Totaled my bike...

[ManOfGod]

I crashed.


Wasn't my Ninjette, but I thought I would post it anyway. I would like to know what any of you might have done in my situation.

So I was going 55 on a two lane, country road; mid-afternoon. Approaching an intersection I see an F-250 approaching(coming from the way I was going) with his left turn signal blinking. I say to myself,"if he turns I am going to hit him." I slow a bit. He stops. I pick up my speed again. I am now just a few car lengths away. He turns. Seeing me(????) he stops(^*{€]£]¥,*^|). Now blocking all but 6 inches of my lane(there is no shoulder) he is stationary. I aim my front tire for that 6 inch gap and proceed to wipe my '84 Magna across the snowplow mount on his truck. The bike and I went end over end a few times, eventually coming to rest about 35 feet beyond the truck.

Thank God, I walked away with a busted helmet(my head was the first thing to hit the pavement), a headache, and pulled muscles in my shoulders. Totaled the bike, and the truck driver took 100% responsibility.

This happened a couple weeks ago. I am still trying to figure out if there was something I should have done differently...

[inkyben]

That sucks to hear man and I'm glad your ok. I haven't been hit in a long time but when I got t-boned that pretty much changed my whole thought process on predicting other drivers. Down here where I live it's mostly the senior citizens that I have to watch out for. They'll hit you and just carry on with their day as if it didn't happen.

[xSean13]

I always smidsy weave when someone is either in the turning lane or on the right side looking to pull out into traffic. If you were going 55, then slowed down and were still a few car lengths away, you probably would've had time to panic stop and not hit him, or slow enough to where you could avoid him .

[hexstylee]

Don't hit cars that's what you should have done lol jk, at least you're ok bikes can be replaced, live and learn. Sometimes things are out of our hands.

[csmith12]

Geeezzzz left turners.... bummer yo and cool your good to ride again. No shoulder aye? Was there any other escape route? Grass maybe? Did you cover your front brake? Do you know what the smidsy is?

Despite your best efforts man, sometimes there is just not enough time and space to avoid a crash. Ride again soon Ben!

[subxero]

Originally Posted by ManOfGod

I crashed.


,"if he turns I am going to hit him." I slow a bit. He stops. I pick up my speed again.

This is the only thing i see that i would have done differently.

Trust no one, you did the right thing in slowing down but maintain that slow speed and start giving yourself space between you and the truck moving closer to the shoulder before you even get there. This might have given you that second to react and extra foot of swerve to miss the front of the truck. But it is impossible to say.

Glad you came out in one piece good luck working out the other details.

[caps]

One of the first things I did after my accident was obsess about it. I spent months replaying it in my head wondering if I could have done anything better. And I came to the same conclusion that you should. Could I have done better? Maybe. Can I change it now? Nope. You just have to do your best to remember that you can't change it, and focus on making sure your skills continue improving.

[inkyben]

Originally Posted by caps

One of the first things I did after my accident was obsess about it. I spent months replaying it in my head wondering if I could have done anything better. And I came to the same conclusion that you should. Could I have done better? Maybe. Can I change it now? Nope. You just have to do your best to remember that you can't change it, and focus on making sure your skills continue improving.

Very true, most skill is achieved through confidence, the rest is just luck lol.

[allanoue]

Originally Posted by csmith12

Geeezzzz left turners.... bummer yo and cool your good to ride again. No shoulder aye? Was there any other escape route? Grass maybe? Did you cover your front brake? Do you know what the smidsy is?

Despite your best efforts man, sometimes there is just not enough time and space to avoid a crash. Ride again soon Ben!

I do the SMIDSY anytime I see a left turn signal or a car that looks like they want to turn left.

Originally Posted by Motofool

Have no headlight modulator?

This is another way to make yourself visible:

Link to original page on YouTube.

Caveat: Both methods only work for car drivers that do try to see you.

[psych0hans]

Major bummer bro! Glad you made it out alright

[dave42]

Wow that sucks, sorry to hear that.

This is why I always slow way down when approaching intersections with somebody turning left (or if I think there might be somebody turning left). If they wanna rush in front of me, go right on ahead. If not, then they can wait a couple of seconds longer for me to cross the intersection while staring at them the whole time.

[ai4px]

Either weave in the lane to get his attention, or get a headlight modulator?

FWIW, someone did that to me at 530 the other morning on my way to work - in my cage.... he didn't freaking "see" my cage!! I managed to weave around him b/c he left me 1/2 a lane, not the 6" you had. Sorry to hear of your accident. That is one that scares the poo out of me- the absentminded left turner.

[bonniejean]

Good news that you didn't have serious injuries. I would suggest going to the chiro anyways, sometimes we have problems that don't show themselves right away.

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by ManOfGod

...........I slow a bit. He stops. I pick up my speed again. I am now just a few car lengths away..........

I agree with previous posts: this was your error.

Sometimes, like this morning, I slowdown to almost walking speed.
Do they get mad? Yes
My fault? Not
The more I see that front wheel moving, the more I slowdown.

Read this thread:
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showt...ht=magic+speed

Due to the frequency with which it happens, this is the first cause of accident for us and has to be treated as a matter of life or death.

It is important that we know that drivers can be looking straight at us while their brain is not acknowledge our presence.

Read also this:
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=120133

Very sorry about your accident, Bradley

[alex.s]

good thing the driver admitted fault and didn't hit and run.

[Lychee]

I agree with the others, you should not have sped up until you were past him. Heal fast buddy.

[Felipe the Ant]

Originally Posted by ManOfGod

I am still trying to figure out if there was something I should have done differently...

like a boss

Also I usually weave around like a jackass when I get in situations like that and use the bright green bike/high beam/green LEDs/ridiculous exhaust. Usually you can tell who notices you and who doesn't but you can't win every time. It's the little things

When you get the dirty looks or the thumbs up it means they see you haha

[Motofool]

You only hit that truck if......You Don't Quite Stop In Time

http://www.msgroup.org/Tip.aspx?Num=031

..........and more to read:

http://www.msgroup.org/articles.aspx?Cat=2

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by Felipe the Ant

When you get the dirty looks or the thumbs up it means they see you haha

Or pulled over by the 5.0. Ask me how I know....

[Felipe the Ant]

Originally Posted by csmith12

Or pulled over by the 5.0. Ask me how I know....

Yeah that too but then I'm like oh so you saw me then, good. Plus usually it's because they think my lights are illegal but they're not, only if they're red or blue for NH. Plus I guess they could make a case for white depending where it's mounted (looking like reverse lights), amber/yellow, or if they're blinding. But they're none of that and usually the story is "you're gonna get pulled over from here to your house for em so just take em off buddy." So I say something like thanks for the warning, I'll get right on it. Can't do it now cause it's hard wired, etc kthxbai

[Mocha Man]

As long as you didn't do this:



I'd say everything turned out well for you. Please note that "well" is being used in a relative sense...

[ManOfGod]

Thanks for the tips.
Yeah, I guess I should never assume anything but the worst from cagers. :P

[RedPepper64]

Ouch! Glad you weren't seriously injured and only a bit banged up.

Originally Posted by csmith12

Despite your best efforts man, sometimes there is just not enough time and space to avoid a crash. Ride again soon Ben!

Originally Posted by subxero

This is the only thing i see that i would have done differently.

Trust no one, you did the right thing in slowing down but maintain that slow speed and start giving yourself space between you and the truck moving closer to the shoulder before you even get there. This might have given you that second to react and extra foot of swerve to miss the front of the truck. But it is impossible to say.

After having enough close calls with left-turners, my course of action is to slow down and stay slowed down. I have been turned in front of too many times to make me comfortable with picking up speed until after passing. I agree with the above two posts. Nothing more you could have done.

[drphils87]

Did anybody see that other simdsy video with the tank

[xorbe]

A big lift truck did this to my mom's Cadillac years ago. Made a mess of her left arm, but recovered. Dude drove up the hood, up the windshield and off the side, monster-truck style. Just a 35 mph road. iirc the excuse was he just didn't see the car coming. If these guys can't freaking see CARS coming ... what's a motorcyclist to do?

[Aggrotech]

glad u didnt get banged up too much

[RandomPhantom]

Im glad ur fine my friend. It really could have been worse. And sure it MAY suck that the bike is totaled but those things r just machines and are easily replaceable, albeit it might take a few dollars here and there. But as long as the most important part is fine (urself) thats what matters. I wish u a speedy recovery mate.

[xorbe]

@ManOfGod - are you the same poster from the computer forums?

[JeffM]

Originally Posted by drphils87

Did anybody see that other simdsy video with the tank

For your viewing pleasure:

Link to original page on YouTube.

[ManOfGod]

Originally Posted by xorbe

@ManOfGod - are you the same poster from the computer forums?

No.