First Close Call.... - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

bamas10 · 10-31-2007, 10:31 PM

Ok, I've had my 2005 M50 for two weeks today. This is my first bike and my first time riding. I have yet to take the MSF course but I am going to soon. I left my house and went to fuel up the M about 3 miles down the highway. After fueling up I stopped at the traffic light on a side road turning left onto a state highway. After my left turn light went green, I waited a few seconds and checked traffic. I then pulled out and halfway into the intersection I heard screaching tires, I looked to my left and saw a woman driving a Toyota Corolla with the brakes locked up headed straight at me. I twisted the throttle enough to get out of her way. After it was over I realized that she wouldn't have hit me but did slide half way into the intersection. It didn't scare me as I thought something like this would, I just reacted. Just wondering if anyone had any tips for a scenario such as this. As I said, this is my first bike and I want to learn as much as I can.

aliefj96 · 10-31-2007, 11:17 PM

Sounds like you handled it just right.

I could give plenty of advice, but the most important is to treat every vehicle on the road as if that is the one that will kill you.

Hurry up and take that class and

SNAFU · 10-31-2007, 11:25 PM

Good job avoiding that one but it probably won't be your last close call. A lot of crazies out there.

Ride safe.

jughead4india · 10-31-2007, 11:28 PM

{edited - inappropriate}

Angusdog · 11-01-2007, 05:26 AM

Anything like that where you live to learn the lesson is good experience - in that you aren't hurt and next time you may check and double check, anticipating the worst. I feel almost all good driving is purely anticipating, thinking "Is that bus finished dropping off passengers and about to pull out into traffic?", "It's about 4.00, school finishing time - kids and their parents", "Beaten up van - look out for weird behaviour (Turning without indicating for example)" etc etc. Treat every other vehicle as lethal, and use all observations to your advantage - look through the car in front to see what the traffic's like, check vehicle's waiting to pull out by looking at a wheel (the first indication a car's moving), etc etc - and stay safe.

Experience counts for a lot, keep calm and alert and you should be fine.

rogerl · 11-01-2007, 07:20 AM

Make sure that your mind is into riding as well. I dropped my first bike because I was lost. I was not thinking about my riding because I was mad because I could not find the street I was looking for. I stopped fast for a yellow light and down the bike went. If you are mad or upset about somthing DO NOT ride.
I also HIGHLY recoment the rider safety course. I took my class before I bought my bike to make sure riding was for me. There were two women in the class that were going to buy bikes before the class but dropped out of the class because they were having a VERY hard time controlling the bikes in the class.

Be careful and ride safe

and

Roger L

Everett Keith · 11-01-2007, 09:02 AM

You will also learn that you should always have your bike in gear just in case you have to get out of the way fast Like I did yesterday morning. Good job!

cyclesinct · 11-01-2007, 12:05 PM

Remember, you have a horn for a reason. I can't count the number of times someone on a side street wants to turn left,so all they do is look right and don't see you coming on their left. A quick beep and they pay attention (usually). I hardly ever use my car horn, I probably use my bike horn 1 in 5 times I go out on it.

Iceman99 · 11-01-2007, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jughead4india

Did you say "woman"? Enough said...

She was probably talking on her cell phone and putting on make-up at the same time .

NateHarris · 11-01-2007, 03:17 PM

I bet next time you will look longer and closer. Your goal is avoidance at all costs. In every single example, physics has always dealt the motorcycle a loosing hand when playing against cagers.

4dtvman · 11-01-2007, 08:03 PM

After 20 years of not riding I felt like you did and I would focus on one thing at a time. Now I know what every car around me is doing. It takes time. O yea take the course.

digitalbroccoli · 11-02-2007, 07:33 PM

its funny...when I took my MSF course, the term "rider radar" sounded so corny.

Then, you get out on the road more, and realize that term is perfect for what you need to do. You need to be constantly aware of everything around you, even the "safe" places where trouble shouldn't come from.

Sounds like you handled it well. A panic moment might have you locking the brakes up, as opposed to getting on the throttle and getting out of there. Nice job.

10-31-2007, 10:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
bamas10 Newbie Joined: Oct 2007 Bike: 2005 Suzuki M50 Location: Birmingham, Alabama Posts: 7	First Close Call.... Ok, I've had my 2005 M50 for two weeks today. This is my first bike and my first time riding. I have yet to take the MSF course but I am going to soon. I left my house and went to fuel up the M about 3 miles down the highway. After fueling up I stopped at the traffic light on a side road turning left onto a state highway. After my left turn light went green, I waited a few seconds and checked traffic. I then pulled out and halfway into the intersection I heard screaching tires, I looked to my left and saw a woman driving a Toyota Corolla with the brakes locked up headed straight at me. I twisted the throttle enough to get out of her way. After it was over I realized that she wouldn't have hit me but did slide half way into the intersection. It didn't scare me as I thought something like this would, I just reacted. Just wondering if anyone had any tips for a scenario such as this. As I said, this is my first bike and I want to learn as much as I can.

10-31-2007, 11:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
SNAFU Just Won't Go Away ! Joined: Mar 2006 Bike: '06 M50 Black Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 5,006	Good job avoiding that one but it probably won't be your last close call. A lot of crazies out there. Ride safe. __________________

10-31-2007, 11:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
jughead4india In Training Joined: Aug 2007 Bike: Suzuki M50 Location: Garland, TX Posts: 112	{edited - inappropriate} Last edited by Clint; 11-01-2007 at 08:23 PM.

11-01-2007, 09:02 AM	#7 (permalink)
Everett Keith Wants Better Weather Joined: Jul 2005 Bike: M-50 Posts: 682	You will also learn that you should always have your bike in gear just in case you have to get out of the way fast Like I did yesterday morning. Good job! __________________

11-01-2007, 12:05 PM	#8 (permalink)
cyclesinct Fourth gear and illegal Joined: Feb 2007 Bike: Boulevard M50 Location: Connecticut Posts: 703	Remember, you have a horn for a reason. I can't count the number of times someone on a side street wants to turn left,so all they do is look right and don't see you coming on their left. A quick beep and they pay attention (usually). I hardly ever use my car horn, I probably use my bike horn 1 in 5 times I go out on it. __________________ '05 M50 black MAPAM backrest Corbin dual tour Highwayman Jumbo Straight Bags Johns Kit forward controls Debaffled exhaust

10-31-2007, 11:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
aliefj96 Seat Tester Joined: Apr 2007 Bike: Black M50 Location: Originally from Houston, TX, but now in the Redneck Riviera, FL Posts: 71	Sounds like you handled it just right. I could give plenty of advice, but the most important is to treat every vehicle on the road as if that is the one that will kill you. Hurry up and take that class and

11-01-2007, 05:26 AM	#5 (permalink)
Angusdog In Training Joined: Aug 2007 Bike: M50 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 120	Anything like that where you live to learn the lesson is good experience - in that you aren't hurt and next time you may check and double check, anticipating the worst. I feel almost all good driving is purely anticipating, thinking "Is that bus finished dropping off passengers and about to pull out into traffic?", "It's about 4.00, school finishing time - kids and their parents", "Beaten up van - look out for weird behaviour (Turning without indicating for example)" etc etc. Treat every other vehicle as lethal, and use all observations to your advantage - look through the car in front to see what the traffic's like, check vehicle's waiting to pull out by looking at a wheel (the first indication a car's moving), etc etc - and stay safe. Experience counts for a lot, keep calm and alert and you should be fine.

11-01-2007, 07:20 AM	#6 (permalink)
rogerl Ditch Magnet Joined: Oct 2007 Bike: 2006 Silver M50 Location: Northfield, Ohio Posts: 155	Make sure that your mind is into riding as well. I dropped my first bike because I was lost. I was not thinking about my riding because I was mad because I could not find the street I was looking for. I stopped fast for a yellow light and down the bike went. If you are mad or upset about somthing DO NOT ride. I also HIGHLY recoment the rider safety course. I took my class before I bought my bike to make sure riding was for me. There were two women in the class that were going to buy bikes before the class but dropped out of the class because they were having a VERY hard time controlling the bikes in the class. Be careful and ride safe and Roger L

11-01-2007, 03:17 PM	#10 (permalink)
NateHarris Clunked into first gear Joined: Oct 2006 Bike: 07 Suzuki M50 Location: Fort Mill, SC 29707 Posts: 217	I bet next time you will look longer and closer. Your goal is avoidance at all costs. In every single example, physics has always dealt the motorcycle a loosing hand when playing against cagers. __________________ Nate 07 M50 Some folks are forever telling us the glass is half full. Others that it is half empty. Did it ever occur to any of these folks that maybe the glass is too big? -George Carlin

11-01-2007, 08:03 PM	#11 (permalink)
4dtvman Sprocket Pilot Joined: Sep 2006 Bike: Suzuki LC 1500 and 2005 Honda VTX1300 Location: Tiverton RI Posts: 841	After 20 years of not riding I felt like you did and I would focus on one thing at a time. Now I know what every car around me is doing. It takes time. O yea take the course. __________________ Back in the saddle again

11-02-2007, 07:33 PM	#12 (permalink)
digitalbroccoli U.B's LoveChild Joined: Jan 2007 Bike: 06 M50 in Bluuuuuuuuue Location: Sodus, NY Posts: 1,059	its funny...when I took my MSF course, the term "rider radar" sounded so corny. Then, you get out on the road more, and realize that term is perfect for what you need to do. You need to be constantly aware of everything around you, even the "safe" places where trouble shouldn't come from. Sounds like you handled it well. A panic moment might have you locking the brakes up, as opposed to getting on the throttle and getting out of there. Nice job. __________________ 06 Blue M50 - tattoo profiler and bags, pciii, hypercharger, cruzers, drag bars, lots of other goodies. 99 black bandit - winter project. mwahahaha.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Close call today	ORBrit	The Paddock	19	06-28-2007 01:27 PM
What was your last close call?	Sandman	The Paddock	22	01-05-2007 08:48 AM
close call	krazyburro	The Paddock	16	11-10-2006 10:58 AM
Yet another close call with a deer	Jerryzuki	The Paddock	4	07-04-2006 11:09 AM
My first close call on the S83	bostonjim	Cruisers	11	05-31-2006 07:07 PM