Hello all-
I’m glad to announce I’m a newbie to sport of motorcycling, having just purchased my first bike 10 days ago – a 2007 Suzuki Boulevard M50!
Just a little background: I took the MSF and obtained my license last summer and had a great time renting a couple of different bikes to determine what I’d like in a first bike. Well, I was thrilled when I finally got the M50. But since I’m former military (GO Navy!), I put myself on a little training program. You know, so that meant setting up checklists (at least, mental ones), reading manual and training tips, and developing Standard Operating Procedures
AND that meant practicing among other things slow tight turns, swerving, and emergency braking.
Well last Saturday afternoon, on my way home just 15 minutes after working on emergency braking in an uncongested neighborhood, I had to use this skill in the real world much sooner than I EVER expected.
Here’s the situation: Having just left a stoplight, I followed 2 secs behind a Honda Civic as we both accelerated past 25mph on a two lane major road going thru a residential neighborhood. There was a line of several cars going in the opposite direction. When the last of those cars past the Honda on the left, I was getting ready to shift into 3rd. Then all of sudden, I saw a small boy dart out onto the road moving from my left to right with his mom running after him w/ outstretched arms. I cranked on the emergency braking once I caught sight, and the Honda driver hit the brakes too. Unfortunately, it was too late. The Honda hit the little boy, who flew a couple of feet into the air, struck the side of a minivan that was parked alongside the road, and landed next to it. I shut the bike down in the middle of my lane as quickly as I could and ran over to the boy. But I started to slow down a bit, afraid of what I would see. Shockingly, the kid stood up, and the mother was half-yelling half-hugging him (as would I). I couldn’t believe the boy had no head wounds or other visible injuries. About 5 mins later, paramedics arrived just when the boy was starting to feel woozy. He was complaining about his arm and had peed in his pants. After the ambulance took him to the hospital, the policeman questioned me (as the primary witness) and the Honda driver separately. When I told the officer it was impossible that the Honda could’ve stopped in time, he said I was pretty lucky since had that boy run across 2 seconds later…..I’m hoping that kid is really OK, and I’m thinking I’ll call the police to find out.
Looking back, the primary threat to me was not the kid but rather the Honda stopping in front of me. I’m glad I was able to safely apply my brakes, keep my eyes fwd and not down, downshift (surprisingly), and stay balanced. Bottom line, I’m glad I took the time to practice my emergency braking and will periodically continue to do since I see how that skill can perish if not used.
What an interesting welcome to the motorcycling world!
