Not everything goes according to plan. And when you start getting into trouble on a motorbike, how you react and the decisions you take can make the difference between a scary moment and a ride in an ambulance.
When a tyre runs out of grip and starts to slide, you’re in a skid. It can happen under braking (‘lock up’), through excess power (‘wheelspin’) or carrying too much corner speed and bank angle (‘drift’). They’re all more likely when the road is wet or icy, the surface is poor or something has been spilt on it.
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Wobbling, weaving or wheel bouncing at high speed is quite possibly your bike’s way of saying it needs some mechanical TLC. Nevertheless it can be quite scary when it happens unexpectedly. Whatever you do, don’t grab a huge handful of front brake. That way only leads to a locked wheel or a highside.
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Your bike will aquaplane if you ride too fast over a very wet stretch of road. The tyres can’t cut down to the road surface, so they simply ‘plane’ over the water like a stone skimmed across a lake. In these circumstances, you have virtually no grip whatsoever. Not nice.
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Accidents can feel like they are happening in slow motion. But this is not the time to turn spectator. In the split seconds before impact, you can still greatly reduce the chances of serious injury. Remember to avoid target fixation and never give up trying to find a path to safety.
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