Big Rig vs my roadking
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 799
Likes: 8
From: central Il
unbelievable event when merging on highway my neck is swiveling a lot let alone throttle to conditions but your situation is unbelievable were you boxed in and couldn't move one way or the other I know you were focused on your new fairing but merging? wow a car close to me gets the look as to what are they going to do and how I react, a semi ? Maybe others are right you should take another class, or another hobby before you kill yourself and others. Sorry.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 28,842
Likes: 16,583
From: Wisconsin, USA
I am a Retired Teamster, Big Rigs have a lot of blind spots, I always pass a truck as fast as I can.
Never pass a truck on the right side of it, pass the Big Rig and go on, or stay well behind it
then pass it on the left side when it is safe to do so. Mostly stay away from Big Rigs.
Never pass a truck on the right side of it, pass the Big Rig and go on, or stay well behind it
then pass it on the left side when it is safe to do so. Mostly stay away from Big Rigs.
Unfortunately since many truckers don't stay right except to pass, I frequently pass them on the right. WOT. Yesterday a truck took about 4 miles to pass a car in the right lane of a 4 lane interstate (I80). The lady in the car didn't care that she was alongside a semi for 4 miles. I had some hand gestures for both of them, once I passed their blockade.
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 248
Likes: 41
From: Rocky Mtns
I am trying to troubleshoot about my incident so it wont happened again. It all boils down to not paying attention in my part. I have a new accessory installed and trying to evaluate the way it was advertised. I was disappointed about the result of my setting. I am pi$$ed off and wishing I spent a little more money and bought the other brand. I was on a heavily traffic freeway during my runs. This was my third trials and on the same route so I felt confident. If I summed it all up, the result is me being out of focus. In addition, I don't know the drivers credentials and experienced driving a semi. He is an older person with salt and pepper hair. He wears glasses.
There is no way I can let a semi come very close to me like that. At all times while riding, I have a sense of what is around me. I can feel even a small vehicle if its right next to me even with a music on. I can hear that whoossy sound when a car is approaching on my side. On occasion, I can multi task while riding. Like listening to my radio and savoring a scenic area or having a conversation with my passenger through our headset.
I posted my story so riders may learn from my mistakes and not for making up a story or getting an attention. What happened to me has already wore off but it has etched in my memory for a future reference.
What I like to do now is to chase his insurance so they can replaced the damage parts. It seems they are giving me the classic run around. Unfortunately, I have no motorcycle insurance which is not required here. So I have to do all the processing myself.
There is no way I can let a semi come very close to me like that. At all times while riding, I have a sense of what is around me. I can feel even a small vehicle if its right next to me even with a music on. I can hear that whoossy sound when a car is approaching on my side. On occasion, I can multi task while riding. Like listening to my radio and savoring a scenic area or having a conversation with my passenger through our headset.
I posted my story so riders may learn from my mistakes and not for making up a story or getting an attention. What happened to me has already wore off but it has etched in my memory for a future reference.
What I like to do now is to chase his insurance so they can replaced the damage parts. It seems they are giving me the classic run around. Unfortunately, I have no motorcycle insurance which is not required here. So I have to do all the processing myself.
First, glad your still around to share your story, yes we can all use it as a reminder to always know our surroundings.
In regards to the first bold section above; no matter how many times we've been on a certain route before, our confidence can never replace situational awareness especially at higher speeds.
For the second bold part; it doesn't matter if it's a semi, a smart car, or a bicycle, nothing is allowed to get that close to you, ever. The rest of that paragraph makes me wonder if you have learned from this experience or not. Motorcycles don't often leave second chance opportunities to ride.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 5,105
Likes: 16
From: Blaine, WA
When truckers had a sense of humor, I use to see these. They got the message across, but I haven't seen them in years.
Unfortunately since many truckers don't stay right except to pass, I frequently pass them on the right. WOT. Yesterday a truck took about 4 miles to pass a car in the right lane of a 4 lane interstate (I80). The lady in the car didn't care that she was alongside a semi for 4 miles. I had some hand gestures for both of them, once I passed their blockade.
Unfortunately since many truckers don't stay right except to pass, I frequently pass them on the right. WOT. Yesterday a truck took about 4 miles to pass a car in the right lane of a 4 lane interstate (I80). The lady in the car didn't care that she was alongside a semi for 4 miles. I had some hand gestures for both of them, once I passed their blockade.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 941
Likes: 9
From: Denver, CO
So what youre saying is anyone from a state that has insurance, and gets in an accident caused by an uninsured but legal Wash state driver, the insured guys "uninsured motorists" policy will pay for all the damages and injuries? Something doesn't sound right (not that I doubt what youre saying is not true) but that leaves all the people that have insurance to pay for the dumb bastards that choose not to have insurance? WTF!
Washington requires insurance on 4-wheeled vehicles. Just not motorcycles. Florida doesn't require insurance on motorcycles either. An at-fault motorcycle isn't going to cause much damage at all to other vehicles.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,149
Likes: 2,975
From: WACO
Glad you are ok. But. Yeah. You are lucky God was looking after you. I have been riding for 42 years. Never have I let myself become involved in that type of situation. Never. You should hang up your riding spurs while you are still ahead. If you cannot be any more aware of the situation around you than what you say. Time to understand. They are trying to kill us. I pray for you.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 321
Likes: 78
From: Western PA
Big Rig
Just commented on another post about defensive driving, had a CDL all my life and drove school bus for a time and believe it or not I was taught that you only look forward about 20-30% of the time,sounds scary but the idea is to know what's going on all around you at all times and that alone has saved my sorry *** many times !!
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 5,105
Likes: 16
From: Blaine, WA
Just commented on another post about defensive driving, had a CDL all my life and drove school bus for a time and believe it or not I was taught that you only look forward about 20-30% of the time,sounds scary but the idea is to know what's going on all around you at all times and that alone has saved my sorry *** many times !!
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,384
Likes: 3
From: California
If that happened to me, if I was that zoned out and allowed that to happen, I'm thinking that once the bike was back in the garage, two words come to mind: For Sale.
It's way too dangerous out there for me to ride and be that obvious to my surroundings. Hard to believe that you didn't go down due to the impact.
It's way too dangerous out there for me to ride and be that obvious to my surroundings. Hard to believe that you didn't go down due to the impact.