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Hard Yamaha R6 Crash Caused by Wrong Turn Approach and Target Fixation

It’s been quite a while since we last published some Mulholland Highway crashes, but the wait is over. Like always, the best footage is served through the lens of youtuber rnickeymouse. Again, for no apparent reason, some of the juiciest crashes involve a Yamaha, and once more, it’s scary contemplating how people riding an R6 crotch rocket are unable to ride through the infamous curve.
Waving in and out the corner is definitely not the ideal track 1 photo
Photo: rnickeymouse
I have recently ran a story on how the sales of supersport-class motorcycles are going down in Europe because of the rookie rider regulations, and you can follow the link to read the “Preparing to Wave 600cc Sport Bikes Good-Bye” analysis. There is no way to know how many miles the fellow in this video left behind while riding a motorbike, but I’d rather go with “not too many”, simply because this is NOT how a decently experienced motorcyclist rides through a turn. However, it seems like this Yamaha R6 got in the wrong hands, if we were to judge upon this video, alone.

Waving in and out the corner is definitely not the ideal track

If anything, the best trajectory through a turn is a fluid one without the need to make sudden changes of throttle, steering and leaning angle and for what’s worth, keeping a fluid line past the apex of the curve. Now take another look at the video… you’ll not see any of these key ingredients of basic safe riding.

The rider is definitely not sure what he’s doing, seeming to constantly reconsider what he believes is the ideal track around the bend. Still, his multiple hesitations and the lack of focus for the road ahead shake hands with the target fixation which ensues and prevent him from being able to make the needed maneuvers to remain upright out of the turn.

In fact, the ride is pretty much over the moment his front wheel hits the gravel, but this unhappy event could have been effortlessly avoided. First off, should the rider not have tried trick which he was obviously not ready for, such as riding that hard in a very tight curve. And he doesn’t even carry much speed around the bend, truth be told. Another smart idea could have been slowing down in the confines of one’s personal skills’ limits. But that is one things which is rather rare on the Snake…

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