Calling all FatBoy Lo Owners
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,048
Likes: 3
From: Central Jersey
Oh..those moments of clarity when the rest of the world comes to a halt and the sudden shot of adrenaline rushes straight in to your brain.. I hate and love those feelings.
Last year a friend of mine and I went riding out through western PA, we had to hop on the highway for a part of it, and traffic was mildly heavy. I was behind my friend (he's got a pretty nice 2002 ElectraGlide Standard) in the left lane, I was about 3 bike lengths behind him, riding in the opposite side of the lane, as you're supposed to do. A woman was looking as his bike, never saw me, and started coming over in to my lane.. By the time she saw me I was between the concrete divider and her card, on the left side of the rumble strip in the road.. Ended up kicking her drivers-side rear door before the cow noticed I was there. She swirved back over to the other lane, almost taking out another car that had moved there, then started crying as I passed her screaming "I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY!".. I acknowledged it with a one finger salute, then had nothing left to do but take some deep breaths and calm down. My buddy never noticed it happening, so he would have been miles away before he realized if I had gone down.. was quite scary.
But ya know, ya just gotta keep riding. I mean, heck, the first thing they told us in the riders-ed course was "Every time you throw your leg over the back of your bike, you're asking to die."
Last year a friend of mine and I went riding out through western PA, we had to hop on the highway for a part of it, and traffic was mildly heavy. I was behind my friend (he's got a pretty nice 2002 ElectraGlide Standard) in the left lane, I was about 3 bike lengths behind him, riding in the opposite side of the lane, as you're supposed to do. A woman was looking as his bike, never saw me, and started coming over in to my lane.. By the time she saw me I was between the concrete divider and her card, on the left side of the rumble strip in the road.. Ended up kicking her drivers-side rear door before the cow noticed I was there. She swirved back over to the other lane, almost taking out another car that had moved there, then started crying as I passed her screaming "I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY!".. I acknowledged it with a one finger salute, then had nothing left to do but take some deep breaths and calm down. My buddy never noticed it happening, so he would have been miles away before he realized if I had gone down.. was quite scary.
But ya know, ya just gotta keep riding. I mean, heck, the first thing they told us in the riders-ed course was "Every time you throw your leg over the back of your bike, you're asking to die."
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 376
Likes: 0
From: OC NY
Once you get back on and ride it gets better and the repaying in your mind slows down. I still get flashbacks but not too often. The faster you get back on even if it is some short rides the better it is.
I totaled my 2012 Vrod by hitting a pothole at 70. The impact was so bad that it almost knocked me out. I managed to come back down on the bike without dropping it but the impact totaled a brand new 17k bike as well as busied my kidney, back/neck trauma and concussion.
I totaled my 2012 Vrod by hitting a pothole at 70. The impact was so bad that it almost knocked me out. I managed to come back down on the bike without dropping it but the impact totaled a brand new 17k bike as well as busied my kidney, back/neck trauma and concussion.
Happy to be writing you guys this morning. Yesterday, a lunatic on the interstate decided to come to a complete stop in the right lane, then swing a U-turn across the grass to the other side. By the time the SUV in front of me flew off the shoulder to dodge him, I knew I was f'd. Tried to brake but the wheels locked up, and I started fishtailing like mad for the longest second of my life. I have no idea how I kept it upright at that speed, but when I got it back I had no choice but to swerve at 65+mph without even checking behind me. I missed his fender by a few feet. That SUV in front of me that narrowly missed as well was carrying my wife and 3 month old son, watching in horror in the rearview. I love my bike. I have never thought about hanging up the keys until that moment. I cannot shake those few seconds from my mind. I couldn't sleep because the scene replayed over and over again in my head a hundred times. I'm honestly afraid to get back on and not quite sure how to get past it. Any of you guys out there been through it and have some words of advice and/or encouragement?
Last edited by jeffc68; Jan 21, 2013 at 07:02 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: Charlottesville, VA
Thanks for the encouragement. I got to talk to some friends about it yesterday (can't talk to my wife about it. Even though she saw the whole thing it freaks her out too much). Last night I slept well, and I think it's starting to get its proper place in my head. I've had a few close calls over the years, but this was something more. It's just taking me a little time to process. Unfortunately, it's cold as ***** here this week so I can't really get back on the horse. A few good light rides through normal city streets in the sunshine would do wonders for this biker's soul right now. As soon as I can.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 2,019
Likes: 599
From: Columbus, OH
Happy to be writing you guys this morning. Yesterday, a lunatic on the interstate decided to come to a complete stop in the right lane, then swing a U-turn across the grass to the other side. By the time the SUV in front of me flew off the shoulder to dodge him, I knew I was f'd. Tried to brake but the wheels locked up, and I started fishtailing like mad for the longest second of my life. I have no idea how I kept it upright at that speed, but when I got it back I had no choice but to swerve at 65+mph without even checking behind me. I missed his fender by a few feet. That SUV in front of me that narrowly missed as well was carrying my wife and 3 month old son, watching in horror in the rearview. I love my bike. I have never thought about hanging up the keys until that moment. I cannot shake those few seconds from my mind. I couldn't sleep because the scene replayed over and over again in my head a hundred times. I'm honestly afraid to get back on and not quite sure how to get past it. Any of you guys out there been through it and have some words of advice and/or encouragement?
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 677
Likes: 3
From: SoCal
Happy to be writing you guys this morning. Yesterday, a lunatic on the interstate decided to come to a complete stop in the right lane, then swing a U-turn across the grass to the other side. By the time the SUV in front of me flew off the shoulder to dodge him, I knew I was f'd. Tried to brake but the wheels locked up, and I started fishtailing like mad for the longest second of my life. I have no idea how I kept it upright at that speed, but when I got it back I had no choice but to swerve at 65+mph without even checking behind me. I missed his fender by a few feet. That SUV in front of me that narrowly missed as well was carrying my wife and 3 month old son, watching in horror in the rearview. I love my bike. I have never thought about hanging up the keys until that moment. I cannot shake those few seconds from my mind. I couldn't sleep because the scene replayed over and over again in my head a hundred times. I'm honestly afraid to get back on and not quite sure how to get past it. Any of you guys out there been through it and have some words of advice and/or encouragement?
Glad your ok, theres a lot of dumb ***** on the road. Just the other day, I was making a left turn and some ******** was on my a$$ and he turned into the same lane I was turning into overtaking me on my right side, if I would of lean the bike to the right after the turn I would of ran right into him. I was so ticked off. Riding has sure made me a more conscious driver thats for sure, well glad you were not physically harmed.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas
Glad your ok, theres a lot of dumb ***** on the road. Just the other day, I was making a left turn and some ******** was on my a$$ and he turned into the same lane I was turning into overtaking me on my right side, if I would of lean the bike to the right after the turn I would of ran right into him. I was so ticked off. Riding has sure made me a more conscious driver thats for sure, well glad you were not physically harmed.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,048
Likes: 3
From: Central Jersey
Bill-- i wait for the day when you post something like "so i was walking towards my bike and forgot those were on there, caught my shin on them and now im bleeding profusely" haha pretty wild though.
so im working from home today, not feeling well so didn't feel like going to work, luckily i can remote-log in.. glad i did, i go outside to get the main (11*F here right now), and almost trip over a huge box from fuelmoto.. my heads finally came back..yeay. now i just need to move my computer to the dining room where the bike is, so i can work on work, and work on the rest of the motor, too :-D
so im working from home today, not feeling well so didn't feel like going to work, luckily i can remote-log in.. glad i did, i go outside to get the main (11*F here right now), and almost trip over a huge box from fuelmoto.. my heads finally came back..yeay. now i just need to move my computer to the dining room where the bike is, so i can work on work, and work on the rest of the motor, too :-D
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2nd Gear
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Tulsa
who is the maker of your hanlebars, I have a 2010 FLSTFB and love your bars, thank you
Tigger0915
mywhitty1@yahoo.com
Tigger0915
mywhitty1@yahoo.com
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas
who is the maker of your hanlebars, I have a 2010 FLSTFB and love your bars, thank you
Tigger0915
mywhitty1@yahoo.com
Tigger0915
mywhitty1@yahoo.com
http://www.bikernet.com/blog/?p=5875