Was riding down a narrow, wet, twisty road on Sunday, taking a sweeping curve to the left when a car pulled out from a drive way on my left into my lane. Braking was not an option.
Grabbed all the throttle the Tiger had to offer and shot the ever decreasing gap between his front quarter panel and the shoulder.
This is my first near miss...
The sensible thing to would have been to park the bike at the first gas station I came to with a for sale sign on it and walk home. Rode to work the past two days with out giving it much thought. I am buying body armor and a bright Orange Vest/Jacket to go with my Green Tiger.
Part of me thinks I must be crazy for shrugging this off. I would be interested in hearing how others felt after their first close call or accident.
DobroDog
Quote from: "DobroDog"I would be interested in hearing how others felt after their first close call or accident.
I was bumped in a parking lot last summer when a college student: A) Failed to stop for a stop sign, B) Failed to see me riding in my lane (no stop sign), and C) Failed to hear my horn as I jammed the brakes and swerved to the side of the driveway.
As the car came within a couple feet of me (still not seeing me), I kicked in the fender to get the guy's attention, and his bumper hit my bike in the left Jesse box before he stopped. I didn't go down, but there was a zig-zag in my skidmarks where he knocked me sideways.
Words were exchanged and somebody got their feelings hurt. It wasn't me.
It didn't stop me from riding, but I sure did pay closer attention to my surroundings. I also now run an air horn and fluorescent yellow vest.
Have had a couple of near misses and one off on a diesel patch, each time something happens it makes you ask the question should I carry on riding?
Personally I love biking far too much to give it up so I do what I can to reduce the risks. I wear ATGATT, keep my bike in good order and (like Stretch) wear a flourecent jacket, have fitted a loud air horn and I try to be alert and expect the worst from other road users when I ride.
I know none of this will make me totally safe but riding makes me happy so to me its worth the risk.
Quote from: "Stretch"It didn't stop me from riding, but I sure did pay closer attention to my surroundings. I also now run an air horn and fluorescent yellow vest.
Thanks for reminding me about the air horn Stretch; the stock horn is anemic at best. I remember seeing a discussion about that modification around here.
DobroDog
Quote from: "HockleyBoy"Personally I love biking far too much to give it up so I do what I can to reduce the risks. I wear ATGATT, keep my bike in good order and (like Stretch) wear a flourecent jacket, have fitted a loud air horn and I try to be alert and expect the worst from other road users when I ride.
I know none of this will make me totally safe but riding makes me happy so to me its worth the risk.
Thanks HockleyBoy,
I had to look up ATGATT - All The Gear Al The Time - thought it was going to be the latest and greatest protective gear...good advice like this is better.
The leather gear I have is great protection if I go down, but being all Black it doesn't make me more visable. Need something that screams I'm right here you Idiot"
I won't be buying black riding gear in the future. Leave that stuff for the Harley riders.
Riding around a town with a population of a bit over 100,000 with all of the inattentive/bad/rude drivers, accident avoidance is pretty regular thing. I've ended up:
1) Wearing ATGATT (Olympia Airglide mesh/armored top and bottom in silver (my robot suit) - cause it's warm/hot here much of the year, modular helmet, Sidi air boots, gloves)
2) Swapping out that pathetic little stock horn for a pair of Stebel Magnums (I get to use these a lot)
I went down a couple of times in my younger days, once due to a fresh diesel spill that covered the whole road, the second a low sider when a car pull in front of me (he then left the scene) without any significant injury. But, even minor road rash hurts and many road surfaces are now more rough/abrasive here (large chipseal, etc) than they once were. Now it's skin graft city if you go down unprotected.
I may get some funny looks from the Harley/cruiser riders around here in their short sleeves and no helmets, :roll: but that's OK.
I had a bad day Monday. The morning was actually fine, except for realizing I still don't have a proper windshield solution worked out, and my fuel lines are still leaking :(
On the way home, at the first two intersections, I had pedestrians try to walk out in front of me on "DON'T WALK" lights as I was checking for traffic coming the other direction, all before I could even get 100 feet from the building. I had 3 cars on the way home decide to switch lanes with about a foot between my front tire and their rear bumper, then lay on the brakes because they didn't leave themselves enough room for the braking car in front of them.
Then, something which I never do... as I'm approaching my exit, I look down at the clock too long, and when I look up there is a parking lot of stopped cars barreling toward me. Blindly I squeeze the front brake and swerve left. Thankfully there were no cars to my left, and I didn't over use the front break, but I hit it fast enough that the front of the bike wobbled for a second. It scared the crap out of me and I was embarrassed enough that I didn't return to my lane, missing my exit and having to drive 18 miles more to come back around to my exit.
The whole way home I was wondering what would have happened if I had looked down just a half a second more. I always wear a fully padded jacket, gloves, helmet, and some high tops, but I have yet to buy real riding boots or some armored pants. As I was riding home I noticed I was tensing up and grimacing every time I took even the slightest curve, thinking about my legs sliding and beating against the asphalt in a slide out.
I know what I want, some Alpinestars Ridge boots and some FirstGear HT 2.0's, and 2.0 Air's, but that's about $400 in gear, and I still need $600 in plastics to repair the bike from my first low speed fall which resulted in my first road rash incident. :( I've been waiting on deals from eBay for all of it but they just have not come. Maybe it's time to pony up for personal security's sake.
When I finally got home I was filled with thoughts of putting the bike on craigslist... Instead I rode it to work the next day, and had a much better day on the road... a little more cautious, but also a little more relaxed.
I ride from the 'burbs into Boston about 25 miles each way for work when it isn't raining. Two major highways full of idiotic Masshole drivers texting, eating, drinking coffee, reading the paper, and putting on makeup while attempting to get to their very important jobs. I almost eat the road just about every single day, sometimes more than once. :BangHead
One section nearly gets me killed every day. 5 lanes split; 2 to the airport, 3 towards a tunnel into the city. I go to the airport and stay to the right. Just like clockwork, some chowderhead is in the lane on my right and decides, at the last possible second, to go from the lane she's in to the lane on my left as if the one I'm riding in is not there. At this point there are barriers coming up to seperate where they split. I now have 4 options:
1. Twist and pray
2. Grab a handful and pray.
3. Move left and prepare to eat the oncoming cement at arount 50-60 mph
4. Allow said chowderhead to put me out of my misery.
Options 1 and 2 seem to be working because you are reading this. I wish I were exagerating when I say that this happens nearly every day. And that's just 1 bad part ofthe trip.
Having said all that, I believe riding in all that shit makes me a better rider and unlike my other coworkers, I have a big shit-eatin' grin when I get to work. I get off on adrenaline dumps. 8)
Boston traffic sucks big time the road to Logan is really bad .
I was once told that if Boston drivers don't make eye contact with you , you don't exist ! :ImaPoser
I've had people make eye contact and pull out in front of me anyhow.
I guess it was intentional. :roll:
Quote from: "DaJudge"Swapping out that pathetic little stock horn for a pair of Stebel Magnums (I get to use these a lot)
One more vote for installing a better horn...
Yeah I've got 27 mile drive each way as well. The worst right now has got to be the lane closures on 71Hwy that have the other drivers acting greedy and impatient. I have to keep to the far left of my late so the a-holes coming in at mach 5 trying to cut in at the last second see me and not a space between vehicles.
Gotta get me a good horn. I think they hear me fart before they hear my horn. :pottytrain2
I wonder if FirstGear makes a variation of these?
(http://store02.prostores.com/twinmotorcycle/catalog/f87f_1_180_1.JPG)
Let me make a suggestion...
On nice dry day.... find a big empty parking lot.
Take a couple of tennis balls cut in half and set them 5 ft apart as an imaginary line.
Back off about 20-30 yds; Start from a dead stop and hit that 'line' at 25 mph.... apply both brakes to stop in as short a distance as possible. Make note of how far you went and how STRAIGHT you maintained. Do it a few more times... see if you are improving.
Repeat this at 35 mph, 45 mph, 60 mph, 70 mph.
Learn the bikes characterisitics and repeat each speed several times.
Many riders have NEVER had to hit the brakes hard at higher speed.
PS: USE BOTH BRAKES....
It is good to wear highly visible colors but the fact is that the idiot that pulls in front of you not seeing your bike would pull in front of you if you were in a car. Accident avoidance is key but not all accidents can be avoided. Laying on the horn usually just causes the idiot to panic and cause even more problems though I'm not advocating not using one.
Riding a bike is dangerous and it needs to be accepted as that or just don't ride. Anyone that knows me knows that if I die on the bike I'll die with a smile. That's not a cute thing to say. I mean it. I ride knowing the risks. That being said I practice then I practice more and even practice while in the car. I've been riding for 36 years now but I still get out and practice regularly once to twice a week. Both dirt riding skills as well as street. In the winter I continue to practice whether on the bike or not. In the car any turn I make my mind is going through the motions of proper cornering. When I break my right hand tightens. No joke. Practicing panic stops solo as well as with a passenger, cornering, moving U Turns from a stop, etc.
You can never practice enough folks and wear ATGATT whether high vis or not. Just don't get cocky because you are wearing it. Ride like they are all trying to kill you because most of them are.
Quote from: "HappyMan"Ride like they are all trying to kill you because most of them are.
:iagree
F'ing A!!
There's a very good ad campaign running in the UK at the moment which makes the point that, when you're not concentrating, if you're not looking for bikes, you won't see them, it's that simple. I even had a J-walking Ipod-wearing jogette walk straight out in front of me this week. She looked right at me, had eye contact and everything. But I could see, three or four strides before she stepped into the road, that her brain hadn't registered I was there :BangHead :
Anyway, the ad is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXI8-_9FrB4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXI8-_9FrB4)
What happens I think is most people are programmed to see a larger silhouette image like cars and trucks and when they see the bike silhouette , because you present a smaller image than a car or truck so their brain assumes you are farther away then you really are .
and some folks just have their head up their ass and won't see you no matter what .
Like has been said already " Ride like they are out to get you "
never assume someone sees you
I've always enjoyed this motorcycle safety ad:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGOPRBrC5e4
Geof
Nice Geof. One must also ask what they are doing to be seen. When I see a car at an intersection I always move my bike in my lane from side to side and I also make sure I am not being shadowed by a car in front of me. It's important that we make sure we are seen. Now, that's only part of it because like a deer coming up out of a ditch there are many drivers you never get the chance to see. But it is important that we do everything we can do ourselves. Drive defensively. We share the road with idiots.....I mean that with all my heart. I think that in the U.S. our standards for passing a driving exam is way too low. I take this seriously and so I start training my kids quite young on both bikes and then in cars.
Dang, that's the video I was looking for, but couldn't come up with the right keywords to search for it.
Classic.
Ultimately safe driving is incumbent on the motorcyclist since we can't expect most driver to be well trained.
- Like TigerTrax said, learn to brake.
- Make yourself visible. 80% of MC accidents are caused by the car.
- If you are entering an intersection, or other dangerous place, be extra prepared. 60% on MC accidents happen in intersections.
- always know where your escape paths are.
- pony up for some track time, so you can learn the extremes of maneuverability of your bike.
(stats are from memory, based on an article I read, but cant find.)
Geof
Grodsky had a great list of 25 safety tips. I remember reading them and they stuck too me. I'll try to dig them up if I can find them somewhere or if I have to find his book I'll retype some of them. They were quite good!
Agree with everything that's been said here re riding gear, technique and attitude.
Maybe the one thing that hasn't been said clearly is concentration. The cars are going to do dumb things, that can't be changed. Are we going to be alert enough to see it in time and take the right steps? My last accident was coming down on gravel on a mountain road because I wasn't fully focused on what I was doing.
Last Sunday coming home from the Alps I allowed some idiot in a car to get way too close to me, wobbling in his lane, fumbling around for gear in the passenger seat before swerving over into my lane. Yes it was his fault but that's cold comfort from a hospital bed. When I'm on my game I can see the signs and get clear instead of presenting as an easy target, but I was riding tired.
I'm now in my mid 40s but I can no longer take my focus for granted. Some of you may have noticed that it's harder to concentrate for long periods as we get a little older. No biggie, we just need a little more mental down time to be able to fully take responsibility for our own safety.
Perfectly put advwannabe.
I didn't find Grodsky's 25 on line but I pulled his book off the shelf. Great book. I might need to read it again. Reads a little like an obit though since it was written following his death. The book's title is Stayin' Safe.
I don't have time to write all of them down but here's a couple to ponder. (paraphrased)
2- Mind your throttle. The time it takes to close the throttle can double your stopping distance.
3- Check lanes before slowing or stopping. Your awareness needs to be 360 degrees.
4- Have escape routes when stopped at controlled intersections. Leave a car length between you and the car in front of you. Hold the cluthch in, keep the bike in first gear, check the mirrors, and listen for squealing tires. Scan the area to both sides and know where you'll flee to if you must.
7- Take a dirt bike course.
8- Observe features above the road surface. Fences, trees, rooflines, utility wires, etc., will often indicate direction changes well before you can actually see the pavement.
10- Practice quick stops.
11- Practice U-Turns.
12- Watch for shadow vehicles.
14 - Practice countersteering aggressively.
15- Position the bike for every potential hazard. The Golden Rule of riding in traffic is to simply put the bike where others cannot do unto you.
17- Wear a full face helmet.
19- Wear a real riding suit.
21- Perform a head check for each lane change. Mirrors are not enough.
22- Beware of SUV's.
23- Make your butt stick out. A bright helmet and torso are best. Prominent reflective material on your bike is good.
24- Learn rear break control.
One other note. Professor Harry Hurt from the Hurt report states that there is "no magic bullet to eliminate the majority of motorcycle crashes." Yes, it is dangerous. We need to always be aware of the dangers of riding bikes and accept them as part of the reason we ride. Danger is part of the fun. That being said, the more I remind myself the more I concentrate on the thoughts of Larry's above.
One last thing. If you aren't familiar with Larry Grodsky, he was known as Mr. Safety and wrote for Rider magazine for many years. He died when he was struck by a deer riding at night between speaking engagements.
Good post.
Agree with you all, just don't think drivers in one place (or even one country) are any worse or any better when it comes to seeing other road users... whatever they ride or drive!!!
Some great advice...thanks
When I ride I now cover the horn and passing lever to flick the lights; I am not shy about using them. Better to piss some one off than let them pull out and hit you.
Quote from: "DobroDog"Some great advice...thanks
When I ride I now cover the horn and passing lever to flick the lights; I am not shy about using them. Better to piss some one off than let them pull out and hit you.
I'm not saying that flashing the lights is a bad idea but I've been leery of flashing my lights for fear that the idiot in the cage will just think it's a sign that I see them and I'm letting them cross my path. However, I have flicked my lights at a high rate when at a distance far enough away that I figure they can't possibly think I'm sending them a signal and hoping that the high rate of flicker will look more like my head lights are shaking. Either way hoping to catch their attention. Just been afraid to flash when close enough for someone to think it's a sign. :roll:
Quote from: "HappyMan"I'm not saying that flashing the lights is a bad idea but I've been leery of flashing my lights for fear that the idiot in the cage will just think it's a sign that I see them and I'm letting them cross my path. :roll:
Good point, I hadn't considerd that they might think that. Thanks HappyMan
Quote from: "DobroDog"Was riding down a narrow, wet, twisty road on Sunday, taking a sweeping curve to the left when a car pulled out from a drive way on my left into my lane. Braking was not an option.
Grabbed all the throttle the Tiger had to offer and shot the ever decreasing gap between his front quarter panel and the shoulder.
This is my first near miss...
The sensible thing to would have been to park the bike at the first gas station I came to with a for sale sign on it and walk home. Rode to work the past two days with out giving it much thought. I am buying body armor and a bright Orange Vest/Jacket to go with my Green Tiger.
Part of me thinks I must be crazy for shrugging this off. I would be interested in hearing how others felt after their first close call or accident.
DobroDog
Good gear is certainly the right thing to do, but:
There's is no replacement for looking far enough ahead to see what's is developing to be able to react to it. (Cars at driveways or intersections will pull out in front of you, cars parked on the side of the road will pull a U turn in front of you, plan for it, cover your brake, slow down. If you don't, you are going to die on your bike).
Realize that no matter what you are wearing, the other people on the street probably won't see you and you need to make all you plans based on that idea. They aren't looking for a motorcycle coming at them, they are looking for bigger objects like cars and trucks.
I was lucky to learn this hard lesson when I was eighteen years old, 40 years ago. It has served me well, that's not to say I won't be taken out tomorrow. At least I will be giving it one hell of a try.
Quote from: "HappyMan"When I see a car at an intersection I always move my bike in my lane from side to side and I also make sure I am not being shadowed by a car in front of me. It's important that we make sure we are seen.
Hey all. New member here.
Amen. I do the same thing. A little "beep beep" doesn't hurt either. Does little good when the driver is asleep at the wheel behind you. Just two week ago I was on my Shadow ACE and turning left into my neighborhood. The speed limit is 25mph there, which I always do whether in a car or on the bike in hopes that the college students who live in student housing further up the road may someday take notice. The one behind me that day didn't.
She locked up her brakes coming up behind me. In my mirror I could see her on (you know what I'm gonna say) HER CELL PHONE. I sprinted quickly into my neighborhood and stopped just inside to look back at her. On top of it, she was glaring out the window back at me (for being in her way I suppose), with a phone stuck to her ear, blindly flying down the road, next to the public park across the street. Sheesh.
Pennsylvania is pretty close to banning cell phones while driving. Can't come soon enough.
Last fall, a rather dark evening. I was approaching a light where cars turn across to get onto the freeway. I saw a cars lights approaching me, no turn signal on, but I just got that "FEELING". Sure enough she started to turn right in front of me. Had I not gotten that feeling, I'd have been a mess. But I had slowed down enough before that I could avoid her. She never stopped, and proceeded to sideswipe the entire length of a Ford Explorer that had just turned right onto the freeway on-ramp behind me. If she didn't see the Explorer, she certainly didn't see me.
The "FEELING" has saved me a couple times.
I just sold the Shadow and bought a Girly. I'm gonna try and ride some firetrails for fun and stay off the roads for a while.
Well here is a dumb one that they Harley Guys why die to tease about but.... what about the old Police bikes. The ones that had a post on the tail that was taller than the rider and had the police flashing light on top.
Something like that with a noticeable something like a lite up tigers head or something. Original and might help you get noticed?
or this one
'Police Blaster'? WTF?
Quote from: "Stretch"'Police Blaster'? WTF?
Usually rides like that were confiscated drug stuff then turned into PR on wheels for Police Dept, DARE projects etc.
I'm aware of DARE and where the vehicles come from.
I was referring to the hokie graphics on the tupperware.
Quote from: "HappyMan"I'm not saying that flashing the lights is a bad idea but I've been leery of flashing my lights for fear that the idiot in the cage will just think it's a sign that I see them and I'm letting them cross my path.
Varies where you are in the world, out here flashing means "I am coming through and not even thinking about stopping", took me all of two occasions stopping at right hand turns (riding on the correct side :wink: ) and getting a scared blank stare before it dawned on me. Now I make eye contact and wave a hand.
last week was a f@** up week. on wedsnesday on the way home in the morning on I-405 in renton, a guy shot across all three lanes from his on ramp, in an attempt to get in the H.O.V. lane as fast as possible. problem was, i was in the spot he was so convinced was open. if i could find the origional owner of my steamer, i would buy him dinner for installing tha FIAAM horns - they woke him the f**k up. he damn near put me into the center barrier at 65mph, whitch im sure i would have ended up over that thing into on comming trafic, not a nice thought. the problem is, this happens all to often. this was not the first time this has happened to me and im sure there many of you that this has happened too also. we can prepare for the worst with all the atgatt we can find, light up uor bikes like a freight train, hell even put a rotating beacon on our helmets, but there will always be some jackass drinkink a coffee, or putting on makeup convinced the world revolves around them. our best defence is our own skill's on the bike. KEEP YOUR HEAD ON A SWIVLE is what the old man used to say, AND LEARN BRAKING AND THROTTLE SKILLS. im convinced the super loud horns i got saved me this time. i hope i dont have to use the again, but im glad i got them.
then two day's later, a homeless guy ran out from no where at the I-90,I-5 interchange i guess trying to go across the freakin highway, and almost ran staight into the back of the bike. scared the crap out of me.WTF is going on? it's got to be the full moon. :shock:
ride safe to all, eric.
p.s. sorry, i didnt mean to highjack the thread.
Quote from: "aeronca"ride safe to all, eric.
p.s. sorry, i didnt mean to highjack the thread.
Seems on topic to me...
I am lucky, my commute is two lane twisty blacktop. Though I did discover a 6' 2x4 in a sharp right hand turn the other day. Good thing it was parallel to the road and not crosswise. Not sure how well we would have bounced over it leaned over the way I was.
I had seemed down just a 50 percent a second more. I always use a completely cushioned coat, safety gloves, headgear, and some great shirts, but I have yet to buy actual driving footwear or some armored jeans. As I was driving house I observed I was flexing up and grimacing whenever I took even the least bend, considering my feet moving and defeating against the road in a fall out.
Hey Sherry, where are you? Please fill out lcation in your profile so we at least know which side of the pond you lie, Cheers!! :D