I was a beautiful day up here on Monday and I took a ride out to Harrison Lake using mostly farm roads. 20 degree celsius sunny spring day - perfect for riding.

On the way home I decided to jump on Highway 1 (The Trans Canada Highway) to make up some time so that I could avoid the afternoon rush hour. Between Chilliwack and Abbotsford there are a couple of fairly sharp (for a highway) bends and I was passing a huge logging truck in the bend at about 70 mph when it suddenly started to pull over into my lane. What I couldn't see was right in the apex of the bend a truck had broken down on the shoulder but was protruding into the inside lane. The driver was in the process of walking back to put out the warning triangles.

I instinctively hit both brakes and the bike developed a sudden significant wobble with the back end getting very loose very suddenly. As I said the back was leaned over quite a bit taking the bend. I have ABS so it wasn't a wheel lock up but more of a death wobble.

I backed off the brakes and hit the horn and the truck was able to slow enough to let me go by and still pull out and avoid the stranded truck on the side of the road. I doubt the logging truck would have been able to stop in time to avoid the truck and swerving was his only option of missing the truck but obviously put me in serious jeopardy.

My own reactions were interesting - while it was happening I was quite calm and focused and immediately afterwards I was also calm and analyzing the situation and how I could have handled it better. About ten minutes later I was quite overcome with what I think was a combination of delayed shock and the realization of how close a call it had been. I got quite shivery and had to pull over for a couple of minutes to collect myself.

On reflection I think my best option would have been to hit the gas and the horn hard and speed up to get past the truck faster. A difficult thing to do leaned over in a bend with a huge logging truck bearing down on you…..

I love riding my bikes but an incident like this does give me cause to reflect on the safety of motorcycling

I feel fortunate to be able to make this post

 

I have disciplined myself to use extreme caution when a bend in the road creates a lack of forward visibility.

 

On reflection I think my best option would have been to hit the gas and the horn hard and speed up to get past the truck faster. A difficult thing to do leaned over in a bend with a huge logging truck bearing down on you…..

I was wondering why you didn't pick this action instead about two lines before you wrote it,perhaps the lesson to be learned is to be scanning ahead a lot further than you might have been,you may have been able to catch the stranded vehicle ahead and plan for it.Glad you made it through unscathed,no shortage of idiots on that busy stretch of highway.

 

Hindsight is always 20/20. Moments like that, when you realize how vulnerable we are, are scary. Hopefully we learn from them and become better riders.

Several times after braking, I will realize accelerating may have been better. But since E=MCsquared, you're usually better off crashing at a low speed, so your first instinct is to brake.

 

There are times to not get along side of someone, do you think perhaps this is one of those times not to?

 

Use SIPDE...it aids in preventing these "brown-stain/skid mark" moments...

Glad you're OK to ride another day...

 

I was thinking the same thing. Glad your ok. JR

 

I have been in a crash myself while taking a decent turn, and I know several others who have as well. We all share one thing in common: brakes instead of throttle. I have only 20 years of street riding experience, but my general rule is that if the bike is leaning hit the gas to save your (fill in the blank). Glad you made it through ok!

 

I hate those moment of relief followed by the shakes. I had to pull off the road for a few minutes after my last call. The endorphins were flowing and I couldnt stop analyzing the situation.

I have learned to think escape before brake, you have more control that way.

 

i think the main lesson I get out of this is that to STAY CALM and don't overreact
Glad you made it. I suffered from PTSD for a number of yrs from an instance that I never had the decompression time within a good time frame.
My feeling is that this will be behind you quickly and onto the next situatuion life puts infront of us.