Motorcycle Safety & Driveability: when motorcycle is tipping, speed technique, msf course

Question
I took the MSF course (new rider at age 48) but this did not come up.  Say for some reason your bike is tipping over and you cannot hold it up.  Say it is tipping over to the left.  I read that you should take your left foot off the peg and step out away from the bike so your leg does not get trapped under the bike.  You should also let go with your left hand so the handlbars do not pull you down.  This makes sense if the bike is not running or is in neutral. However, this happened to me once as I was just about stopped, but the bike was still in gear, so when I instinctively let go with my left hand, the clutch let out, the bike jerked, and I ended up falling with the bike on top of me.  What should I have done?  It all happened so fast and now I have this fear in my head.  Thanks.

Answer
Mark,

Thanks for the question.

If you feel the bike is going to go over, definitely get AWAY from the bike as it goes over. Get your feet off the pegs and hop off. You will get injured (probably in the leg) if you try to remain on the bike and "save it."

First thing to figure out is "why is the bike falling to the left?" Does it have a full left saddlebag or anything that could be making it prone to tipping left? If not not then the answer is just to practice slow speed technique.

I am also wondering: when you are coming to a stop and pulling the clutch, you MAY be putting pressure on the handlebar, making the bike want to go left (but without you wanting to go left). Try this: as you are coming to a stop, get BOTH feet off the pegs when you are at walking speed, and "walk" the bike to a stop. Again, if you feel it's going to go over, at least your feet will be on the ground and you can get off the bike. However, I think you'll find that "walking" (also called "paddling") the bike to a complete stop will cure the problem, and eventually you will be able to pull up to a stop, and at the last moment of forward motion, be able to put your foot down and maintain balance without even thinking about it. It just takes practice and experience.

As far as the MSF class goes (and I have taken and taught it), the topic of bikes tipping over is not really covered because it has not shown itself to be a problem as of yet. However, with newer riders like yourself starting out on large bikes (Harleys, big cruisers, etc) instead of the traditional small or midsize bike, the problem of balancing a heavy machine at slow speeds is certainly a valid one. I will raise it with the MSF organization.

Basically, you really need to practice slow-speed stops. No shame in that, everyone (self included) tipped over their bike at a stopsign/stop light in the early going. You need to get to an empty parking lot some weekend morning and just practice stopping and starting. Try to see why the bike is tipping left- it's either something you are doing (most likely) or some problem with the bike (least likely). Bring someone with you, preferably an experienced rider, and see if they can spot what the problem is. Also, if you have another tip over, they can hep you get the bike upright again. No need to spend four hours on it, you'll probably get it licked in under an hour.

Don't let this problem keep you from riding. In fact, the more riding you do, the quicker you'll be able to overcome it. No one starts out riding with complete control of something as inherently unstable as a motorcycle. A tipover now and then is part of the deal. Keep working on slow-speed technique and you'll eventually forget this was ever an issue.

Good luck, ride safe, have fun.

William Roberson