A Yamaha going down

wirehairs · June 29, 2016, 09:36:24 AM

Local accident. The guy's OK. Only had his license for 2 weeks. At the risk of being reprimanded, I think most of us would have avoided the slip-n-slide. I never trail a boat or trailer closely when they are carrying shit in them. As one commentator made on the video, it was a classic case of target fixation, perhaps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDoerxecKF8

Tekime · June 29, 2016, 02:08:00 PM

Oh man, I feel for that guy. At the same time strangely impressed by the air he got. Like, "watch this guys!" *BOUNCE* If only he managed to ride it out, that would be something else!

But seriously, that just sucks. To me, fault is irrelevant when thinking about crashes/causation. I watch a lot of YouTube crash videos to a) keep myself in check and b) study the crash to see how it could be avoided. This one definitely could have been avoided, even at that distance, but that isn't to say I wouldn't have done the exact same thing. The world moves pretty fast when you're confronted with a flying foam roll on the highway!

Just glad he's okay, and appreciate the small reminder to keep a BIG gap in front of me.

In Maine people love to throw all sorts of crap in their pickups, throw a single flimsy rope over it then haul ass down the road. Meanwhile trash & bike parts are flying everywhere. I avoid those guys like the plague.

Yesterday a nice sized rock flew out of a construction vehicle ahead of me, going about 70MPH, hit me square in the face. Left a nice gouge in my visor, and was another nice reminder of why helmets do more than protect you from a crash.

wirehairs · June 30, 2016, 10:26:32 AM

You are right, of course. It's easy to say we'd have avoided an accident, but until you are actually confronted with this situation...

Debris in the road is a bad one. I still remember a female rider who was killed about 3 years ago here after hitting a piece of retread on the highway. I always try to keep enough space from the vehicle ahead in case that kind of road debris suddenly shows up so I have time to avoid it. Her mother said she didn't like wearing helmets because she liked how her long blonde hair felt flying in the wind behind her.

Pat Conlon · June 30, 2016, 10:52:52 AM

In 2004 my friend was killed on I-10 by a ladder coming off a contractor's pickup truck. It bounced, flew over a car, and clotheslined him. Very sad.

Please be careful out there.

markmartin · June 30, 2016, 10:58:07 AM

Not a good day to be wearing shorts and sneakers.

Dads_FJ · June 30, 2016, 11:12:55 AM

Quote from: markmartin on June 30, 2016, 10:58:07 AM
Not a good day to be wearing shorts and sneakers.

I heard a radio interview with the kid. Said he didn't have enough money for pants and boots yet and had just purchased the jacket about 20 minutes before.

JMR · June 30, 2016, 11:13:27 AM

Quote from: markmartin on June 30, 2016, 10:58:07 AM
Not a good day to be wearing shorts and sneakers.

I'll second that

Tekime · June 30, 2016, 11:28:43 AM

Pat, that's awful, sorry to hear about it.

I was so excited to ride when I got my first bike, I was constantly goading my friends to come ride with me. Now I've decided it's a VERY personal decision and a dangerous pleasure, especially if you aren't really devoted. And the thought of coaxing a friend into his own tragedy is scary... so now I just enjoy it for my own reasons and leave my friends to their (much safer) pleasures.. camping, hiking, drinking beer, whatever.

No doubt that gear is expensive, but at a minimum I do wish everyone would get proper helmet, jacket, boots and gloves, even used is better than nothing. And jean, at least! I envy all the "cool" bikers with their flowing manes of hair and bears waving in the wind as I sweat to death in my helmet and heavy leather, but I have a kid I plan on getting home to every night.

Pat Conlon · June 30, 2016, 11:48:03 AM

I love Jon Cain's retort:

Wearing his full riding suit, he was stopped at a red light...a Harley rider pulled up next to him and said, "Aren't you hot in all that stuff?"
Jon lifted his visor and replied, "Yep, it's hot wearing this gear...until you need it...then it's pretty cool".

Dads_FJ · June 30, 2016, 11:54:04 AM

Quote from: Pat Conlon on June 30, 2016, 11:48:03 AM
I love Jon Cain's retort:

Wearing his full riding suit, he was stopped at a red light...a Harley rider pulled up next to him and said, "Aren't you hot in all that stuff?"
Jon lifted his visor and replied, "Yep, it's hot wearing this gear...until you need it...then it's pretty cool".

^^LIKE^^

jscgdunn · June 30, 2016, 12:02:19 PM

Key is to remember...everyone is out there to kill you. As a rider you need to manage your "space cushion". Do not ride in blind spots. Avoid or pass anything that looks suspicious. And pass carefully but quickly. Do not trust any other driver. Their first response will be "I didn't see the bike".

Tuneforkfreak · June 30, 2016, 12:14:53 PM

Brings me back to reality. Ive been guilty here lately of jumping on the bike with shorts, boots, t shirt and sunglasses just to take an innocent around the block country ride to cool off or test some adjustment I made. Though I never hit the expressway without my full gear its still risky getting on the bike without any protection. From here on any ride for me is a suited ride again. Glad the kid is OK that was one hell of a spongy jump and could have went way worse had the front wheel got tangled in that mess. No should of could of would of for that kid from me, I'm heeding the warning and putting it to use.

Tekime · June 30, 2016, 02:52:32 PM

Right on Tuneforkfreak, I mean to each his own, but apparently a lot of fatal crashes involve helmet-less riders at low speeds (35-45MPH). Which seems so slow until you think about your head hitting an oncoming car at 45MPH.. 45+45=90MPH which suddenly seems VERY FAST!

I had a guy in my motorcycle ed class who insisted that helmets were more dangerous. His dad had taught him that they restrict your vision (true, but poor reasoning)... but also that they can cause unnecessary neck injuries in the event of a crash. The teacher, and most of us, were kinda floored by that one. He refused to hear anything else though and insisted he was safer without one.

Quote from: Pat Conlon on June 30, 2016, 11:48:03 AM
I love Jon Cain's retort:

Wearing his full riding suit, he was stopped at a red light...a Harley rider pulled up next to him and said, "Aren't you hot in all that stuff?"
Jon lifted his visor and replied, "Yep, it's hot wearing this gear...until you need it...then it's pretty cool".

Best quote ever! I'm heretofore stealing this line if I'm ever confronted by a Harley dude.

TexasDave · June 30, 2016, 05:28:46 PM

A couple years ago I was going to a store 2 blocks from my house. Forgot to put the kickstand up on my Honda 650 Nighthawk. The bike pole vaulted as soon as I started a left turn at about 25-30 mph. The bike came to rest on top of my back and I was face down. Judging from the deep scratches in the face of my helmet, hole in the jacket padding of the Joe Rocket at the left elbow, scuffed gloves and boots I was glad I had it on. A few years ago Randy informed me he was going to take my bike for a test ride after he had worked on it at his shop. Not knowing Randy I asked if he was going to wear a helmet. I received a one word reply. "ATGATT". Silly me. Ride Safe. Dave

ribbert · June 30, 2016, 07:44:42 PM

Quote from: Tekime on June 30, 2016, 02:52:32 PM

I had a guy in my motorcycle ed class who insisted that helmets were more dangerous. His dad had taught him that

[/quote]

His father was obviously thick skulled, but I doubt thick enough to survive this:

Good point about items falling from vehicles. I've seen too much junk on the road and witnessed a lot actually coming off.

It is very much a part of my "survival skills package" to not travel behind any vehicle carrying anything that could bounce/fall off.

Noel

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A Yamaha going down