Rapid Rear Wheel Slide at Speed

So I was on my way home from a shopping spree, on the highway, and with about 120mph showing on the clock. Coming over a long uphill rise, and in the lefthand lane, I saw the flashing lights of a police cruiser that had a car pulled over on the right hand shoulder. The bike was leaning very slightly to the left as I got hard on the front brake, and for a split second I felt the rear wheel come unglued and slide a little. This wasn't anything dramatic but surprised me nevertheless. My front suspension is set with a fraction more preload than stock and standard weight fork oil, the rear preload is on the 3rd notch from the top with half a turn over stock rebound damping. Tires are Avon ST's (which I absolutely love), 34psi front, and 40psi rear. I weigh about 170lbs in ATGATT. Now, Rossi R1 sliding shenanigans aside, WTF? I have no desire to go over the highside, so what can I do (Yeah, I know, slow down), to rectify this sort of issue, or was this normal behaviour from the bike? I generally ride fairly hard and fast, but this is the first time I've experienced anything like this at that kind of speed.

Oh BTW, the cop, who was facing in my direction, smiled as I went by at about 75mph, and motioned me to slow down. Could have been worse!

Any comments welcome .................

 

a combination of factors:

braking while leaned over (panic braking?) loaded up the front suspension and unweighted the rear
sloppy braking (maybe) apply brakes gradually and never do anything abruptly - release brakes gradually too
tire pressure - 40 is prob about 5 too much in the rear. the difference in pressure from cold to hot tires should be no more than 5 PSI. measure the hot/cold differential, if greater than 5psi take pressure out. Try running 36

 

One solution to prevent tossing off on a highside other than just slowing down some after shopping and maybe not rememembering clearly that you mashed on the rear brake too, is to strap yourself on the bike with about ten or so of those 24" wire ties. Next spree maybe buy some of those simulated black leather Pampers at the nearest HD dealership for your next encounter with a LEO.

 

Not really panic braking, but certainly urgent. Hell, I was almost 60mph over the limit. I'm inclined to think that you're right about loading up the front. I'm not sure that a lower rear tire pressure would have made a difference in that scenario, but I'll take a couple or five pounds out next fast trip and see how it feels. As for being leaned over, the bike couldn't have been much more than five to ten degrees off vetical, but maybe that was enough. I haven't had this experience when trailbraking hard at far steeper angles though.

No back brake use by yours truly Bb, it only gets used in town traffic and then not regularly, but I'm wondering if the linked brake business would have been at least part of the cause. Hmmmmmm, wire ties would at least save me searching for the bike in the undebrush. Already well stocked with leather pampers, the wife says that they "add a little something" to a case of beer, 5th of JD, an eight ball (I prefer crack, but what can you do?), carton of smokes, and a Pink Flamingos marathon on hot Saturday nights.

 

linked brakes.....

 

+1 on linked brakes

 

No matter what you say, I am still putting Cundalini and Crusty at the top of my hero list.

 

Errrrr, Yep!

 

Can I be in the top 5 at least?

 

you have to remember that at those speeds motorcycles behave differently to inputs. Most Racers will tell you that what happened is normal- congratulations on "backing it in" for the first time- regardless of your intentions.........

 

So that's what it feels like huh?

I hope it looked cool.

 

Slowing down sounds like the best advice offered so far.

120 mph on a highway, while cresting a hill no less? Were you hauling some ice cream from your shopping spree, or what?

It sounds like the stretch of highway you mentioned may be a favorite speed trap zone for LEO's, so perhaps you were doubly lucky that the LEO was in the midst of ticketing another motorist when you barreled over the hill at 120 mph. If he'd instead pinched you doing 120 mph on a road with a posted speed limit of 65-70 mph (and you then lawfully pulled over) you could've been charged with reckless operation; you could've been handcuffed, stuffed into the back of a cruiser, and taken to the local county jail, pending arraignment; and your shiny yellow motorcycle could've been towed to an impound lot. (Moreover, your ice cream would've been spoiled.)

I'm curious: Why exactly do you feel entitled to ride your motorcycle at such speeds, on public roads? Does the fact you adhere to ATGATT (perhaps also because you've completed Track Courses?), excuse you from being labelled a squid at such times, in your mind? Clearly here, you were not in control of your motorcycle as much as you fancied yourself to be, and you're lucky that you didn't really screw the pooch and go down in some fashion, as well as then possibly endangering those motorists all around you on that highway.

Indeed, it's the increasing commonality of irresponsible and reckless motorcyclists and drivers who've sufficiently motivated State legislatures such as here in Ohio to propose sweeping, iron-fisted, zero-tolerance laws against unruly and dangerous conduct on public roads. For example, Ohio's proposed law includes penalties for those convicted, such as forfeiture of their vehicle, mandatory jail time, mandatory fines, lengthy license suspensions (or even revocation), etc.

Also, what if you or any of your loved ones was ever injured or killed by someone like yourself as a result of recklessly driving/riding on a public road? Oh my God, I could here it now...

 

Nothing better than having the audacity to be the self annointed, all knowing, protector of society with the right to tell somebody else how they should live. That nonsense tying this guy into somehow being part of the Ohio legislatures choice of legislation is priceless. That was truly some amazing shit.

 

Consider that this dude has the mind of a Steven Hawking, the riding skills of Evel Knevel, the bank account of Donald Trump and is from Nooo Yawk too, and his icecream is probably vanilla.

 

Not to worry. You have this guy beat out by dozens of posts on that subject. Not as many as Cundalini and Crusty but eventually you'll get there.

 

I am quite humbled that a person of your immense stature would even waste his time getting involved in any of my follies. Thanks for making my day, I feel honored knowing I have garnered the attention of the majestic Double B.

One last thing for you old boy, don't drag me into the childish little eye poking game you have instigated with Cundalini and Crusty, I have nothing to do with that, and it stinks of cowardice. Of course you'll probably have some genius level response to support your position, and by all means, please waste your time with that.

 

Thanks for the reciprocity. I'm really not that big or that smart even though it may seem that way. If you are under 4' 6" and HWP, I may be able to get you a shot at the WWF Smackdown Midget Wrestling Team or maybe even an audition for a role in "Snow White Does the Seven Dwarves." I have connections.

 

Is that a hard on I see peeping out from under your dress?

 

That would be RedRover5683.

Sorry, I wasn't in control of my keyboard, although I fancied I was.