Yep went down to the insurance company today then to the registry then back to the shop with a nice brand new shiny plate. I throw that baby on the bike then shoot down to the local car wash to get all the crud off the bike from sitting around and what not from the PO. On my way back to the shop I catch myself smiling for no reason  . I get to within 100 feet of the shop and bam I'm on the ground and I broke my mirror off the bike. I look around and see nothing I was going straight and the road where I fell is in good shape and clean. So I'm like WTF. So I get the bike back up and fire her back up finish riding to the shop. The rest of the day I'm trying to figure out what happened. So as near as I can figure out there was a small pot hole with loose gravel that I went through right before this happened. I've been being very conscious about using the front brake because everything I have been reading says to cuz its like 80% of the total braking. Best I can figure is don't use it when your front tire is going through loose gravel. I was only going like 5 - 10mph thank god. Well anyhow I decided to go to the hospital to make sure nothing is broken or dislocated cuz my shoulder never hurt so much in my life. Anyhow I'm sitting there in a neck brace and a sling thinking this is just wonderful. What a first day riding lol. No worries though because even after the accident I still went for a little ride on my way home. Not because I am a tough guy but because not going for that ride I had my heart set on would've hurt more than any pain I was already feeling. So today I learned at least one very valuable lesson maybe 2. I learned to keep a vigilant eye on the condition of the road ahead. Maybe the braking thing I hope someone here with more experienced can confirm that one for me. So now I am going to be on the lookout for that piece that mounts to the master cylinder that the mirror mounts to. All in all still a great day.

Go find yourself a parking lot, you need to wear off some of that newbie shine.  That kind of shine is slippery.

You said you got a permit, so no MSF class?  When you go for your license, there's a little obstacle course they'll make you run.  find out what it is and set up some cones and practice.  That figure 8 turn will get you other wise.  And practice braking, panic and regular, in a turn and straight.  will save your life it will.

Now, yes front brake will do 80% of the braking in a panic stop.  But that doesn't mean it's the best one to use in every occasion.  In most situations, apply the rear 1st and add the front for more.  In dirt, don't use the front, that's the quick way down.

The back tends to lock up, if it does and you go sideways, don't let loose of it or you'll high side.  better to go down side ways then to get launched.

Live and learn my friend.

glad you are OK and your MC seems not too much worse for the wear.

I would take two lessons from this.
1. It is necessary to learn how to ride over small obstructions (in the MSF class they use 2x4s.
2.  Keep focused on what you are supposed to be doing.

You can also take away a truism. "In the ongoing battle of asphalt vs. flesh and bone, asphalt is undefeated."  

i had the exact same experience in my first year of riding - slow speed on gravel - i think i braked the front wheel while the back kept pushing - was on the ground before i knew it.  

i also reccomend the msf course (take the advanced rider version if you have dirtbike experience) it definitely helped with slow speed skills

i think you want to get in the habit of use both brakes every time. rear first, then add front

woops vers. already said that!

Russ, Glad to hear you're kinda ok. The worst part of my ride is the 50 feet from the bike shed to my drive and back after riding. Grass that gets soft after a rain+slick always. Slight uphill, so needs a little gas, but also slight angle. Rear end always wants to show off. I'm telling you this, because dirt bike experience is a great help with street bikes. But street bikes have about half the traction on grass knobbies have. Agreed?

Russ130 wrote on 03/25/11 at 20:00:24:

What a great attitude.  

On my son in laws maiden voyage, everything went well, right up til he was gonna stop on the still damp slope in front of the shop. He touched the front brake & was down immediately. Light damage to the bike, some bruising on him, Shin hit a peg,, but, a powerful lesson.
I dumped one in Arkansas, one finger, just ONE finger, barely touched the front brake as I was setting up for a U turn. Hit the ground so fast my feet were stil on the pegs when it stopped sliding.

Read in the paper last week about a guy who turned into his own drive and slipped on gravel. No apparent injuries except the usual leg injury. He was talking to the EMTs and conscious on the way to the hospital. Three hours later he died. Never got more details. Family man in his 50s just made a slip. My guess is blood clot in leg caused pulmonary embolism, but don't know. We have a great time and don't want to be a bummer, but when somebody like Lancer goes down it makes you think. Ride safe, friends.