What Does It Mean to Lay Down a Motorcycle?

As a motorcyclist, you may not have heard about “laying down a motorcycle” before. It is a practice that most motorcyclists intentionally perform to avoid the risks of severe injuries in the event of a crash.

There is a never-ending debate about whether laying down a motorcycle is bad or safe. Some riders believe that intentionally laying down a motorcycle is a very unsafe practice and is not sensible at all.

On the other hand, some riders believe that laying down a motorcycle is a smart move to avoid a crash. To examine whether it is safe, we must understand what “laying down a motorcycle” means.

Continue reading this article to learn what laying down a motorcycle means. Also, what happens to a motorcycle when you lay it down?

Laying down a motorcycle means sliding it on one side in the event of a crash. You must have seen this in movies and TV shows.

• Riders lay down their motorbikes to avoid severe motorcycle injuries.
• According to most riders, laying down a bike helps avoid being thrown over the handlebars.
• Most riders also think that laying down a bike reduces motorcycle damage.
• They believe it is an expert technique to avoid physical and monetary loss.
• Riders believe that it will reduce the impact if you lay down your bike.

Motorcycle accidents are scary and can be life-threatening. Adopting the right and safe approach is important if you are involved in a motorcycle crash.

When you get involved in an accident, you have less than a second to save yourself from severe injuries. In such a situation, most riders get panicked. Their minds stop working, which makes them unable to react properly.

If you are familiar with laying down the bike, you will most likely do it. However, if you have received safety motorcycle riding training, you know laying down a motorcycle may not be the smartest move.

Some riders intentionally lay down their motorbikes. Meanwhile, it can also happen unintentionally if you are less trained in dealing with a motorcycle crash.

Most motorcyclists, when faced with an emergency situation, apply both brakes forcefully to avoid a crash. This causes both wheels to lock up and the motorcycle skids.

Most motorcyclists who believe lying down on a motorcycle is a safe and effective way to avoid life-threatening injuries are living in the 20th century. In modern times, it is not a good option to lay down a bike as there are several other options that you must prefer to avoid a crash.

It is better not to lose your senses and look for a better option to save yourself from the accident. Laying down a bike can still cause much damage to your bike. Modern bikes have so many metal and plastic parts that can be scraped while sliding the bike, resulting in an uncontrolled motion.

Overall, laying down a motorcycle is bad, considering you have several other safe options to avoid a motorcycle crash and severe injuries.

Laying down a motorbike is an old concept used by riders to avoid hitting the vehicle in front or crashing badly. However, braking technology was not effective in the past, which is why laying the bike down was a preferred option.

As of today, the motorcycle braking technology has evolved a great deal. There has been tremendous development in the motorcycle engineering department that has made motorcycles more stable, balanced, and safe. There are a lot of modern and advanced safety features installed on present-day motorcycles, including:

• Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
• Traction Control System
• Cornering ABS
• Electronically-linked braking (ELB)
• Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)
• Ride modes
• Variable power output

These features control motorcycle movement on all axes. They actively sense and monitor irregular motorcycle movements while maneuvering the bike to keep it stable.

You would be lucky if you escaped severe injuries or motorcycle damage while laying down your bike. According to most experts, laying down a motorcycle is unsafe and not recommended.

It will not only damage your motorcycle, but it can also cause severe injuries, road rashes, and broken and twisted bones. The side of your body in contact with the ground and under the motorbike will get the most impact.

Also, most riders lay down their motorbikes before considering any other option. If you pay attention and look for an alternative, you may completely avoid a motorcycle accident.

Remember, we cannot bring the bike to a stop until we have traction and control of it. We cannot control the bike or its direction when it is laid down.

You can reduce the impact or severity of a motorcycle crash by following the below steps:

Slow down immediately while disengaging the throttle. This is the first step that you should take.

Please be informed that you have little time to perform the next step. All these steps must be performed immediately. Moving on to the next step doesn’t mean the rider should take a deep breath or wait a while. Remember, it is an emergency.

After slowing down, apply the rear brake and immediately apply the front brake. This helps prevent the wheels from locking. However, if you are about to crash, apply both brakes simultaneously.

While braking in an emergency, ensure your motorcycle and the handlebars are upright and straight.

Applying the front brakes first in a hurry can cause the front of the bike to dive, resulting in a stoppie. Motorcycles are rear-wheel drive (RWD), so it requires more force to stop the rear wheel than the front wheel.

When you apply the rear brake first, it slows down the rear tire. When you apply the front brake, both tires will have almost equal traction to avoid motorcycle skidding.

Therefore, the safest option is to apply the rear brake first and then the front brake for emergency braking.

This step is against laying the bike down to avoid a motorcycle crash. It is safer to keep your motorcycle upright because you will be able to come to a safe stop.

On the other hand, if you don’t keep your bike upright and apply brakes, your motorcycle will definitely skid uncontrollably, resulting in an unwanted situation.

Do not try to swerve or change the direction of your bike while you apply emergency brakes. You cannot perform both these steps at the same time. Either swerve or apply brakes to avoid the crash.

It depends on your judgment and call. If you think the bike will not stop, considering the following distance with the vehicle in front, you should swerve.

You can completely avoid the accident if you know how to swerve the bike skillfully. However, you must ensure the other lane you are shifting to is safe.

There is only one situation that makes intentionally laying down a motorcycle safe. Consider you are riding on a cliff, and suddenly, the edge approaches, as shown in movies and TV shows. In that case, riders can intentionally lay down the motorbike to save their lives.

Always remember that safety comes first. Before you learn what to do in the event of a motorcycle crash to avoid severe injuries, you must follow the basic safety riding guidelines. These include:

• Always wear a DOT-approved helmet that fits your head while riding.
• Wear a leather jacket and leather pants.
• Wear motorcycle boots.
• Wearing motorcycle gloves is essential, too.
• Follow all the traffic laws.
• Ride safely, slowly, and defensively.
• Never ride under the influence of alcohol.

Laying down a motorcycle can cause much damage to the bike.

• As it skids, the metal and plastic parts get brutally scraped.
• The motorcycle paint can also come off from the side in contact with the ground.
• The motorcycle engine and transmission can also get severely damaged.
• Your motorcycle's wheels and engine will be badly damaged while you lay down the bike, particularly if you hit a vehicle coming from the opposite direction.
• The fuel lines can get damaged, too, causing an increased risk of catching fire.

Determining who is at fault in a motorcycle accident where a rider lays down the bike comes under legal procedure. The person who files the case has to prove that the defendant is guilty of committing negligence. It must also be proved that the negligence has caused the accident.

However, a motorcycle accident where a rider lays down the bike becomes challenging. It is difficult to pinpoint who is at fault in such a situation. You must contact a motorcycle accident lawyer if you are involved in such a motorcycle crash.

Intentionally laying down a motorcycle is considered unsafe to avoid motorcycle crashes. It was used in old times to avoid collisions or severe injuries when motorcycle braking was unreliable.

When you lay down a motorcycle, you are surrendering to the situation. You no longer have the opportunity to opt for a different technique to avoid crashes. You are also putting yourself at severe risk of injuries when you choose to lay down your bike. Your motorcycle also gets severely damaged.

It is better and safer to deal with the situation sensibly. Slow down, apply brakes while keeping the bike upright, or swerve to avoid the crash. Above all, you must always wear the appropriate riding gear and follow traffic rules to stay safe.