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"I crashed, my front brake no longer works, and there's a steep downhill ahead that I can't go around. What should I do?"

Drag an anchor.

If you or a riding companion have some rope, fine. If not, look for some strong vines or a long stick or branch that can be tied to your bike and to an anchor. When truly desperate, consider tying two or three strong shirts together for a rope, and use your socks or an undershirt to tie the stick or branch to your bike. However you can do it, find or make something to serve as rope.

Now look for a suitable branch, log, or flat rock, but nothing that will roll freely. Tie it behind your bike to serve as a drag or anchor that will slow your descent down the hill. You'll jave to judge the suitable anchor for the particular circumstances you're facing.

that sounds adventurous, Gordon

I would pull the plug,
put it in 1st
and walk the bike
using the clutch as brake

let me ask you this gordon. what if you crash and you break your clutch lever, and you are a half a mile out in the sand? wanna know what i did? i pushed it back in the scorching sun.

what if you are about to berm and you gassit and it bogs soon to find your out of gas? wanna know what i did? i pushed it back.

i personally do not like to bum stuff off other riders.

here are a few things you could carry with you on the trail but would have to be ignorant to carry all.

pint of gas
clutch lever
chain
handlebars
cables
throttle tube
hamburger
hotdog
replacing flat
replacing gasket
extra frame

the list could go on and on.

i personally prefer to man it out and drag or roll her back to the truck. i wouldnt care if i was 10 miles out. whats it going to hurt to push a bike a little ways?
now if you dont mind carrying 500 extra pounds with ya thats your deal.

could it be you lack 10 or 15 years, Fan?

you do not need a clutch lever to ride back to the truck, if you push ... your choice
I do not have a problem, asking someone for help,
but I am not 15 and do not feel any urge to prove manlihood, if you push ... your choice
no thanks, you can keep the hamburger, the hotdog and the frame unless you make me ride a Husaberg, that is
if you are too ignorant to replace your stock petcock by one with reserve option and go trailriding ... you can carry a quart of gas or push ... your choice
if you are out there on your smoker without an extra plug ... your choice
if you trailride in 90some degree weather without carrying water ... your choice

shall I go on?
btw I do NOT like to PUSH my bike

Hondafan wrote: "Let me ask you this, Gordon; What if you crash and you break your clutch lever, and you are a half a mile out in the sand? Wanna know what I did? I pushed it back in the scorching sun."
"What if you are about to berm and you gas it and it bogs, soon to find you're out of gas? Wanna know what I did? I pushed it back."
"I personally do not like to bum stuff off other riders."

Hi, HF. I'm sorry to hear you had to push your bike so much, but glad to hear you're in such good condition.

When it comes to riding desert, or any sizeable chunk of them micro-fine rocks, I'm as ignorant as a beginner on a Suzuki. I've raced a few sand tracks in Europe, and ridden ATV's across a little bit of desert in Utah, but my specialty is crashing in the woods and mountains. Depending on where you are relative to steep hills, pushing the bike out is not always possible, and considering the time left before nightfall, may not even be adviseable.

I admire your attitude about being self-reliant, but not many members of the Brotherhood of Dirt Bikes would turn down the opportunity to be of help to a fellow rider in need. I would never hesitate to ask for, or offer help when needed. Besides, it's a great opportunity to make new friends.

Ev wrote: "I would pull the (spark)plug, put it in 1st gear, and and walk the bike (down the hill) using the clutch as a brake."

That's a good idea for gentle hills, Ev. I was talking about STEEP hills where rear wheel braking alone is not enough to slow the bike.

ev wrote:I would pull the plug

yeah like ole ev is going to be carrying a plug wrench with him, especially riding a 4 stroke. can you even foul a plug on a 4 stroke?

how much do you weigh Ev? 'bout 240?

no wrench needed, Fan
Leo comes up with 2 translations for Zündkerzenstecker
plug [tech.]
spark-plug connector [autom.]
you can just pull it off

but yes, I do carry the wrench plus a bunch of other tools,
and some wire, Gordon plus the zip ties
mostly need it to help out other people

240? not quite
not even in gear with all the extra crap I carry around
my lil' housewifes bike can still carry me up most hills

hey ev i will make you a deal. and i keep my word when it comes to deals, heres the deal: everytime you HAVE to use a zip lock bag, zip ties, or a rope after 3 months i will send you 25 cents for each time you do this. you up to it?

you have my word as a Honda rider!

hondafan wrote:...deal: everytime you HAVE to use ... zip ties...after 3 months i will send you 25 cents ...

do I need to collect the used zip ties and send them to you
you will spend a lot of your allowance on me then
I fix the shoulderstraps of my Hebo-drinking system to my roost protector with zip-ties from my bars, every ride, ask Gordon, he saw me do that
had to put the shoulder piece of my roost protector back on a couple of times lately, because the trees tore it off, when jumping at me
plus all the lil things other riders need some for ...

no there isnt a need to send me all the used things just be honest. and dont just give them away either. so you up to it? i can guarantee you will not use more than 50 zip ties or ropes or zip lock bags especially if you are only week-end rider like me!
50
x.25
====
$12.50

twelve dollars and fifty cents! you gotta be kidding!

okay lets say you use 100 of them.

100
x.25
====
$25.00

twenty five dollars! thats nothing!

what do you think Ev? wanna make some cash?

hondafan wrote: what do you think Ev? wanna make some cash?

not really
but thanks for the offer

but pushing my bike, because I was dumb or ignorant
is beneath contempt

so yeaint up to it Ev? why not? u dont want us to know how much you crash? hehe. were you calling me dumb or ignorant because i push my bike? remember it was you that said

"if you had to carry along more weight you would be even slower, more injury prone, out of breath faster... why dont you just fill a backpack with only 20 pounds, ride with it and tell us what it felt like? i can even feel 5 pounds more and i hate the way it feels."

goin against yer word a little there Ev? how much weight does all that junk* "emergency equipment" weigh.

if i am ever in need of a plastic bag, zip ties, or a rope on the trail i will eat my words.......... til then.... Break on through to the other side!!

hondafan wrote:how much weight does all that junk* "emergency equipment" weigh.

you made me run downstairs and put my tool kit on the scales: 1023g plus a bunch of zip ties plus the cord braided on the forks

i'm wondering just how far hondafan has been from his staging area...if you can walk you're not far enough away to appreciate having a few things that will help you ride back...

what do you mean? (in elementary terms please)?