The Stupidest Statement In Motorcycling | The Shop Manual

[@RevZilla]

Try practicing some techniques for safer riding: rvz.la/3tpdcCK

[@awalmmahmed1795]

I made a mistake... And I had to lay it down

[@fitzstermoto]

@@awalmmahmed1795 Hahaha ... I love it! LOL

[@JeremyTaylorNZ]

I remember this 'had to lay it down' claim being made back when I started learning to ride 28 years ago... and the old saw is still being used. Thanks for calling it out!

[@darthtyranus7683]

See it all the time in Texas half the riders here stay on the right foot stop and go or hold the front brake more often than normal

[@abdulazizsaleh9567]

@@awalmmahmed1795 😅😅😂

[@naustin09]

"I had to lay her down" is what people say when they have a near miss, but manage to crash anyway.

[@jerryglennie5375]

Classic "Oh Sh*t" reaction

[@ScottTheImpaler]

Ha! That’s about right.

[@nwmotog]

lolololol. Best. 😂

[@mike-e-moto4615]

😅 I love this

[@rickyv3911]

Survival reactions

[@David..]

“I had to layer down” is actually incredibly helpful information, because it immediately lets you know to ignore literally anything that person says after that point since they’ve demonstrated they’re an idiot.

[@oliviersavard8676]

haddalayerdown

[@10secondsrule]

I did not even know this is phrase exists but now that's exactly what I'd do after hearing it.

[@mopedmarathon]

I had to layer down once, simply way too much clothing for such a warm day.

[@RG-500]

Yup, I totally agree. “I had to lay her down” and “Loud pipes save lives” immediately disqualify someone from a reasonable discussion.

[@LEuler-wl1jp]

@@RG-500 "Loud pipes save lives" the one that I heard too many times from the people who crash so oftenly

[@Grovreicraynth]

Hey Ari! Could your next shop manual episode tackle the common noises motorcycles make and which ones we should be mindful of? As a new rider, it can be quite difficult to recognize if something's wrong woth the bike by sound alone. Something experienced mechanics are really good at.

[@BrickHouseBuilds]

Thats an interesting topic actually 🤔

[@Dwit2EEs]

Just treat noises like a car They're pretty much the same thing. The cam tensioner might rattle a bit but just tighten it a lil. Lifters tick, rods knock, pistons clap... just like a beat up car. If the engine isn't worn tf out then you won't hear the noises. And get a repair manual for the bike. Will save you a lot of questions 💪🏾

[@Grovreicraynth]

@@Dwit2EEs The thing is, I'm new to riding bikes and working on my own bike is not my strongest suit. I'm a heart surgeon. That's like me telling you: "They're pretty much the same thing. Your chest might hurt a bit but just take a pill. Hearts beat, lungs take in air, blood circulates...just like an old man. If the body isn't worn tf out you won't feel a lot of pain. And get an anatomy book. Will save you a lot of questions. See my point? I'm a beginner and I wanna learn.

[@Anthony-en5ov]

This! I was hearing a weird grinding noise coming from my rear brake whenever I came to a slow stop. Took it to a shop and they said everything was totally fine. I definitely want to know more about which noises are normal or not

[@eksnacks6030]

YES.

[@SALTxTHExWOUND]

Had to lay her down? I’m doing anything and everything to NOT lay her down 😂🤣

[@dielaughing73]

It's kind of the number one rule of motorcycling..

[@christianclausen9434]

Ari.... Best explanation of "I ran outta talent" I have heard. I am a professional motorcycle safety trainer, and have had this rationale delivered to me many times. Thanks for steering away from panic reaction, and towards practice and training. Well done, sir!

[@bikedude5911]

As a MC instructor, I used to have a rubber puck and a metal puck. I would use them to show that you can stop a LOT faster on rubber than metal. I also mention to my students that, as you mentioned, we ,just practise our emergency braking and swerving so that we can stop our bike as quickly as possible. As I tell students, we may not always be able to avoid a collision but with our practised skills , the collision will hurt a lot less at 10mph rather than at 40 or 50mph.

[@jamesmcgrath1669]

How about 150 mph how much will it hurt then. The fact is here in Australia and the rest of the world most motorcycle accidents especially ones involving sports bikes are failure to take the corner and smidys, even the best riders can't wash off speed when travelling that quick let alone the idiots we see with little experience riding powerful sports bikes. The problem isn't how you part company with the bike but how you were riding initially, and for a fool if he can manage to shed some speed then drop the bike he may live to ride again.

[@newenglandscrambler2262]

The "layer down" phrase has its usefulness. It's one of those key things I listen for when swapping biker stories with potential riding buddies that immediately tells me I should avoid group rides with that particular person. That and talking about practicing figure 8s in a box and see if they have a confused look on their face or their eyes immediately glaze over. All the folks I ride with get absolutely competitive about how tight a slow-speed turning radius they can manage on a big bore bike.

[@h.d.h]

You're so right. People will freely tell you they are bad riders, but they use code for it.

[@BobJones20001]

I ride fast, but slow is where it is at. Control that beast at full lock, feet up stopping, weight shifting at idle. Always lots to learn

[@newenglandscrambler2262]

@@FXFBS23 💯 . Two of my riding buddies are MSF instructors and we routinely get into parking lot drill challenges.

[@tannerhawes6890]

The only time I've seen someone lay er down for a good reason was to slide under a wire hung across a dirt road that wasn't visible from a distance. It was actually extremely impressive.

[@denisthek]

I had to do that once slow speed did not see a wire in a parking lot-scary.

[@diptenkrom]

did this once on dirt on a mini bike. thought there was a hole in the fence, and it was just all the lower stuff. Top cross was still there, and it was not fun on dirt at low speed, so i would not really like to see that on street at all.

[@viviansee9989]

I had to stabbed my brakes as hard as I could and crash or else instead of a small cut on my neck it would be a lot worst. Some sicko decided to thread a glass thread (use in competitive kite flying here) between two pillars overpass.

[@billmastrippolito7132]

Had that happen to me.

[@moteroargentino7944]

Holy sht. Impressive on the rider and disgusting on the psycho who set that wire.

[@8089kyle]

Im a riding instructor, this is what 90% of riders aren’t ready to hear. Thanks Ari for clearing the air.

[@poonchild]

I’d say 90% of riders are ready to hear it. What make soyu think they aren’t?

[@gordanmoran4549]

Yeah you missed out you ride a GS 😁😁

[@donblub]

that problem goes even further, 90% or more are not capable to own up to their mistake

[@MotoGiant]

KZbin SEARCH "Had to Lay Her Down - The MYTH of Rider Error in Motorcycle Crashes" just put that out a few days ago?

[@russelljimenez4715]

Even the examples he showed were people jumping off bikes on fire/without brakes without laying the bike down. The only actual example of haddalayerdown ive seen is Marc Marquez Mugello 2013 FP1 wehre he had to lay it down at 210mph or face potential death. Other than that, its all just bad riders managing to turn a near miss into a crash.

[@cisium1184]

"I had to lay it down" is prong #2 of the Gas Station Trifecta, the three statements you hear when you're filling up and some guy approaches and talks about motorcycles. *_"I used to own a __________"_* = I used to own a __________. *_"I had to lay it down"_* = I panicked and totaled said __________. *_"I quit riding when I got married"_* = My wife controls the money and refused to let me buy another bike after I panicked and totaled said __________.

[@BrickHouseBuilds]

☝ No greater truth has been spoken

[@kBIT01]

@@lees907 My wife has a similar, albeit more expensive, condition. If I get a new bike then so does she. I did manage to talk her into not getting a new one when I traded one bike in for another.

[@user-gdxt-7399]

; please explain the 1st one

[@josiahwright7114]

@@user-gdxt-7399 he's basically saying the only thing truthful he said was that he used to own a bike.

[@xxmush5362]

Whats special about Sept 14th?

[@GunNut37086]

I've heard this lie in certain motorcycle circle more than others. I'm not naming any names, but in my experience the number of "had to lay her down" stories is directly proportional to the amount of chrome on the bike.

[@alanaspurling6469]

Yeah, handlebar tassel crowd too. 😉

[@SoloPilot6]

INVERSELY proportional.

[@SqueakyNeb]

@@SoloPilot6 No, proportional. Boomers, chrome, and weird old myths and sayings all go hand-in-hand.

[@SoloPilot6]

@@SqueakyNeb But every time he lays it down, there is LESS chrome. Thus, inversely proportional.

[@lcgiv4u]

@@SoloPilot6 It took me a second too…😂

[@FiniteBlu]

I find it more funny than anything. “WHET LEAVES ON THE GROUND SO IHADDALAYERDOWN”

[@firedog5339]

My MSF instructor several years back covered this very topic as a teaching point and mentioned that exact phrase. He solidified in everyone’s minds that there’s always a better option than laying it down. Glad you guys covered the topic too.

[@gurnblanston3210]

As a retired police officer that has heard countless idiots claim "I had to lay 'er down", and as an expert-licensed motorcycle road racer and motorcycle road racing instructor, I call B.S.. It's a LIE that they make up AFTER they crash themselves out because they didn't actually know how to ride, and because they didn't know how to ride, they had no idea how they ended up on the ground.

[@HillbillyonaYZ]

Sooo much truth in this. I've been hearing it (mainly from the HD crowd) for years, and yeah, the line usually fits in with the equally WTF theory of "the front brake will just get you killed". So many myths and so much misinformation still perpetuated in motorcycling it's bizarre.

[@ThaSideWeed]

I've never heard it live from anyone ever in a decade, between RC/MC members and mostly every other category of rider. I'm not from the US tho, nor have I spoken to many US riders. It's anecdotal of course, but may be some credit to the idea that it's more of a regional thing? Misinformation is however abundant, especially from those who have pseudo-experience like a lot of miles driven, and who aren't honest about lack thereof.

[@hoofhearted1955]

@@ThaSideWeed I've heard it quite a few times over the years in Australia. I usually say "you mean you crashed", some people admit it but some get really shitty when called out, l just laugh and avoid riding anywhere near them.

[@Lord_Verminaard]

Absolutely. It's almost always from the HD crowd. (not to generalize, but I am sure you know the type I am talking about)

[@Lord_Verminaard]

@@ThaSideWeed Most countries have a much more developed driver (and rider) education program than we have in the States, many US riders that have their endorsement don't even take any rider training classes, they just take the exam and off they go. I took a 2-day comprehensive Motorcycle Safety Foundation course, which is optional of course, but I found the skills to be extremely useful and I feel like it should be mandatory for anyone getting their endorsement.

[@ThaBootyBandit]

Its understandble from HD riders since the brakes on those are pretty much shit anyway. You'd probably be better off bailing.

[@MOTOTREK]

Well done cinematography.

[@jaynadler4136]

Fabulous and important video. Thanks for posting this Ari. Riding schools teach techniques for crash avoidance. If you ride and have not taken a course, it's a great idea to sign up. If you have taken courses, there is always more to learn. Look for a different course. They are always fun and a great use of time. Besides, riding school is usually lower cost than the deductible to repair your "laid down" bike.

[@jamesvillano5202]

I'm 75; at age 17 I learned on a '47 WL with my father instructing. The bike was his old ride as a motor officer, left hand throttle etc. He used to say that if you have a "near miss" you weren't paying attention. I've had several refresher courses over the years, helps undo bad habits that seem to just develop. At one class, during a break, one of the students mentioned that he had just gotten his bike out of the shop after having "to lay it down". I walked away. Another "old timer" looked at me with a knowing look...an accident looking for a place to happen. Thanks Ari, another reminder I needed.

[@byever1]

I had to lay it down to watch this video.

[@frankmaggerise1126]

I worked at a motorcycle shop last year and heard many stories of "a car pulled out in front of me so I had to lay it down" yes this is BS. Most of them also wore a t-shirt and shorts while riding. The rider really just never learned how to stop in an emergency. Most of them were new riders and blame the car. Was the car hiding behind a tree and then all of a sudden they were in front of you? There are 2 factors here 1; you were not paying attention and 2; you never learned to stop fast. Locking up one or both brakes will make you lay it down but it won't slow you down. Staying on the bike and using the brakes correctly is your safest way to avoid the crash. Watch for cars because they are not looking for you.

[@Kingsoupturbo]

The Canadian version of this is "I hit some Black ice" it wasn't their fault they were on their cell phone or driving on bald summer tires, it was the impossible to control ice of dooooom that spins cars into the ditch the moment you touch it (on 4 contact patches no less!)

[@questioner1596]

Especially since at a steady speed on a straight flat road, nothing happens if you lose traction - you just continue in a straight line.

[@Kingsoupturbo]

@@questioner1596 Its amazing how often you see people in the ditch on straight sections of road. We've hit full -20c winter here in Calgary, every year you see how bad it gets when winter hits. California (L.A. anyways), light rain, people don't even leave their houses

[@questioner1596]

@@Kingsoupturbo, I live in northern Manitoba, and on icy mornings we all seem to make it to work before the roads get salted, but on Saturday mornings we usually see several in the ditch because the drunk people can't handle a little ice. My point is that with a little understanding of physics, some reaction time and presence of mind, it's quite easy to stay on a slippery road.

[@Whiskers74]

Thankfully only laid down my bike twice, and both times were my fault. The first was when I was on my learners permit, and I pushed into a corner a bit harder than I usually would, ran over a stick on the road with the front tyre and got lowsided. The second one was just after I switched from a sports bike to a cruiser. I was leaving a friends place who had a steep driveway with a 90 degree bend just after I got moving. Muscle memory was still there for the sports bike, so my feet weren't far enough forward when I went for the floorboards, I clipped the up shift (rocker shifter), popping the bike into neutral as I started to turn. The bike stopped, and was leaning too far for me to catch, and decided it wanted to lay on its side. I've since corrected that muscle memory so I don't repeat that mistake.

[@youtubeaccount5153]

“I call bull****.” As I’m taking a drink of coffee, start to laugh, and the coffee goes down wrong. Thanks Ari.

[@MinnesotaNice763]

You didn't choke, you just laid the coffee down.

[@BrickHouseBuilds]

@@MinnesotaNice763 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@youtubeaccount5153]

@@MinnesotaNice763 well done Sir. 😂😂😂

[@exothermal.sprocket]

You didn't _pour_ coffee on your keyboard....you violently ejected coffee from your mouth loudly all over the keyboard.

[@jeffestrada6857]

You wouldn’t believe it I met an older man today on my ride out. He was admiring my bike and we started talking. He was 87 and he was telling me about the bikes he had here in Australia 🇦🇺 in the late 1950’s. Lovely old gentleman was getting excited about how at that time going 100 mph (160 kilometres per hour) was a big feat. I said to him that my previous bike was a Hayabusa and that it was capable of basically twice that speed. He was astounded of course, but went on to say that his father had taught him some skills (apparently he rode as well) regarding “laying it down” if the going got tough or an accident was inevitable. I had to laugh ( inside myself) as I just watched your video a day or two ago. I didnt think it necessary to point the facts about it, and left this memory ( I am sure good in his eyes) with him. Just saying..... Thanks for the video 👍

[@jeeves6490]

I suspect the origin of this saying had its beginnings in a time of shitty rear brake only bikes on mostly dirt roads. It was taught to dispatch riders in WW2 as well. Gunfire of course is a different priority. Grew up on stories of exceeding the old 'ton' on Triumphs and various other Brit bikes of around the same vintage you speak of from older relatives, male and female. The 'fast' set here in Oz rode British back then. No one ever told me they had to lay er down though. They were suspicious of that front brake though.

[@jackheinemann1994]

The bikes they were riding back then were primitive compared with even the cheapest bikes today. I dont think you realise just how crude bikes were back in the 50s, tyres were rags, suspension was a joke, brakes were optional if they worked at all. 'Laying a bike down' and taking a slide was probably a pretty good option, especially if it was a dirt road, like most were back then in this country

[@timrodierides]

Hooray - glad someone's finally said this. It's not really a phrase you hear much of here in the UK, but it always just seems like a macho translation of 'I crashed'.

[@philhawley1219]

Yes, I have heard bar stool pub bikers come out with this phrase. My first question to them is 'Did you run out of road?' As they are just about to come up with a tale of skillful heroism I simply reply ' You mean you ran out of ability '. I have been riding for 40 years and I've been down the road a few times and been hurt, but that was due to youthful over enthusiasm. The last time was in 1986. Since then my bikes and body remain unscarred, I still ride big bikes as fast as it is prudent to do so ,get the adrenaline flowing, not the diarrhoea!

[@RevUnstableBoy]

ok 2:51 had me legit LOLing. I agree with this 100%. I am an MSF rider coach here in NJ and I always tell my students that if you are going to have an impact. get as slow as possible before it. this is done with solid progressive braking skills and staying in control of the bike as long as possible.

[@Black70Fastback]

filming that part had to be a pain in the ass.

[@noob2x]

@@Black70Fastback how the heck did they film it anyway?

[@Black70Fastback]

@@noob2x I assumed it was stop motion

[@MrOrangeVest]

Yes! That was great showing the slow motion slide.

[@jamesmcgrath1669]

As i stated on here before i believe there is a place for laying the bike down to save your life. The first thing I will say here is most of you have never ridden high powered worked seventies bikes such as the Z1 which made 160 hp or more and 10.2 quarter mile times in the seventies. Then you consider these things had no real brakes and people rode them at very high speeds here in Australia. I had a friend with one in 1978 doing over 200 kmh in the metro that's the real problem crash into a semi and he was killed, now if he had tried what you suggest he was still dead but I believe if he had layed it down he would still be with us today.

[@Dave_D]

Personally, I find it easier to lock up the back wheel, bring the rear round and get it to get grip at just the right moment to throw me OVER what has just pulled out. (All deliberately, of course)

[@quinnkirlew9892]

I prefer to pop the clutch and pull a sweet nooner to drive up and over what I'm about to crash into, then pull my drag chute (because I'm also a professional drag racer) to float gently to the ground.

[@Dave_D]

@@quinnkirlew9892 Nope. Despite signing up for that course, thanks to my dyslexia, I’m still not qualified for that sort of manoeuvre. On the plus side, professional drag artist pays much better than I’d of imagined!

[@lmallanao]

My skill isn’t as good, as I just started riding. But Scotty Kilmer says if I gotta lay it down, I should try to get on top of the bike, and ride it like a surfboard

[@padrescout]

Oh yes, the tried and true "ejection" method of escaping an accident. Works well for fighter planes :D

[@dimosk7389]

this thread is evolving hilariously!!! lol

[@DesertDuc]

Agree 1000%, been saying EVERYTHING mentioned in this video for YEARS. It is wonderful to see such an eloquent video produced, and even better to have the corroboration with Tom McComas to lend validity to the argument. Awesome job.

[@dirtbike250xx]

That saying, like hanging a nut sac from your truck's hitch is an indicator I will never be their friend...

[@NJtriple7]

I’ve been riding for 9 years. I’ve gone through 4 bikes. The only time I’ve ever said, “I had to lay my bike down” was during my early days of riding when I dropped my bike at a red light or at a stand still and tried my best to keep my bike from leaning over too much, but after a certain point I had to let it go.

[@1simp695]

Yeah, that's my biggest problem at this point. I've been riding for 3 years. For two of them I was on a scooter from 1985 and 1 of them a 250cc chopper, both are pretty low seat heights so since I got my first "Proper" bike(2011 BMW F650GS) a month ago I am struggling with the height and weight of the bike when doing u-turns, backing up downhill/on uneven terrain and the "stop and go" of traffic. So for me I had to "lay her down" when practicing these thing a couple times simply because at a certain point I couldn't keep the bike up anymore. But to characterize an on-the-road accident where you made a mistake as not having a choice in the matter makes you seem insecure.

[@Dangerwiggles]

@@1simp695 the weight of a tall bike is hard to get used to. It'll probably take you at least 1000 miles in the seat to get used to it. Some tips: If you have any room to adjust your clutch find what works best for you, clutch play is huge on slow speed maneuvers. Keep the speed up and counterweight! Also if you're staying on the bike centered and like tip toeing it, get used to sliding your butt off the seat- keep foot on brake, but only have your leg swung over. Get your other foot planted solidly on the ground. Another thing to practice that could help you get used to the weight of the bike and where the balance point is... Practice dismounting without using the kickstand. Hold the balance while you're swinging your leg off or on. I never had the confidence to do this with my heavy street bikes, then I had to learn how to do it with my track bike... Now I can do it on my street bikes easily (just need to mentally prepare for the extra weight).

[@justinmaxwell4199]

That is called "dropping"

[@d-day4165]

About time someone addressed this bit of B.S. On hearing “I had to lay it down” I usually interject “tell the truth, you fell over”. If you’re going to tell a fish story make it believable, don’t start w/ “I hooked a mermaid “.

[@joep6592]

I did it. I took off from the light in the right lane raced two lanes to the left only to find the street curved right with a high curb on the left. I started to lean right but panicked and jumped off thinking I couldn’t lean it over that far without falling over the curb to oncoming traffic. I’ve since had lessons. 😁

[@nick4506]

simmilar thing happened to me. the second day after getting my license went into a corner fast and felt my toes touch the pavement then the side of my foot then the footpeg started to fold back. i swear my ass was clenched so hard you could make diamonds in there. deffinitaion of death grip then the corner ended, pulled off and consitered picking up a different hobby. changed my foot and body position, and got rid of those stupid lean indicator bolts on the bottom of the pegs, and some bike changes to get it higher off the ground for more clearance there and kept haveing fun.

[@urmomsahoe1]

If you haven't taken a motorcycle course I would. Even if you have, they usually have more advanced courses you can take. Its always good to have practical practice in a controlled environment even seasoned riders could use refreshers on occasion.

[@daszieher]

I am so happy that decades after my first ride, people are openly calling BS on this line, which to me stank of it when I first put a helmet on my teenage head. It simply never made sense to me.

[@andrewhannam.]

When I hear anyone saying "I had to lay it down" when discussing an accident, their riding ability is immediately questioned...

[@lacrossev]

And when they just say: "I crashed", we all just naturally go on to the learning mode of "what happened?" instead of questioning their riding ability. "Had to lay it down just really doesn't need to exist as a phrase, it offers nothing to anyone. People who hear it immediately think its BS and people who say it don't learn anything because they think they were in control of their problem and therefore they did the best that anyone could in that situation.

[@1simp695]

@@lacrossev They were in control of their problem, but the are to insecure to admit they made a mistake.

[@exothermal.sprocket]

But they _HAD_ to. They plum ran out of talent and there was no choice left.

[@C_R_O_M________]

"Everything it's left to physics" is the correct way to say it, chance is less of a factor. Yes, I sometimes get to be a control freak.

[@Theguyunderyourbed22]

A dude once told me he had to lay it down because the car in front of him slammed on the brakes and he went on his brakes but ABS engaged and he knew he would smack into the back of the car so he decided that it's better to slide into it than to crash into it so he dropped tje bike and ultimately did not slide into the car. At the time I was fairly new, and I didn't really believe him but I wasn't exactly sure how to question him on it. However a few weeks go by and he gets his bike back from the shop, I take a good look at it and I told him, your bike doesn't have ABS. He then tried to tell me that I remembered his story wrong and made up an entirely different story about how he had to lay it down.

[@joeiacovino]

I wasn't ready for that scream at 2:52 , fn hysterical...set me on a laugh-coughing fit

[@supermotardrider]

I love how you used the bent frame cbr300 as a crash prop!

[@ShuffleMasta]

"I hadda lay er down wit ol Barb on da back cuz of da dam glass clibbins in da road!" is how it's said in my area. 😂

[@jamesatwood4433]

I had someone say this to me once. I smiled and nodded, I just wanted to pay for my food and leave.

[@Hansengineering]

"I had a motorcycle once!" no1currrrrrr

[@user-yk9sz9mh1t]

@@Hansengineering then proceeds to bullshit about it being too dangerous for them now, like ok bud don't care.

[@Hansengineering]

@@user-yk9sz9mh1t exactly. The only dude I am fine with hearing his "used to do" stories rode the HELL out of bikes. He's into the high 20s on models ridden/owned. He and his wife both stopped riding when they had kids. It wasn't a singular event, it was a mutual decision arrived at after evaluating decades of ride experience.

[@Peter57808]

Totally agree that laying it down a road bike to avoid an incident is the last resort! On the dirt it is the same. Case in point- some 40 years ago I was following a mate, at speed, on the dirt when he stopped his car before a creek, I didn't see it coming and had no good options. My bad! I dropped my bike on its side and slid under the back of the car. The result was some scratches on the bike and a sore knee for me, but it all ended well. On the road I've seen several instances of riders panicking, locking brakes and crashing, when some considered use of brakes and some situational awareness would have resulted in no accident. Many accidents on the road are due to no situational awareness, lack of rider training and the thinking that it's all good and its not going to happen to me!

[@Holmaaron]

I’d say the one *possible* exception to this is dirtbiking, and it’s less of a lay down than an ejection. Often to avoid going over a cliff or back down a hill you just climbed, and usually once a crash has already started.

[@cjjorge6636]

yep

[@kBIT01]

He covered some other reasonable exceptions as well. The bike being on fire was a good one.

[@davidmcleod5133]

@@kBIT01Pfff… only fair-weather weekend riders ditch their bike just because it’s on fire! 😂 Just think of it as “heated grips, seat… tank… fenders…” and keep riding through the winter! 😅

[@RovingTrader]

Ari is hands down my favorite person to watch when it comes to motorcycle anything. Even over Fortnine….

[@daveyf6b572]

I've been riding for over 40 years and have been extremely lucky to never "had to lay it down" except in a parking lot. The bike was not moving or even running. I was getting on it and my passenger jumped on at the same time. The bike leaned too far and I bailed! Lesson learned. 😄

[@urmomsahoe1]

I swear parking lots are one of the most dangerous places. The other night after a long shift with little sleep I went to the store and getting off my bike I somehow managed to forget the kickstand and stumbled a little before catching my footing again. This will be my 3rd year riding so it was a little embarrassing but oh well.

[@ickess]

“ I had to put my head to the back of that minivan” it absolutely had nothing to do with the fact that I was distracted, and was not very experienced as a rider with quick maneuvers.

[@Phyde4ux]

A friend was in an accident where he said he "laid the bike down". But being the a$$hole friends that we are, always re-tell the story with the "had to" part added.

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

I've got some asshole friends like that... When one of the guys would sheepishly admit to "laying down" a bike, we knew he dropped it... AND the guys (with or without me) would add that "had to" bit in retelling... When I had an incident, I just beat them to it, "I just decided it was time to lay her down." Enter the guffaws... Whatever you're gonna say after a mess, they're going to HEAR "I f**ked up" anyways... You might as well make it funny when you tell it. ;o)

[@gorenomer]

Twelve years ago I was riding my Suzuki GS500 in the rain. I was on a town road on the relatively free left lane. To my right, a jammed lane going in the same way. To my left, a jammed lane going the opposite direction. Then, Heading from a small backroad to the right, a driver burst in between the cars jam to my right trying to make a left to the jammed lane to my left creating a blockade leaving me no escape route. I was breaking as hard as I thought possible under rain with no ABS aiming for the rear of the car hopping that the driver will find a way through. Realizing I’m likely to collide I slammed on the breaks harder, locking the wheels and sliding the bike into his rear with me stopping just a little shorter. Ever since I say I had to lay her down even though I was just hopping to get as close as I can to a stop. and still I can’t think of a way it would have ended better without preemptive measures or more talent.

[@vickilenoir8683]

When I was starting out and heard that phrase I thought it really meant laying it down, which happened to me a few times. I'm very short legged so I can only one foot my bikes at stops and if the terrain is complicated sometimes the bike ends up at such an angle that I cannot hold it upright anymore and I have to lay it down. I don't drop the bike, I control the descent so I can then completely get off and pick it up.

[@charlienyc1]

While that can and will happen, that's not what most people mean with that phrase. I had that happen at a railroad crossing, with a "fun" combo of a steep drop off to the gutter and gravel. Good times!

[@kBIT01]

I did that with a KLR one time. That's called the infamous parking lot drop.

[@Zomby_Woof]

When I was stationed in Hawaii I lived in a house that was part of a dude ranch that had gone bankrupt...anyway, to reach it you had to go down a dirt road about a mile and a half. Except it wasn't dirt. It was thus gawdawful ground coral that turned into the splipperiest substance I have ever encountered. I was just creeping through it and the bike would just slide ride out from under me. I'd half to get off push it back up by the bars and slog a little further each time. Then I noticed why it was so hard to keep upright. The clay/mud/concrete had build up between the front tire and fender to where the tire wouldn't turn anymore and was just plowing through the muck. Finally got home and spent a solid hour with a hose and a big screwdriver getting the mud off it. Mentioned this to a neighbor and he said no one took that road when it rained - they cut through the golf course next door.

[@lloydhudson5544]

Back in 1980 when I took the basic motorcycle safety class 'laying it down' was part of the taught criteria. We got to watch a film of some guy being distracted by a girl, and laying it down to avoid hitting the back of a car. Later, during the range exercise we go to go into the high school's long-jump landing area and skid the back tire in the sand. The instructor considered this to be BS (he was pretty skeptical as I recall), but it was part of the class and we had to do it. I was on a Honda Twinstar at the time, and riding in sand on that bike was a big enough challenge (200cc and geared really tall). Thankfully they don't teach that anymore.

[@philgman]

The only time i've laid down my bike i honestly thought for 2 weeks that it was the loose gravel on a turning lane. After seeing an DDFM video i realized it was because i grabbed the front break too hard and locked it up. Now that i know what i did, i'm a better rider and i can pass this onto new riders.

[@Black70Fastback]

yeah, so my wife was practicing on my motorcycle and for some reason locked eyes with me instead of where she was going when ALL OF A SUDDEN a curb jumped out in front of her! In order to save the lives of all the school children riding to work that day in the curb, she bravely and gently laid the bike down by grabbing as much front brake as humanly possible for someone of her small stature. This is the story of why I now have to use the clutch with two fingers since half the lever is missing and have discomfort in my left foot because the peg will never be the same shape again that it ever was.

[@Iskalawagz24]

CLIBBINS! GOBBLESS!

[@mediocremichael]

Last year, no kidding, I heard the President of the local ABATE tell me, in all seriousness, that helmets are dangerous. "Had to lay her down" might be number two. Good vid, thanks for posting.

[@behar]

When I crashed i didnt lay the bike down, the bike laid me down

[@shadowstyleb]

Same here. Dude in the car that cut me off laid my bike down for me and almost killed me.

[@Firestorm637]

Agree!!!!! Same type of thinking where people will not wear seatbelts as they would rather be thrown from the vehicle through the windshield. Lol! Let the vehicle absorb the crash while your securely attached to the seat. The pilot avoided the apartment complex after they stalled the plane. Again, you have no control after the stall. The plane goes where it goes and pilot along for the ride. Back to motorcycles. Sliding on the ground like a sled on snow. Great video. Thx! Physicians, firemen, pilots,etc., practice emergencies year after year to hopefully develop muscle memory Type reactions. We all have basic survival instincts that must be modified. Like not holding your breath on scuba emergencies or Pull back on airplane yoke in a stall as the plane approaches the ground. Practice emergencies on your bike monthly. Take as many courses as possible. Your the good rider/driver its the other drunk guy/distracted guy in or on the other vehicle. Stability control mandated in cars 2012 and newer. Stability control will be mandated motorcycles soon. Abs required Euro 4 and TC required euro 5.

[@gauravj6648]

My Man!!! I was literally thinking about Vinales bailing out at 290kmph at the start of the video and you had it all set for an example. Here in @india we don't bail out but definitely mess ourselves up while trying to save a pedestrian or a stray dog 😜

[@alanaspurling6469]

That reminds me of the trick I did as a kid on my bicycle with coaster brakes, the skid turn… In my practice of emergency braking my non ABS motorcycle, I feel the squirm of the rear tire when it becomes locked… From my experience it’s perfectly rideable, no need to lay anything down.

[@Abonilla21]

Had to lay er down bud

[@Inthewind24]

Ok Ari. I agree with you. Until today. I was at a stop sign at a 3 way intersection when someone coming from my left turned into the intersection i was sitting at but they took the turn fast and wide into my lane. They didn’t see me. Me sitting still, an SUV barreling toward me directly in front of me. “I had to lay it down” and jump off and get the F@&$ out of the way. They did hit my bike but I wasn’t hurt. Obviously I was sitting still. I keep replaying it wondering if I could have gunned it and shot out of their way into the intersection but I had the stop, the other two ways didn’t. Would have been equally risky. I’m sure there could have been another way but who knows. Maybe that’s more of a ‘had to tip it over’ but it still sucks.

[@dkalir]

Thanks Revzilla! One of the best videos I’ve ever seen on motorcycles! There’s so much BS and machismo going around, it was truly refreshing to see someone who knows something - and a Hollywood pro - call it what it is. This may have implications far and wider than this video!!!! Great job!

[@AriH211]

Glad you appreciate it! Now everyone has a video link to send to that friends that "had to lay it down."

[@coiner10]

There is only one time I can think of when I should have laid my bike down. I was riding on the 80 in the bay area and an accident had just happened around the bend but I wasn't able to see what happened. As I rounded the bend I saw some guy on the side of the freeway and I pulled over asked him what had happened. I couldn't hear what he said but before I knew it he had climbed on the back of my bike hollard at me to drive. I was actually in shock so when he told me to drive that's what I did. I had no idea what he was planning on doing but thankfully the exit was less than a quarter of a mile up the freeway. I stopped and he told me to keep going and just hopped off and walked away. Turns out he was in a hit and run and some other bystander was able to track him down when they told me what happened and I showed them where he went. I still wish I had dumped the bike but I was pretty scared.

[@VoyagingVoyager]

After a decade as a motor cop I learned that far too many motorcycle riders won’t take 5min to better themselves on their bikes but would love to tell you how they went 150mph. Nothing but a hazard to their own welfare. Ten tons of confidence and an ounce of skill and ability.

[@Porsche996driver]

It’s an OLD SCHOOL SAYING from the ‘50’s and ‘60s when modded bikes and choppers DID NOT HAVE FRONT BRAKES! Back when going through an intersection took REAL COMMITMENT lol. Anybody saying that today is making excuses….

[@HeavenAintClose]

As someone who came off literally the day before you uploaded this due to lack of attention on my part, the "I made a mistake" reassurance is quite a loving touch. I overdid a corner, 50mph when for my ability I should've been doing 30 max. Luckily all good but it's nice to know that mistakes happen

[@DaveFiggley]

Riding the country lanes here in the UK - and I'm talking ancient 15'-wide routes with high hedgerows on either side that happened to have been paved at some point - we, but mainly I, sometimes "run out of road". That is to say, one is happily purring downhill through the English countryside at, say, 50 on a 67 Bonneville with a front brake that is known to be less-than- perfect when, suddenly, and without warrning, the T-junction between the idyllic lane and the bigger road comes into view 150 yards ahead. How hard do I brake? The surface of this lane is partially covered in sand deposited as water ran down off the hills. I didn't want to total the Triumph. So, I braked as much as I felt comfortable with and ended up overshooting the junction, bouncing over a kerb stone on the opposite side of the bigger road and lying on the grassy verge beyond. Total damage? Well, I was fine. I was fairly gutted that the '78 front Borrani rim was a write-off and the front suspension had compressed fully putting a dent in the cheapo stainless front mudguard. So, I picked it up and rode the 35 miles home with a vibrating front end. If the front tyre had blown I would have been fucked. Oh, I unlaced the rim, took it somewhere 'reputable' and was told it was scrap. They sold me some Spanish crap which was off-true and impossible to balance accurately. Oh right, back to the topic: "I had to lay it down" and "I ran out of road" are basically the same excuses for riding beyond your, or your machines, capabilities. I've been riding motorcycles for over 40 years. The Bonneville has been in pieces in the garage for 20 years. So, I rode bikes for 20 years until the big ends went.

[@jakeymon22]

I hit a deer this sumer and I literally laugh when people ask if I had to lay it down. No, I applied as much pressure to my breaks as possibly made contact with that deer, knocked that dear over, because I was incontrol I road over that dear and the only thing damaged was from the shit in my drawers 🤣🤣 pulled over did a quick check and road home. They look on there face is usually priceless because ironically there usually the ones who say a 135 pound man (me) is not big enough to handle a roadking.

[@jakeymon22]

Also the people who try to degrade me for practicing slow speed maneuvering and braking in parking lots, and yes drop my bike on occasion while doing so. That's the place to do it, not on the road

[@sdqdfyl]

I got this from a Harley rider... "Always have firm grips on your handle bar, you'll be better on controlling your bike." Bruh........

[@fuwafuwarowatari]

its between that and 'loud pipes save lives' for dumbest statement.

[@joujimiichi1]

I live in LA and when everyone is paying more attention to their phones than the road in downtown, loud pipes definitely save lives. I have 4 bikes and only my sport bike has stock exhaust and there is a very noticeable difference. Here where lane-splitting and filtering is legal and encouraged, it is more dangerous on city streets vs the highway. That said, I would have to agree with you when it comes to the highway. Most people drive with their windows up and with highway speeds, wind velocity and modern well-insulated vehicles they will not hear your loud pipes but in down town Los Angeles where everyone is texting or staring at their GPS doing door dash, loud pipes absolutely make a difference.

[@seanseoltoir]

Back in the late 1970s, I had hit a chunk of concrete dropped from an overpass and as I discovered not too long after that, it put a significant dent in my front wheel. The tire did not lose pressure at that time though. A few miles down the road, I was crossing a bridge on the interstate and because of traffic slowing down, I had put on my front brake. As soon as I did that, the tire bead immediately was no longer seated and all the air came out of the front tire. The handlebars were violently shaking back and forth. I was doing 85 at the time. This particular interstate highway bridge went over a river and their was a definite gap of quite a few feet between the eastbound and westbound lanes at that time. The rails on the side of the bridge were not particularly friendly to accidents back then, not like the higher "Jersey barrier" type sides on bridges these days. There was no way to control the direction of the bike and I was headed into the rail, after which I would have been launched over the top of my handlebars. I *might* have been launched across the gap into oncoming traffic, but I suspected that it was most likely that I would end up going through the gap between the east and west bound lanes and then falling around 150 ft to subsequently hit either the water or more likely a sand bar. None of these scenarios particularly seemed pleasant at the time. My instinct was to just slam on the rear brake and lay it down. I had already discovered that using the front brake just make the shaking of the handlebars even more violent. I managed to slow it down to about 55 mph before this. End result was no scratches on me and other than some scratches on my crash bar and needing a new front mag, no real damages to the bike. Since it was not uncommon for us to intentionally do rear wheel slides on dirt bikes back then when messing around, I really think that I intended to lay it down because I had no other choices. It's not like I had much time to think it through, so whatever it was, it was just instinct... Can't argue with success since I walked away from it...

[@ntdscherer]

Add a fourth item to the list of when you do actually have to lay it down!

[@Sethleavescomments]

I thought Thomas was gonna be Ari wearing a mustache and a evel knievel jacket.

[@hubertsang7418]

And open faced white helmet.

[@kazimirjinkins1516]

Excellent episode! I had an accident in 2018 from applying to much back break. A friend said so you had to lay it down huh? I always told other riders what did wrong and how I learned from that mistake. I now practice proper break and warm up my skills every week or more if I have a long break from riding. Stay safe and practice.

[@harrimanfox8961]

LOOK OUT FER CLIBBINS HOSS

[@t.s.racing]

Lay it down ? Band called Triumph, back in the early 80z.

[@deezweezerz5405]

SPEAK UP LIBRUL, WHEN YOU COME ARCOSS SOME GRAS CLIBBINS IN THE ROAD THERE AINT NOTHING YOU CAN DO BUT LAYERDOWN

[@BharatJusta]

When I bought my first bike 650cc Interceptor RE, I came to a halt after riding it for an hour, and just as I was about to disembark, I slipped and the bike was too heavy for me to lift back up straight on one leg. So I gently "laid it down". I had to lay it down to avoid damaging the new paint and chrome.

[@ericdoe2318]

3:36 ha jokes on you that move of “putting it down” as described by your guy sounds a lot like one of the few tricks a inexperienced heavy cruiser rider and pull off with ease

[@magellanicspaceclouds]

This was a much needed clarification that no one else in the industry wanted to express so publicly.

[@TheDeadeye5]

Around here, a lot of cruiser *cough* Harley *cough* riders use this as an excuse all the time. No shade towards Harley guys, but own up to your mistakes. I "had to lay down" my first bike(a supermoto) and said that same thing when I was an inexperienced rider. I didn't have a way to avoid my wreck, but I still played macho about it and used this excuse. I learned later that I should have just taken responsibility for being a lower skilled rider. Now I've gotten a lot better and was even offered an instructor role in MSF classes being held at my state capital. It takes a ton of practice, but it can absolutely save your life to not just be a throttle twisting meathead.

[@padrescout]

Oh I'll say it. Harley guys are a problem and I wish they would ride less.

[@StoneE4]

One day I hope to be as cool as you two guys.

[@TheDeadeye5]

@@StoneE4 😂😂😂😂

[@padrescout]

@@StoneE4 Buddy, you are welcome to do whatever you like.

[@jamesmcgrath1669]

Correct.

[@barryvercueil2346]

Brilliant sponsor. Knives that last forever!!!! Great video. We need to accept our mistakes.

[@heathcofran6115]

Well done Ari and Tom. I’ve heard that BS way too many times. This lays it all out. ;)

[@Dranreb865]

Then stop saying it, brotha

[@heathcofran6115]

@@Dranreb865 ?

[@adaycj]

I once had a friend hide in a ditch behind trees on his four wheeler. As I approached on the road at speed, he abruptly pulled into my path as a "joke". I crashed when I ran out of skill trying to avoid him. Put another way, the abrupt directional change I needed to execute was cut short when I locked the wheels with the brakes. I low sided into the four wheeler, with no significant injuries except one friend with a broken thumb. I have skills now that would put my younger self to shame, but the real reason I'm better off is because I picked some new friends that make better decisions. Never once did I say "I had to lay it down".

[@Natter20002]

Ari’s really layin’ it down in this video.

[@chunqk]

This November is unseasonably warm for riding. I had to layer down.

[@DefZen343]

bro, my body on the pavement stops me faster than the brakes 😎 trust me bro 😎😹😹😂😂

[@kellymeier579]

☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️

[@neil_the_wheel3493]

Excellent video Ari! I want to bang my head into the wall every time that I hear this phrase and you absolutely nailed it. Well done. You always have more control with rubber on the road than sliding along. It is as simple as that.

[@trwilliams22]

Thanks, Ari. I've been calling BS on this for years. Its what people say when they are embarrassed by their crash.

[@dingetje50]

I love the shop manual series! I have recently acquired a carburated bike and I'm wondering what's the best method to tune the carburetor properly. Could you maybe do an episode on that in the future?

[@EllaBananas]

Sometimes its easy to forget that a massive portion of the motorcycling community is drenched in testosterone supplements and bro culture. Well, not that easy when you're one of the only female riders you know.

[@Berserkism]

Don't be sexist.

[@gokulkrishm51]

What's different when you're a female motorcyclist? Not to hate or joke, it's a genuine question.

[@EllaBananas]

As if on cue the replies here have made my point for me.

[@gokulkrishm51]

I honestly wanted to know. I don't meet a lot of women riders.

[@_Makanko_]

@@gokulkrishm51 Who knows.... I guess the idea that it's hard to admit a mistake and you'd rather sugar-coat or lie about it is gender-related. I don't think the point of the comment was to elicit a discussion.

[@grandiagod]

I've seen exactly one case of "laying'er down" actually helping and it was actually guy that ended up sliding mostly underneath a jacked up pickup that was uturning in a blind corner. However the guy admits that the laying down was just him locking his front wheel up and dumping the bike by accident rather than an intentional life-saving maneuver. Still broke an ankle and wrist too.

[@TheodoreWard]

I was going off the side of a hill on a dirt road with no possibility of stopping. It was either slide off the hill with the bike in front of me or go head first over into a steep rocky slope.

[@hit_it_if_you_care5211]

Lol jajaja, i dint knew lay it down mean that or have that stigma, i will need a new term to use when referring to my cases do. Still my mistakes but no consider crashes i think. I know they are very specific and they are not in the same situation that Ari explained ending up in a crash, but here they are. 1-First time- going up hill off a highway exit, i couldn't see the top there was a pond in the road basically did all the brake before but my bike did aquaplaning the bike ended side ways on stop and incline to the side i just couldn't hold it or bring it back up, soo i decide it to lay it down as gently as i could before the bike drop me to the ground into the pond CBR only the side blinker bend and dent in the end bars. 2-Second Time- Hella dead battery no even any light turn. after trying pushing it for 40min no kidding in the summer, i was exhausted(i should have give up after 15min), after pushing and jumping right up on the bike, it when to the side, luckily i jump fast to the same side and try to hold it, but nan i just couldn't i was practically holding the bike with my body i ended below the bike and i couldn't lift it i was on my knees, soo i lay down instead. only the peg (the little metal sticking out of the peg to warn when inclining to much when riding) broke and my ego and knee's got hurt. 😅

[@56Spookdog]

I remember the discussion (friendly arguments) in the early 70s about this “it’s better to let the bike hit the car before you do than to be on the bike and flip over the car with a hard landing” it made sense as a teenager but the idea of laying your bike down on purpose didn’t sound good to me.

[@Spicy_Weekend]

HIT SOME GRASS CLIBBINS ON THR ROAD KING BACK IN ‘96, HAD TO LAYER DOWN, BARB STILL HAS A LIMP

[@T30-z5w]

Years ago I had to lay it down because I was going too fast on a gravel road with limited visibility, while following a novice buddy on his big adventure bike. I was on a narrow gravel road and a buddy crashed just ahead of me on a curve and I had to veer hard to the left but it was more than what traction allowed so….I stuck my low side leg out and slid the bike on the gravel sideways sort of flat trackish to the left to avoid hitting my buddy and his bike. My bike slid out from under me and luckily I never hit the ground and managed to avoid him and the bike. I was on a DR650 so I wasn’t concerned about my bike. He ended up with a broken collar bone and had to be transported. His Triumph Explorer 1200 was messed up pretty bad.

[@danh6720]

Well I've never heard anyone say "I had to lay it down", but I've definitely heard "Hadalayerdown". And if someone says that to you, the most entertaining thing to ask is "Did you have ABS brakes?".

[@MOTO809]

I've been riding various types of motorcycles for 33 years. Never have I intentionally laid one down.

[@dinodenton1223]

I had to lay it down = I ran out of talent.

[@ttoob123]

Had a bike once. Had just gotten a sweet deal on used FLXLRSXL heritage model (or YZGSXCBR-RR). I got payments down to like $300 over 144 months. Those guys really worked with me. Anyway, it's my first bike and I'm riding it off the dealer's lot and this cage driver pulls out in front of me. No options...Had to lay it down. Salesman was first one out to help me get her up and told me that for another $78/month, I could have added the best insurance you can get-aftermarket exhaust. That way, they can hear you. Anyway, the wife said it was a sign. Dealer was cool and sold it on consignment for me. That was two years ago. I'm all patched up now and haven't been on one since. Come to think of it, I think my last payment is next month.

[@saisr1]

I always would chuckle a little when I hear this phrase. Wondered where it came from. Well as it turns out this used to be a technique taught to new motors officers with CHP way back in the 1960s or so. I took a class from the Alameda County SO who run several LE and non-LE motors courses. It was street level one. The two instructors were prior long time motors officers. On retired from OPD and one from CHP. They both had the same instructor in the mid 80s who was a long time CHP motors officer. I don't recall the name they gave but he explained it was actually part of his training as a new motor in the 1960s. It was done at 35 mph and they would ride the slide out with the bike (not trying to separate from it). I can only assume that back then the brakes and tires were so much worse that sliding to a stop was somewhat effective by comparison. But maybe it was to practice a few of the but what if scenarios presented in the video. So anyway I still chuckle when I hear about this unless it is from a very old rider who was riding all the way back in the 60s and 70s. Then I try to keep my laugh to myself because maybe they were actually aware that this was at one point considered a viable skill.

[@imgzrona09uc72]

I too am an instructor. Our site actually has sites for RV camping adjacent to the range. One camper, a 30ish man, with a German accent, asked me where and how we trained our riders to lay it down. I told him we didn't. He advised me that riding schools in Europe s, which he said were mandatory in most of Europe, always taught this skill. If true, sure hard on the bikes if not the students. Any comments?