Almost Killed Today!!

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 3:40 am

Well, it didn't take me long to have a near death experience on my bike. About 1000 miles since I made her road ready. I haven't been riding for about 5 years on public roads but I am super defensive in my driving. I always always look to see what is happening ahead of me and also watching side roads and the actions of other dirvers.

Well all of that awareness saved me today. I was following a van at about 45 mph when I see a fully loaded dump truck skidding sideways around the corner ahead of us. He gets it over-corrected and now he is heading straight at me Wow

across the center line and I start weighing my options. I downshift to have the power ready if I need it and quickly figure out that the ditch isn't needed if I can speed up and put him past me but the van is right in front of me ***SHIT*** so now I goose it to the dirt shoulder and right beside the van's rear bumper. Now I'm beyond the dump truck and sighing some relief but I have to keep from spilling the bike in the dirt or going into the ditch Shocked

Well I keep it stable and stop the bike on a driveway that was paved and then survey what happenend behind me. Confused

The truck over-corrected again but this time he rolled it onto the 2 cars that were right behind me (20-30 ft). He might have hit them, thus the roll-over but I was too busy trying to stay out of the ditch to watch.

I tell you, I was some shaking M* F'er. I went back to help and provide witness info. The drivers of the 2 cars behind were taken to the hospital with minor injuries which is a miracle.

I would have been toast had I not speeded up and moved over as far as possible. The guy in the van thought he was going to see me get smashed in his rear view mirror.

It is kind of ironic that I hadn't been able to ride in over a week due to the recent rains and I was telling myself that I didn't feel enough awareness and kicked myself into gear to wake up and get on the ball while riding earlier. I am glad I did and also that I have enough skills to make those types of rapid decisions.

F'N WHEW........... I'm still shaken!!! I know I am thanking the Angel that was looking out for me today!!

Ride Defensively and Safe Fellow F'ers.

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 3:44 am

testify for the police to punish that dumbass mofo truck driver

CB1100F Joined: Jul 02, 2003 Posts: 3189 Location: Phoenix

Glad to hear that you got thru the experience o.k. Smile

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 4:16 am

Glad your OK... The experience will keep you smart...
I anxiously await my moment of truth..Of course if it never happens ...I`m ok with that too.
....Jeff

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 5:17 am

Yeah, I didn't try to find out WTF was going on with that dump truck driver. I gave my name just to be able to be a witness for those people who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. T hey probably didn't even know it was coming. There is a really long hill just before that corner so he could have had a brake problem or something.

I would have been mowed over if I hadn't had the knowledge to be ever watchful. Of course a loaded dump truck skidding sideways isn't something you see everyday so it definitely caught my attention. Shocked

I will tell you that time seemed really slow as I surveyed my options made my choice and reacted but it must have been no more than 3-6 seconds at best.

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 5:29 am

I know you didnt time it but 3-6 seconds would be good...Even great.
Sounds like you were riding good...I think you and everyone was suppised at what happend.
By the way....Do you have steel braided brake lines?
...Jeff

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 5:46 am

zman wrote:

I know you didnt time it but 3-6 seconds would be good...Even great.
Sounds like you were riding good...I think you and everyone was suppised at what happend.
By the way....Do you have steel braided brake lines?
...Jeff

Jeff,

Yes, I do as a matter of fact. They are completely manageable (I did read your other post). They are a great performance investment and they look good too.

I definitely was looking for the "out" but it kept changing. At first I thought he was going over in front of us and I was ready to stop but try not to get run over from behind and gauge how far he might skid on his side. Next when he overcorrected I started assessing if I needed to dodge left, take the ditch to the right or speed up. I opted for the speed up thing to put him past me but then I had to play hookey bob with that van's bumper and stay upright on the dirt shoulder.

After I made this post I went out a mowed the lawn for 2 hours to get a bit of a physical workout to take my mind off it.

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 6:00 am

Damn Griz I'm glad you didn't ferk up that beautiful bike!!!!

Really glad you're OK too Cool

I can relate... many times a good amount of ready GO has gotten me out of bad situations better than good brakes could. The point is you have your bike in tip top operating condition and it does as you will it and you pay attention. You really can't beat being one with your machine and having it respond properly. Nobody should ride a bike that does anything else Wink

Ride to live, live to ride folks.

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 9:36 am

godamm man. thats nuts..... I think if I would have ridden today I would have been hit as well..... insted my Jeep was almost totaled and I learned that my master cylnder in my Jeep isnt as bad as I thought.....
Let us all stay sharp and alive ....

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 9:44 am

Jeeberz Griz, did I say I am glad you are OK? Wink

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 11:01 am

you were very lucky. i really hate following vans. and now with mini vans, pick ups and suvs all over the place it makes it worse. i wont follow any truck with crap in the back. i wont get near cars with dents. you were lucky and for that i am truely happy for you and your family. it doesnt sound like this would have been your average slide down the road. Confused

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 12:43 pm

Hope your shorts stayed clean!

It is moments like this that created the use of the word "SHIT!"

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 1:15 pm

Phew! Glad you're OK.

But you know, here is one situation to add to the list of times when you might have been SAVED because you were on a bike. You were aware and alert, you had a place to go that a car could not have, and you might have had the better view to see what was coming.

The people who knee-jerk say that motorcycles are inherently dangerous often overlook some of these factors that can go a long way toward leveling the playing field.

Sure, the likilihood of serious injury in an accident is way higher on a bike, but that's only half the story. If this is counterbalanced by a lower liklihood of getting into an accident in the first place, the harm equation comes out more favorably than it otherwise would.

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 1:21 pm

Nice save Griz, the worst thing to happen to me when I lived in Homer was having a moose standing in the road on a blind curve Shocked

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 1:41 pm

That story is amaizing, I am glad you are here to tell us about it. It scared the crap out of me just reading about. Hope I can do as well should something ever happen to me.

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 1:50 pm

Wow you were lucky.
It warms my heart to know you made it thru unscathed.

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 2:50 pm

Glad to hear you're still with us! Next time you're on the bike you'll probably experience REM while awake.
Jim

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 3:45 pm

Thanks guys. It was pretty unnerving that is for sure.

After settling down over night I do realize that had I been in my trcuk, I would have been hit for sure.

As Peter pointed out; it was being on the bike and kicking up my awareness that saved me from being part of the wreck. I had an ability to get out of the way which would not have been possible in my truck. In addition, I am also positive my awareness would not have been as high and I might not have even seen it coming.

I will also tell you that while I was fighting to stay out of the ditch, I was really really pissed thinking that my bike would get hurt. Of course that was after I knew my own life had been spared.

It is amazing how fast we see, think and react when were are on the ball. I didn't feel I was on the ball earlier in the day and kinda kicked myself in the ass about it mentally and now I'm glad I did.

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 6:27 pm

glad you are ok Very Happy

Twinstar Joined: Mar 13, 2006 Posts: 67 Location: NJ, PA

Glad you are still here,

Kudos, for making the right move!

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 9:14 pm

Wow Griz, really glad YOU are telling us the story. You have all pointed out many key points most important one being ALWAYS know whats ahead, beside, and coming up behind you.

Ride Safe.
-Izzy

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 9:16 pm

Nice defensive driving, glad to hear you are still with us and weren't touched.

What part of Los Anchorage did this happen in?

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 10:03 pm

Damn Griz, that was an interesting ride. Glad to hear you are fine as is the bike. Sorry for who ever had to do your laundry. Seriously, glad to hear all is fine and you were driving in the correct frame of mind.

PS
I do not drive defensively. I like to describe it as aggressively defensive. Trying to stay "on the cam" and always looking for a way out.

Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 1:00 am

Andy,

It was on Rabbit Creek Road at the S curves at the bottom of the hill that goes past Goldenview road. Lots of wrecks happen in this spot. Now mind you I wouldn't have been there if I was in my truck because I was taking the scenic/curvey route home. I live at the top of Huffman on Birch Road so I would have just gone up the boring straights (Huffman or O'Malley) if I wasn't on my bike.

Larry,

I drive just like you "Aggressive Defensive" I make my path rather than just follow like a sheep and just be on the lookout for trouble trying to find me. In this case it was going home traffic with no options but to follow the line of cars. I was keeping myself prepared to pass once I got to the straight (if it was available) so I was definitely checking oncoming traffic.

Everyone,

Thanks for your concern and relief. I think all of us should realize that anything unforseen can happen but if our skills are up to par and we maintain our vigilance, our chances of getting through an event like unscathed is much better.

Alaska "Happy To Still Be Here" Griz

Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 1:42 am

That is some story, it kinda brought me back to the times I have felt like that. Its kinda sick but I love that feeling, I know exactly what you mean. Its called adrenaline!! Twisted Evil

I am glad you and your beautiful bike are all cool, I feel bad for the people but shit happens.

Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 4:25 am

Wholy crap Griz...I leave for a couple of days (and not check in on us) and this happen's...well I learned my lesson...I'm checking it every day for now...glad your ok and so is Beauty...you forgot to tell us how much of that new seat was up your a$$ when you finally got it pulled over to that paved driveway...Spider have to make you a new one?!?!?

Seriously..glad you ok and may the rest of us not have anything else happen, small or catastrophic...just happy riding

Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 4:45 am

Good job Griz! That is all I can say, instead of just freaking out and dropping the bike you weighed options and decided how to get out of a situation. Many people just can't seem to do that.

Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 5:49 am

Squatch71 wrote:

Wholy crap Griz...I leave for a couple of days (and not check in on us) and this happen's...well I learned my lesson...I'm checking it every day for now...glad your ok and so is Beauty...you forgot to tell us how much of that new seat was up your a$$ when you finally got it pulled over to that paved driveway...Spider have to make you a new one?!?!?

Seriously..glad you ok and may the rest of us not have anything else happen, small or catastrophic...just happy riding

John,
Yes, the laundry needed to be changed and there is a definite clench mark on the seat. Not something I want to see again. I imagine the poor people behind me that just got plowed into without any options. Wow

I should have taken a picture with my cell phone so you guys could have seen that carnage and the dirt all over the place. I didn't think that far ahead since my mind was just whirling afterwards.

Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 8:47 am

If I ever get the chance to tour from here I'm takin the Canon5D (12.8MP digital SLR) and a few really huge lenses and a Digital Rebel for a backup...80 Gig dumper and a couple laptops. Always shoot RAW of all things... not quite as much as my bikes but close Confused

Still on the fence for a POV cam... or cams actually... I'd have to mic the carbs for sure Wink

Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 2:33 pm

genesound wrote:

I'd have to mic the carbs for sure Wink

I have sincerely thought about mic'ing my Yoshi Pipe and then running up to redline through the gears just to be able to hear the bike whem I'm not riding. Maybe make an MP3 out of it or something and load it to my wife's iPod just for fun Twisted Evil