Wasn't gonna post this, but then decided we have a lot of new riders, and you learn from other peoples mistakes.
I put the thread on the group ride up............but after was an experience.
I was going down the highway in the second lane of a 4 lane. I looked over and saw a white p/u truck barreling down the on ramp. It was one of those thing where you know he will be a moron.........so I let up a little to not deal with him.
sure enough, he shot right across the first lane, and the second headed straight for the third. Unfortunately a car in the 4th lane was moving into the third and they side swiped each other.
The car went off into wall, the p/u headed back to the second lane and hit the tail end of another car ( like a pit manuver). The car veered left, because it was hit, the truck kept spinning until it was backwards. They ended up basically straddling the 1st and 2nd lanes.
all this happened about 25 feet in front of me. I over reacted and locked my brakes up going into a skid, the bike fish tailed, I let off the brakes when I realized I couldnt make it ( but I did bleed off speed).
I gunned the engine instead ( remember MSF where they drilled into you about down shifting ? ) I was in a lower gear already, so I headed to where the truck was ( it was still moving).
I missed the back end of the truck by almost nothing, close enough my knee banged it, but I was able to shoot the gap.
was this superior riding that saved me.................nope, superior would mean I was never in the situation in the first place
loud pipes weren't a help...........horn either. But I know what I did wrong, thats what I wanted to share with the newer riders.
Things I Did Wrong
1) I lost situational awareness
Yes I saw the truck, and realized the hazard, but i had just finished a group ride where my senses were full throttle, I was a little tired,and relaxed way too much
2) I let the cold in
I was wearing chaps and full leather jacket, but I had my half helmet and half gloves on, so my joints and stuff were cold, and actually slower reacting. It probably also slowed my mind. I should have dressed warmer, but my warm clothes were soaked from a rain ride the night before
3) I over reacted on the brake
I believe this was actually due to my fingers gripping, but being cold weren't doing what I wanted
4) I was going too **** fast for the traffic...yeah I said it, I F'ed that one up
Things I did right
1) I did realize the problem with the truck before it happened..........and instead of being a bone head, I backed off
2) I did not lay the bike down.........laying the bike down to avoid a collision I believe is the biggest load of BS there is. You either over react and lose control, or you bleed off speed to help have the collision at lower speeds
3) I headed straight for the last known position of the accident..........accidents usually are in the process of moving, if you cant stop in time, you head for it because it usually wont be there then
4) Practice..........I have practiced panic braking in parking lots many times, with teh down shift technique. SO when I fish tailed, it didn't panic me, plus when I hit the throttle, I was in a low enough gear for the engine to work
5) counter steering ..........another thing I practice at different speeds, I get some time on the highways where traffic is very light, I use the to practice swerving.
over all, I got very lucky, if this had happened a year ago, I dont think I would be alive. My point is, we bag on the sportie guys about stunting, yet they go places and practice handeling the bike that way............very rarely do I see the cruiser set in parking lots practicing skills.
Experience was a help......but I never should have let myself get into that position, a little coffee, or pulling off and putting on my cheapie full fingered gloves may have made a difference.
Overall, my part in this was caused by being very lax
I put the thread on the group ride up............but after was an experience.
I was going down the highway in the second lane of a 4 lane. I looked over and saw a white p/u truck barreling down the on ramp. It was one of those thing where you know he will be a moron.........so I let up a little to not deal with him.
sure enough, he shot right across the first lane, and the second headed straight for the third. Unfortunately a car in the 4th lane was moving into the third and they side swiped each other.
The car went off into wall, the p/u headed back to the second lane and hit the tail end of another car ( like a pit manuver). The car veered left, because it was hit, the truck kept spinning until it was backwards. They ended up basically straddling the 1st and 2nd lanes.
all this happened about 25 feet in front of me. I over reacted and locked my brakes up going into a skid, the bike fish tailed, I let off the brakes when I realized I couldnt make it ( but I did bleed off speed).
I gunned the engine instead ( remember MSF where they drilled into you about down shifting ? ) I was in a lower gear already, so I headed to where the truck was ( it was still moving).
I missed the back end of the truck by almost nothing, close enough my knee banged it, but I was able to shoot the gap.
was this superior riding that saved me.................nope, superior would mean I was never in the situation in the first place
loud pipes weren't a help...........horn either. But I know what I did wrong, thats what I wanted to share with the newer riders.
Things I Did Wrong
1) I lost situational awareness
Yes I saw the truck, and realized the hazard, but i had just finished a group ride where my senses were full throttle, I was a little tired,and relaxed way too much
2) I let the cold in
I was wearing chaps and full leather jacket, but I had my half helmet and half gloves on, so my joints and stuff were cold, and actually slower reacting. It probably also slowed my mind. I should have dressed warmer, but my warm clothes were soaked from a rain ride the night before
3) I over reacted on the brake
I believe this was actually due to my fingers gripping, but being cold weren't doing what I wanted
4) I was going too **** fast for the traffic...yeah I said it, I F'ed that one up
Things I did right
1) I did realize the problem with the truck before it happened..........and instead of being a bone head, I backed off
2) I did not lay the bike down.........laying the bike down to avoid a collision I believe is the biggest load of BS there is. You either over react and lose control, or you bleed off speed to help have the collision at lower speeds
3) I headed straight for the last known position of the accident..........accidents usually are in the process of moving, if you cant stop in time, you head for it because it usually wont be there then
4) Practice..........I have practiced panic braking in parking lots many times, with teh down shift technique. SO when I fish tailed, it didn't panic me, plus when I hit the throttle, I was in a low enough gear for the engine to work
5) counter steering ..........another thing I practice at different speeds, I get some time on the highways where traffic is very light, I use the to practice swerving.
over all, I got very lucky, if this had happened a year ago, I dont think I would be alive. My point is, we bag on the sportie guys about stunting, yet they go places and practice handeling the bike that way............very rarely do I see the cruiser set in parking lots practicing skills.
Experience was a help......but I never should have let myself get into that position, a little coffee, or pulling off and putting on my cheapie full fingered gloves may have made a difference.
Overall, my part in this was caused by being very lax
