Learned what the world looks like sideways and on the pavement - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

St0nkingByte · 02-06-2005, 06:45 PM

I went down today, on the way home from church, in the rain. My wife told me I should take the car today but I didn't listen of course. I was making a left turn through an intersection with a dual left turn lane. I was in the right lane of the dual turn. There was traffic stopped and backed up in the lane to my left and just as I was about 2/3rds of the way through the turn, slightly leaned over and just about to roll on some throttle a big *** SUV in the left lane decided to cut over into my lane. I was 12-15 feet from the side of his car when he cut over. I was going pretty slow and I completely forgot my training and I gave it a little front and rear brake, I guess I was thinking I could cheat the physics of a turn and slow down just enough to not hit him. Well I accomplished my goal when the laws of physics kicked in and I laid the bike down in a 5-10mph low side.

I was wearing all my gear so I don't have any road rash or anything though my left knee and hip are pretty sore already. Fortunately a couple really nice drivers stopped and helped me pick up my Marauder and get it over into a bus stop lane. The bike didn't want to start for about five minutes after I went down. I think the carbs were flooded or something from being on its side. After a while it did start up and run strong. Tallying the damage I have a bent left peg, too bent to ride really. I cracked my aftermarket windshield on the left side and theres a few new little scratches on the bike and on my saddlebag. All in all I don't think it was too horrible.

This comes on the heels of hitting something in the road on Friday and getting a big dent in a pipe and causing an oil leak that I was able to fix yesterday. My wife is really on my case asking me if now I'm going to come to my senses and sell the bike. I don't think that's going to happen but I'll admit I'm sore. I'm also dissapointed with myself because I know the brakes shouldn't be an option when you're in a turn but I'd been using them a little lately while turning and I think I inadvertently retrained myself to think they're OK at all times.

I've been riding 5-6 times a week for almost four months now. I've put about 2600 miles on my bike, all commuting and going places no long cruises in the country. I think I'm having a case of the false confidence thats getting me into all this trouble. Oh well I guess if I can get my peg to bend back I'll ride to work tomorrow and try to be a bit more careful.