 Close call today, but I'm Alive!
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,690
Learned Hand
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OP
Learned Hand
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,690 |
Coming out of Villa Rica today on my 2005 America, clocking around 70 mph in a 55 zone, I realize the car in front of me is COMPLETELY STOPPED! Realizing I wasn't gonna stop nearly in time, I was gonna slam into the back of this SUV at about 50 mph...I got on the rear brake HARD, and it immediately locked up, not helping the situation AT ALL, and causing the bike to fishtail un-controllably, I let off the brake and laid it down just enough to get around somehow. I missed the first mailbox and careened up over a paved driveway, then over a gravel driveway, and through a rather deep puddle, then back up on the highway completely unscathed! My lower back was giving me alot of pain from the oversized pothole I slammed through, and my heart was pounding in my chest....I got pulled off the road and collected myself, and congratulated myself for a right impressive display of riding! Thankful to be alive this afternoon! 
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Re: Close call today, but I'm Alive!
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,286 Likes: 65
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,286 Likes: 65 |
"Thankful to be alive this afternoon!" Dito on that 
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Re: Close call today, but I'm Alive!
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,485
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,485 |
holy crap brutha...glad you're here to tell the story!
"Despite all the amputation, you could dance to a rock 'n roll station..."
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Re: Close call today, but I'm Alive!
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 512
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 512 |
Just an old Hippie and I don"t know what to do.
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Re: Close call today, but I'm Alive!
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6 |
You're gonna need to spring for some new underwear! Hope the rest of the riding year is better!
Fidelis et Fortis
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Re: Close call today, but I'm Alive!
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,694 Likes: 22
Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,694 Likes: 22 |
Its a good emergency when you walk away from it.
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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Re: Close call today, but I'm Alive!
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,995 Likes: 10
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,995 Likes: 10 |
Lucky fella! Buy yourself a lottery ticket! [and give me half if it wins] 
Dinosaur.
"Oh Man I only ride 'em.I don't know what makes 'em work". Donald "Oddball" Sutherland
"Don't let the bastards get you down". Kris Kristofferson
"I am only paranoid because everyone is against me". Larry [Frank Burns] Linville
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Re: Close call today, but I'm Alive!
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964 |
Mark, you did the impossible. Your brain went into overdrive sending signals to bone and muscle to right the wrong raining down upon you. In an instant your experience combined with instinct took you through and out of a bad situation. It's almost like you were guided, yes? For you I am so glad for the positive outcome. At times it's not easy being free on two wheels.
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: Close call today, but I'm Alive!
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,690
Learned Hand
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OP
Learned Hand
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,690 |
My childhood dirtbiking days came back to me! I don't think alot of people would have faired as well....Counting my blessings!
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Re: Close call today, but I'm Alive!
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,393 Likes: 1
Second Wind
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Second Wind
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,393 Likes: 1 |
Sounds like ya may need some new pants. Glad ya survived undamaged.
I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago.
Edgar Allan Poe
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Re: Close call today, but I'm Alive!
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,467 Likes: 3
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,467 Likes: 3 |
Quote:
I got pulled off the road and collected myself, and congratulated myself for a right impressive display of riding! Thankful to be alive this afternoon!
Congratulations!
Keith is correct. Gotta love muscle memory.
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Re: Close call today, but I'm Alive!
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,630 Likes: 7
Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,630 Likes: 7 |
Quote:
Coming out of Villa Rica today on my 2005 America, clocking around 70 mph in a 55 zone, I realize the car in front of me is COMPLETELY STOPPED! Realizing I wasn't gonna stop nearly in time, I was gonna slam into the back of this SUV at about 50 mph...I got on the rear brake HARD, and it immediately locked up, not helping the situation AT ALL, and causing the bike to fishtail un-controllably, I let off the brake and laid it down just enough to get around somehow. I missed the first mailbox and careened up over a paved driveway, then over a gravel driveway, and through a rather deep puddle, then back up on the highway completely unscathed! My lower back was giving me alot of pain from the oversized pothole I slammed through, and my heart was pounding in my chest....I got pulled off the road and collected myself, and congratulated myself for a right impressive display of riding! Thankful to be alive this afternoon!
A split second of inattention on a motorcycle is much worse than in a car. Been there, done that, and hopefully learned my lesson.
We all like to think of ourselves as rugged individualists. But when push comes to shove most of us are sheep who do what we are told. Worst of all, a lot of us become unpaid agents of whoever is controlling the agenda by enforcing the current dogma on the few rugged individualists who actually exist.
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Re: Close call today, but I'm Alive!
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,063 Likes: 8
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,063 Likes: 8 |
Mark, Glad you made it through to share the event. I hate that "Oh SH_t" feeling more than anything. Take care and ride safe!!! 
12 Rocket Roadster
03 Bonneville America
69 BSA Firebird Scrambler
73 Yamaha TX 750
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Re: Close call today, but I'm Alive!
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 165 Likes: 23
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 165 Likes: 23 |
Heart pounding, I had an accident going way too fast on some back roads in MA. Came upon a curve HOLY @#$%, laid the bike down, broke three ribs 4,5,6. When I got up my legs were shaking so bad I could hardly stand up. Two types of motorcycle riders, those who have gone down and those have yet to do so. I learned to obey speed limits on back roads, well mostly.
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Re: Close call today, but I'm Alive!
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,690
Learned Hand
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OP
Learned Hand
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,690 |
Yeah, well I've already "went down" twice on my vintage Triumphs, both times maintenance related...Centerstand bolt came out, left hard curve, stand dug in, over I went, unscathed...Ran out of gas doing 65 with a Civic on my rear doing 65, last minute decision cause high speed collision, bike destroyed, chaps smoking, but walked away...So your right, and I hope I got that out of the way for awhile at least!
Took the America out last Saturday, took her up to 65 mph, hit both brakes HARD, I now realize I could have stopped in time...Yet ANOTHER LESSON I've learned...Guess I'm a hardhead!!!
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