well it happened
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,415
Likes: 8
From: virginia
Way back, the Hurt report stated that the left hander in front of the bike was the number one cause of two vehicle accidents involving a motorcycle. You just added to their statistics.
Cover your brakes and clutch, anticipate that they will turn, and look for your escape route. A swerve behind the car (press left, press right to swerve around behind it) as it turns left in front of you will often (not always) save your hide.
Cover your brakes and clutch, anticipate that they will turn, and look for your escape route. A swerve behind the car (press left, press right to swerve around behind it) as it turns left in front of you will often (not always) save your hide.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,336
Likes: 67
From: SW Minnesota
Locking up the brake is a sign of panic. Most all riders have done that at one time or another. You just plain ran out of room. Parking lot practice is important, and it's good that you realize that.
You had lots of options. Slowing down more approaching the intersection would have been one of them, giving you less of a braking distance. Anticipating (always!) that the oncoming car will turn left in front of you is another. Looking for your escape route (swerving behind) is another. SIPDE means, Scan, Identify the hazard, Predict what might happen, Decide what you will do if your prediction comes true, and Execute your decision.
If that doesn't work, then execute the bastard !
You had lots of options. Slowing down more approaching the intersection would have been one of them, giving you less of a braking distance. Anticipating (always!) that the oncoming car will turn left in front of you is another. Looking for your escape route (swerving behind) is another. SIPDE means, Scan, Identify the hazard, Predict what might happen, Decide what you will do if your prediction comes true, and Execute your decision.
If that doesn't work, then execute the bastard !
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 298
Likes: 1
From: Florida and East Tennessee
I don't think that ALL such collisions (cager turning left in front of a biker) can be prevented by the biker unless the biker is willing to slow down to 10 mph every time someone even LOOKS like they may turn left in front of the biker.
Say that a biker is going down a two lane road at 55 mph and he sees an oncoming car slowing down with no turn signal on. Sure, if the biker wants to come to almost a complete stop in this situation, then he can probably prevent broadsiding the cager.
The only drawback to this solution is that a biker may encounter hundreds of such situations in one afternoon of riding.
Yes, there are things a biker can do to REDUCE the likelihood of such crashes, but there is no way to absolutely prevent them unless he's willing to come to an almost complete stop. Even then that's no guarantee you won't broadside some cager who pulls out from some side road, driveway, or parking lot just as you get to him.
Say that a biker is going down a two lane road at 55 mph and he sees an oncoming car slowing down with no turn signal on. Sure, if the biker wants to come to almost a complete stop in this situation, then he can probably prevent broadsiding the cager.
The only drawback to this solution is that a biker may encounter hundreds of such situations in one afternoon of riding.
Yes, there are things a biker can do to REDUCE the likelihood of such crashes, but there is no way to absolutely prevent them unless he's willing to come to an almost complete stop. Even then that's no guarantee you won't broadside some cager who pulls out from some side road, driveway, or parking lot just as you get to him.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 958
Likes: 1
From: Birch Bay, WA
Thank God you are alive. Stay that way.
Perhaps if the bike is totalled you can talk the insurance company into springing for ABS on the replacement. I know, fat chance but it does not hurt to ask.
And on an 09 too. Ouch!!
spiz
Perhaps if the bike is totalled you can talk the insurance company into springing for ABS on the replacement. I know, fat chance but it does not hurt to ask.
And on an 09 too. Ouch!!
spiz
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,336
Likes: 67
From: SW Minnesota
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 10,788
Likes: 2,222
From: Texas
Been there, done that!--------- Totaled a 97 Ultra. GLAD ya came out as well as ya did. Mine was 7 years ago and I still don't remember a thing about it. It could have been a LOT worse for ya!
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 928
Likes: 0
From: Redmond, WA
Although we need to be alert and ride defensively, accidents will still happen as we are only 1/2 of the equation. Thank the good Lord for protecting you and learn from this experience. I am always amazed at the total disregard cagers seem to have for motorcycles... it is truly scary out there. Glad you are just bruised and hope the bike is as fortunate.