I had my eye opening experience finally. While riding home from my evening paramedic class, I turned onto a smaller 4 lane road with a middle turn lane (suicide lane). I was riding in the left hand lane doing the speed limit (45mph) when a car (a mid 90's Chevy Caprice grandma car) pulls into the middle turn lane to turn left. Yeah, I was thinking what you are thinking: "Is this idiot gonna try to turn left in front of me?" So I start to slow down because I got 'that feeling.' Yes she did make that statistically probable left turn in front of a motorcycle. Next, my rear wheel locks as I'm putting enough pressure on my front brakes that within a matter of milliseconds my rear tire has not only stopped sliding, it is now coming up off the ground. OH $H!T....My first endo that I never wanted to do! I ease a little off the front to find that the car is almost out of my lane and I let up some more. Great, I didn't hit the [email protected]@ss. But now both tires are on the ground and my handlebars are starting to go side to side (very violently I might add.) I remained calm and was able to bring what was almost a tank slapper under control. Needless to say, when I hit the interstate for my last 15 miles of road, 65 mph seemed like I was going too fast. I did notice that if I had not played it cool and calm, I would be hurting right now. I had on gear but don't wanna think of what may have happened. It opened my eyes and I can undestand the need for safety courses and real world practice on a lower horsepowered machine.
Phase 3
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Way to avoid the wreck, man!
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What did you do to get out of the almost tank slapper?
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There's the ticket! I think backing off the go-grip allows some of the energy in the system to dissipate, thus adding stability to the controls . . . or something.LayinLo_usmc said:
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Yeah, that's exactly what you should've done...the bike wants to find it's stability point, and if you try to fight it w/ stiff arms, you're just asking for trouble. It's like a severe version of riding on that metal grate stuff...you're front tire and handlebars go all over the place and you have to just let the bike find it's path and you're okay...LayinLo_usmc said:
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·wait, lemme get this straight.....you stoppied a gs500!!!?? lol j/k good job on not hitting the vehicle. now go install the super duper high beams and a semi truck horn.
Glad you're Ok, LayinLo... That was a scary one. The main thing is you thought through it, and got through it. We're always learning, one way or the other, when we're on the road. One thing I've learned is whenever it involves the handlebars, never lock your arms, and always give them some moving room. Keep a good grip, but don't stiffen up (when going over rutted roads, grates on bridges, etc.). It would only make sense that in a potential tank-slapper like yours you should follow the same lead, so good thinking! :wink:
WTF is with these people! :roll: a few days ago it happened to me too...I see the car pulling into left lane, I look the driver in the eye, he looks me in the eye, and then he fu*#ing turns left into me... :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: WTF!
I need to buy some superloud airhorn, so I can blast the fu*#ers when they just turn like zombies. :evil:
I need to buy some superloud airhorn, so I can blast the fu*#ers when they just turn like zombies. :evil:
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·they all just got back from watching death race 2000
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