Friend of mine and I loaded up our scoots and headed down to meet a buddy around US129. He owns a Cabin off the Cherohala Skyway and has some of the most beautiful riding around that I've ever seen. The plan was to ride Friday, Saturday and a little on Sunday before heading back home.



We started out Friday morning around 10:30am and got back to the cabin that evening around 7:00pm. The friend that owns the cabin was going to start a fire and throw some wings on the coals while my buddy and I went to town on the bikes to get a few drinks.



We headed 8 miles back down the skyway and got to the bottom where everything flattened out. We were running around 45 or so, with me up front, on the two lane road and had gotten to a place where there was a little restaurant on the right.



As we neared, I noticed a blue SUV stopped in the opposite lane with his turn signal on, and with no traffic in front of me he continued to sit with his blinker on as if he wasn't going to do anything deadly. Man, was I wrong.......



Right when we got to the point to where you couldn't drive yourself out of trouble, it happened, he turned left in front of us. Not only did he turn left in front of us, he stopped with 3/4 of his vehicle still in our lane. It was was so close and quick that my options were very limited. I jammed on the back brakes and instantly locked down the back tire and started into a skid.



As quick as it was happening, as my rear came around, I knew if I didn't lay over on the left side of the bike, I was done. I planted myself and started to steer best I could to the left. Then, as I was was bracing for the impact, the car in the parking lot must have moved enough for the SUV to gag it and I went sliding by, missing the SUV by only inches.



As if that head on near miss didn't suck enough, just as I slid by the SUV, I looked up and had another car in the opposite lane heading straight toward me. I released the rear brake and the *** end swung back around to my left, but some how, some way, I got everything back together just as the car went flying past.



Just as my bike was getting straight, I was about to check my mirrors to make sure my buddy had made it through ok, when I heard it, metal grinding on highway. When I looked in the mirror, I seen his body flipping down the highway. At this point, I assumed he hit one of the two vehicles that I barely got by.



I flipped the bike around in the road, but when I got started back toward him I could see him, and he wasn't moving. As I pulled up there was already no less then a dozen people standing around him. I threw my **** off and run over and about the time I went to bend down, he sit up and said "I'm alright man". He was bleeding and hurting, but was ok.



Turns out, he thought he was watching me die and panicked. And after looking at both set of skid marks, it looks like he grabbed a hand full of front brake when his bike didn't stop when it was supposed to. He ended up with some road rash and a broken collar bone. He is in great spirits, but bummed about his ride. But like I told him, it could have been SO much worse. Dude almost killed us both.



The driver told the trooper he never looked, and that a train could have been coming and wouldn't have known the difference. I hate it for my buddy, as he is a fairly new rider, but he has taken it all very well. He is thankful we are both still alive, but he's ready to get his scoot patched up.



Here is some of the before photo's before the accident. Didn't have the stomach to take the after shots.

 

happy you guys made it!!!

 

Sorry to hear about that incident but thankfully it wasnt worse. Hope you buddy heals up quick and never has to deal with this again. You guys got some great looking rides too. Love the black Rocker!

 

Glad you guys made it through. At least you can fix the bike.
Don't trust anyone on the side of the side of the road. They're frikin idiots. I always slow down, sneak up on them and then floor it. Just imagine Mr Mcgoo driving the cage.

 

Glad it came out as good as it did. Hope your buddy heals up quickly.

Nice looking scooters you have, too.

Ride Safe.

 

I'm glad it wasn't any worse because it certainly sounds like it easily could've been.

My buddy and another guy was very near where you are a couple of weeks ago and a Black Bear cub ran out in front of the other guy. He jammed the brakes and laid it down. Something on his bike caught the road and my buddy said the guy must have rolled 8-9 times before coming to a stop. The guy was pretty scuffed up and so was the bike. This also could've been much worse.

Tell your bud I will be praying for a speedy recovery!

Oh, and by the way...that is one sweet lookin ride you've got there!

 

whew man glad u guys are alive!
quick recovery for yer friend,
your bike looks great

 

Damn, Tim, I was fearing the worst for your Rocker as I was reading that. Real glad that you and your friend came out of it relatively unscathed. Idiot drivers are our worst enemy.

And good job keeping yourself upright. Did you leave any other skidmarks other than on the road?

Awesome pic right here.

 

Glad to hear ya'll came out of it relatively ok. Hope your friend heals up quick.

Gotta watch them door slammers...like that - Mr. McGoo! Trust Nobody.

Great looking rides!

Kevin

 

Glad to hear that you made it out ok, but sorry for your buddy. As has been stated, it could've been MUCH worse (for both of you).