So I've joined the club... - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

MikeHump · 12-03-2007, 02:12 PM

...of riders who have gone down. Saturday morning I was riding, enjoying the nice weather. I was in the right lane, and a truck in the left lane decided to merge into the right lane. I didn't know a truck that large could move that fast, I tried to swerve but it didn't work, he clipped the front of my bike and sent me down.

**Clint** · 12-03-2007, 03:30 PM

Crap. You ok?

tricker · 12-03-2007, 03:45 PM

Ummm... yeah what clint said

MikeHump · 12-03-2007, 04:27 PM

Yeah, just some road rash and bruises. I used to skateboard, and honestly I've had worse skateboarding accidents than this (probably because I never wore gear while skating over stairs, off buildings, etc...). Luckily I was only going about 20 mph when I went down so the damage to the bike was fairly minor as well.

**87gsxrnut** · 12-03-2007, 04:30 PM

That's good.

- Nut

Navy_p503 · 12-03-2007, 06:00 PM

Glad to hear you're ok! Did he stop?

MikeHump · 12-04-2007, 01:54 AM

Actually, he didn't stop. But, someone was nice enough to follow him and get his license plate number for me. When the officer showed up, he went to the man's house and got all the insurance info.

Navy_p503 · 12-04-2007, 02:13 AM

Didn't get a hit and run? At least someone was nice!

MikeHump · 12-04-2007, 12:23 PM

I don't think he knew that I was there, or that he even hit me. It was a pretty big truck, so it's understandable. That's probably why the officer didn't report it as a hit and run.

kay · 12-04-2007, 01:04 PM

Oh dear. At least you and the bike were ok and you got his insurance info. Whoever followed him had great judgement!!

Glad it didn't turn out nasty!!

POE-BOY SAMICH · 12-05-2007, 11:49 AM

Glad it wasn't worse.
Hope you and your bike heal quickly.

Is there anything you would have done differently looking back at the moment the accident happened?

MikeHump · 12-06-2007, 06:15 PM

Actually I would have done something differently. In the MSF class I was taught not to swerve and brake at the same time (for obvious reasons), so in this situation I applied the brakes first, let off the brakes, and then attempted to swerve. I didn't think about going into the bike lane because I'm used to driving a car, and normally wouldn't be able to fit to well in the bike lane. Looking back, I should have swerved into the bike lane first, and then applied the brakes and slowly eased back into the flow of traffic. I'm sure with time I'll get better at making last minute decisions, but I'm still very new to riding.

Alex13 · 12-06-2007, 10:17 PM

Glad you are ok! I used to skate also, its funny to say but we skateboards are good at falling. I have had some nasty spills and came out ok on a board. Falling without getting hurt is a great skill. Yes, skill

Navy_p503 · 12-07-2007, 03:38 AM

It is a good skill, it's just the practicing of that skill that kinda sucks

G51000 · 12-18-2007, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeHump

attempted to swerve. .

Mike, did you steer,or counter steer? Sometimes in a panic or evasive move a person tends to forget.
I was following a guy that had the same event as you, he was an older rider with lots of years of exsperience. He 'steered' right into what he was trying to evade. I mean he drove right into the side a bus that was changing lanes.

MikeHump · 12-19-2007, 11:27 AM

I pushed to the right (the truck came at me from the left), which I'm guessing is steering to the right? I'm still new to riding so I'm not sure really how to counter steer. I'm pretty sure I know where I went wrong though. I was concentrating so hard on what they taught in the MSF class (not to brake and swerve at the same time) that I got mixed up and braked before I swerved. I should have swerved first, and then adjusted my speed. I could have easily used the bike lane, I'm just not used to the ability to go into the bike lane.

Jimmydee · 12-19-2007, 11:49 AM

I got run off the highway with a big truck merging to the left and rode the rumble strip for a bit. The difference with mine is I was doing about 75 mph and the road rash would have been a bit worse than yours.
That edge strip was a life saver for me. It was not a swerve move. He did use his turn signal and I decided a truck loaded with 10,000 gal of gas, I would get out of his way and let him do what ever he wanted. I didn't want him to swerve back into his own lane and dump his truck on me.
Try to never have anyone surprise me when driving. I assume everyone is out to get me.
Jim

AmishCrackDealer · 12-19-2007, 11:50 AM

glad you're ok tho - and have a good attitude about it. I know riders that stopped riding because of similar situations. I applaud your ability to look at the situation and figure out what you'd do differently in the future.

so whats the 411 on the bike?

tricker · 12-19-2007, 11:51 AM

i've used that small strip along the highway too when a soccer mom or two decided that they wanted to move over come hell or high water..

MikeHump · 12-19-2007, 12:05 PM

The bike's not bad. Just some left fairing damage, scratches in the left engine cover (is that the crankcase? or maybe the clutch case?), scratches on the handle grip...etc. Basically all cosmetic damage. I still ride it, and it still rides great. His insurance company said that they were going to mail the check yesterday for all of the bike damage, I should check up on that today actually. My helmet and gloves were also damaged, but they said they were going to have to review that info before they sent me a check for that. I know they have to replace my helmet though. They better, it's a $330 helmet hahaha.

12-03-2007, 02:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
MikeHump Puddle Runner Joined: Oct 2007 Bike: 2007 GSXR 600 Location: Tracy, CA Posts: 385	So I've joined the club... ...of riders who have gone down. Saturday morning I was riding, enjoying the nice weather. I was in the right lane, and a truck in the left lane decided to merge into the right lane. I didn't know a truck that large could move that fast, I tried to swerve but it didn't work, he clipped the front of my bike and sent me down.

12-03-2007, 04:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
87gsxrnut Ho Dog Joined: Dec 2003 Bike: 867-5309 Location: Terror Lake Posts: 4,224	That's good. - Nut __________________ Person or person's unknown.

12-03-2007, 06:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
Navy_p503 Third gear and cruising Joined: Jun 2007 Bike: 94 Yamaha YZ 250, 2000 Suzuki Bandit 600s Location: Fort Collins, Co Posts: 471	Glad to hear you're ok! Did he stop? __________________ 2003 Mazda Protege 5 navy_p503@hotmail.com

12-04-2007, 02:13 AM	#8 (permalink)
Navy_p503 Third gear and cruising Joined: Jun 2007 Bike: 94 Yamaha YZ 250, 2000 Suzuki Bandit 600s Location: Fort Collins, Co Posts: 471	Didn't get a hit and run? At least someone was nice! __________________ 2003 Mazda Protege 5 navy_p503@hotmail.com

12-04-2007, 01:04 PM	#10 (permalink)
kay Refrigerator Magnet Test Engineer Joined: Oct 2006 Bike: Kawasaki Zephyr750RS, Suzuki GSX-R600, Ducati 999S Location: Crappy Little Island!!! Posts: 3,650	Oh dear. At least you and the bike were ok and you got his insurance info. Whoever followed him had great judgement!! Glad it didn't turn out nasty!! __________________ *Suzuki GSX-R600* Cherry blossom season is here! Yay!!!!

12-03-2007, 03:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
tricker Does not play well with others. Joined: May 2007 Bike: 2004 kawasaki zzr 600 Location: rochester, minnesota Posts: 5,512	Ummm... yeah what clint said

12-03-2007, 04:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
MikeHump Puddle Runner Joined: Oct 2007 Bike: 2007 GSXR 600 Location: Tracy, CA Posts: 385	Yeah, just some road rash and bruises. I used to skateboard, and honestly I've had worse skateboarding accidents than this (probably because I never wore gear while skating over stairs, off buildings, etc...). Luckily I was only going about 20 mph when I went down so the damage to the bike was fairly minor as well.

12-04-2007, 01:54 AM	#7 (permalink)
MikeHump Puddle Runner Joined: Oct 2007 Bike: 2007 GSXR 600 Location: Tracy, CA Posts: 385	Actually, he didn't stop. But, someone was nice enough to follow him and get his license plate number for me. When the officer showed up, he went to the man's house and got all the insurance info.

12-04-2007, 12:23 PM	#9 (permalink)
MikeHump Puddle Runner Joined: Oct 2007 Bike: 2007 GSXR 600 Location: Tracy, CA Posts: 385	I don't think he knew that I was there, or that he even hit me. It was a pretty big truck, so it's understandable. That's probably why the officer didn't report it as a hit and run.

12-05-2007, 11:49 AM	#11 (permalink)
POE-BOY SAMICH U.B's LoveChild Joined: Dec 2005 Bike: '07 Harley Road King Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 1,212	Glad it wasn't worse. Hope you and your bike heal quickly. Is there anything you would have done differently looking back at the moment the accident happened? __________________ http://www.lonestarmotorcyclealliance.com/

12-06-2007, 06:15 PM	#12 (permalink)
MikeHump Puddle Runner Joined: Oct 2007 Bike: 2007 GSXR 600 Location: Tracy, CA Posts: 385	Actually I would have done something differently. In the MSF class I was taught not to swerve and brake at the same time (for obvious reasons), so in this situation I applied the brakes first, let off the brakes, and then attempted to swerve. I didn't think about going into the bike lane because I'm used to driving a car, and normally wouldn't be able to fit to well in the bike lane. Looking back, I should have swerved into the bike lane first, and then applied the brakes and slowly eased back into the flow of traffic. I'm sure with time I'll get better at making last minute decisions, but I'm still very new to riding.

12-06-2007, 10:17 PM	#13 (permalink)
Alex13 Third gear and cruising Joined: Sep 2007 Bike: 2007 Boulevard M50 (Black) Location: Stockbridge, GA Posts: 481	Glad you are ok! I used to skate also, its funny to say but we skateboards are good at falling. I have had some nasty spills and came out ok on a board. Falling without getting hurt is a great skill. Yes, skill

12-07-2007, 03:38 AM	#14 (permalink)
Navy_p503 Third gear and cruising Joined: Jun 2007 Bike: 94 Yamaha YZ 250, 2000 Suzuki Bandit 600s Location: Fort Collins, Co Posts: 471	It is a good skill, it's just the practicing of that skill that kinda sucks __________________ 2003 Mazda Protege 5 navy_p503@hotmail.com

12-19-2007, 11:27 AM	#16 (permalink)
MikeHump Puddle Runner Joined: Oct 2007 Bike: 2007 GSXR 600 Location: Tracy, CA Posts: 385	I pushed to the right (the truck came at me from the left), which I'm guessing is steering to the right? I'm still new to riding so I'm not sure really how to counter steer. I'm pretty sure I know where I went wrong though. I was concentrating so hard on what they taught in the MSF class (not to brake and swerve at the same time) that I got mixed up and braked before I swerved. I should have swerved first, and then adjusted my speed. I could have easily used the bike lane, I'm just not used to the ability to go into the bike lane.

12-19-2007, 11:49 AM	#17 (permalink)
Jimmydee In Training Joined: Oct 2007 Bike: 2007 Stratoliner S Location: West Michigan Posts: 114	I got run off the highway with a big truck merging to the left and rode the rumble strip for a bit. The difference with mine is I was doing about 75 mph and the road rash would have been a bit worse than yours. That edge strip was a life saver for me. It was not a swerve move. He did use his turn signal and I decided a truck loaded with 10,000 gal of gas, I would get out of his way and let him do what ever he wanted. I didn't want him to swerve back into his own lane and dump his truck on me. Try to never have anyone surprise me when driving. I assume everyone is out to get me. Jim

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12-19-2007, 11:50 AM	#18 (permalink)
AmishCrackDealer Ditch Magnet Joined: Dec 2007 Bike: Custom Hyosung GV650 trike, Suzuki C50, Ducati Monster chopper Location: Mobile, Alabama Posts: 166	glad you're ok tho - and have a good attitude about it. I know riders that stopped riding because of similar situations. I applaud your ability to look at the situation and figure out what you'd do differently in the future. so whats the 411 on the bike? __________________ This material is the sole work of the AmishCrackDealer. Any reproduction or re-distribution without express written consent of the AmishCrackDealer will result in the torture of your relatives and the dissemination of illicit material depicting you committing illegal acts with barnyard animals.

12-19-2007, 11:51 AM	#19 (permalink)
tricker Does not play well with others. Joined: May 2007 Bike: 2004 kawasaki zzr 600 Location: rochester, minnesota Posts: 5,512	i've used that small strip along the highway too when a soccer mom or two decided that they wanted to move over come hell or high water..

12-19-2007, 12:05 PM	#20 (permalink)
MikeHump Puddle Runner Joined: Oct 2007 Bike: 2007 GSXR 600 Location: Tracy, CA Posts: 385	The bike's not bad. Just some left fairing damage, scratches in the left engine cover (is that the crankcase? or maybe the clutch case?), scratches on the handle grip...etc. Basically all cosmetic damage. I still ride it, and it still rides great. His insurance company said that they were going to mail the check yesterday for all of the bike damage, I should check up on that today actually. My helmet and gloves were also damaged, but they said they were going to have to review that info before they sent me a check for that. I know they have to replace my helmet though. They better, it's a $330 helmet hahaha.

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