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| The Paddock Welcome to the forums! Come in, introduce yourself. Talk about motorcycles and riding here! |
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04-03-2006, 10:16 PM
| #1 (permalink) |
| Fourth gear and illegal   Join Date: Aug 2005
Bike: 2003 Suzuki GSX-R600
Location: Killeen, Texas
Posts: 745
  |  Pops and I nearly went down tonight
My dad and I were out riding around for a little bit earlier. It was a little after 8, just at dusk when the junebugs were coming out, and things were hard to see. My face shield was splattered with bugs, and we were riding down a little blacktopped county road, so it was hard to see too. We're going about 45mph and I see the road curve slight left, so I prepare to head that way. As I'm leaning into the curve, I notice my pops is on the brakes HARD! and he's going right!! WTF??!?! The road curved to the right, NOT the left!! Neither one of us could see it, and we both went into it way to hot. It's about the equivalent of making a left turn on a city street, only to the right. I'm on the brakes hard, as I'm about to run into the back of him. We're both on the left hand side of the road now, heading further into the gravel mayhem on the shoulder. He hits the gravel and kicks gravel everywhere. As soon as I see him start to pull out of it, I start to worry more about making it through the curve and not about rear-ending him. However, because I was focused on him, and not as much the curve, I was still to hot, and to straight up. I slam my weight to the right and crank my neck as far as it will go. I still hit the gravel, and the rear end comes out from under me. I caught grass under my left side out of my peripheral vision. I was in the ditch and low-siding. Miraculously, I caught traction again, and I rocketed out of the ditch/gravel and back onto the road. I was now heading across the road at a nervous angle, and about to high-side. I managed to counter-lean and get straightened back up and heading straight down the road. About 100ft. later I pulled over to check my pants, lol. It was the closest encounter I have ever had yet. We BOTH nearly went down on that curve! My pops pulled over and turned around, and I told him I'm 'getting the hell off this road'. We headed back the way we came at about 30mph the whole way, lol. Cliff-notes: It was dark, my shield was dirty, and I thought the road curved left when it curved right. I slid through the gravel but straightened up and survived (minus my drawers  ).Without a doubt the MSF course saved me from going down tonight. If I had not taken it, I would have either tried to brake to a stop, or I would not have leaned and looked enough. $185 VERY WELL SPENT!! Glad to still be around to post about it! Everybody be safe out there! -Chris |
