Motorcycling Maturity

itsbob

I bowl overhand
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?

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?"
 

aps45819

24/7 Single Dad
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?

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.
 
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?"

Sounds like he got in a bad spot. It's hard to say if he could have avoided the car or not.
 

ItalianScallion

Harley Rider
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.
 

itsbob

I bowl overhand
Lot of my friends are ATGATT crazy (including my brother).


I try, but I fall short. I don't normally wear the pants and I don't have a pair of riding boots.

The pants would actually be a lot more comfortable than jeans and a lot more safe... they are fully vented like the jacket, and armor in all the right places. like having the security of leather pants, but the ventilation of wearing shorts. I tend to wear them on trips of longer duration, but don't wear them around town.. and I know.. Statistically speaking I SHOULD be wearing them here at home too.

I do wear the jacket (it's cool even on 100 degree days), the full face helmet, and the gloves.. just have to work on the lower end.
 
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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?
 

itsbob

I bowl overhand
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?

Bikes insured.. Tomorrow I go get a new bike!!
 

ItalianScallion

Harley Rider
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.
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.

I'm thinking it would be a good idea not to ride fast enough, no matter what the speed limit is, that you couldn't stop if there was something around the corner that you couldn't see. Or out or your headlight range, over the overpass, etc., etc., etc.
 

Pete

Repete
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!

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.
 

Pete

Repete
So I should make it a habit to ride at higher RPMs? A good question for when I'm in class next month. :yay: Thanks.

Mid range of the power band so you can get some giddyup when you twist without hesitation or have ample engine braking when you let off.

If you putt along in a high gear with low rpm and you need to juice it it takes too long to wind up and you might not have time to kick down a gear.
 
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?
 

Pete

Repete
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.

Hmmmm not sure I am with you on that. Totally different bikes, surfaces and handling characteristics.
 

itsbob

I bowl overhand
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.

And I didn't call out Harley to pick on them... Guy riding next to me was riding a V-Rod and made a comment of riding around 4,500 RPM and wasn't especially comfortable for him at that RPM. They were going to slow to upshift, to fast to downshift, wanted them to either speed up (my choice) or slow down.

Their reply was.. "4,000, I'm cruising around 1200." but I think I made of mis-spoke. Think the replier was on a Kawasaki Vulcan and the other in the group was on a Harley.

Think many riders ride in too high a gear for comfort sake. Less vibes, less noise etc..
 
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