...and walked away. Was riding north on Buford Highway in Duluth, in the right lane, about to turn right into a Publix parking lot. The cager in the left lane was less than a car length in front of me when he decided he wanted to go to Publix too. So he swerved in front of me, slammed on his brakes, and tried to make the turn. I had about enough time to think about swerving, realize I couldn't, apply the brakes, lock them up, and hit his rear bumper. Dumped the bike on the left side, smacked my head on the asphalt, and slid for about 30-40 feet before coming to a stop in the middle of the road.

After checking myself out and realizing I wasn't too badly hurt, I got up and walked toward the cager, who was by this point out of his car and on his cell phone. I asked him what the f**k he was looking at before he cut me off, and he replied "You were driving too fast." Right at that point, a Duluth Police Officer pulled up, and after making sure I was OK, he got my side of the story. Then he got the cager's side, and proceeded to write the moron a ticket for unsafe lane change. As it turns out, the guy told the officer that he did make a lane change, that he didn't see me, and that I was driving too fast. Neither the officer nor myself could figure out how he knew how fast I was moving if he didn't see me.

So.....the bike was actually still rideable. The officer helped me get it upright, and then I had my wife come out and follow me to Stone Mountain HD, where it's now sitting waiting on a repair estimate. It did pretty well--the headlight and nacelle are both shot, both marker lights are bent, my foot peg on the left side is ruined, and the rear crash guard is scraped up. No paint or leather damage, so all in all not too much to complain about. It seems the foot peg actually saved the engine guard.

Like I said, I walked away. VERY sore on my left side, but mostly soft tissue damage, nothing a sh!tload of Motrin won't fix. Damage to my helmet, jacket, jeans, boots, and crushed my cellphone (which was hanging on the left side of my belt.)

Lesson learned: Sometimes folks are just going to do some stupid ****, and there ain't much you can do about it. I'm not going to over-dramatize or try to start a helmet thread here, but one look at the back of it tells you it kept me from at least going to the hospital, maybe worse. And big ups to Fox Creek leather--the jacket looks like some 220 grit sandpaper was rubbed lightly accross the back for 10 seconds or so.

Hopefully this is the last time I'll get to share this sort of thing with you. Ride safe.

 

Man, that sucks but glad you're ok. It could have been a lot worse. Sounds like the guy was a real ********. Take care.

 

I'm glad you came out of it OK. I hope the moron has good enough insurance to fix the bike and replace all your broke and damaged stuff.

 

Glad you are ok and are here to tell your story.Take it easy and get well soon.

 

glad you are ok, I have had acouple of close calls with cages changing lanes in front of me and turing or stopping. I think most of the ime its the fact they just dont check thier blind spot before changing lanes.

 

Glad to see you are Ok; fixer up and out on the road you go again!!!!

 

Glad you were able to walk away ... Sadly some Cyclists first accident is also their last. Whats beyond me is that how some cagers think they are totally innocent when is no doubt they are dead wrong.. Cars almost drive theirselves anymore was bad enough before cell phones laptops and GPS readouts while you drive as you put ride safe... Hope your Bike and your Health is back in top shape soon....

 

It's good to hear that you are ok and will be back riding soon.

Nice looking RKC by the way. I have one just like it in waiting until the snow melts and I can get out and ride.

 

Glad you are OK .....Hope that it taught the cager a lesson on checking all around before changing lanes..Good luck with your scoot

 

Good your not hurt. Be glad you don't have to have any painted parts replaced. That takes weeks to get back. I laid mine down back around Thanksgiving & did'nt get it back til the second week of Jan.
Get back in the saddle as soon as you can and ride safe.
Joe


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