Team-BHP > Motorbikes > Ride Safe


Reply
  Search this Thread
32,750 views
Old 8th March 2018, 22:30   #1
BANNED
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Kollam
Posts: 2,018
Thanked: 6,632 Times
Duke 390 accident: Golden Quadrilateral record attempt gone wrong!

A rider who shall remain unnamed has met with an accident around Chennai while attempting a record run on the Golden Quadrilateral circuit on his KTM Duke 390.

Duke 390 accident: Golden Quadrilateral record attempt gone wrong!-27858470_1657974047605763_1661503709726015785_n-1.jpg

Duke 390 accident: Golden Quadrilateral record attempt gone wrong!-28685893_2480631798829624_6925390500542254298_n-1.jpg

For those who are not aware, the Golden Quadrilateral is one of India's major highway networks connecting major cities and spans 5846 km's.

Duke 390 accident: Golden Quadrilateral record attempt gone wrong!-goldenquadrilateralmapmdi2.jpg

The information caught wind when the following photo's were posted on Facebook with the below description;

Quote:
A young rider at the age of 19 was trying to break the record of fastest Golden Quadrilateral on a KTM duke. He had reached Chennai safely and one of his friend was escorting him through the bypass and that's when a dog came in between and he had to brake hard becoz of which he skidded and fell. The bike caught fire because he was carrying extra fuel on his bike. Luckily, the biker is safe and sound and is returning home safely.
Duke 390 accident: Golden Quadrilateral record attempt gone wrong!-28795823_2480631572162980_6039418353752875468_n.jpg

Duke 390 accident: Golden Quadrilateral record attempt gone wrong!-28685978_2480631775496293_4187492533933474532_n.jpg

Debates are going on to determine who or what is at fault here, the rider for attempting to break the record or for hauling gas on such record run, our roads considering safety for such attempts, or the motorcycle itself.

Though personally having just recently completed the circuit myself I feel that in the end such debates don't matter as everyone makes choices based on what they feel is right and are inevitably accountable for them.

But from a learning point of view this incident puts forth many factors that ideally would not be considered by an individual(at least myself) attempting the circuit be it for leisure or accreditation.

So going by what Chanakya say's:

"Learn from the mistakes of others... you can't live long enough to make them all yourselves!!"

Last edited by ashwinprakas : 8th March 2018 at 22:39. Reason: Adding motorcycle specifics.
ashwinprakas is offline   (43) Thanks
Old 8th March 2018, 22:47   #2
BHPian
 
Tanveer02's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Assam/AS-05
Posts: 118
Thanked: 627 Times
re: Duke 390 accident: Golden Quadrilateral record attempt gone wrong!

Glad that the biker is safe and sound. He can attempt the record another time as long as he is alive. And as for the bike, it's tough to recognize it's a Duke from the burnt pictures.
Tanveer02 is offline   (3) Thanks
Old 8th March 2018, 23:10   #3
BHPian
 
R-Six's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Ahmedabad
Posts: 658
Thanked: 1,717 Times
re: Duke 390 accident: Golden Quadrilateral record attempt gone wrong!

I'm glad that the rider is safe and sound.

But taking up such a challenge it self is kind of alarming.

5958 kms in 87 hours. Average speed of 68 kmph if he rides continuously. Even if we just consider his bio breaks and power nap in between his three and a half day ride, the expected average speed he needs to maintain is way higher and stressful.

While am not against anyone setting high hopes or expectations for setting a record, I guess they should just try to evaluate whether it is really worth the risk.

Ride safe fellows!
R-six
R-Six is offline   (15) Thanks
Old 8th March 2018, 23:48   #4
Senior - BHPian
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: NCR/ KOL/ BLR
Posts: 1,138
Thanked: 2,042 Times
re: Duke 390 accident: Golden Quadrilateral record attempt gone wrong!

I would stick my neck out and say, the age is a major contributing factor. Of course I don't know the kid, however I cannot be convinced that a 19 years old is matured or experienced enough for this. Nor is he old enough to handle the power of a 390. It's power to weight ratio is super car territory.

Glad he is safe but hope he and others have learnt a lesson from this.
Altocumulus is offline   (11) Thanks
Old 9th March 2018, 09:36   #5
GTO
Team-BHP Support
 
GTO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Bombay
Posts: 70,335
Thanked: 298,726 Times
Re: Duke 390 accident: Golden Quadrilateral record attempt gone wrong!

Let's treat this thread as an example of why one should NOT attempt such runs. Records are meant for race tracks (controlled circumstances), not public roads where anything comes & goes. Pushing your mind's, body's and motorcycle's limits on public roads is unfair to yourself and the others you are sharing the road with. There isn't any doubt that such an attempt entails breaking the law, taking larger risks than you normally would, riding with lesser rest / sleep and stress.

This kid should thank his guardian angels that he's still alive. If he wants to show off his riding skills, tell him to register for one of the many track schools & track days that are conducted down south .

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tanveer02 View Post
He can attempt the record another time as long as he is alive.
Reminds me of a saying "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me". This dude would have to be a clown to try such a run again.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Altocumulus View Post
I would stick my neck out and say, the age is a major contributing factor.
You bet. All of us have made mistakes in our younger days . Let's hope he has learned his lesson.
GTO is offline   (49) Thanks
Old 9th March 2018, 09:52   #6
Distinguished - BHPian
 
arun_josie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Bangalore
Posts: 3,728
Thanked: 13,399 Times
Re: Duke 390 accident: Golden Quadrilateral record attempt gone wrong!

This is racing on public road, isn't it?! I always wonder how these kind of records are recognized by various organizations. Its not just about the rider's life its also about these riders putting other road user's life at risk for the sake of a record certificate.
arun_josie is online now   (15) Thanks
Old 9th March 2018, 10:05   #7
Distinguished - BHPian
 
Hayek's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Bombay
Posts: 1,899
Thanked: 15,278 Times
Re: Duke 390 accident: Golden Quadrilateral record attempt gone wrong!

Agree fully with what GTO and Arun have said - attempting this record was stupid and reckless. While a 19 year old may be too young to realise that (despite being an adult), he was surely enabled by older folks, who should have known better, who enabled his ride (including by buying the bike and providing support). Thank God this ended up with damage only to the bike and the dog - and both this reckless 19 year old and other road users were not harmed beyond repair. This is something automotive forums and magazines should take up - public roads are not a place for records or challenges - they are meant for getting safely from place A to B.
Hayek is offline   (9) Thanks
Old 9th March 2018, 11:15   #8
BHPian
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: KOLKATA INDIA
Posts: 310
Thanked: 1,098 Times
Re: Duke 390 accident: Golden Quadrilateral record attempt gone wrong!

It is a crime to attempt to break records on public roads. All the organizations / forums who endorse and accredit these records should be banned and all the records set in the past be declared null and void. A sane mind shall always advocate that public roads have too may variables beyond ones control.

In these kinds of speed records, the average speed will always be on the riders mind. In case of unforeseen delays, the rider shall be forced to drive faster to make up for that delay which shall result in him / her driving faster and faster, thereby endangering all road users.
ALTIMAed is offline   (6) Thanks
Old 9th March 2018, 11:21   #9
Team-BHP Support
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: All over!
Posts: 7,591
Thanked: 18,197 Times
Re: Duke 390 accident: Golden Quadrilateral record attempt gone wrong!

Going by the thread title, I'm glad there's a fairly happy ending: no loss of life.

Be it the Saddle Sore or such "runs", these attempts are so clearly dangerous, it is a pity people continue to indulge in them. The false sense of testing one's endurance that these attempts offer is a deadly trap. Not just on a bike, but in a car as well.

Quote:
Originally Posted by GTO View Post
Let's treat this thread as an example of why one should NOT attempt such runs. Records are meant for race tracks (controlled circumstances), not public roads where anything comes & goes.
I think this is a losing battle; bikes are getting more powerful, roads are getting better (just in terms of the width and surface) and the surprises are only getting more dangerous (tractors on the wrong side, animals on the road, bridges not completed, the list is endless).

But the thrill is only getting more consuming, and it is this thrill that drives such decisions. Parents/partners/spouses should know better but I see with bikers around me, better sense can't prevail this thrill.
libranof1987 is offline   (6) Thanks
Old 9th March 2018, 11:30   #10
Distinguished - BHPian
 
paragsachania's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Belur/Bangalore
Posts: 7,148
Thanked: 27,132 Times
Re: Duke 390 accident: Golden Quadrilateral record attempt gone wrong!

With so many varied conditions which again are inconsistent across the length of the whole circuit, one cannot race against time or try to race against the lost time making it up; This will happen not once but many times as the person attempting this will lose time quite a few times for various reasons and try to make it up by driving/riding fast. Now this is just one part of such record runs.

Then no expert or a local would be able to warn you about a dog or a cat crossing the road on a particular stretch which you need to be aware of and hence drive slow (OK, if not slow, drive/ride carefully )- I call this common sense and expected incidents while you are on road.

It is exactly here where you realise that such records, whether Golden Quad or the K2K or any other are not worth and better be done under closed circuit. Heck, in case of a fire like this that ate up the entire bike turning into ashes, a closed circuit run may have taken care of that too with stationed fire engines ready to mitigate any further damage.

Will try to make this one short:

Dec 2015, I am driving to Mumbai with my wife and Kid. We are at Chitradurga at 0700am (Nearly 800 Kms to destination) and next day is when we have booked tickets for Imagica near expressway end at Khalapur till my friend who is supposed to take a print of it calls and says I had booked it for today (the day we were driving).

We cannot make any calls to their call center to request adjusting the date for the booked tickets till they start working. We manage to call them after 0900am and they declined my request straight that they cant do and I need to re-book. It was some Monday offer which I had booked and that doesn't entitle a cancellation.

At this juncture, We are still at least 8-9 hours to Imagica and wife says can we reach there by at least 3 and spend 3-4 hours and recover the loss rather than let the whole booking drain in vain. Well, this was a Target which was not impossible to achieve but I simply declined even though I know this route like the back of my hand and predict most of the traffic pattern.
-What if I get delayed at a toll for some reason
-What if there is a road block due to an agitation
-What if there is an accident that slows me down further?
All these 3 things are not in your control. Forget about a Cat or a dog crossing when you are at very high speeds unable to brake or avoid in time.

I stuck to the decision of ensuring our safety (and others obviously) and drove usual style but said we can visit the facility en-route and make a personal request to say it was indeed a genuine mistake and that we were actually driving from Bangalore.

We reach Imagica around 5PM, at the ticket counter the staff again declines but upon further requests calls someone to talk who listens patiently. He then says they will send me a booking URL where I need to book tickets again for next day and I did that, they will then initiate cancellation of the booking for today (with 25% loss) which I was ready and I did that. Problem solved and we had a fun filled time the entire next day!

Lesson learnt:
  • Always double check dates as the browser cookies pick up what you entered previously and this is what happened with me
  • And the more important one - You cannot attempt a record or set a target to reach your destination, not even when the distance is mere 100 kms.

Last edited by paragsachania : 9th March 2018 at 11:44.
paragsachania is offline   (21) Thanks
Old 9th March 2018, 11:37   #11
Team-BHP Support
 
SmartCat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Bangalore
Posts: 6,331
Thanked: 42,093 Times
Re: Duke 390 accident: Golden Quadrilateral record attempt gone wrong!

If one wants to push the limits of endurance or experience once in a lifetime thrill or break records, the best way to go about it is to climb K2 in Karakoram mountain range.

Nobody else gets hurt.
SmartCat is online now   (6) Thanks
Old 9th March 2018, 11:56   #12
Distinguished - BHPian
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Chennai
Posts: 1,824
Thanked: 8,476 Times
Re: Duke 390 accident: Golden Quadrilateral record attempt gone wrong!

I know one ex-harcdore Royal Enfield motorcyclist. He's the type who would be in Ladakh this week, in the Charmadi ghats next week and in the Rann of kutch next month. His FB page was highly entertaining, with his vlogs and pics.

His FB page was also full of pics with fellow motorcyclists. All they ever did was work and ride when free.

His FB page was also often filled with so many obituaries for riders who crashed and died somewhere. All gone too soon.

I don't see him riding any longer. His Thunderbird has been sold.

He mostly drives an Alto 800 to Ladakh and wherever else he goes these days.

I'm not saying this is necessarily the fate of a hardcore motorcyclist. But one living example told me a story and it spoke volumes to me.

Last edited by locusjag : 9th March 2018 at 12:05.
locusjag is offline   (2) Thanks
Old 9th March 2018, 12:02   #13
Distinguished - BHPian
 
paragsachania's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Belur/Bangalore
Posts: 7,148
Thanked: 27,132 Times
Re: Duke 390 accident: Golden Quadrilateral record attempt gone wrong!

Quote:
Originally Posted by smartcat View Post
push the limits of endurance or experience once in a lifetime thrill or break records
These days, everyone wants to experience all these. So you should have replaced the 'or' with an 'and' that fits today's record breakers' mentality. They just want it all, all at once and all of it by risking it all.
paragsachania is offline   (1) Thanks
Old 9th March 2018, 12:12   #14
Distinguished - BHPian
 
Rajeevraj's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Bangalore
Posts: 4,604
Thanked: 17,633 Times
Re: Duke 390 accident: Golden Quadrilateral record attempt gone wrong!

Don't see the point of these record breaking attempts. You have a good bike, you have the passion to ride, you are young, you have the time- then make the trip about the journey and not about the destination.

13 states, 6000 km. So many places to see, so much diversity to experience, so many different cultures and people to meet. Probably a once in a lifetime trip. I would think the knowledge and satisfaction one would experience would be much greater than a certificate with a record. (But again, probably because I cannot think like a 19 year old anymore )

On a side note: Why carry fuel? Since it is GQ run, I assume fuel stations would be a plenty and it will be faster to tank up from a pump as opposed to manually doing it. Not to mention the extra weight to carry which could have pulled down average speed?

Last edited by Rajeevraj : 9th March 2018 at 12:14.
Rajeevraj is offline   (6) Thanks
Old 9th March 2018, 12:20   #15
Distinguished - BHPian
 
paragsachania's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Belur/Bangalore
Posts: 7,148
Thanked: 27,132 Times
Re: Duke 390 accident: Golden Quadrilateral record attempt gone wrong!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rajeevraj View Post
Why carry fuel? Since it is GQ run, I assume fuel stations would be a plenty and it will be faster to tank up from a pump as opposed to manually doing it. Not to mention the extra weight to carry which could have pulled down average speed?
The only reasons I can think of. The smaller range of these bikes when rode spiritedly (250 Kms) and few sections of the GQ not having reliable or say preferred stations.

Apart from this, the only other reason I can think of is that its a stop-gap. I recollect when I drove GQ in 2012 (Not for a record ), all of a sudden we were greeted with a strike by petroleum dealers association as soon as entered Rajasthan and it is exactly here where to drove almost till last drop to find a COCO (they were not on strike). A jerry can with few liters as back-up would have probably helped us.

Quote:
Originally Posted by paragsachania View Post
We were now in big trouble with fuel level absolutely low. From many drives on highways and cities taken up in the past, never did the needle go to such lowest level and hence it started to become a major cause for concern.
I also remember one such record attempt on the GQ in a car where they had stocked up diesel in cans in the boot.

Last edited by paragsachania : 9th March 2018 at 12:22.
paragsachania is offline   (2) Thanks
Reply

Most Viewed
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Team-BHP.com
Proudly powered by E2E Networks