Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

close call

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 22, 2006 | 07:59 AM
  #1  
joe's Avatar
joe
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From: NY
Default close call

how many of you guys have had a close call and stop riding? i was on rt 454 and lakeland on long island the other day and someone blew a light , at 60 mph and i was around the same we nearly met he was southbound i was east bound and we missed by 4 feet.i have not touched my roadglide since and after 2 major motorcycle accidents in my riding i think i am thru.i liked the site for the info and will come by from time to time to read posts.
 
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2006 | 08:37 AM
  #2  
Qball's Avatar
Qball
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5,187
Likes: 1
From: Rhode Island
Default RE: close call

Wow, glad a crash was avoided. I too have crashed, broke my back, was laid up for months. I found getting going again on a bike was very slow. I enjoy riding very much and I am glad I continued. I find myself extremely, maybe overcautious at times. That's a good thing. Too bad you feel you have to give it up. I would retire and move out of NY....only kiddin.

Best of luck with whatever you decide and Merry Christmas.
 
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2006 | 09:00 AM
  #3  
Lil Truckr's Avatar
Lil Truckr
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 635
Likes: 0
From: In Wisconsin somewhere south of Wausau.
Default RE: close call

I had two major bike accidents in my life. One back in '82 when I hit adeer. This one broke lots of bones but didn't deter me then in '83 I T-boned a kid who was playing kissy-face with his girlfriend instead of watching where he was driving. After I healed up from this crash I gave up riding until 2002. I guess I just missed riding so much I went out and bought a Harley but with this bike I installed lots of very, very bright lights both front and back plus some very loud air horns. This combination, plus being a very defensive driver, has so far kept me out of trouble.

Good luck with whatever you decide.
 
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2006 | 09:06 AM
  #4  
StreetGlide2006's Avatar
StreetGlide2006
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 1
From: North West Ohio
Default RE: close call

Very sorry to hear of your near miss. I have just over 97,000 miles on 2 wheels in the last 13 years and yes I have had my share of close calls. I have been very lucky that I have never been hurt while avoiding an idiot in a cage. Let me ask you this. If you would have been in your car and had the same thing happen, would you have never driven a car again? I work in maintenance in a plastics factory & my job somtimes calles for me to do things that if I do not take the right precautions I could be seriously injured or worse. Should I quit and find a desk job somewhere to keep from getting into that sort of situation? We take chances every time we get out of bed in the morning. That is and always be part of life. What you decide is up to you but I would not be able to give up riding because of somthing like that. If so I would never know the joys next years rides might bring. If the man upstaires wants me enough to take me while I am riding than that will be. I don`t feel my not riding will make a difference.

Just my opinion!

Ride safe,

Mike
 
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2006 | 10:29 AM
  #5  
stafford's Avatar
stafford
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 2
Default RE: close call

Joe whatever you do I think one of the most important things that we do is to follow our instincts, if your gut says park it, park it. Maybe in a few days your gut'll say hey Joe let's take a ride. Maybe it won't too. Good luck Joe and Merry Christmas
 
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2006 | 10:41 AM
  #6  
Nightrider2's Avatar
Nightrider2
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,379
Likes: 13
Default RE: close call

Joe, I agree with stafford, follow your gut feelings, most of the time that is the right way to go, give it some time and then do what you think is right. I had a major wreck on my bike a long time back. Well, after always wanting to ride again, i took the plunge, I'm VERY cautious and observent of my surroundings, go day by day, Have a Very Merry Christmas,
 
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2006 | 10:42 AM
  #7  
Hardly Dangerous's Avatar
Hardly Dangerous
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 705
Likes: 3
From:
Default RE: close call

ORIGINAL: StreetGlide2006

Very sorry to hear of your near miss. I have just over 97,000 miles on 2 wheels in the last 13 years and yes I have had my share of close calls. I have been very lucky that I have never been hurt while avoiding an idiot in a cage. Let me ask you this. If you would have been in your car and had the same thing happen, would you have never driven a car again? I work in maintenance in a plastics factory & my job somtimes calles for me to do things that if I do not take the right precautions I could be seriously injured or worse. Should I quit and find a desk job somewhere to keep from getting into that sort of situation? We take chances every time we get out of bed in the morning. That is and always be part of life. What you decide is up to you but I would not be able to give up riding because of somthing like that. If so I would never know the joys next years rides might bring. If the man upstaires wants me enough to take me while I am riding than that will be. I don`t feel my not riding will make a difference.

Just my opinion!

Ride safe,

Mike
Well said Streetglide.

Joe I live on Long Island and know all about Vet's Hwy and I alsohave had some close calls throughout the years. Ended up in the woods one time. It shakes you up a little but just makes you more cautious. Long Island is not the best place in the world to ride motorcycles but if you have the fever nothing will stop you. If your gut tells you to stop and you can do it, then good for you. I've been riding for 35 years now and my favorite rides are off of the Island now. Taking the ferry across to CT. and then upstate NY are my favorites. Maybe you just need some time off. Good luck and be safe.

Hey Joe, by the way after looking atyour picture againI see you do window tinting and your bike looks familiar. Do you work on Rt. 112?
 
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2006 | 01:53 PM
  #8  
Scout's Avatar
Scout
Seasoned HDF Member
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,197
Likes: 708
From: (Toronto) Canada
Default RE: close call

I hit a tree dead on 3 bikes back, pretty badly injured, but I got back on about a year later. Time made me forget about the injuries, and remember the fun riding is all about.

Joe
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

10 Most Awkward-Looking Motorcycles Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-8

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Dec 22, 2006 | 01:59 PM
  #9  
Terry TK's Avatar
Terry TK
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,310
Likes: 160
From: San Antonio Texas
Default RE: close call

I've been down hard twice. One was my fault and the other was the stupid women driving the 77 Chevy Step side that backed off of me and then drove off (but I'm not bitter). I actually rode the bike home both times. Good thing I had my old 59 pan while the other two bikes were in the shop getting repaired. Only you can decide if you want to ride again. My Harley is such a big part of my life that I can't even imagine not riding.
 
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2006 | 02:02 PM
  #10  
Big Sled's Avatar
Big Sled
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Army
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 25,962
Likes: 9,769
From: Montana & Arkansas
Default RE: close call

Go with your gut. Maybe you could consider finding a local bike safety course teacher in a few months, and get a private evaluation of your riding/the roads you have there/motor cop skills and such and see if that could be a route to reentering biking.

Hang around!!
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:45 PM.

story-0
10 Most Awkward-Looking Motorcycles Ever Built

Slideshow: Not every motorcycle can be a design icon, and these machines prove that bold styling doesn't always age gracefully.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-12 11:58:41


VIEW MORE
story-1
Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

Slideshow: Jason Momoa's latest restoration project blends 1920s Harley-Davidsons with modern electric technology, creating some of the most unusual hybrid motorcycles ever built.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-10 17:18:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 18:28:05


VIEW MORE
story-3
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-4
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-5
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-8
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-9
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE