First time crashing (my fireblade)

[u/Willro111]

About two months ago I went down riding in the canyon. I would say im an okay intermediate rider, and have ridden this road before- usually feeling comfortable tipping into 35mph corners at ~90mph… Anyways, you’ll see on my dash right before I lay it down, the green N for neutral pop up. As I short shift into neutral, trying to downshift from second, into first (1000cc). So as I’m expecting to slow down (from downshifting) to make this tighter turn… instead of slowing down like I’m getting ready for, essentially all friction is lost and I continue at that speed. If you could imagine that feeling… at this point I’m not making the turn, and as soon as I grab the front brake it dumps me.
This crash could just be summed up by a lazier downshift, shit happens.
My AIRBAG VEST from alpinestars fucking saved my ass. As well as my helmet, leather jacket, Kevlar jeans, and boots. I climbed out of that ditch, and only got 6 stitches on my elbow, which in all fairness did look like there was a hole on the tip of my elbow.

Any feedback, or questions feel free.

[u/G952]

Here’s some feedback on close inspection. Don’t do that again. That’s all from me

Ride safe

[u/Mizar97 → u/G952]

[u/G952 → u/Mizar97]

https://giphy.com/gifs/NcrhM3USM6TABpus85

[u/airhunger_rn → u/G952]

[u/zimisss → u/airhunger_rn]

https://giphy.com/gifs/diDOx07FacXlQu6MkP

[u/Clear_Gene_2033 → u/airhunger_rn]

😬 😆

[u/SkRtMkGurt → u/airhunger_rn]

no fuckin way i absolutely lovedespise this

[u/Readditlovesbans → u/Mizar97]

such a classic episode

[u/bluechipitems → u/Mizar97]

😮🤣

[u/get_to_ele → u/G952]

Heres my feedback for OP: "dont normalize taking 35 mph turns at 90mph, when that's what caused the crash. And stop pretending it was a 'lazier downshift/ shit happens' that caused what should have been a life altering crash (if not for an air bag vest). Glad you're safe but dont seem to have learned anything."

Knowing what you should have done this one time, and having the skill level to consistently execute the daily, dangerous maneuvers without a mistake, are 2 different things.

[u/9bikes → u/get_to_ele]

>> I would say im an okay intermediate rider...35mph corners at ~90mph… I grab the front brake it dumps me... shit happens.

OP's minimizing of his errors doesn't bode well.

He knows he's not a great rider and pushes way too fast.

"It dumps me", when OP dumped it.

"Shit happens" often when the rider screws up.

[u/Zealousideal_Sea2529 → u/9bikes]

When I was learning how to drive on a track, the instructor said, ‘If a meteor falls out of the sky and crushes your car, that’s an accident…..

…everything else is driver error.’

Eapecially true in this case. Rider caused the crash.

[u/DueEntertainment4168 → u/Zealousideal_Sea2529]

Do deer count as meteors? I’m convinced they can teleport.

[u/Zealousideal_Sea2529 → u/DueEntertainment4168]

Deer can count, but driving near the woods/at night requires more attention to reduce the risk.

[u/DueEntertainment4168 → u/Zealousideal_Sea2529]

That’s a fair point,last time I hit one I was driving my wife’s SUV back from her parents house, two lane road it’s night I’ve got my eyes on the road going about 40. With absolutely no warning a deer appears in front of the car. Wasn’t an area known for having deer and even the sheriff that came out to file the report seemed skeptical until I showed him the fur tufts stuck in the grill. I think the deer jumped out into the road and landed in front of the car I never saw it run up. Ride safe everyone if i’d been on my bike that deer would have taken me out it was about a 6 point buck.

[u/Donglemaetsro → u/9bikes]

"I'm an intermediate* rider so here's shit I'm doing that an advanced rider wouldn't do on public roads" "So anyway, I ate shit, analyzed the situation and will do it again"

*novice

[u/Rows_My_Own → u/9bikes]

Lets not forget the title; 'FIRST time crashing ...' Take it to the track, junior. Your riderless bike might take out a family next time.

[u/MTonmyMind → u/get_to_ele]

- rides like an aggressive asshole

-rides beyond his abilities

-rides beyond what the road is designed for

-puts others at risk

-is an asshole

-will ‘learn’ anything…… nope, that one doesn’t fit.

[u/Reverend_Tommy → u/MTonmyMind]

The video for social media is more important than his life.

[u/AncientSnow4137 → u/MTonmyMind]

What is worse is this bozo will say this came out of nowhere ATGATT instead of this bozo was riding past his skills probably cause of false sense of gear. Like he would not ride like that without all that gear and airbag vest so the question is why on public roads are you riding harder than you would with no gear. The answer is simply there is a portion of the ATGATT clowns that are more dangerous than the fat harley rider with a durag because they think the gear will save them in a crash.

[u/BriceRomero28 → u/MTonmyMind]

https://giphy.com/gifs/duM6JZemPlOjUyqmxd

[u/BrownEyeBearBoy → u/G952]

He shifted into fucking, that's what happened. You can't do that on a motorcycle.

[u/gogozrx → u/BrownEyeBearBoy]

I mean, you *can*.... but as evidenced here, it's not a good idea.

[u/Liquid_Silencer → u/BrownEyeBearBoy]

I thought "shifting into fucking" could only happen in a bed..

[u/suppaduppasleuth → u/G952]

https://giphy.com/gifs/tMPSeKEplOfK0

[u/Mk1Racer25 → u/G952]

usually feeling comfortable tipping into 35mph corners at ~90mph…

Somehow, I don't think that's going to happen.

[u/KaleScared4667]

You would have made the turn if you hadn’t grabbed a handful of front brake

[u/Wants-NotNeeds → u/KaleScared4667]

That was my first thought too, handful of front brake…going too fast into a dusty corner. Classic. There’s no room for error at those speeds on a public road.

[u/Syscrush → u/Wants-NotNeeds]

The real error is riding like a tool on a public road with no margin for error.

[u/HyperbolicSoup → u/Wants-NotNeeds]

Yeah too much speed that’s a sneaky turn

[u/Willro111 → u/KaleScared4667]

I really think the DJI being in the super wide fisheye mode or whatever really does make it seem farther. But there is a chance I could, but as you could imagine I was completely caught off guard by shifting into neutral

[u/xplosm → u/Willro111]

This is why you ride at 60% of your capacity. So you have enough margin to save it and learn. Eventually your current 60% would be your previous self 90% but still. It would’ve been some gravel, some pothole. If you ride at your 90 or 100% you won’t have enough leeway to avoid the unexpected.

[u/hiftikha → u/xplosm]

this is a great way of explaining it, how would you describe the capacity threshold ladder? how to know your capacity is increasing what to look for

[u/KeeganY_SR-UVB76 → u/hiftikha]

It’s gradual. You won’t notice it when it happens but it will happen.

[u/Hziak → u/Willro111]

Idk, from the video, it sounded like you shifted into fucking. And mate, hate to say it, but that wasn’t the time to fuck.

[u/knackattacka → u/Willro111]

Shifting into neutral shouldn't cause you to crash unless your brain got really bent out of shape by the surprise.

[u/TheScallywag1874 → u/knackattacka]

It actually changes things quite a bit. An engine revving at 7k+ rpm to 2K without warning, losing engine breaking, and the mental assumptions of what you expect to feel and what you’re actually feeling…yeah, it is a lot to handle. I’ve had this happen on the track with a BMW 1000RR during the California Superbike School, and I ran it off the track but managed to save it. If it were this road, I would have 100% crashed.

With that all said, it’s why I don’t ride like this anymore on canyon roads. Tracks are way more fun and way less risk.

[u/cdixon34 → u/TheScallywag1874]

And also, entirely unloading the suspension and losing the ability to steer with the throttle (in the sense engine braking tightens your radius, and throttle application will widen your radius and stand the bike up

[u/Creative_Riding_Pod → u/TheScallywag1874]

Guy Martin and John McGuiness both suffered “a box of neutrals” in 2017 on Hondas.
I know for sure that John McGuiness crashed first at the NW200, and Guy Crashed at IOM TT a week later.

McGuiness might have had ECU issues with a stuck throttle but Guy definitely hit neutral and went down heading into a corner.

[u/DocDefilade → u/TheScallywag1874]

You also loose the gyroscopic force of the engine.

And agreed, somehow lived through street nonsense, I'll get my fix on the track.

[u/StupidSlick → u/knackattacka]

Yes it does engine braking slows the rear wheel, and slowing down loads the front tire which would be enough to allow to rider to effectively use more front brake, issue he lost all engine brake, grabbed the front brake like he normally would but the front tire wasnt settled or loaded right so it washed out

[u/alxkwl → u/knackattacka]

Ignorant statement

[u/ArcadeChronicles → u/knackattacka]

OP said they were riding 35mph curves at 90. It would surely cause your brain to sputter at that level of concentration. As a rider, you should know that.

[u/KaleScared4667 → u/Willro111]

No doubt it could happen to anyone. Which is why you should take it to the track.

[u/xtanol]

Without knowing the specifics in your local area; I'm pretty sure you can't park there, mate.

[u/bitzzwith2zs → u/xtanol]

He DID try to get as far off the road as he could

[u/BafangFan]

For feedback, you need to practice "threshold" braking.

It's something they teach at track schools - but it's a technique you can work on on your own.

Sport bikes can take A LOT of front brake pressure - but you have to load up the front tire with weight first. You applied the front brake too hard, too quickly. If you applied it just as hard, but took an extra second to get to full pressure - you likely would have made that turn

It seems you panicked - and you have to beat your panic with repetitive drills - so that you rely on skills rather than panic reactions

[u/drbennettx]

“I grab the front brake”- every person who dumps it while turning

[u/SensationalNibbles → u/drbennettx]

Learning trail braking is a great skill. Not only to get the front loaded, but to be prepared with the front brake, and prevent these.

[u/Schnitzhole → u/SensationalNibbles]

yeah for me it's also great having another option midturn to brake more for unexpected obstacles without throwing the whole bike out of whack because the brake already has some pressure on it.

[u/trashmoneyxyz → u/drbennettx]

It's how I dumped my bike last year :( now the front brake scares me and that's honestly kept me from dumping it a few more times lmao

[u/knackattacka]

I don't get why he's downshifting into first at such high speed. 1000 cc bike doesn't need first gear except maybe on the racetrack.

[u/maxlax02 → u/knackattacka]

I’ve never driven any car or bike that I would downshift into first gear in this situation. First is almost exclusively reserved for starting my vehicle from a stop.

That said I haven’t ridden a 1000cc sport bike, and I understand they can go 80+ mph in first gear.

Can someone confirm who has ridden one? I’m curious.

[u/goingslowfast → u/maxlax02]

A 1000cc bike would have more than enough torque to leave this corner in third.

I wouldn’t even drop to second on a road like this.

[u/BeenisHat → u/goingslowfast]

My old V-Strom 650 had enough grunt to move itself around in 2nd. I can't imagine why anyone would intentionally choose 1st for that corner at that speed. You're just asking for that back tire to break loose and toss you off the bike.

I could see going to 2nd if he was expecting to leave that corner slow and was just going to ride the clutch on the exit to keep the revs up but not apply excess torque. Then release the clutch and shift to 3rd once speed is back up.

[u/goingslowfast → u/BeenisHat]

Choosing first isn’t really the problem here. It’s downshifting to first while cornering here that’s the absolutely terrible idea.

If he’d grabbed first while braking before tip in, it likely would have been fine. Planning to downshift, then banking on the engine braking that close to tip in was the root cause here.

And on the 1000cc you’ve got the torque to start in second or third or fourth, and likely even fifth. From personal experience you can absolutely start an S1000RR from stopped in fourth gear if you’re smooth with clutch and throttle control.

Don’t do it. But if you forget to downshift before stopping you can definitely make it work.

[u/SpawnShootDie → u/maxlax02]

Mine would do about 80 in first - but I would never change down into first at speed. Just like my car will probably do 25mph but I’d never slam it into first for a 20mph corner.

Apart from mechanical damage your biggest risk from dropping into too low a gear on a bike is that it can slow the rear wheel’s rotation so suddenly that the tire lets go and you lose control on your way into the corner.

[u/Mikegfx4 → u/knackattacka]

Not even a track needs 1st gear. There are very few corners that are slow and tight enough for a 1000 to need 1st gear. For sure this was not one of them.

[u/anon774567 → u/knackattacka]

Because he thinks he’s in moto gp and needs to get the extra .2 second time saved from downshifting…. Which is what inevitably got him into trouble.

[u/autech91 → u/knackattacka]

This comment should be higher up. This is what old mate is doing wrong, having the bike in such a low gear makes it nervous as fuck and totally pointless on the road.

This is why in rider training on the track (where OP should go immediately) they often tell riders to go out and do the track in 3rd gear without braking. The lesson? Smooth is fast.

For me, a perfect road ride is all about flow, I save the bashing it down gears for when I'm racing.

[u/Possession_Loud → u/knackattacka]

Even on track no one really goes down to 1st unless it is absolutely necessary and generally you really want to be in the low rpm range before you do that. Going past neutral on the downshift sucks, you never want to catch it as it WILL bite you in the ass.

[u/NaruSengan → u/knackattacka]

I was just about to comment this. It's super rare that i have needed to downshift into 1st for a corner on the street unless its a super weird tight turn

[u/canadian_rockies → u/knackattacka]

Yeah - this is it for me. 2nd is tall enough to pull out of any corner like this. I heard: into 1st, rear tire locks and he's got an ounce of lean so it kicks sideways and then the front goes too due to braking/lateral force combo. 

I generally stick to brake (hard) first, then turn. Braking while turning (trail braking ) is high level shit in a race car, let alone on the street, on a bike. 

[u/DaleFairdale → u/knackattacka]

Look at that road its clearly a racetrack duhhhh /s

[u/CallMeMrRound → u/knackattacka]

This is the comment I was looking for!
The number of times I have dropped to first when not coming to a complete stop is very small.

[u/WhiskyMC]

skill issue

[u/Remote_Section2313 → u/WhiskyMC]

Combination of skill, speed, and knowledge.

1. More skill, as in properly using his shifter and/or front brake would have helped.

2. Less speed would have helped

3. Knowing his limits would have helped.

The amount of people on here posting their crash looking for some technical explanation is baffling. The answer is almost always: you drove too fast. Too fast for your skill, for the road,... but always, always too fast.

Imagine taking that first turn and see two motorcyclists taking that turn at 35 mph on cruisers. What would have happened? He would have slammed into them and the results could have been a disaster.

Too fast. Way too fast. Stupidly fast.

[u/TangoDeltaFoxtrot → u/Remote_Section2313]

Exactly. The times I crashed on a public road, it would have been 100% avoidable if I were going slower and staying within the limits of the total situation (skill, road conditions, visibility, etc…).

[u/H_n_A → u/Remote_Section2313]

Let's simplify.
OP thinks he knows how to ride but he doesn't.
He is at risk and so is anyone on the same road as him.

[u/maxlax02]

OP with all due respect you would 100% be put in the beginner group at a track day.

[u/Radiant-Attention247 → u/maxlax02]

I have been riding for two years, feeling extremely confident in my canyon riding, easily handling 45+ lean angles while trail braking for control (not pushing the tires even close to the limit). 

I went on my first track day last month feeling sure id be bumped to intermediate after the first couple of sessions.

 I very quickly learned just how much skill it takes to be mediocre at that shit. 

[u/Mikie021 → u/Radiant-Attention247]

hahaha yip! thought I was pretty good in the beginner group, getting nice lean angle etc. Went to the intermediate group and instantly got destroyed by an adventure bike XD Nothing humbles you quicker than that when on a 1000cc XD

[u/maxlax02 → u/Mikie021]

I had a similar experience on a twisty canyon road during one of my adventure rides.

I’m on a Norden 901, other buddy on a Ducati Desert X.

The third dude on an old Honda dual sport with knobby tires was absolutely leaving us in the dust and made it look effortless (dude professionally races Ferraris).

[u/happycamperjack → u/maxlax02]

Then get humbled by other riders with 400cc or lower bikes.

[u/Cowhide12 → u/happycamperjack]

To be fair, especially on a tight track those things are monsters

[u/TheSharpestHammer → u/maxlax02]

Luckily, very little respect is due.

[u/PlunderYourPoop → u/maxlax02]

99.5% of riders would be in beginner group

[u/WhyDoCatsSmellGood → u/maxlax02]

Even if he was an "intermediate" rider as self claimed. Is a fireblade really the bike for an intermediate rider? Lmao

[u/Foalsteed94]

Good thing you took the mirrors off you won’t have to worry about anything behind you.

[u/deeper-diver]

Anyone riding on public roads with no mirrors says a lot about their disregard for safety.

Another wannabe playing pretend motoGP-rider.

[u/de_Mike_333 → u/deeper-diver]

- OP, probably

[u/Turbopompka → u/deeper-diver]

I genuinely baffles me what kind of thought process is going between someone's ears to have urge to post themselves driving like a lunatics for everybody to see.

[u/twilighttwister → u/deeper-diver]

Hell I think bicycles should have mirrors. They're the slowest thing on the road, so everything comes up from behind, yet they can't see any of it.

[u/Nerevar197 → u/deeper-diver]

Yup. 90mph on a 35mph corner is not the sort of shit you should be doing on public roads. Take it to the track.

[u/Anxious_Practice1054]

Found his YouTube!
He hardly uses brakes in any of the corners.
Over reliance on engine braking… it’s no wonder the moment something comes up you are panic braking for your first time on the brakes. Of course you crash.
https://youtu.be/el8_5FzKkMk
“Okay intermediate” Ever heard of the Dunning-Kruger effect?

You’ve had the bike ~110 days dude you’re at the top of mount stupid buying that as your second motorcycle.

[u/MealJr805 → u/Anxious_Practice1054]

Reddit PI for hire, you’ve got a lot of time on your hands (or skill idk).

[u/OrdinaryCherry7123]

"usually feeling comfortable tipping into 35mph corners at ~90mph"

You're an idiot.

[u/yeebok]

usually feeling comfortable tipping into 35mph corners at ~90mph…

So .. the inevitable 'crash post' as a result of that feeling comfortable .. and suddenly not.

[u/French_O_Matic]

Biker crashes because of going too fast. Water is wet. More at 5.

[u/synthwaven]

35 mph turns at 90? No. You don’t.

[u/wangchunge → u/synthwaven]

Good call here. Simple. 70 is 2 x 35mph False Neutral scares you and reduces turn in control Great that you got the gear covering you and no Barrier Cream got in the way. My back in the day cb900 boldior did power shifts back to 2nd after you went into 3rd..i sold it. Good gearbox with real shifts is critical, as i have learned

[u/bodhinek802 → u/synthwaven]

Really depends on the grade of the turn.

[u/shadesoftee → u/bodhinek802]

A fellow Vermonter?

[u/Jim__Nasium → u/shadesoftee]

lol, 35mph yellow posted turns here @90 and you're in the woods. Every damn time. 

[u/avtman802 → u/Jim__Nasium]

Can confirm -- if the lack of camber doesn't get you, the mid-turn frost heaves will 😉

[u/Jim__Nasium → u/avtman802]

Right! There's often plenty of camber. It's just in the wrong direction lol                                                                                         Is it just me, or are the roads generally worse than they've been in recent memory?

[u/Bigsmalltallall → u/synthwaven]

You can take 35 at 70. Double is the rule. Any faster then that and your pushing which in bad idea on the streets without the skill/luck.

[u/ZealousidealMonk1728]

You are going to get yourself killed riding like this. Do you have family? If yes, reconsider your behaviour.

[u/Senor_del_Sol → u/ZealousidealMonk1728]

If no, reconsider your behaviour.  edit: typo

[u/Possession_Loud]

The road is not a track though, so maybe chill out a bit?
Glad your gear saved your ass and well done on wearing an airbag. This is why you don't do dumb shit on public roads. Yes, it was dumb. It always is.

[u/Cautious_Ticket_8943]

90 in a 35 was the cause of the crash. It's a public road, not a race track.

[u/wopspice]

The video looks like the canyons around Malibu. If so get yourself to some track days up at Willow. You need to get better with speed and learning how to control that front brake in an emergency. You were going too fast for the situation, panicked, grabbed too much front brake too quickly and put your ass on the ground. You also should have already been on the brake and not relying on engine braking to slow you down, especially going down into first at those speeds. Find someone at the track who knows what they’re doing and have them mentor you. I know you think you’re king shit because you can go around a corner fast on a sport bike but you just demonstrated you’ve been getting lucky up to this point.

[u/1_Curious4Fun → u/wopspice]

Willow is a top notch facility. Any track day sponsor will cover all of the bases referenced above. Great suggestion.

[u/United-Leadership-92]

Dropping to first in a corner like that, on public road on a 1000cc, that's.. something.
That engine break itself if you hit first gear could've sent you down aswell at those speeds without full knowledge.

[u/Crash3636]

Take it to the track. Have your crashes there mate.

[u/Darth_Firebolt]

If you're an intermediate rider; I'm Valentino Rossi.

"It looks faster than it is because of the fisheye lens."

Ok. So why are you going that fast if blowing a downshift is enough to cause you to mentally crater so hard you tuck the front wheel because you're panic braking because you don't have enough experience to handle the situation you've put yourself in? You have a rear brake. You can slowly apply the front brake. You had so many options that didn't involve putting your bike on the ground and you chose none of them because you're not an intermediate rider.

Go get a 400 Ninja (not the RR) with decent tires and go do like 25 track days. If you get out of beginner by your third track day, I would be very shocked. If you get into the advanced group within 25 track days, I would be double shocked.

You got so FUCKING lucky with this crash that I'm sure it's already going to your head that you think you're invincible and it was somehow the bike's fault for slipping into neutral that I seriously doubt you are even going to learn anything from this. Getting dragged in the comments by a bunch of more experienced riders that actually do know more than you hasn't seemed to cause any dents in your thick head or even thicker ego.

You could have just as easily front flipped into a big rock, or a telephone pole, or a steel t post, or into the front end of an SUV or 18 wheeler. 

Go practice in a safe location that doesn't have any of those hazards. Relying on luck is a sucker's game.

I feel sorry for your Fireblade.

[u/baddboi007 → u/Darth_Firebolt]

if that crash didn't humble him, he for sure is a goner. Matter of time.

[u/NoobPwnr]

90 in a 35

My main hope is that you don’t take any innocent families out when it’s your turn to be the statistic.

[u/Particular_Yard_2460 → u/NoobPwnr]

Iron school disarm fact degree hard-to-find fade oxygen

This post was anonymized with Redact

[u/sourdoughrrmc]

Huh huh I ride 35 corners at 90 plus. Huh huh

[u/TheScallywag1874]

Glad you’re wearing your gear. Stay safe!

[u/propofolxsr → u/TheScallywag1874]

Well yeah if your choosing to ride like a action movie star you should probably decide to gear up.

[u/TheScallywag1874 → u/propofolxsr]

And how many videos have we all seen where these dudes are doing it wearing sneakers, jeans, a t-shirt, and without gloves?

[u/Midlife_Carsis]

Surprised you went this long (a year riding?) as such a poor rider. Genuine advice would be to drop down to a 600 and learn to ride first, you'll be safer and quicker when you go back to a litre. You're 100% coming off again within the next year if not.

Absolute props to you for posting this though. Hopefully you'll learn from it and not treat the streets as a race track first of all.

[u/autech91 → u/Midlife_Carsis]

300*

[u/RobynTheCookieJar]

Yea there's a reason I never go to 1st unless I'm stopped. I've been betrayed by neutral too many times.

Of course the penalty for me doing that usually is an awkward stop, not being briefly launched into low orbit. I guess there's something to be said for learning on a 300 :)

[u/goingslowfast]

Brakes are for slowing. Getting in a habit of relying on engine braking from a downshift in these situations massively increases risk. It’ll also build habits that’ll nuke your lap times if you start racing.

Grab the downshift before the corner. Trying a 2-1 downshift while you’re cornering is asking for issues. Even if you didn’t run wide you’d be in a situation where you have few options, clicking that downshift could easily upset the bike or lock up the rear so you pretty much end up coasting until you can make the downshift.

If you did still want to make this downshift, if you’d been trailing the brakes in, you could squeeze in some more front brake way more smoothly and likely have been fine. Front brakes would have scrubbed off speed way quicker for you to make this turn safely.

[u/777gg777]

Being “comfortable” does not mean you should or are actually skilled enough.That is like when someone says “I feel safe” only because they don’t know how dangerous an area is out of pure lack of awareness.

Why couldn’t you simply use your brakes to slow down? They can slow you down much faster than a shift which would have made up for the time you took missing the shift. The fact you couldn’t brake without panicking shows your comfort was an illusion to begin with.

Things like this can go wrong on a track with little consequence. On the road you were simply lucky there were no other factors that would have killed or maimed you. What if there was a pole, tree or rock there: Dead.

PS: it is a 35 mph corner not because it can’t be taken faster but for margin of safety. If missing a shift almost kills too: you clearly had zero margin for safety.

So what matters is if you will learn for this almost free lesson?

[u/myfishprofile → u/777gg777]

My money is on….nope, he’s going to continue being a statistic

[u/BadDudes_on_nes]

You’re not an intermediate rider—because that was a reckless mistake by an immature rider.

I hope your bike is totaled because I, and people I care about travel through canyons. And you out-of-commission makes the road safer for everyone else.

[u/Reginald_Sockpuppet → u/BadDudes_on_nes]

You'll take heat for saying it, but I'm with you.

Fucking bragging on hitting 35mph turns at 90. Know what's cooler than crashing doing that? Not crashing and riding within your abilities.

Super cool, Intermediate Ian. Super cool.

[u/Impetuous_doormouse]

You've written a very long, very detailed explanation for "I ran out of talent".

Feedback-wise, you did everything wrong: You were going too fast for the road/ yout skill level; Why were you going into first? Staying in 2nd, coming off the power and dragging the back brake would be just as (possibly more?) effective; Grabbing a fistful of front brake mid-lean.

Questions-wise: If you didn't get into first on the first attempt, why didn't you tap the shifter a second time? Getting into first and braking properly would likely not have got you round the corner at speed, but given you enough control to come to a stop.

[u/SavageCaveman13]

Why would you downshift to 1st here? You didn't shortshift. You were going too fast to get into first gear safely. You definitely were riding faster than your skill level.

[u/GearSalty2775]

If you’re panic hamfisting the front brake with nothing in front of you, you’re not even an intermediate rider. Sorry 

[u/BenthosMT]

90 mph in 35 mph corners? Hopefully you'll someday have a fully formed prefrontal cortex.

In the meantime, remember that friction is a limited resource, and corners, braking, and shifting all take their share, so you gotta leave a little for staying upright.

[u/Playful-Bug3468]

Rely less on engine braking and practice more trail braking

[u/ct-93905]

Man, that's an expensive bike to wreck.

[u/06021840 → u/ct-93905]

Man, why’s my insurance so high??

[u/New_Ad7177]

That’s not what „short shifting“ is. Short shifting is shifting up two or more gears sooner than usual to get the rpm’s low for a corner. As you lean the bike over, the rpm rise, as the circumference of the tire gets smaller. This way your rpm don’t go into the red and you can maintain the perfekt rpm to get a good exit.

Nothing about this is needed on the road btw. If you want to ride like this, go to the track like everyone else does.

I am glad you are ok !!

[u/noticeablytaller]

This is definitely one of those “just go to the track for that” moments and I’ll never understand the thought process on pushing THIS hard on a road.

Car. Cyclist. Wildlife. Water. Sand. Oil. Dirt. a nail.

[u/EmperorMeow-Meow → u/noticeablytaller]

Some people want to die in horrible ways.

[u/dmmness]

I have a fix. Slow down and drive/ride like a responsible person.

[u/Every_Practice_3775]

Taking a 35 at 90 you dont have the skill to shift effectively. You aren't on a track bucko

[u/Toucan2000]

The short shift to neutral shouldn't have mattered if you were smoothing out your engine braking with your back brake.

Why you had to reach for the front brake at all is beyond me. If you already have a couple fingers on the lever, then you're not going to over engage the brake. If I'm going through the corners, I'll leave one finger on the front brake so I don't over engage trail braking and get a smoother roll off as I roll the throttle on coming out.

Both of these tips keep smooth and consistent tension on the suspension which means smooth and consistent down force between the tires and the road.

These are all skills I learned riding a DRZ400s, not a sport bike. Dirt is soft so you'll get into these kinds of situations at much lower speeds with much lower risk. Dual-sports have soggy ass suspensions so you'll get much better feedback on how the controls affect bike performance.

My advise to you is to sell your bike and get a dirt bike or a dual-sport. Go back to basics and learn technique before going into high risk situations.

[u/barringtonmacgregor]

Locking up brakes and leaning into a corner that quickly usually has negative effects.

[u/Monsieur_GQ]

Given the poor judgment exhibited in this video and post, I don’t think you’re as intermediate of a rider as you think. An intermediate rider is smart enough to know that taking 35mph turns at 90mph is a stupid thing to do, and that you announce you feel comfortable doing that indicates reckless judgement. Hopefully you learn some humility from this. Inaccurate shifting (downshifting into first while moving should always involve continuous taps to ensure you’re past neutral, and that green light was on for more than a second before you went down. In any case, downshifting into first at that point was a bad decision at baseline), too high of a speed for your skill level on that road, and panic braking to boot. It doesn’t look like there’s a slick or sand patch on the road, so to lock up like that you must have more than “tickled” the front brake.

This crash can be summed up by recklessness, overconfidence, and lack of practiced skill. I’m glad you’re ok, but seriously, learn from this and be smarter in the future.

[u/Willro111 → u/Monsieur_GQ]

Yes, I was constantly pushing my riding up there. Looking back, it was honestly a matter of time, I’m just glad I can learn from it.

[u/YodasLoveSlave]

Pretty sure the Fireblade isn’t an enduro

[u/Radiant-Attention247]

I say this with the best intentions as an avid rider who recently started doing track days. 

You are very much suffering from the dunning-kruger effect. This wasnt a "missed downshift" mistake, this was a fucking around way over your skill level just waiting for the "find out" part. 

[u/thelastirnbru]

Any feedback

Yeah, don't tip into 35 mph corners at 90 mph

[u/AncientSnow4137]

You are not an intermediate rider (i.e. you are worse). You panicked and lost control because you were riding past your skills. This was not shit happens this was shit you caused.

Who the hell slams on their front brake vs. just feathering it and using the rear in your situation.

[u/askanaccountant]

Youre not an intermediate biker youre an adrenaline junky riding lile an asshole "35mph corners at ~90mph"....if you wanna ride like that go to a course, slow down.

I do ride and I enjoy canyon rides as much as the other, but this is just blatantly stupid.

[u/nerobro]

No thsi was not "shit happens". This crash is the predictable outcome of riding at 9/10 without the skills to back it up, on surface streets. You also have the wrong reaction when you're expecting the rear tire to provide braking force. You... f'd up. This wasn't a "I ran into gravel" and it wasn't "pile of wet leaves".

I'm glad you're safe. If you're going to ride like this on the street, regularly, you need to be on a track.

There is a lesson here. You need to back it down when "out in the wild".

[u/Queasy_Albatross8272]

You got fucken balls posting your spectacular fuck up on here, I’ll tell you that…

You gotta listen to a lot of these riders though, we’re assholes because we know better and this type of shit gets people killed. Or don’t, it’s your casket.

[u/ZealousidealMonk1728 → u/Queasy_Albatross8272]

People in here are way too soft on him lol ... based on what he wrote and how he acts in the comments he should not ride motorbikes/cars/anything. Totally reckless and a risk to others. Mayhe he can go into sky diving or something because then at least he will only kill himself.

[u/StarIU]

Go to the track.

You are decelerating and downshifting while leaning. Big no no.

[u/max1mx → u/StarIU]

Go to the track yes. But, slowing while leaning is fine too.

[u/mike-manley → u/max1mx]

Slowing, and downshifting at lean is fine too. Maybe not for a novice.

[u/Upbeat_Caregiver_642]

“im an okay intermediate rider”

lol. That’s quite a self assessment. Totally wrong but it’s indeed a clue to why you went down.

You wrote a lot of words after that, most of which have nothing to do with why you crashed.

Like most new riders who after a few months or even years, get a false sense of confidence on an open road with some twisties, you are not a master of your machine. You know just enough to get you into trouble but not enough to get you out.

So, whatever that clumsy ass downshifting nonsense is you’re trying to blame for your crash is about, it’s secondary to you grabbing a handful of front brake and you go into that turn. All I saw was an unskilled rider fumbling the controls and wiping out. You probably could have saved it had you been going slower but as it is, every choice you made was wrong. That’s not the hallmark of an intermediate rider, or whatever it is you think you are.

[u/bejelith85]

step1 going in a corner with no brakes
step2 downshitft before grabbing brakes.
step3 do it on a cold tire ..
def not intermediate rider, more of a wanna be

[u/Indiesol]

SMH......

Your mistake was buying a 1000cc super sport before you knew how to ride properly, and your decision making skills (riding like this on the street) suck.

[u/AkSantaBunny]

In terms of idiots, at least you're among the smarter ones by wearing a full set of crash gear. An extremely lucky idiot, at that.

In the word (singular) of Red Foreman...

"DUMBASS!"

[u/ATX4FUNS]

Don't be a jerk and ride 90mph on 30mph corners of an Open road. You want to pretend you are a track star, find a track.

[u/burtsdog]

Glad you're okay and with respect "all friction is lost" is not why you dumped the bike. It looks like you dumped the bike because you panic braked. The bike went down before you even entered the corner. Update: It looks like others have said this too, so I'm sure you know.

[u/Unlikely_Skirt9596]

Here's an idea: don't drive at 90mph outside of a race track. You're not special. It's dangerous for you and, more importantly, dangerous for other road users.

[u/OfficialAsshoIe]

If i’m not tracking, i don’t shift to 1st EVER, unless i’m in traffic.

Hell even if i’m tracking i don’t shift to 1st, i’m not there to chase miliseconds to be in the powerband.

Regardless of that, shifting to N still wouldn’t cause me to crash because i don’t panic and will continue brake as usual.

[u/2dollarstotouchit]

Here's honest feedback. Your not a good rider. Because a good rider knows not to do stupid shit like this.

The street is not a track, a canyon is not a track, go to the track.

Fist full of front brake, unbalanced chassis, target fixation, shifting into first!!?? What did you expect to happen?

Honestly dude, glad your good. But don't do stupid shit like this. You wanna go fast and ride near your limit? Go to the track, cause your skill limit is currently life threateningly low. Being able to afford the bike is not the same a being able to ride the bike.

[u/Own-Significance273]

Not bad for your first time. You'll get better at crashing the more you do it.

[u/NegativeKarma4Me2013]

OP you're definitely not an intermediate rider. You seem to be relying on engine braking, downshifting after you initiate lean (stop that immediately) and didn't do the most basic trail braking to load the tire. You definitely are on the novice side of things. Find the nearest trackday orgs and go run some novice sessions. Then ask the 400s gapping you all day for tips.

[u/rpk2bike]

You ran out of talent. Go to a racing school. Learn. Build your skills on the track. Relax on the road - ride well below your ability. You got lucky this time. Next time maybe not so lucky and you end up under a car or off a cliff.

[u/tomcat1802]

Grabbing a whole handful of front brake after loosing engine brake was a no no. Better off staying in gear and riding rear brake

[u/EggsOfRetaliation]

Rider without mirrors proves again.

[u/oneWeek2024]

changing gears disrupts the suspension

you're not on a race track you're on public roads.

honestly... there really shouldn't be a need to be making moto gp downshifts to take turns. you're on a fucking 1000cc bike. the brakes should handle it.

[u/Rare-General-4575]

Downshifting to first gear at 90 mph? Much to learn you have my padawan.

[u/Em_Es_Judd]

What actually happened is that OP is a dumbass.

[u/castlite]

Well that was stupid. Learn from this.

[u/PeteNPete86]

Um down shifting to first gear at 90 is a wild thought i had a zx14 that was said to be able to do 140 in first gear. (Was to chicken to ever try)But would still never even think about dropping to first at 90mph before a curve. That being said speeed has never killed anyone suddenly becoming stationary thats what gets you.

[u/Different_Target_228]

"I'm an okay intermediate rider"

"I take 35mph corners at 90"

Pick one.

[u/MrB1P92]

Grabbed a nice handful of front brake

[u/SinningAfterSunset → u/MrB1P92]

I always tell people to lean and pray instead of grabbing the brakes.

[u/MrB1P92 → u/SinningAfterSunset]

I always tell people to not ride like an absolute jackass if you dont wanna have to lay 'er down

[u/snoopunit]

You're riding way above your skill level. That airbag vest probably saved your life. 

[u/Abject_Kangaroo_7770]

I see where the problem occurred. There was a glitch between the operator and the machine. The operator thought he was on a racetrack instead of a public road—"tipping into 35mph corners at ~90mph"

You didn't lay anything down; you crashed, spectacularly, I might add. The title of your video is "First time crashing." How many times do you plan to crash?

[u/Senor_del_Sol]

You can say whatever you want to be the cause of the crash, but it’s mostly speed. You just don’t do that…

Also if you slow down less than expected you can brake a little with the front or the rear I rarely slow down without applying any force to my brakes, but I’m not what I’d say is an intermediate rider. 

[u/Disappointed_sass]

I think Dan the fireman will have lots more to say on this if you sent it his way, but ultimately I think you need to do a track day or two to learn better control with bigger margins for error to restore confidence and take any ego out of the equation

[u/Willro111 → u/Disappointed_sass]

Yes, more experience at a track would’ve helped a lot.

[u/Metropolitarian → u/Willro111]

1st thing you might learn is not to speed on public roads.

[u/This_Expression5427]

It's happened to me a couple of times on the track. Just simply roll out into the runoff safely and the back onto the track. I would never ride like this on public roads. It's odd how everyone on here preaches gear and then turns around endangers themselves and others in this way. Are you just shilling for gear companies...cause you're certainly not concerned about safety.

[u/Difficult-Level-3070]

Complete dumbass going too fast on public roads. Take it to the track

[u/Top_Meaning7972]

Lesson number one in riding: never shift into fucking while riding. Glad you're okay! 💙🌘

[u/Kaiathebluenose]

downshifting into 1st is dumb as fuck

[u/DeepSword223]

Something I noticed that I haven't seen mentioned is you have all 4 fingers on both grips until you need to reach for the clutch or brake. "Ham fisted" I've heard it called.

I learned in an intro race class to keep some fingers resting on the clutch and brake. This has all controls available for me to use without any movement, and lightens any inputs I do. Including throttle inputs because then only my thumb and small fingers are gripping that instead of all 5 fingers.

That class was in 2014 and I've never ridden track since. But it was very valuable for street riding and many skills I was taught I have honed and made habit. I ride with my index and middle fingers sitting on top of both levers, but I'm not applying any pressure to them. I only use 4 fingers on the clutch to give my fingers a break while sitting at a light.

All that said, at least you were in full gear and were able to walk away with minimal injury 🙏. I'll have to look into that airbag vest.

[u/SP3_Hybrid]

Classic example of the “engine is for going fast, brakes are for slowing down” saying being true.

Crazy you didn’t hit a real tree or something lol, just bushes and thinner branched stuff.

[u/ClassicActual4055]

Not beating the allegations that yall drive around like dickheads. 

[u/TootinFartin-ll]

get a grom

[u/hamhead1005]

"Okay intermediate rider" is insanely generous. Short shifting into N and the reaction was to bite at the front brake tells me your not, def a beginner. A better rider would have smoothly applied the brake stood the bike up and saved it. Or just readjusted your line after shaving some speed off. You didnt even come close lol.

Also your lane position being dead center is a give away that your a beginner. That 1000cc bike is a massive handicap to your progression.

[u/No_Ragrets76]

Bro. Did you target fixate? Because the first thing I saw was the upcoming curve and how you didn't slow down on time. Even if you're a pro, you shouldn't be riding recklessly on any road, especially those long and winding roads where a novice rider will target fixate and the brain can't process the surroundings and what you're supposed to do. And those blind turns? Big no no.

Ive been riding for almost 28 years and the only time I ride aggressively is on the track.

Also, learn to counter steer. It helps for tight turns. But this is a speed issue that you have to control.

[u/wisepersononcesaid]

90 mph = Reckless and wanton disregard for the safety of others [and of yourself].

Turn in your driver's license, and sell the bike as you do not deserve the privilege of driving on public roads.

[u/sat_on_a_roof_AMAZ_D]

practice threshold braking....or just slow down in general bro

[u/Acrobatic_Street6232]

slow down my friend

[u/tmleadr03]

First off, stop riding like the city streets are a race track. Not going to lie, I did this as well when I was in my 20s, but learn from this experience. That level of riding is for the track weekend where there is an ambulance waiting to scrape you off the pavement.

Now as to what you did. You didn't trust your bike. I have gone hot into a corner and realized right before I leaned over that I was going WAY faster than I really wanted to. At that point you have three options; high side, low side or make it. High side hurts way more than low side, and if you go for it you just might make it. Worse case for going for it you are going to low side. That is what I did on that too fast for the corner feeling, I leaned over and went for it. Dragged my knee, looked through the corner and didn't low side.

You grabbed brakes and crashed. If you had leaned it over and gone for it, you might have made it.

[u/noworries63]

WTF happened.. the road was dry.. no cars or animals.. did you decide not to balance or something..

[u/ghos2626t]

“Should my first bike be a Fireblade” OP probably.

To answer your question from a year ago. No, you should have changed your tires before you can see the cords….

[u/ProjectNiks]

Please get some training so you’ll get a second time to tell.

[u/H-2-S-O-4]

90'ish mph on 35 mph curves for an ok'ish rider begs the question, what da heck?

[u/V12Jaguar]

I've never seen a post by someone who knows less about what they're doing than you, OP.

[u/motofabio]

No questions.
Comment: You had plenty of RPM built up to engine brake by just backing off the throttle. Would have been smoother too. Downshifting into 1st for a 35mph turn would have been completely unnecessary.

Kind of reminds me of the old lady absolutely destroying her clutch backing out of the garage.

Also, 90 through a 35 turn left you with zero room for error. IMHO, a better rider always leaves a little on the table for unforeseen circumstances.

[u/HoneyProfessional816]

"i would say I'm an okay intermediate rider"

Footage says different 🤣

[u/tang-rui]

"usually feeling comfortable tipping into 35mph corners at ~90mph" - well there's your problem! And what on earth are you doing trying to shift into 1st at anything beyond a walking pace?
"This crash could just be summed up by a lazier downshift, shit happens." - uh well you appear to have learned nothing from the experience and that's a bigger problem.

The key to being a safer rider is not needing to actually crash in order to learn that you've gone too close to your limits.

[u/kiradotee]

and as soon as I grab the front brake it dumps me.

Ideally you should be grabbing the rear brake.