| Author | Message | ||
     Dynasport |
and then she did. I had noticed her inching forward at the stop sign and had closed the throttle and covered the brake. Then she stopped and I thought she must have seen me. But then, she pulled out in front of me. Brakes! Too hard, losing grip on the wet pavement. Release brakes! I'm gonna slam into her truck. Brakes again! Hard! Traction gone. SH!T!. I'm going down. Good bye motorcycle. Hello asphalt. Thank goodness I had just turned onto this road and was going less than 30 mph when I first saw her. This all happened in maybe 2 seconds. I couldn't believe it. I was on my son's brand new Ducati. I put about 180 miles on it today. It now has a total of 580 miles on it. It also has a broken mirror. Broken turn signals. A bent brake lever. A bent clutch. I think the handle bar is bent, but I'm not sure. Right grip is trashed. Front brake lever is not in stock form either. Somehow the front wheel got scraped. There are probably some other things I haven't noticed yet. All in all, though, the damage is fairly minor. Neither of us hit the truck either. My brand new Shoei is trashed though. My boots are messed up as well. I am fairly unscathed though. Two tiny scrapes and my right bicep hurts, but it doesn't have any marks on it. Anyway, the police came and cited the lady. I wanted to kill her, but I actually held my composure pretty well. Her first words to me, "This wouldn't have happened if you'd been on a Harley." I said, "No, if I'd been on a Harley, I'd have run into to you. Their brakes don't work as good as this ones do." I was 2 miles from home when this happened. I had been on a group ride all day and was worried about how I'd feel at the end of a ride on a bike with sportier ergos than I am used to. On that front I learned that the Monster is a 200 mile a day bike. I had been OK, but I was getting a bit tired of the riding position. A lot of fun, but not a bike I'd ride an Iron Butt on. The bike handled great though. It doesn't have tons of power, but it doesn't weigh much and was fine for me. One final thought keeps coming up to me. I had never wrecked a street until I wrecked my FXDX a couple of months ago. Now this wreck today. While it wasn't my fault, I keep thinking I should have done better anticipating that she was going to pull out in front of me. I should have maintained better control of the bike once she did pull out in front of me. But on the other hand, the road was wet. She did't pull out until I was right on top of her. I wasn't going fast for the road or conditions, except the road was pretty slippery from all the rain. I can't help but wonder if ABS would have helped me prevent this. BE SAFE. They may not be trying to kill us, but they sure don't always see us! | ||
| Froggy |
WTF does that mean? I got a dozen ideas, but none of them work. Typical arrogant cager. Oh yea another factor, the bike was still new, you didn't have much experience with it yet. With more experience you possibly could have braked better, maybe not have locked anything up and possibly avoided disaster. Glad you made it out ok, post pics of the carnage! | ||
| Froggy |
My reply: Yea and this wouldn't have happened if you effing looked. | ||
| Dynasport |
Yeah, that was a strange comment. The only thing I could figure was that she meant she would have heard me if I'd been on my Harley. And yes, more experience on the bike MIGHT have helped. I'm not sure. Couldn't have hurt, I'm sure about that. The worst part of this is that my wife, who has been really supportive of my riding, now is getting really nervous about my riding. | ||
| No_rice |
you know your son is officially going to hold that over your head FOREVER now, lol. i know i would if it was my dad LMAO. glad your ok though. atleast her insurance has to pay for the stuff. | ||
| Bikertrash05 |
Was there room to swerve around? That is my first instinct, not to say a good one... | ||
| Rah7777777 |
Well, at least you are okay! thats the #1 thing! I would have NOT held my composure very well with her statement! I normally a very calm laid back person, but that would have cut the fuse too short for me! There would have been many bad words! But you are safe! so we are glad for that!!!! | ||
| Guell |
Glad your ok! i wouldnt have held composure after a statement like that... | ||
| Rick_a |
I was sideswiped off my mountainbike years ago and exploded on this dude. He was nothing but cordial and apologetic but after feeling like I was assaulted by his vehicle I was in no mood to behave in a civilized manner. After a couple minutes of spouting off he offered to repair the scratches on my bike. I told him to just keep his eyes on where the F he's going in the future. Thankfully that's the only time a vehicle has knocked me off anything. Her comment sounds like a lame excuse and an attempt to absolve herself of some of the guilt she no doubt felt. Don't feel so bad about the luck. A couple years ago I crashed in my parking lot at home screwing around. Not two days after fixing the bike a coworker cuts a corner around our building and stops directly in my path. I just missed her and put it down trying to trail brake around the car, F'ing it up worse than it just had been. (Message edited by Rick_A on August 30, 2008) | ||
| Dynasport |
BT, I thought about swerving as well, but I it happened so fast I didn't think I could get around behind her. Then when I braked so hard, I couldn't really steer. I have no doubt that some riders could have possibly avoided her. I think I could have stopped myself if the roads had not been wet. You know, I have thought of myself as a good rider. Not necessarily fast, but good and safe. I have been doubting myself since my last accident, though, and this hasn't helped. And while I wasn't going fast, I am sure I was going faster than I would have been on my FXDX. The little monster just seems to want to go. ABS is really on my mind right now. As are braking drills. I've got to figure out where and how to safely practice panic braking. I know there are some MSF instructors on here. Any suggestions? The only thing I can think of is an empty parking lot somewhere and just getting some speed up and braking at a landmark. Would that be helpful? What is a better way? What about wet roads? And swerving? I don't want to dump the bike practicing. And actually, my son was very cool about it. He said it wasn't my fault and to not worry about it. He is a better man than me. | ||
| Thumper74 |
Glad to see you're okay, again... When I first saw this post, I was thinking about an accident my wife and I saw. I'm pretty sure it was a Buell, laying 50 feet from a Crown Vic today... I don't know who was at fault, but the bike wasn't pretty. Get 'Total Control' by Lee Parks. Set up some drills and practice. I practice panic stops whenever there aren't any other vehicle around. I also use obstacles to practice my swerving. Practice, and the MSF courses, has saved my butt more than I care to admit | ||
| Lemonchili_x1 |
Bummer to hear you went down, but good to hear that you're ok and the Monster isn't too bad  . At least you saw it coming and managed to wash off speed, it could have been a lot worse. | ||
| Prof_stack |
This wouldn't have happened if you'd been on a Harley. This makes some sense to me thinking back to my Electra-Glide with that BIG headlight and huge front end. Drivers always saw me coming down the road and never pulled out in front of the hog. Nonetheless, you were tired after 180 miles on a new (to you) motorcycle and the road was wet. So you were "ready" for an incident, which unfortunately happened. After my accident last year (not my fault) I too have been a lot more wary and doubting myself a little while riding and believe that someone is going to pull in front of the Guzzi at some time. "Proficient Motorcycling" is also a good book to read through. | ||
| Bigredwood |
Happy to hear you are OK. Ducati parts are pricey bits, she will pay out some bonz over them. Don't beat yourself up so much. WE all have gone down or will go down on a bike at some point. It is getting back up and learning from it. You seem to already be dissecting the wreck and figuring the future precautions out well. I have only slid on the wallet once in my years and it changed my riding style. Just like a speeding ticket you slow down for a bit . . . a crash can encourage maturity in your riding behavior. My only riding advice . . . become an escape artist. When riding my bike, I am constantly looking for escape routes. Running the What-if's/I'll do this's through your head is better than replaying over the could-of, should-of and would-of's. I also get a ton of shit from my buddy's for always flashing my lights at cagers in turning lanes. (moving or not) | ||
| Sticks |
Ditto being glad you aren't hurt worse. Bikes can be replaced, you can't. I've had to learn the hard way to readjust my radar too. Residents of Crackoma Wa, semis, young drivers of Acuras, dented up cars, cabs, rented vehicles... My personal database is always being added to. If given the opportunity they are all going to try to kill me, so I just try to get better at not letting them. Be safe, have fun! | ||
| Nevrenuf |
hey dyda, sorry to hear about the accident, never an easy thing to get over. and yes, there are a lot of stupid cagers down there just as there are everywhere else. i'll be heading back down there on wednesday or thursday to go work at a place out in mulberry a week from monday. at least i'll be traveling against the traffic and not with. hope i get the chance to meet ya and some of the other guys that are in the area. This makes some sense to me thinking back to my Electra-Glide with that BIG headlight and huge front end. Drivers always saw me coming down the road and never pulled out in front of the hog. i wish i could agree with that one prof but last year while heading back from visiting my mom up in columbus, we were on the belt way when this lady gets on then she proceeds to move over into my lane without any turn signdal or nothing and then when she realizes that i'm there, this older lady flips me off like i was the one that was in the wrong for being there. and i was on the ultraclassic of which i always run all the lights on it. bottom line dyna, don't ever expect anyone in a cage to see you and like i've told my kids, don't try to make eye contact,keep an eye on their wheels to see what move their going to make. and the wife just said one of the things that she learned in the intermediate course that she took was when you coming up on an intersection or car wanting to pull out on the road, try swerving the bike so it might make them aware of the headlight and that there is something on the road. | ||
| Birdy |
Well I'm glad you're OK. Sometimes things happen so fast at time all you can do is grab a handful of brake and hope for the best. Sorry about your sons bike I know you'd much rather it had been yours. | ||
| Miamiuly |
I would have lost it at the Harley comment and she definitely would have been reminded that she was at fault and getting a ticket. As in, "If your head wasn't up your ass, I'd be at home and fine right now, be glad you didn't just run over a kid that wasn't on a harley bicycle." It's like when you are driving and that blind person with the cane goes to cross the street- they should stop being blind, I can't be expected to PAY ATTENTION. This is why we have school zones and baby on board signs..."we know you aren't paying attention in general, but if you could just be attentive near the school, or the slippery when wet sign, or ....." | ||
| Teddagreek |
Don't beat your self up.. Cages Fault! Is your dealer the one on Gunn Hwy in Odessa? Good People they will take care of you.. | ||
| Zane |
Dynasport, Glad you're ok. Sounds like you handled a bad situation as well as it could be handled. Good presents of mind to think things through and minimize the damage to you and the bike. Personally, I'd have used those 2 seconds to thoroughly crap myself. | ||
| Lost_in_ohio |
Don't ride like your invisible, Because you are invisible. I am glad you came thru relatively unscathed. IMHO ABS another farkle. Instead of dumping the bike you would have been up and over the hood because the bike didn't stop. I have been in that situation in a work van with abs. Don't like abs never had never will. | ||
| Igneroid |
Instead of dumping the bike you would have been up and over the hood because the bike didn't stop. I used to be of exactly the same opinion as you until I had an incident with my pick up on icy roads. Simply put, my pickup stops approximatly 30% shorter with ABS on compared to me with ABS disabled. I was a professional truck driver for 28 years and had a decent handle on efficient braking. I havent experienced ABS on motorcycles yet but if it works as well as it does on cagers, Im thinkin it will save ;ives...} | ||
| Sparky |
Several people have mentioned headlights as a factor in conspicuity. But steady burning headlights don't grab people's attention as much as flashing lights. In the many times I've been in Dyna's situation with an impending cager intruder onto my right of way, it has never failed to alter the other driver's actions when I rapidly flash the high beams while approaching them. -- A lot of times they will start, but then panic stop when I start flashing the beams. -- Other times they zoom off thinking they can beat me across the intersection and I slow down enough to let them make it. I take that to mean that flashing the high beams works better than steady headlights. Either way, I win. | ||
| Nevrenuf |
unfortunately some people tend to think that it's the signal to go ahead when you flash your lights at them also. | ||
| Damnut |
If someone flashes the lights at me in an intersection that usually means that they are giving me the OK to go. I know that's what I do to let people know I'm letting them go......... | ||
| Dynasport |
As requested by someone earlier, I'll try to get some photos up tomorrow. There really isn't much to see though. The bike has a bit of damage, but nothing spectacular. I'd have the photos up already, but they are actually on.....film (gasp). I have a very nice digital SLR, photography being one of my hobbies, but I didn't take it with me on the Duc. Instead I bought one of those disposable film cameras in case I wanted to take any photos on the ride. So, when I got my senses back after the accident I pulled out the disposable camera from my pocket and started shooting. Just in case. About being visible. You know something ironic is that on the Lakeland Buell group ride I did a few weeks ago one of the guys told me I should ride with my headlight on bright during the day. I made a joke about it at the time, but I decided he was right and have been doing that ever since. So, I had the little monsters' headlight on bright. She still didn't see me. I got my first motorcycle when I was eight years old. I have been riding a long time. I am 44 now, but there were several years in there with no bike. Still, I have been riding a good bit the last five years especially. I feel comfortable and in control on a bike. Still, with two accidents in just a few months it has made me question myself a good bit. I have decided to look into taking the ERC if I can find it being taught in the area. I plan to call around tomorrow and see what I can find. It can't hurt and I should learn a few things. At the least I will practice some basics. I am afraid it's going to take a while before my wife isn't nervous about me on the bike again. She knows not riding really isn't an option for me though. I can't explain it, but it has become part of who I am. And Tedda, yes the dealership is the one up in Odessa. I have decided to call them and have them pick up the bike instead of me riding it out there. With the mirror broken off and the brake and clutch levers bent I don't want to ride it all the way out there. I rode it home after the accident, but Odessa is a bit of a ride and I would just rather them come and get it. See you on the road. The bad thing is, I can't even ride my bike now, as I need a new helmet again. Hopefully her insurance will cover that as well. | ||
| 2008xb12scg |
dynasport-glad you're o.k. sometimes there's nothing you can do to avoid an accident. I'm sure your son didn't care that much about his bike compaired to his old man. Ride safe. | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
I have one of these, and after 15k miles in the past year, I've only had maybe half a dozen people pull out in front of me. Most of those have seemed to see me, but misjudge distance and pull out closer than I would prefer. Chances are that I'll never know how many times my modulator has saved my @$$. You'll get a lot of people telling you about your headlight wiring problem ;] but those of you with XB's are used to the "headlight out" comments anyway http://www.signaldynamics.com/products/DiamondStar /dshm.asp I'd also recommend a brake light modulator, and Icon MILSPEC vest - as long as safety takes higher priority than looking cool | ||
| Hr_puffinstuff |
-------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ quote: "This wouldn't have happened if you'd been on a Harley." -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ WTF does that mean? I got a dozen ideas, but none of them work. chrome drag pipes. say what you will, but loud pipes save lives. cagers pull out on my XB on a regular basis, but when i ride my brother's springer, it's much less of an issue. if someone does creep a little, a quick rip on the throttle will cause them to brake, and LOOK, every time. | ||
| Dynasport |
Some photos of the wounded Duc Bent rear brake lever  Front turn signals  Missing left mirror  Rear turn signals  Scuffed passenger peg  Right side of handlebars  Scuffed wheel  Scuffed pipe guard  Not too bad, we'll see what this costs. | ||
| Newbuellertoo |
The important thing is that you are okay. Back in 1973 my Dad took out my Honda 1972 CB350 one night, (He had only ridden a bike a couple of times in the Navy M.P.'s), and low sided around a corner. Messed the bike up pretty good , but luckily only scraped is leg some. (Actually a lot, but he wouldn't tell my Mother who was pissed at him for taking the bike out in the first place. He was actually racing one of my buddies on a 70cc Honda mini bike! He didn't tell my Mother about that either.) | ||
| Dynasport |
Well, got the estimate from the dealership. Doesn't look like much damage does it. Estimate....$4500 | ||
| Froggy |
New frame pucks: $50 New footpegs: $25 Turn signal stalk: $20 Bar end: $1 Dark Horse Moto Slider: $70 Repairing your bike for less than a low deductible: Priceless |
