Another lesson learned today the hard way

[skimo]

On the way to work this morning, I was for lack of better words driving with my head up my ass. Wasn't in a hurry to get to work but just thinking about what I had to do today. Well I was probably running about 35-40 mph, the next thing you know there's a car stopped or moving really slow in front of me. Don't remember seeing any brake lights at all. Traffic ahead apparently slowed as a car made a right turn on to a narrow uphill side street. Ongoing traffic to the left and curb with lined palm trees to the right. So grab a whole bunch of front brake and to tell you the truth I don't know if I even got on the rear just happened to fast. Of course it locked up and got squirrelly, like trying to balance it on ice. Once the left engine guard touched the ground both tires really broke free and the front tire did a hard left, snatching the handlebar for my right hand. I came off the left side of the bike. The bike was sliding the down the road on the left side engine guard and the left side bag guard. And of course I was sliding on my left side shoulder, arm, and head with my chin tucked hoping the ride would stop soon. Actually once I hit the ground the sliding wasn't to bad, except for the thought I maybe sliding into oncoming traffic which thank God I wasn't. Well the ride finally stopped and I was on my feet fairly quick. The guy in the car ahead of me got out and said he was sorry which now perplexes me; but at the time it just didn't register. Couple of folks helped me pick up the bike and it was ridable. After quick inventory of me, I got on the bike, cranked it up and rode home. They thought I was crazy. Another factor is that the second house from the corner of the narrow side road just loves to irrigate the road and their lawn every morning. The road didn't appear visibly wet were I locked it down but now I'm fairly sure there was moisture or dampness on the road. The skid mark was less than 12 feet but the engine guard mark was at least 30 feet.

I got home and called in sick to work and didn't think about that place all day. Here's the injury report, quarter size road rash on left wrist and left knee with a some minor carpet burn on left ankle. I will say the tourmaster jacket is great, without it the left arm and shoulder would have had injury. I'm pretty avid about wearing a helmet and it did paid off today.

Well the bike is going to need left engine guard and left bag guard. The tank did get a little nick in the left front from the windshield bracket since the corner of frame stop on the left side was chipped way when the front tire when violently left. But the rest of the bike looked ok and it rode fine on the way home. Those guards really protect the bike.

I thank God it wasn't worse. Last week on the way to work I was almost rear end. Just stopped at a light behind a mini van, just put my feet down and heard someone locking it up.
Looked in the mirror and the young girl driving a small car was coming at me. I pulled around the left side of the van quickly up to the driver's door expecting to hear a crash. The young girl let off the brake and swerved to the side of the road stopping along the right side to the van. The soccer mom in the van was clueless and gave me this blank stare. I point the other side of her van.

Just amazes me one day I'm extremely alert and on top of my game and the next week I'm just clueless myself. This is the thing that scares me.

[rksaw]

Tim, I'm glad to hear that you made it home. Everything on the bike can be fixed, but you can't be replaced. This is a good reminder for all of us...too many times we get thinking about work or the ride or whatever and get distracted from what is going on right in front of us. Take care of yourself,
Rich

[schoeney]

Tim,

Go buy a lottery ticket....believe it or not it was your day. Very perceptive of you to recognize we are the only ones that can protect ourselves by being "on our game". Ride safe.

[moenko]

Really glad you got away with a "black eye".... Somehow this does remind me though why I habituated the use of the rear brake or at least both at the same time - a discussion we just had in another thread.

[Todd]

Man, glad you came out as well as you did with minor injuries. The bike will fix and you will be the wiser for having experienced this.

[cactusjack]

Wow, that's a heck of a story. The good thing is you are here to tell it. I dread the day when it's "my turn". Take care of your wounds (beer helps! ...drink it - don't pour it on the road rash.) and get your bike fixed. You'll be back in the saddle before you know it. Remember: That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

[chainsaw]

Glad your alright. A good reminder to us all to be on our A game when we ride.

[dantama]

Very sorry to hear your story. I'm glad you fared as well as you did.

One thing that is nearly too hard to duplicate in practice is an adrenaline surge and near panic, and it really changes how hard you get on the brakes. I can do a damn good stop in practice, but each time it really mattered (I mean life and death mattered, not just oh sh*t mattered) I locked the rear brake.

I wonder if I practiced it more, if I would default to the right thing even with an adrenaline boost?

[audiogooroo]

I'm sorry that happened man, but I'm really glad you're alright.
I'm sure you'll be hypersensitive to slowing traffic from now on.
Take care!

[waterman]

Glad you came out of it with very minor wounds. The bike can be fixed up. A lesson to everyone, "Pay attention when driving".

[abbo]

:( Sorry to hear about your mishap. Best thing is , you didn't get injured to bad. I believe when riding there is no room for your "B" game. If your not up to your "A" game it is to unsafe. I didn't ride Monday of this week because my mind was wandering, and I didn't feel I would be as cautious As needed. My mind is still wandering but I have it on a leash for now. LOL ;)

[mrfuni]

Sorry to hear about your morning, but happy you are here to tell us about it.

[ells]

Doesn't take much distraction at the right moment and smack, it's a rear-ender. So far, I've only experienced it in a car.

[johnb]

Sorry to hear about your mishap! Glad you came out of it with only minor injuries.

I did a similar thing years ago. Was riding along (on a '78 Yamaha XS750) about 35 mph and next thing I know I hear a screech, didn't see any brake lights and then the car in front was stopped. I got on the brakes and swerved quickly left then right. The left swerve went fine, but when I went to the right to complete my move, the rear tire slipped out from under me and I went down on my right side. The windshield hit the car and broke off my fairing. I was bruised pretty bad but was able to get up, pick up the bike and move to the side of the road. Then I passed out from shock. Ended up that I had a bruised kidney.

I have replayed this in my mind and the lesson for me was how to swerve and when to be hard on the brakes. I think I locked up the rear by staying on the brakes while I swerved.

You also can never be too attentive.

Be well,
John

[kawgirl]

Sure glad you came out of that one okay. I gotta start wearing my jacket each time I ride. Thanks for the reminder of how fast things can happen.