My wife and I rode down to Arkansas last weekend as we do several times a year. This time another couple with moderate riding experience went with us. We were out riding on Saturday, me in front, then my friends wife, my friend, and my wife in the back keeping it all together. After going through an easy 35 mph curve, I looked in my mirror just in time to see his wife miss the curve, riding off the road. She rode along the sloped roadside for about about 25 feet before going through a bush/tree which hid what was on the other side. She then violently came to rest against a chunk of cast off concrete. Bike was totalled but she walked (limped) away. Given all the potential things that could have happened, she walked away by the grace of God. Speed wasn't a factor as I was setting a safe pace.

So here is the question. While it is easy to second guess, it seems to me the thing to do, once in this situation is to lay the bike down in the grass. The preference would of course be to ride it on out, but short of a clear path back to the road, it seems to me this is the best thing to do. What would you do? And how exactly do you lay the bike down, hard front brake and sharp turning? I confess I am a rider whose time for a fall hasn't yet come.

I don't know how to put one down on purpose but lean on one or the other handlebars enough and you'll either steer out of the situation or it'll go down.

I wonder if your friend's wife knows about pushing on the handle bar to lean into a curve. Believe it or not some folks don't.

Sounds like she might want to invest in the MSF rider course. Glad she was able to walk away,many don't.

To lay one down you just pick the side you want to lay it on, (I normally take pipes up to avoid burns) steer to that side and go heavy brakes and lock up the rear. If you time it right, you can ride it out mostly upright and then bail out the last few feet and let the bike hit whatever. The real object is to brake as hard as you can and only lay it down when all else failed.

She just did not realize how much more her bike would have leaned, or she was not looking at the right thing (Where she wanted to go)

It happens a lot, even to a lot more experienced riders, happened to me recently but I pulled out of it with lots of luck and a little experience.

Crap happens. She's ok and that's ALL that matters, she has a great story to tell and a new bike to fit up like she wants.

My first advice is for anyone who is new to riding take a motorcycle saftey course.

My second advice to new and even old seasoned riders is to buy the video "Ride like a pro", I cannot recommend that video enough. You would be suprised how many people I ask how they make a bike go through a curve and their answer is leaning. You ask do they counter steer, and most have a blank look on their face. Most of them are doing it, they just don't realize it. If they actaully knew how it affects the bike, they would be better riders. Looking at where you are going, around the curve is a huge factor in controling the bike.

As far as what to do, I guess depends on the situation.
Coming around a curve and you know you are not gonna make the curve? My opinion: best to sit the bike upright and brake fairly hard to slow down. With you still on the bike, you still have some control. If the bike is down, there is no control and you are gonna go wherever you end up. All depends and the circumstances of whats there, where you are headed, etc.

I don't know if it would work in this specific situation, but I've gone down three times. Once rear ended by a drunk driver, once clipped by a truck that blew a stop sign, and most recently had a suv pull out in front of me at a rally. I can tell you I've been in easily 3 times that many close calls. What has saved me almost every time was throttle. It's tuly a lifesaving skill every rider should master; when to trottle back to right a laydown. Just don't know how the hell you would practice that!!!

I think she does but I will mention this to her.

Yes I will recommend that and amen that she walked away.

Thanks for the comments. I will definitely check out the video "Ride Like a Pro". The gal in question has ridden for several years as well as 20 years ago. I think she may have got disoriented somehow and panicked. Regardless, I will recommend the MSF course to her. Look forward to more replies.

MS 1700,
Good advice, thanks. By the way, we corresponded about a year ago about going pumpless. I am glad I made the switch! Runs better than ever.