The surface was hard packed sand. I was already braking and the bike tires were already sliding. I could fell it would never stop in time. Laying it down allowed the pegs to dig into the hard sand. I have laid bikes down at high speed in dirt and sand numerous times during Enduros. It is a faster safer way to stop on soft surfaces in an emergency, but not a rule to be used all surfaces.
Dropping a bike on concrete or asphalt is not normally smart. The bike will slide on the surface a lot farther than it would by applying brakes. I agree friction from upright rubber tires is a better bet. If you part from bike though it will normally go a lot farther down the road then you do on your back because it is a lot heavier; of course if it digs in and starts to flip in the air it may stop sooner, which is an exception to that rule too. I had the unlucky experience last year on asphalt with the GTS at three AM on a dark asphalt highway. The Canadian Road Dept didn't put a barrier up on a groundup of section of highway being repaved. Never saw the black 6" curb the cutter left from removing the asphalt. The edge was running parallel to my movement and I was slowly cutting across the road. I was sliding on my ass before I knew what hit me. I thought for a moment someone shot me I went down so fast. The bike slid a lot farther that I did. But, even if you could stop faster sliding on your back on asphalt, those asphalt burns are hell to heal, and I wouldn't recommend it. As a general statement I agree with you....but there are exceptions. hawke > From: Michael Weaver <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Reply-To: GTS-1000 Owners List <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2002 19:42:56 -0500 > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: Time to debunk a myth (was Re: Advice on a purchase) > > --On Wednesday, February 13, 2002 7:38 PM -0500 John Laurenson > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> Never say never..........exceptions to every debunked myth > [deleted story] >> I called my friend soon after thanking him for saving our lives. Without >> question we would have hit the rail if I didn't lay the bike down. > > I'm not arguing with you about it, John, but I'm curious as to how you know > that staying on the wheels and using the brakes to their fullest (locking > the wheels, if needs be) wouldn't have stopped you in time where sliding on > the side of the bike did. > > It is an honest curiosity. :-) > > Mike > -- > Michael Weaver (706)542-6462 [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Engineering Services EITS > University of Georgia, Athens Ga. )O( > Public PGP key: http://www.arches.uga.edu/~weaver/pgp.html >
