Bonneville America Forums Forums Rider Safety Forums Riding Technique Close Call!

So there I was, traveling at a high rate of speed, 85mph (I know, I know) on the highway on my way to work and a car that was stopped on the side of the road pulled right out in front of me. I spent a couple of minutes recreating the incident in microsoft paint...


The place on the drawing where the line skews represents me skidding.
It all happened so fast, it wasn't until after I had regained control of the rear wheel and was a couple of hundred yards down the highway that my brain caught up with all the things my body did. I pulled over as soon as I was able to think straight and got off the bike just in time to see the douche bag in car 2 pass by with out so much as an appoligetic wave. I was really hoping that there would be some one in the Jeep that I could talk to about the situation but when I got to Jepp it was empty. It took every ounce of control I had to not break out every window in the Jeep. I managed to calm myself down enough and relaxed for a few before I got back on the bike unharmed and ready to finish my trek to work. For the first time in my life, when I walked into work, I said "I am really happy to be here this morning." because what could have been was not a very good option

Tim,

Glad you are here ... able to draw diagrams about this incident.

That some neat riding in several respects. 1) Locking back wheel and not laying bike down at that sort of speed. 2) being capable of releasing the Locked back wheel to take avoiding action. (fear sometimes makes simple tasks nigh on impossible). 3) To taking avoiding action and not being blind sided by cars behind /at side of you. Its no consolation I know but well done on surviving and without serious incident.

Glad you are still here talking about bro, just sloooooow down tomorrow and be extra vigilant for those cages..

Close call indeed, this is one of those things that they teach at the MSF course. They taught us in such scenario to not hit the brakes and just swerve around Mildred. Your chances are grater by swerving, however, tough thing to do; I always thought that it is human instinct to hit the brakes. Glad you made it unharmed .

Whoa! Glad you're still in one piece there Tim.

However, I have to tell ya somethin' here, my friend. Besides the 85mph, of which you acknowledged with your "I know, I know" addition above, I've come across this kind of situation occassionally, and here's what I always do and what I'd recommended you do in the future as soon as you see in the distance any car or cars parked along the shoulder of the road which might signify an inoperative condition on their part:

(a)-Immediately position those two fingers on your front brake lever.

(b)-Check your mirrors to make sure no one is riding your tail and then slow down at least 10-20mph from whatever speed you were traveling.

(c)-Quickly swivel your head to check your blind spots and then move over to the extreme left side of the lane you're riding in, or if possible, to the farthest most left lane possible.

(d)-[and probably most importantly]...NEVER assume that the driver of that car sitting along the shoulder of the road won't do exactly what that dunderhead did to you.

(e)-And if you forget this, ALWAYS assume the first words out of that dunderhead's mouth afterward will be.."Sorry! I didn't SEE him, Officer!"

I am not going to coddle you Tim. You made some very serious errors in judgment and are darn lucky to be alive. You got away with it this time but you might not be so lucky again.

Read and heed what Dwight said...

In addition I always position myself on the far side of the lane or if possible in the passing lane, both give you a little extra time to avoid said dunderhead. I tend to expect drivers to do things like that when I ride I put my fingers on the break and slow at intersections too for the same reason. I also tend to be as far from a passing truck as possible too just in case of a dangling chain or such item not secured.

Ouch!!! Phil, that hurt me too. I know you are just trying to be the strong and not so silent type. Glad to see nothing happened and everyone learned a lesson. "Now for that hug and glad you are okay."

Tim,
Glad you were able to ride it out, and are still with us.
I missed death by about a foot at the '06 NY Rally.
Going too fast, and ran a light.
I've slowed down since.

What Dwight and Phil said!!
You got off easy, some soiled chonis and an adrenalin high.
Take the lesson for what it's worth.

While I don't believe that everyone is out to kill me, I ride as though they are.

What Bill said...

And check that back tire. Skidding along tends to peel off the rubber rather quickly. Keep an eye on it....

To borrow from a quote, one who fails to learn from one's mistake is destined to repeat it. Very few of the cagers are looking out for us. We have to look out for ourselves when on the road. I'm glad you pulled through and hope you never have such an experience again. However, the liklihood of that never happening again is null. Listen to your friends here and think long and hard. Learn and live to ride another day.

Coming home today I was following a Subaru s/w at a sedate 80 mph (MT ). A chevy truck on my tail decided he had to pass, he passed me, and decided he also had to pass the Subaru. Parallel to the Subaru and on a gentle left slalom corner, three oncoming vehicles appeared. I had plenty of margin, the oncoming cars hit the borrow pit, the Subaru dynamited his brakes. The chevy truck yanked right. Four miles later, I saw the truck stopped in front of the Mint bar in Plains. The driver, now afoot weaving towards the front door, unaware of the lives he might have ruined. Bas***t!!

Beings I know most of the cops around here, I passed it on.

Ride safe my friends

jh