Wrecked the bike

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Jun 2, 2012 | 11:57 PM

#31

stevieg

Road Warrior

Joined: Apr 2007

Posts: 1,372

Likes: 1

From: Louisville, CO

I'm not as experienced as many of you but I have to say that stopping in time is, IMO, the most important thing to consider. I was behind a car when the light turned yellow and we both sped up to get through. At the last moment he decided not stop instead and I slid a good 50 feet. I stayed upright and would've been okay if I'd only had about 2 more feet. Turned out I grazed him with my left engine guard on his right bumper. Cost my insurance co. almost 2k. I was fine and all I had to do was replace the guard. The scariest few seconds of my life. Even after that I've had some close ones which makes me realize I've just GOT to keep giving myself more room. Sorry, I didn't mean this to be so long. And, as far as saying it won't be the last time.....it doesn't necessarily have to be that way.

Jun 7, 2012 | 04:17 AM

#32

bikeme2001

Novice

Joined: May 2012

Posts: 19

Likes: 0

From: southern maine

I just started riding again after not haveing a bike for 6 years. I keep catching myself being too close. Thanks for the eye opener and glad your ok.
You a Shell Back?

Jun 7, 2012 | 10:06 AM

#33

EricInNCa

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Nov 2009

Posts: 2,960

Likes: 26

From: Sonoma County, CA

Glad your OK and able to still ride...as for the 3 second rule, around here if you leave that much distance between you and the car ahead of you, another driver will tuck right in ahead of you. You have just got to be constantly on guard and alert. Find somewhere and practice your emergency stops AND how to swerve to miss an object. You'll be surprised how fast these bikes can stop when you get the right balance of front and rear brake. Also, don't ever try to apply hard braking in the middle of your swerve or while turning. That's when you better be prepared to skid and slide... Not trying to preach, just something we all need to be prepared to do at any given moment.

Cheers,

Jun 7, 2012 | 10:44 PM

#34

brown dawg

Cruiser

Joined: Oct 2010

Posts: 174

Likes: 0

From: rock island illinois

i like to sit back all patient till i see my opening then roar by them with my loud pipes i am a truck driver so i know the importance of staying back bcause u never know what kind of day a person is having they just might decide hey somone crapped on my day so im gonna take it out on the world

Jun 8, 2012 | 06:13 AM

#35

rs87277

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: May 2012

Posts: 2,011

Likes: 5

From: Macomb, MI

Glad your ok

Jun 14, 2012 | 08:55 PM

#36

bikeme2001

Novice

Joined: May 2012

Posts: 19

Likes: 0

From: southern maine

I have a co worker got turned into a few days ago.Car was making a left hand turn and when the car in the on coming lane cleared the person never saw the motorcycle. ran into him costing him his left leg. Broken femor, hip, ribs and hes 58 and will probebly never return to work.
Got my wide glide 3 weeks before and he never got a chance to see it.

Jun 14, 2012 | 09:34 PM

#37

SgtSlasher

Intermediate

Joined: Nov 2009

Posts: 47

Likes: 0

Glad you were okay!!!

First, thanks for your Service!!!

You are okay!!! Going home at the end of the day is Job#1!!! SUCCESS!!! There's at least 50 Harleys new and used at just about any stealership you walk into... The main thing is you walked away...

I know the feeling... I am just getting the parts together to get mine on the road... 28 years of riding street bikes, I finally went down... albeit at about 10 mph when some Jerky decided to make a right turn from a left turn lane when I was trying to go straight through the intersection!!! Bad thing was I cleared him and though t I was past the danger point (but musta had a lil too much brake still on my right hand) when I lost it on the road sand between lanes as I was coming back up after avoiding the non-directional jack@ZZ!!!

It is a pride thing that is rough to handle... But hey if you learn from it.. You're good... It's a lesson...

Kewl thing for me is: that with a decent insurance check.... I'll be doing some powder coating and a few other things that I always wanted to do, but never found the time or $$$ for....

Glad you are well... and remember not that they want to kill you.... but 50% are too clueless to know what is going on outside their car... 25% are too busy on the cell talking or texting to even know you are there.... 15% don't like you because of something some other @ZZwhole like me did to **** them off.... and another 10-15% have no business on the road and are too overwhelmed with piloting their own vehicle to even know that there are may be consequences beyond glass enclosed bubble for others that should be considerate of...

I read on this forum once that you are the invisible man... No one ever sees you... No one even cares that you are there... I ride with that ingrained in my head...