W
Wenchy
Guest
As well as you ride, and as well as you prepare, there may come that day when you're the bug on the windscreen and not the windscreen. I just hope it's none of us....
Amen.
As well as you ride, and as well as you prepare, there may come that day when you're the bug on the windscreen and not the windscreen. I just hope it's none of us....
Not off topic:
How about the man last week on Broome's Island Road? One car was taking up the northbound lane AND shoulder, and there was oncoming southbound traffic.
What were his options?
Not off topic:
How about the man last week on Broome's Island Road? One car was taking up the northbound lane AND shoulder, and there was oncoming southbound traffic.
What were his options?
I hope to never imitate this maneuver.
http://forums.somd.com/3123533-post49.html
My girlfriend who visited last night was telling me about the green lines in front of her development. I told her why they were there.
Need more information.
One is we have a thing about staying between the lines.. COULD he have gone into the weeds? Don't know wasn't there.
Was he cruising at a LOW RPM with his legs 'cruising'? Also could have been an issue. By the time he got the power up and his feet on the controls the accident may have been over.
How did he dress that day to go for a ride? Could it have been a life saving issue? Was he in T-shirt shorts and beanie? Don't know. Some accidents, no matter what you are wearing (even a car), it's not going to make a difference.
Was he watching a deer on the side of the road and never saw the car? Again, don't know.
It's tragic that he died, but I really wish they'd write more about motorcycle accidents so other riders can have an opportunity to dissect what happened, and think.. "What can I do different?"
The first time I hopped on a bike in 1974 I was on a dirt field with my friend's street bike (don't ask why) and hit a pothole and dumped it. Only skinned my knees & hands on that one. I got right back on and then practiced off & on for a year before getting my license in 1975. Have owned a Honda, 4 Yamaha's, 1 Suzuki and 2 Harley's.
Went to Daytona Beach twice on Yamaha's and loved it! Was going sooo fast once (past 120) that my face shield was touching my lips from the wind pressure. Finally outgrew the "need for speed" and bought my first Harley in 1997. Got my second and current one in 2001.
I drive very defensively now and enjoy riding every chance I get. I, too, look at every driver as if they don't see me or don't care if they do! I keep an "out" on each side of me whenever possible. (An "out" is an open space next to me in case I have to exit the lane quickly). I watch every vehicle around me even when I'm sitting at a red light. Never know when someone might get out and try to throw me off and take the bike. I does happen.
I'm sure it does, but I'm trying to visualize the sequence. After he thows you off and the bike falls down, what do you do as he's struggling to pick it up? Give him your helmet?
I like this thinking.Dress like you might.
It's not if you are going to hit the pavement, but when.
Then it's just an issue of how prepared you are.
And ALWAYS slow the hell down if you can't see around a corner. Even if he wasn't speeding, he apparently didn't allow time to stop the bike if the lane was blocked. He had the exact same bike I do and I know how much it takes to stop that heavy thing. Both front & back brakes applied STILL requires me about 100' at 40mph. My prayers go out to his family but that woman should be charged with 2nd degree manslaughter due to negligence. She apparently was too dumb to know enough to pull off the road into someones driveway so as NOT to block the lane as she did.The way I understand it, he was doing the speed limit, came around a corner and the road was blocked.
At that point your options are pretty much limited to the choices you made before you turned the key in the ignition.
Full face helmet or a beanie, jacket with armor in the sholders, elbows and spine or a T-shirt, sneakers or boots that cover your ankles, bare palms on the tarmac or gloves.
Uh, DR, these crooks rarely work alone....I'm sure it does, but I'm trying to visualize the sequence. After he thows you off and the bike falls down, what do you do as he's struggling to pick it up? Give him your helmet?
Uh, DR, these chickens rarely work alone....
The way I understand it, he was doing the speed limit, came around a corner and the road was blocked.
At that point your options are pretty much limited to the choices you made before you turned the key in the ignition.
Full face helmet or a beanie, jacket with armor in the sholders, elbows and spine or a T-shirt, sneakers or boots that cover your ankles, bare palms on the tarmac or gloves.
I THINK I understand.
For example..
My bike at 2500 - 3500 RPM is very smooth, very easy to ride, but not very 'reactionary', not flickable
My bike at 4000- 5000 RPM, just a flick of the wrist and you can get out of a bad situation.
at 2500 RPM I crack the throttle, and it will SLOOOOOWLY accelerate, and you are in a trouble spot the biggest advantages a bike has (maneuverability and speed) to get out of trouble are lost.
I THINK this is what he means. I went on a ride last year and the Harley guys were all talking about how they cruise at 1200 - 1500 RPM while I'm usually at 4K.. If someone or something jumped out in front of them, other than braking their options are limited.
In the early 80's I was told to ride in a gear lower than you think you should.
Don't know if this is right or not, but this is my take on it.
OOPS, itsbob again!
So I should make it a habit to ride at higher RPMs? A good question for when I'm in class next month. Thanks.
I don't see how they would cruise at 1200-1500 on a Harley I think they were mistaken. Mine likes 2K-3K and it is a 6 speed. In 6th 2500 is about 65, on the older 5 speeds 65 in 5th is 3K.
Harley's V-Twin makes much more torque in the low end. At 2K in the proper gear of course, I can scoot. If you are lumbering along at 1500 in 3rd gear you are going no where if you crack it.
If you can't or you're not comfortable putting a dirt bike into a controlled power slide in the dirt.
You have no effin business on a street bike.
I don't see how they would cruise at 1200-1500 on a Harley I think they were mistaken. Mine likes 2K-3K and it is a 6 speed. In 6th 2500 is about 65, on the older 5 speeds 65 in 5th is 3K.
Harley's V-Twin makes much more torque in the low end. At 2K in the proper gear of course, I can scoot. If you are lumbering along at 1500 in 3rd gear you are going no where if you crack it.
You have a tach?