Traumatized by Wreck

Magician16 · 01-05-2023, 02:38 PM

I just stopped by Taco Bell for lunch. I didn't see it happen, but there was a 4 door Jeep vs Suzuki motorcycle accident in the street just outside the window. ATGATT was not followed by the guy riding the bike, and most of his clothes including cowboy boots were swept up by the responding police. I didn't see a tire skid mark, except from the Jeep after the impact.

Thumper · 01-05-2023, 04:25 PM

I survived more than 40 motorcycles over the years. I count myself lucky. This is why I avoid roads now. They just don't see us.

2LZ · 01-05-2023, 10:47 PM

It's never easy to see something like that. Just keep your wits about you and always think the car doesn't see you, is drunk, and on a cell phone.

krat · 01-06-2023, 01:40 AM

You have to ride like you are invisible.

I have one intersection on my daily route that I know if a car is sitting at the stop sign they will pull out in front of me almost every time, even if I am wearing reflective gear.

Part of it is human physiology, drivers with their heads at specific angles can actually not see a motorcycle.

I once saw a show where a British motor cop was talking about being hit on his police bike. The bikes are safety yellow BMW 1250 models. The officers are dressed in safety yellow from head to toe. You can not maintain more "presence" than that.

The lady that ran over him said she did not see him.

Magician16 · 01-06-2023, 08:00 AM

I'm a snowbird and I have a Chonda at both homes. In ND I can be off road in a couple of miles. In AZ, I have to ride for 15 to 20 miles in traffic to get off road and I refuse to get on the main highways around here. I always try to ride like I'm invisible, but I have still had to lock up brakes and do emergency turns to avoid bad drivers around Phoenix. My wife even refuses to drive a car around here because of the bad drivers. I think I'm going to get a hitch carrier for AZ so I don't have to deal with them.

krat · 01-07-2023, 11:27 AM

Thumper · 01-07-2023, 01:25 PM

That guy has great videos for motorcyclists, but they don't see you even if you ARE going the speed limit.

And yes, I assume they don't see me. I sometimes swerve to get attention, sometimes I even wave, and go slower than the speed limit wherever there is a car which is usually at intersections but they are everywhere. Driveways, roadside parking, dirt road turnoffs. Everywhere. My head is looking right and left looking for them.

My fear of them has chased me off the road, and I have lots of fun there

wheelbender6 · 01-08-2023, 10:18 AM

Interesting theory.

Texas Pete · 01-08-2023, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thumper

That guy has great videos for motorcyclists, but they don't see you even if you ARE going the speed limit.

There was a video for that too

minimac · 01-08-2023, 11:01 AM

If cagers are too busy with their phones-talking or texting-, or looking at the giant screens now on almost all newer cars, they are not paying attention to driving. Regardless of theories on the brain and eyes, the issue is distracted driving.

Bob Kelly · 01-21-2023, 07:16 AM

I've been riding bikes every sense I was 7 years old and I am 70 now.... and I have learned by talking to the many people that have inadvertently pulled out in front of me
that they didn't see me.... or rather they didn't look or they looked, but it did not register
because they are expecting to see a car or truck NOT a motorcycle....
it is definately a must to drive like they don't see you..because most of the time they do not ! when California made it a law that motorcycles had to have their head lights on....it actually helped quite a bit.... but not as much as it should have, simply because people will look, but it will not register in their brain that that is an oncoming motorcycle so don't pull out now.... it's like their brain is deciding weather that is a hazard coming or not while they are pulling out.....
...If I had a dollar for every time a car pulled out in front of me I'ed be a rich man today
it is a verry common occurrence, after a while you don't even get mad about it because it happens all the time ! don't let that deture you from riding let it make you ride more carefully !.... I've had one guy turn infront of me and I hit him, dumped the bike on a turn because it drug bottom, and slipped and fell in las vegas on a friday night because everyone washes their car with soap and water on friday.... ALL the water running across the road there is soapy and very slick ! ...
but I have had people pull out in front of me sense I began riding.... they don't look !
so plan on that ! if you see a car in the turn lane be real carefull chances are he does not see you.... flashing your lights is a good idea and do the speed limmit any faster and your toast... you can always go faster when you get away from the idiots but if you go fast while your near them they will get you !
Oh man, I'm sorry I didn't see you !
...... and I yell back No you didn't look... because I was watching your eyes !
or how could you not have seen me you looked right at me !?!?! and you still pulled out !. ( that has happened so many times!)
.....
Your only hope is to drive like they do not see you.... I mean that !
.....
Bob.......

CheapThrills · 01-21-2023, 11:10 AM

I wear a riding jacket with armor, often uparmoring to CE2. Include boots, gloves, and of course a helmet, and I still feel dumb not wearing riding pants.

I am amazed to see local guys wearing, sandals, t-shirt and shorts. No gloves, no helmet, nothing else.

Geez...

TominMO · 01-21-2023, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CheapThrills

I am amazed to see local guys wearing, sandals, t-shirt and shorts. No gloves, no helmet, nothing else.

The term for such people is "future organ donors".

Mudflap · 01-21-2023, 11:44 AM

In 60 years of riding I've had a few crashes but have not been seriously injured. The funniest one was in San Francisco near the Parisian Bakery where I was heading on a small Vespa to get fresh bread for lunch. I pulled into the left hand turn lane and suddenly realized I was laying on the pavement. I wasn't hurt but when I tried to stand up the pavement was so slippery I couldn't get up. On my hands and knees I dragged the scooter to the center of the road and began waving my arms to warn other drivers to avoid the turn lane. One car tried turning and crashed into a sign post. Whatever was spilled on the road was invisible and super slick like silicone or Armour All.

Boatguy · 01-21-2023, 01:26 PM

Bob’s got it.

As someone who has never crashed anything on the road at all, in all my life, but has avoided many crashes, I think it really comes down to if you can read what the other traffic is going to do. And guess what they are going to do.

And on top of that expect them to do the unexpected.

Luck has a little bit to do with it. You could be going underneath a bridge and a car flies off the top of it and crushes you. None of us can avoid that one. But a lot of the mundane stuff can be avoided if you are very careful.

01-05-2023, 02:38 PM	#1
Magician16 Join Date: Aug 2019 Posts: 468	Traumatized by Wreck I just stopped by Taco Bell for lunch. I didn't see it happen, but there was a 4 door Jeep vs Suzuki motorcycle accident in the street just outside the window. ATGATT was not followed by the guy riding the bike, and most of his clothes including cowboy boots were swept up by the responding police. I didn't see a tire skid mark, except from the Jeep after the impact. __________________ 2018 Bashan Storm(sold) 2016 Magician 250
	1

01-05-2023, 10:47 PM	#3
2LZ Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Volcano, Ca Posts: 7,096	It's never easy to see something like that. Just keep your wits about you and always think the car doesn't see you, is drunk, and on a cell phone. __________________ "Light a fire for a man, and you heat him for a day. Light a man on fire, and you heat him for the rest of his life." 2007 Suzuki DRZ400S (SM convert) 2009 Q Link XP 200 1967 BSA B25 250cc Starfire 2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 2023 Royal Enfield Scram 411 1948 Royal Enfield Model G 350
	1

01-06-2023, 01:40 AM	#4
krat Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: KY Posts: 265	You have to ride like you are invisible. I have one intersection on my daily route that I know if a car is sitting at the stop sign they will pull out in front of me almost every time, even if I am wearing reflective gear. Part of it is human physiology, drivers with their heads at specific angles can actually not see a motorcycle. I once saw a show where a British motor cop was talking about being hit on his police bike. The bikes are safety yellow BMW 1250 models. The officers are dressed in safety yellow from head to toe. You can not maintain more "presence" than that. The lady that ran over him said she did not see him. __________________ %90 of the Chinese motorbikes ever made are still on the road. The other %10 made it back home.
	2

01-06-2023, 08:00 AM	#5
Magician16 Join Date: Aug 2019 Posts: 468	I'm a snowbird and I have a Chonda at both homes. In ND I can be off road in a couple of miles. In AZ, I have to ride for 15 to 20 miles in traffic to get off road and I refuse to get on the main highways around here. I always try to ride like I'm invisible, but I have still had to lock up brakes and do emergency turns to avoid bad drivers around Phoenix. My wife even refuses to drive a car around here because of the bad drivers. I think I'm going to get a hitch carrier for AZ so I don't have to deal with them. __________________ 2018 Bashan Storm(sold) 2016 Magician 250
	1

01-07-2023, 11:27 AM	#6
krat Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: KY Posts: 265	__________________ %90 of the Chinese motorbikes ever made are still on the road. The other %10 made it back home.
	3

01-05-2023, 04:25 PM	#2
Thumper Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Kansas City Posts: 2,358	I survived more than 40 motorcycles over the years. I count myself lucky. This is why I avoid roads now. They just don't see us.
	5

01-07-2023, 01:25 PM	#7
Thumper Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Kansas City Posts: 2,358	That guy has great videos for motorcyclists, but they don't see you even if you ARE going the speed limit. And yes, I assume they don't see me. I sometimes swerve to get attention, sometimes I even wave, and go slower than the speed limit wherever there is a car which is usually at intersections but they are everywhere. Driveways, roadside parking, dirt road turnoffs. Everywhere. My head is looking right and left looking for them. My fear of them has chased me off the road, and I have lots of fun there
	1

01-08-2023, 10:18 AM	#8
wheelbender6 Join Date: May 2015 Location: Houston area Posts: 1,902	Interesting theory. __________________ "Its not WHAT you ride; its THAT you ride"
	0

01-08-2023, 11:01 AM	#10
minimac Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Central NY, Central Fl Posts: 172	If cagers are too busy with their phones-talking or texting-, or looking at the giant screens now on almost all newer cars, they are not paying attention to driving. Regardless of theories on the brain and eyes, the issue is distracted driving.
	4

01-21-2023, 07:16 AM	#11
Bob Kelly Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Weed, California. Posts: 271	I've been riding bikes every sense I was 7 years old and I am 70 now.... and I have learned by talking to the many people that have inadvertently pulled out in front of me that they didn't see me.... or rather they didn't look or they looked, but it did not register because they are expecting to see a car or truck NOT a motorcycle.... it is definately a must to drive like they don't see you..because most of the time they do not ! when California made it a law that motorcycles had to have their head lights on....it actually helped quite a bit.... but not as much as it should have, simply because people will look, but it will not register in their brain that that is an oncoming motorcycle so don't pull out now.... it's like their brain is deciding weather that is a hazard coming or not while they are pulling out..... ...If I had a dollar for every time a car pulled out in front of me I'ed be a rich man today it is a verry common occurrence, after a while you don't even get mad about it because it happens all the time ! don't let that deture you from riding let it make you ride more carefully !.... I've had one guy turn infront of me and I hit him, dumped the bike on a turn because it drug bottom, and slipped and fell in las vegas on a friday night because everyone washes their car with soap and water on friday.... ALL the water running across the road there is soapy and very slick ! ... but I have had people pull out in front of me sense I began riding.... they don't look ! so plan on that ! if you see a car in the turn lane be real carefull chances are he does not see you.... flashing your lights is a good idea and do the speed limmit any faster and your toast... you can always go faster when you get away from the idiots but if you go fast while your near them they will get you ! Oh man, I'm sorry I didn't see you ! ...... and I yell back No you didn't look... because I was watching your eyes ! or how could you not have seen me you looked right at me !?!?! and you still pulled out !. ( that has happened so many times!) ..... Your only hope is to drive like they do not see you.... I mean that ! ..... Bob....... __________________ It's too late when you've gone too far !
	3

01-21-2023, 11:10 AM	#12
CheapThrills Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Lehigh Valley Area Posts: 150	I wear a riding jacket with armor, often uparmoring to CE2. Include boots, gloves, and of course a helmet, and I still feel dumb not wearing riding pants. I am amazed to see local guys wearing, sandals, t-shirt and shorts. No gloves, no helmet, nothing else. Geez... __________________ - My 2 Bikes: TaoTao TBR7 Boom Vader Gen 2 (BD125-10) Testing a YouTube Channel
	1

01-21-2023, 11:44 AM	#14
Mudflap Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 1,885	In 60 years of riding I've had a few crashes but have not been seriously injured. The funniest one was in San Francisco near the Parisian Bakery where I was heading on a small Vespa to get fresh bread for lunch. I pulled into the left hand turn lane and suddenly realized I was laying on the pavement. I wasn't hurt but when I tried to stand up the pavement was so slippery I couldn't get up. On my hands and knees I dragged the scooter to the center of the road and began waving my arms to warn other drivers to avoid the turn lane. One car tried turning and crashed into a sign post. Whatever was spilled on the road was invisible and super slick like silicone or Armour All.
	0

01-21-2023, 01:26 PM	#15
Boatguy Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Northeast Posts: 929	Bob’s got it. As someone who has never crashed anything on the road at all, in all my life, but has avoided many crashes, I think it really comes down to if you can read what the other traffic is going to do. And guess what they are going to do. And on top of that expect them to do the unexpected. Luck has a little bit to do with it. You could be going underneath a bridge and a car flies off the top of it and crushes you. None of us can avoid that one. But a lot of the mundane stuff can be avoided if you are very careful. __________________ 2020 Lifan x-pect
	0