Doc Wong Crashes - Part One

Hi,

The last time I fell, it was on my 1990 FZR 1000, hitting antifreeze on a 35 mph corner...that was 120,000 miles of trouble free riding and 9 years ago!

Good thing I didn't get hurt!
I've prided myself for riding in a "spirited" manner yet being safe enough to avoid accidents. Riding in any and all conditions over the years have added much to my experience. I've enjoyed sharing these experiences along with many other experienced friends with those who have attended the Doc Wong Riding Clinics over the years.

Still, there comes times when the allure of street riding, the high and exhilaration gets the better of many of us. I'm no exception.

So, this is Part 1 of my crash what led to it, how it specifically happened and what I could have done to avoid this, the lessons I've learned and what I need to do in the future.

This time it was at 75 mph on an "S" corner leaned way over on Mines Road on my once new beautiful Ducati 748 and my new leathers from Helimot's. I can attest to the quality of those leathers and his padding which I consider the best in the industry. Without them I would have suffered quit a bit.

Can you tell where I crashed?
This time I abandoned my own advices of how to ride safely. My own safety procedures were off!

A very humbling experience!

Here's the beginning formula for my crash:

1. First sunny day in a while.
2. New bike that's much more capable.
3. My skill level bumped up a notch since drilling with Keith Code last week.
4. Riding much faster and keeping up with a faster, more skilled rider.
5. Throwing most of my caution to the wind.
6. Since my skill was improving and speeds faster, new problems arise that are unexpected. With my beemer at slower speeds, I would have been able to hit the conditions and not crashed.
7. I didn't know the road very well and was trying to use the other rider's lines and bike behavior to predict what the road was doing. On this particular turn my friend, Andy Burnett was a bit further ahead so I couldn't do that.

My own advice to leave more margin for error on roads I was unfamiliar with was not followed. On the roads on my side of the hill, I know every bump, corner and ripple! I was riding Mines like I had that knowledge.

All these a very good formula for crashing. Things I warn other riders about.

I knew it and crashed.


Doc Wong Crashes - Part 2 - Over-Confidence
Doc Wong Crashes - Part 3 - The Crash
Doc Wong Crashes - Part 4 - Consequences and Repairs