M C accident

[Independent Voter]

He flew through the air with the greatest of ease. I was on I-220 in Bossier Parrish yesterday. Doing 70 mph I pulled into the left lane to pass another car. About the time I got near the other car, a motorcycle passed me on the right and pulled in front of me . He got about 50 yards ahead of me and then started a violent fish tail.

The front wheel went off the left side of the road, dug into the soft dirt and away the bike and rider went. About 5 flips later both came to rest, the bike still running and the rider 20 yards away flat on his back.

Pulling over and running to see if he was still alive, which he was, I loosened his helmet strap since it looked as if it was trying to choke him, did not remove it. By that time several more cars had stopped and an off duty med tech ?. was at his side checking him over while another was calling 911.

I could not do more so I left. My question is for those who still do or have in the past ridden Motorcycles. What would make the bike go into a violent fishtail like that. I estimate that the action was at least 40 - 60 Deg either side of center prior to departure from the highway.

[Dave Grubb]

It is only conjecture but barring a mechanical failure I would suspect he lost traction while accelerating (slippery spot?) or hit the front brake.

Added in edit:

Hitting the front brake either too hard or absent of the rear brake entirely is a mistake everyone makes once---few need to be reminded not to try again.

[UTAH]

Yeah - if you lose control going into a "tank slapper", you'll take it easy with the front brake in the future.


BTW, no more bikes for me. After the last incident, the Wife banned me from them. Like a typical motorcycle guy, though, it still bothers me that I lost a good bike.


Hunter

[mgrist]

It's hard to say, he could have had a blowout. He shouldn't have been anywhere near the front brake after passing you at minimum eighty?. He could have hit a heavy oil spot while applying a brake. Was there any construction? I had that happen to me changing lanes at night and I didn't see that the pavement on the lane I was moving into was fresh and had a one inch step up from the lane I was in. It grabbed the wheels immediately and I was in a fight, as soon I could get corrected one way I was already out of balance the other way.

[Phillbo]

I'd guess a blown rear tire.

[Dave Grubb]

I'd guess a blown rear tire.

I would think that IV would have seen debris from a blowout.

[Independent Voter]

After the bike stopped,still running, the tire looked OK. no noticeable damage to it. i had the thought that he turned the wheel rather than leaning to remain in the lane after passing.

[mgrist]

Turning the wheel is basically what I had to do once that new asphalt caught my wheels. When I say turned my wheels it was more of a thought than an action it was so little of a turn. I saved it, don't know how honestly. Had to be what Dave and Bill mentioned. He either hit something which kicked his front end over that little bit that it would take or for some reason hit the front brake. Or the brakes he had on there were dragging from an install maybe and locked up???