Gravel in a wet downhill corner
You are riding a 400 cc motorcycle down a steep, wet chipseal hill in second gear. The advisory sign for the left-hand bend says 45 km/h, but your speed is about 52 km/h. The road is narrow, with no centre line. A logging truck has tracked bark and gravel across the outside of the corner, and the surface looks darker and greasy near the apex. A car is following about two seconds back. As you tip into the corner, the front tyre runs onto the gravel and feels vague. You are looking at the ditch on the outside of the bend. Your right hand is tense on the front brake lever. There is no room to run wide because a bank and a power pole are on the outside.
1. What should you do in the next two seconds, and why?
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Do not grab the front brake. The front tyre is on loose gravel and has little grip; a hard front brake will lock it and you will lose the front. Keep the throttle steady or slightly closed for engine braking, keep your arms relaxed, and look at the exit of the corner, not the ditch. Let the bike run on a smooth line and avoid any sudden steering input. If you must slow, use the rear brake very gently. The priority is to let the front tyre recover and keep the suspension settled.
2. If you must reduce speed mid-corner, how would you brake?
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Use engine braking and a light, progressive rear brake. Do not add front brake while leaned over on gravel; the front contact patch is already compromised, and braking force uses grip the tyre needs for cornering. If the bike is too upright and you have room, straighten it slightly to gain braking grip, but here the bank and pole limit that option, so smooth rear brake and engine braking are safer. Once upright, use both brakes.
3. What would you do after the corner, and what should you change next time?
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After the corner, stop in a safe place, check the front tyre for damage and clear any bark from the tread, and check your own state. Next time, slow to below the 45 km/h advisory before the gravel, choose a line that avoids the outside debris, and use a 4-second gap in wet conditions. Advisory speeds are for cars; on a motorcycle in the wet with gravel, you need more margin.