I'm still new to the forums and have seen this phrase a couple of times. What exactly are you talking about when you say that you had to "high side" a bike? It's obviously an accident, but seems to be a specific term. I looked first in the HD Lingo post, but it is not listed there.

 

very bad news-kinda hard to explain

 

Laid the bike on its side.......

MikeyB

 

Say your turning left too fast and not leaning the bike enough or too sharp, you end up flying over the top right side of the bike and the bike falls on it's right side, that's a high side.
Say you are turning left and you lean it too much and the bike falls on it's left side, that's a lowside.
Crashing low side appears to be better than high side, but not crashing is better than either of the two.
Hope this helps.

 

Yes that helps, thank you very much. From the context of the posts I've read, that is what I was thinking, but just wanted to clarify.

BTW - This place rocks.

 

I think I can explain this "high side" crash.I have my MSF course book handy.First of all,a "low side" crash is when the front wheel locks up and slides out from underneath of you.If a fall occurs while the front wheel is locked up,it will be to the "low side" and you will haveonly a short distance to fall.A "high side" crash will most likely to occur when the rear wheel is locked.If you release the rear brake while it is locked,the motorcycle will immediately straighten and could result in loss of control.It is best to keep the rear wheel locked and skid to a stop.If not,you could be thrown off in what is called a "high side" crash.A "high side" crash is very likely to produce a serious injury.I've come to a screeching halt a few times.It's kinda embarrasing,but I never crashed.Just sat there at the red light and played it cool...[sm=smiley16.gif][sm=smiley16.gif]

 

Back in my younger day's I was a bit on the high side when I rode my bike......

 

Rear wheel locks stopping the gyro effect of the bike. Rider panics and released the rear brake causing the gyro effect to start again. The bike violently rights its self and slings the rider off, or the bike goes down on the side opposite the skid. Had a friend killed by a high side about 7 years ago at a speed of about 15 MPH.

Bill

 

Low side is like sliding into second base. High side is like diving off a diving board. (without the water)

 

One thing to add to the other posts, a high side is an extremely violent dismount. the bike literally throws the rider off and into the air while it picks up more and more momentum to slam itself into the ground with.

So lowside crash, you see the rider basically sit down and skid to a stop.

Highside, airborne rider, bike tumbling, visit to the doctor likely.

My Dad had a highside dismount when he hit some gravel in a turn last year. He panicked and grabbed the front brake. the front tire slid across the gravel the hooked back up when it found pavement again. And Pops did his best Circus De Sole' impersonation.