

The MSF just put this out on one of it's bulletins to Rider Coaches:

"Looking Through Curves

Gathering Visual Information
Does a motorcycle go where its rider looks? No; this is a common
misconception. If this were true, a rider could simply avoid a crash by
looking elsewhere. And a rider would swerve every time a blind spot was
checked or he/she looked at scenery off to the side. Reality requires
switching the words around a bit: A rider should look where he wants
the motorcycle to go. Not because looking will aim the motorcycle,
but because you need to gather visual information and evaluate the path to
assist in your navigation. Turning your head in the direction of the turn
helps you form a good visual picture, but to cause a motorcycle to move
from a straight path of travel, there must be some physical input and the
handlebars normally must be moved."

It's a complicated thing really, there's a combination of things going on all at once.

Its really not at all complicated as it is just common sense. As an MSF coach, I would say its NOT a common misconception but rather common sense that your bike will TURN with rider input. The rider input comes first from the 'eyes' telling the brain where to provide that input. And it has been proven time and again (on the training grounds) that a 'rider' can fixate their vision on something and hit it! it happens all the time in dirt bike riding especially. You tend to steer in the direction you look and that is what the MSF trys to warn their rider-students to be aware of. The reality of it all is that proper hand-eye coordination is required... this is not a point and shoot sport!

[AzItLies]

Originally Posted by hrlyman

Its really not at all complicated as it is just common sense. As an MSF coach, I would say its NOT a common misconception but rather common sense that your bike will TURN with rider input. The rider input comes first from the 'eyes' telling the brain where to provide that input. And it has been proven time and again (on the training grounds) that a 'rider' can fixate their vision on something and hit it! it happens all the time in dirt bike riding especially. You tend to steer in the direction you look and that is what the MSF trys to warn their rider-students to be aware of. The reality of it all is that proper hand-eye coordination is required... this is not a point and shoot sport!

Well be sure to let the MSF know where they've messed up, because that is their document... give em hell!!

[CRASH]

Because of course, it is black and white and the MSF is infallible.

Over the past 40 years, there have been several things the MSF has taught I have not agreed with, some of them they have changed, some not. They do a reasonable enough job getting people to understand the basics to survive, so I find no reason that someone needs to "give them hell". However, my with 40 years of riding, over a million miles on the road, a professional racing career and associated training in my background, I would have to say they have worded "their document" very poorly. I will say that Hrlyman - note: an MSF coach - has a better way of expressing and wording what needs to be said about the topic than the MSF wording you posted.

[AzItLies]

Originally Posted by CRASH

Because of course, it is black and white and the MSF is infallible.

Over the past 40 years, there have been several things the MSF has taught I have not agreed with, some of them they have changed, some not. They do a reasonable enough job getting people to understand the basics to survive, so I find no reason that someone needs to "give them hell". However, my with 40 years of riding, over a million miles on the road, a professional racing career and associated training in my background, I would have to say they have worded "their document" very poorly. I will say that Hrlyman - note: an MSF coach - has a better way of expressing and wording what needs to be said about the topic than the MSF wording you posted.

Well don't shoot the messenger! I just posted what they said, if you know better, let em know!!

Really, if you guys know better, call em up, maybe we can all benefit from your superior knowledge?

[eojmo]

Maybe he was too busy watching his speed and looking in the mirrors, instead of the road ahead. If he realised a cop car was following,or someone else with a camera, he probably got nervouse and distracted.Its amazing how some people react when they are being followed by the law or being filmed,they tend to get all cuffufulled and make mistakes were they normaly wouldn't.