Trip Experiences - There were two things that happened while I was on the road on the bike I'd like to share...


1. The 18-Wheeler Exploding Tire Event


I was maybe 400 feet or so behind an 18-wheeler on the highway heading home. There was moderate traffic and thank GOD I wasn't that close to the truck. What I saw was smoke and a LOT of debris being thrown into the roadway. I knew immediately what it was.....one of his tires exploded and he was "spewing" large strips of rubber (the tread) onto the highway. Also, there were quite a few smaller pieces that were thrown onto the roadway. Thankfully I was able to navigate AROUND the debris on the road. Lessons learned were:


a. Make sure you allow sufficient distance around 18-wheelers. I have seen this happen more than omce.

b. ALWAYS be prepared to avoid things that are in the road.


2. The "Crap Fell Out of the Truck" Event


This one was actually MORE frustrating than the 18-wheeler event. What happened was that coming around a corner, I was in the left lane of a 4-lane highway and there was a car in the right hand lane travelling a little slower than me. What I was doing was to get around the slow moving car. I saw that there was a BUNCH of debris in the left hand lane...looked like a couple of plastic bags stuffed with junk fell out the back of a truck. I knew where the car was that was on my right and also made a quick decision that the debris was way too spread across my lane to be able to manuver around it. I slowed down to allow the car in the right lane to go on ahead AND HE FELL BACK AT THE SAME SPEED I WAS GOING. IT WAS ALMOST LIKE HE WAS MATCHING HIS LANE POSITION TO MINE. I checked my rear view mirrors and there was no one behind me.


I also determined that I would not be able to speed up to get in front of him. What ended up happening is that the idiot in the car in the right lane stayed right with me. I was running out of room and felt I had no option but to completely stop. I grabbed the front and rear brakes and got to experience what the Antilock Brake System feels like. HE STILL KEPT PACE WITH ME, BASICALLY GIVING ME NO ROOM TO MANUVER. Finally, I was able to pull in behind the idiot driving the car. I then let him know that he was "#1" in my book and yelled at him for probably 10-20 miles after the event.


So...the lessons I learned were:

1. I always need to think through a "what if" scenario. Because I had gone through the different options (felt kind of like an NFL quarterback....checking down on the options to see which one was best) I ended up OK.

2. NEVER expect other drivers to react with any logic. Assume they are intending to run your happy a** over.

3. What I would HOPE the guy would have done would be either
a. Slow way down
b. Maintain his speed


Regardless, I made it through the trip without any other real incidents. But these two caused a little bit of "puckering". In fact I was surprised after I stopped that the seat cover was not wedged firmly in my butt-cheeks.

Just wanted to pass along my experiences............

 

Hopefully these didnt happen on the same trip, that would have been some crappy luck!

 

What state was that in ?

 

Glad you were far back from the truck.
As far as the car, maybe he thought you should pass and get in front of him? Kind of like when a few cars get to a four way stop and everybody sits and looks at each other then when someone actually starts to go another starts at the same time then it starts all over with everyone being "so nice" to let others go rather then doing as they should and use their right of way. On the road that would have been the car kept its speed and let you ride your ride.

 

Both of these "events" happened on my long Sturgis trip....the exploding tire incident was in Alabama.....the cager incident happened in Missouri. It's possible he wanted me to pass him.....it was just frustrating that he stayed with me regardless of what my speed was............

 

Good post. I 've experianced the same things as you, but on a daily basis around Houston and surrounding areas.

On my way back to Texas from North Carolina 2 weeks ago, I had to use bailing wire to keep my heat shield from falling off. LOL And......my shifter shaft and shifter stripped out !! I replaced w/ new parts at the Harley dealership in Lafayette,LA.You should have seen the look on some of the weekend riders as my bike lay on her engine/saddlebag guards as I replaced the parts...LOL

If ya ride a bagger any distance.....you had better carry a tool pouch and tire repair kit......you just never know when ya might need it.

 

A coupls of years ago, I was cruising down the interstate running about 70 and I came up on a semi in the middle lane. I could smell smoke from a tire and then I heard the tire let go. Pieces of tire were going every where as the flat tire was flopping around and coming apart. It seemed like everything was moving in slow motion. As I slowed to drop in behing the car that was passing to my left, a section of tire just larger than your hand tiped the edge of my windshield. I barely saw it, it was went by so fast. I KNEW if that had been inline with me it would have took my head off. I was very lucky. I stay away from the big trucks on the interstates, you never know and things happen quick .