I about Wrecked!!!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,257
Likes: 6
From: Leander Texas
sounds like he was NOT too close or he would have been in the accident. people are not suposed to slam on breaks because the almost missed a turn.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,975
Likes: 12
From: NJ
Wow, I was close to being in an accident today. I was driving my Bones going along a 2 lane highway doing 45mph. 5 cars were ahead of me and the front one decided he needed to turn at the intersection. He slammed on his brake causing a chain reaction behind him.
I had two choices: 1) Take the ditch. A Ditch with a 20 foot cliff.
2) Slam on my brakes.
I chose to slam on my brakes. I locked up the rear wheel and then the front. I kept the rear wheel brake locked up and kept locking/unlocking the front brake. I ended up literally inches from the car ahead of me and was turned sideways, but still upright, on the road.
Two things saved me today: 1)Paying attention. 2)Taking an experienced rider course that teaches the proper way to brake in extreme situations.
Ride safe!!!!
p.s. The Bones front brake seemed to work just fine contrary to popular belief. lol
I had two choices: 1) Take the ditch. A Ditch with a 20 foot cliff.
2) Slam on my brakes.
I chose to slam on my brakes. I locked up the rear wheel and then the front. I kept the rear wheel brake locked up and kept locking/unlocking the front brake. I ended up literally inches from the car ahead of me and was turned sideways, but still upright, on the road.
Two things saved me today: 1)Paying attention. 2)Taking an experienced rider course that teaches the proper way to brake in extreme situations.
Ride safe!!!!
p.s. The Bones front brake seemed to work just fine contrary to popular belief. lol
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Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 517
Likes: 0
From: Nebraska
A few things:
Perhaps I didn't tell the story well enough. I was following 2-3 seconds behind traffic. I ended up inches from the car by the time I stopped.
No one wants to lock up their brakes. Why would they?
No matter how much room you think you are allowing it still might not be enough.
The story was meant for one purpose: Ask yourself, do you really know what to do in that situation? If I had unlocked the rear wheel this story would be much different. If I had kept the front wheel locked the story would be much different. I absolutely would have high-sided and took a trip to the hospital.
Perhaps I didn't tell the story well enough. I was following 2-3 seconds behind traffic. I ended up inches from the car by the time I stopped.
No one wants to lock up their brakes. Why would they?
No matter how much room you think you are allowing it still might not be enough.
The story was meant for one purpose: Ask yourself, do you really know what to do in that situation? If I had unlocked the rear wheel this story would be much different. If I had kept the front wheel locked the story would be much different. I absolutely would have high-sided and took a trip to the hospital.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,033
Likes: 29
I'd consider having to lock up brakes and slide in sideway a case of "following too close".
Last edited by xxxflhrci; May 21, 2009 at 07:33 AM.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
Had almost the identical situation happen to me. 3 Lane road (2 in my direction), car in front and in lane to right of a 18 wheel rig decides he needs to make a left turn. He shoots a gap in front of rig and loses control in a skid. The rig jackknifes in an attempt to avoid splattering the idiot. I saw the smoke first, then the trailer started to swing around, blocking my escape route in the right lane. I too locked up the rear and was modulating the front brake. The Bones was very docile in the skid and I was amazed how straight of a line it held.
Bottom line: I stopped adjacent to the cab of the truck, looking up at the driver. He got out of his truck and said to me "did you see that?" I said "oh ya, in slow motion!" Learned 2 things that day: the Crossbones is a helluva motorcycle, and I needed a couple of more car lengths between me and the truck. Also, the riding courses I have attended over the years payed off.
Bottom line: I stopped adjacent to the cab of the truck, looking up at the driver. He got out of his truck and said to me "did you see that?" I said "oh ya, in slow motion!" Learned 2 things that day: the Crossbones is a helluva motorcycle, and I needed a couple of more car lengths between me and the truck. Also, the riding courses I have attended over the years payed off.
May our Moderator Rest in Peace
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,386
Likes: 35
From: Rochester, NY
I know EXACTLY how you felt. I did something like that, but I WAS going too fast, too close.
Three cars and big delivery van (like a UPS truck). Front guy started to pull over to the right and decided to turn left at the last second. Everyone locked things up but the van blocked my view and didn't have brake lights. So the first hint I had something was wrong was seeing a puf of blue/white smoke come off his rear tires.
I was catching up to them so I was actually going a fair bit faster than they were and when I hit the brakes it locked up the rear. My options were limited to going into the ditch, with lots of big rocks, or going alongside the van on the left. I chose to go left and by the time I finally got stopped I was alongside the vans driver. We got a chance to look at each other for a second or two before the the car that had been behind me hit him.
He didn't hit the van hard, but if I had stayed behind it, things would have turned very ugly, for me.
I had to pull over for while till I stopped shaking and check my sissy bar bag to see if I had any clean shorts.
Three cars and big delivery van (like a UPS truck). Front guy started to pull over to the right and decided to turn left at the last second. Everyone locked things up but the van blocked my view and didn't have brake lights. So the first hint I had something was wrong was seeing a puf of blue/white smoke come off his rear tires.
I was catching up to them so I was actually going a fair bit faster than they were and when I hit the brakes it locked up the rear. My options were limited to going into the ditch, with lots of big rocks, or going alongside the van on the left. I chose to go left and by the time I finally got stopped I was alongside the vans driver. We got a chance to look at each other for a second or two before the the car that had been behind me hit him.
He didn't hit the van hard, but if I had stayed behind it, things would have turned very ugly, for me.
I had to pull over for while till I stopped shaking and check my sissy bar bag to see if I had any clean shorts.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,106
Likes: 12
From: SoCal
This is a good thread for me. It reminds me of why I ride slow and give myself LOTS of room up front. And if someone decides to jump in that cushion of space between me and the vehicle in front (cut me off), I let them in. I'd rather arrive some place 5 mins late than not arrive at all. I'm in my 50s now and know that my reaction time is no where near what it was in my 20s, 30s, and even 40s. I also know that I don't bounce as well or heal as fast either. I still want to be riding when I am in my 60s and 70s. I also know that with a slower reaction time and an aging body I need to practice more often.
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Road Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 954
Likes: 4
From: CA
I was driving 35mph (limit was 40) up a hill, in the left lane (two lanes up the hill, one lane down the hill), someone from the left pulled out in front of me to get to the right lane and had to slam both brakes, causing a lock up and coming close to hitting them. By your standards I would have been "following too close" since I would have hit the back of the car in its turn (crossing the left lane to get to the right). One thing I have learned, bikes take longer to stop than a car. After I came to a complete stop, the driver (an old lady), yelled out the window "Im sorry!"
Last edited by jknowlton; May 21, 2009 at 09:28 AM.
