It happens to every rider at some point on the track and on the public road. There are three really important factors that must be considered about parting company from your ride.
1. What to do when the time comes to Part Company.
2. How to keep this bad situation from getting any worse.
3. How you feel about ditching your ride.
Let's consider the third factor first because it's a hard one to get your head round. It's all about your state of mind. If you ride a motor bike it goes with the territory, on the road and on the track. It's not that you want to come off but you must be prepared mentally that it might happen. Being willing and wanting to come off are two completely different things. If you spend your time resisting coming off you are more likely to crash. It's very much like not watching the rider in front of you, if he makes a mistake and leaves the track you will follow him. Spending time concentrating about not coming off means you are spending less time on your riding. Eventually you will come off, it stands to reason. Don't become fixated on not coming off.
It's all about the decisions you make, simply decide that you might come off and accept that it might happen, at any time. It's just one of those things and you might break a bone, slide or die in the process. If you can't clarify those decisions in your mind and be prepared to hit the tarmac at some point then motor biking isn't for you.
No one wants to come off but once you have done it and walked away, it's not the beast you think it is. It's a bit like the first time you jump off the high board into the pool. The first time is always a bit scary but once it's out the way the fear goes with it. Remember the best way to avoid coming off is not to resist it.
There are a number of things that can be done if you do come off to help prevent the amount of damage to you.
The first one is let go of the bike. The one place you don't want to be is near or still attached to a bike that is bouncing end over end. The bike is much heavier than you and will drag you much further had you not released it. There are too many sharp objects sticking out and moving parts that will shred leather and body parts. The rider tends to stop sliding or rolling much earlier than the bike allowing your leathers to last longer.
Secondly relax. How often have you heard that? If you do come off try to relax and do nothing. The simple act of relaxing will allow you to release the bike and part company. Try not to put an arm or leg out in the hope it will stop your fall. This normally results in bones being broken, sticking a leg out will act as a pivot and send you flying into the air. If you remain relaxed you will tumble like a rag doll, this is better than being tense as it's easier to break bones when the body is all tensed up.
Relaxing is the key. Putting your hand out tenses up the body, you're out stretched hand is the first thing to hit the tarmac, a small impact area. All your body weight is on your palm and at speed. The glove will wear out very quickly and the force of the impact will be transmitted to your clavicle, this can cause it to break in many places. On the other hand if you relax and land on your chest or back, this is a much larger area and the force will be dissipated through the body without causing damage. In judo you are taught to land on the flat of the back, this reduces pain and the possibility of any injuries.
Stop and Stand. It sounds very straight forward but there are times when it's very difficult to work out if you have stopped sliding. 90 % of crashes all happen in slow motion and the fluid in your inner ear are all out of sink and this controls your sense of balance and motion. If you think you have stopped moving, before you try to stand up look around and identify an object and gather your thoughts before planting your feet. This will stop you from being launched into the air or running at 70 mph. If you find yourself in the middle of the road stay there and don't move. Look at it from the other road users' point of view in your immediate vicinity; they will be in a state of panic and looking for ways to avoid you. If you start trying to avoid them, then the chances are they will hit you, let them avoid you.
A plan of action, such as relaxing when you come off, is like wearing a helmet. You don't need it until you hit the tarmac. Being willing to fall off and excepting the possibilities will keep you from wasting concentration and will help you stay up right. Knowing how to fall will minimize the risk of injury.
