Motorcycle Safety & Driveability: Loss of traction., front, tire

Question
Is there anything we can do to avoid a crash if the front tire skids during a turn (like hitting an oily patch)

Answer
There is little you can do. This is why riders should take great care in evaluating the road surface well before they get there.

The only technique I know of to save a front-tire slide on a slippery surface is the same technique you should use all the time, for every corner. Keep your head and eyes focused on where you want the bike to go. Keep the throttle steady, open. Don't snap it shut! Don't give up! Try to ride it out--the slick spot has to end somewhere, right? It'll be scary, but it's better to go down after trying your best to save it than just letting the bike go down.

And make sure your riding posture is correct. Grip the bike with your LEGS, and keep your hands, arms, elbows, and shoulders loose. You should ride like this all the time, not just when there's trouble. Hanging onto the bike by the handlebars adds a whole bunch of unwanted/unneeded inputs to the bike, which will make it harder for the front end to do it's job. This makes for a lot of work on your legs and lower back, but the benefits you gain in steering make it all worth it.

(When racers lose the front on a good surface, simply by overriding their tires/traction/suspension, they often compensate for it by opening the throttle and trying to lighten the front wheel. This allows the suspension to work a little better and quite often saves the slide. I don't think this will help for a slippery surface, though.)

Pat