Topic: Did a crash possibly save your life....

[Ace]

Did up the brakes on a bike, new pads, cleaned the pistons and took off to bed in the brake pads. Not the first time I've done this and probably won't be the last. Grabbed the front brake and the wheel locked up, hit some repairs done to the road (never noticed them before) and low side skating down the road.

Got up bruised pride, knee hip, sore shoulder. Wheel the bike to the side, started it up and went home. 

Now I'm thinking, the crash forced me to pull apart the brake calipers and put new seals in as well as the master cylinder. If I hadn't done this maybe it may have spat me off at a fair rate of knots and seeya later. Oh well, no point dwelling on the past, look to the future.

Bike was repaired and works great, stops well too 

[brooze72]

Well you are definitely a "glass half full" kinda guy Ace.  Maybe next time don't hit the brakes so hard when bedding in, are you saying they didn't release?  Check out whole system actuation BEFORE the grab next time, maybe it was't your ride?  Glad it worked out Ok for you tho.

[Don R]

 My wifes car did this last week. I put in new rear pads, pumped them up, drove out of the garage,stopped,  let off the brakes, it rolled back down the hill. I road tested it and everything felt good. Came home put it in neutral and it rolled down the driveway. The next day she came home from work and asked what's that awful smell? Yep both calipers dragging. I got new ones, way easier because they came with new brackets and clips. Shoulda just bought em to begin with.

[ken65]

glad your ok ace, 

ken

[Ace]

Pads were dragging after install, thought it would be ok, felt ok. Cold road, cold tires, didn't grab a big handful of front brake, but hey live and learn. Brakes dragging worse after the off so they didn't release, just grabbed and hung on. This happened last year and I was thinking about it today and thought I'd post this. Always learning.

[wardenerd]

I have repaired all the safety systems on my bike chain sprockets front and rear brakes and I always get this eerie feeling when I leave my driveway. No failres so far!

[750cafe]

If you bleed your brakes annually, it tends to keep the fluid cleaner/safer and only costs about a buck and 30 minutes of your time if you take your time.
Less time if you know what you are doing... 10 minutes tops.   

Eric

[Roach Carver]

Failed brakes put me in a ditch about a year ago. two fractured ribs and a decent concussion, and a decent concussion. I am a believer in good gear. I was able to walk away.

[seanbarney41]

Every crash that doesn't kill you, saved your life...have had a few