I dropped my Nevada

[skromfols]

I can't figure this one out.  I was riding yesterday on a two lane road and when I went around a curve there were 8 or 10 cars stopped in my lane.  My guess is that someone at the front of the line was going to make a left hand turn, so everyone was stopped behind them.  I was only riding 35 or 40 MPH, but coming around the curve and finding the stopped cars forced me to hit my brakes quickly.  The next thing I knew I was tumbling my way down the asphalt, sans bike.  Luckily all I ended up with was some road rash on my knees (I was wearing Levis) and elbows (I had on my heavy army jacket) and a bit on my face (I was wearing a half helmet).

I'm an experienced rider (50+ yrs) and have experienced unexpected situations before, but this one has me stumped.  I don't think my back brake locked up, because I would have felt it slide, so I'm guessing that I must have locked up the front brake, which would explain why I was thrown unexpectedly off the bike.  I'm amazed at how fast everything happened at such a moderate pace.  I'm just surprised that the front brake locked up, if that's what happened.  But the bottom line is I'd like to figure this out to avoid any future mishaps.  Any ideas ?

I had engine guards on the bike, so hopefully some scratches and a broken windshield are the major damage, but I didn't get a chance to see the bike after the event, as a friend had already pushed it off the road and will hold it until I'm ready to come get it.

[Skarsaune]

Hard to say without more data, but sounds like you tucked the front end.
What was the road condition? Clean asphalt, wet/dry, ???
Leaned over hard or straight up and down?

[rocker59]

Yep.  Loss of traction on the front wheel.

Probably caused from over-application when you got startled by the stopped cars, but...

Cool weather, cool and dusty/gritty pavement, cool tires with too much pressure could also have contributed as you applied the brake in a curve.

[canuguzzi]

You could have hit an oil spot, a wet leaf, sand, just about anything. Old hard tires?

Hard to avoid what you don't know about. Why they put abs on bikes these days and why they are getting to in turn lean over abs working.

[Triple Jim]

All of the above, plus the effect that the more the tires are resisting sliding sideways from the curve, the less they have available for stopping.  Glad you're OK.

[malik]

Nasty shock. Glad you're OK.

Have a mate who did similar recently - pulling into a cafe, so very slow, front brake on, hit the white line in the damp & lost the front, middle finger pushed up into the wrist. Did NOT make his day/month or two. Especially galling he says,as he knew better.

[lucydad]

What rocker said....

Glad you are ok, and well done on post-event analysis. 

[skromfols]

I was leaned over, but only slightly and the asphalt was dry, with no leaves or debris.  Front tire is probably two years old, so it shouldn't be too hard and the tire pressure was pretty close to recommended. 

My sweet wife very gently asked if she could make a recommendation.  I agreed and she recommended that I get the bike repaired, then sell it and get a new bike with ABS.  She and I'm thinking along the same line, however, my Triumph America doesn't have ABS, so maybe there will be two new bikes in my future.

[Sasquatch Jim]

  That was a lot less likely to happen back in the days of drum brakes.
   My 93 Yamaha TW200 had a drum front brake.  You had to squeeze really hard to lock it up.

[sib]

My sweet wife very gently asked if she could make a recommendation.  I agreed and she recommended that I get the bike repaired, then sell it and get a new bike with ABS.  She and I'm thinking along the same line, however, my Triumph America doesn't have ABS, so maybe there will be two new bikes in my future.

I'm with the missus.  Get a V7II with ABS, it's basically an updated Nevada.

[skromfols]

Sib, I'll be looking at the V7II, the new V-9 Bobber and the new Triumph Street Twin.  All are good bikes for up here in the foothills.  Light weight, ample power and comfortable for all day riding.

[canuguzzi]

I was leaned over, but only slightly and the asphalt was dry, with no leaves or debris.  Front tire is probably two years old, so it shouldn't be too hard and the tire pressure was pretty close to recommended. 

My sweet wife very gently asked if she could make a recommendation.  I agreed and she recommended that I get the bike repaired, then sell it and get a new bike with ABS.  She and I'm thinking along the same line, however, my Triumph America doesn't have ABS, so maybe there will be two new bikes in my future.

Give her whatever she desires! You are a lucky man.

[Chuck in Indiana]

I was leaned over, but only slightly and the asphalt was dry, with no leaves or debris.  Front tire is probably two years old, so it shouldn't be too hard and the tire pressure was pretty close to recommended. 

My sweet wife very gently asked if she could make a recommendation.  I agreed and she recommended that I get the bike repaired, then sell it and get a new bike with ABS.  She and I'm thinking along the same line, however, my Triumph America doesn't have ABS, so maybe there will be two new bikes in my future.

So.. your evil plan comes to fruition. Well played.. 

[canuguzzi]

Even a small rock would have done it. Tire hits the small rock and it rolls under as you're leaned over. You might not even feel it. At some point its a non recoverable event.

[neverquit]

Hope your injuries are only skin deep.  I have locked up the front wheel on my Nevada three times on dry pavement.  One time was an emergency stop and I expected it, the other two times were surprises.  Luckily for me I was going straight and everything was lined so I skidded to a fast stop.

But this winter I have been shopping and I may get a V7II because I want ABS.  I am also looking at some other bikes but it's hard to find a conventional standard bike that is as light as the V7II with as much power and low end torque.  I  like the looks of the new MG V9 Roamer and I also want to test ride the Honda NC700X or CTX700.  But they are heavier.

[skromfols]

Thanks all for your thoughts on this.  At least a better understanding of what might have happened may be helpful in avoiding something similar in the future.  This was just too scary and I may have used the last of my 9 lives!

Neverquit, you might want to consider the Triumph Street Twin also.  It's not as light as the MG but has good torque, and feels comfortable for day long rides (I've sat on one, but haven't test ridden it yet).