Had to drop SilverValk today

[RainMaker]

Guess it happens from time to time.

Coming off if I-30 to a double turn lane onto Fielder road south.  I was in the left lane.  A maroon SUV was in the right lane but seemed to like mine better so he cut me off, taking my lane as I turned left.  I hit both brakes hard and the bike slid down.  I rolled off and jumped up. Traffic stopped (no, the guy who caused this didn't stop - looks like a cell phone in his ear as he keeps driving) and people were offering to call the cops, 911, etc. but I only had a scraped knee (how do we scrape knees yet the pants are not damaged?) and the bike just had the left highway peg twisted around - crash guards on the engine and saddlebags prevented any other damage and I wasn't going that fast.   I picked the bike up, cycled the power, started it up and rode to a parking lot to look it over.  Only the peg and it can be straightened out.  Rode on into the office and am OK, but now, I find I'm getting pretty sore on the left side.

Not the best way to start a day but anytime you can ride away from these things, it's not too bad.

RainMaker

[Rocketman]

Wow.  Glad you're OK.  Seems to me that if you can't hear a crash going on right next to you, your car is too quiet, or you're not paying enough attention, or both.

[Disco]

Relieved to hear you're OK.  Sorry it happened.

[Baron]

Sorry to hear this happened and I am glad to hear you were able to ride away. 

[Daniel Meyer]

Glad you're okay and that it wasn't worse.

HDL has the best price on crash bars.

[RainMaker]

Daniel

The crash bar wasn't hurt - the peg broke it's fall!  Besides, it's already ground down about halfway through on the bottom from the crash in 2001 where it slid a bit further on 183 after getting rear ended by another guy on a cell phone.     

That's the only part the insurance guys didn't replace (they had to replace all the plastic but not that crash bar) and it's on the bottom so you really can't see it.  I covered it up with the peg clamp.  But that's where the bike hit today and that's why the peg is twisted around.

Thanks for all the good wishes.  My left side is really binding up now - probably strained something. Sure makes moving these containers around interesting!!!!!!   

RM

[john]

wow  mark ... 
that's what i'm talk'in about !
just exactly ...
only a scraped knee ... my ass
daniel is right .. your ok and it could have been worse
good thing you didn't tear your pants
 what a drag
my best to you and yours

[QOTFU]

It's typically cell Ph related. Glad you're OK..... not the best way to start the day..... but it's a darn good thing it didn't end the day. Ride safe.

[grego]

Glad to hear you are alright. 

[f-Stop]

Good to hear you're OK (well, mostly) after one of those cell phone / lane change syndrome incidents.  It's those inconsiderate 'a' holes who are going to force our legislature to pass some stupid cell phone use law that takes away just one more of our basic freedoms.

[Dag]

Good to hear that you were not seriously injured, and the Valkyrie remains intact.
After a number of traffic accidents associated with mobile phone use is now forbidden to talk in the mobile phone while driving
here in In Norway. We will get a fine of approximately $ 150.00

[QOTFU]

I work with the Oil Companies here in Houston (Shell, ExxonMobil, ETC) thet have all adapted to the"Engine on, cell phone off " policy which includes contractors (me!). The expats I have arriving are often shocked at the number of people on cell phones in their cars.

[Houdini]

I'm 100% behind a hand-held cell phone ban.  I don't consider cell phone usage in a car a right and I've been in so many close calls with idiots yacking on their phone and not paying attention to the road that I look forward to the legislation.  Most of the cities around me have already banned hand-held cells in school zones due to accidents and close calls so it is only a matter of time before the law expands to all areas.  Besides, it is not an outright ban on cells, it is a ban on hand held ones, if they’d go get an ear bud or Bluetooth and keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel and most of the problems could be avoided.

takes away just one more of our basic freedoms

Not to start a flame war but where in the constitution does in lay out the right to talk on a cell phone while driving? 

[Rocketman]

takes away just one more of our basic freedoms

Not to start a flame war but where in the constitution does in lay out the right to talk on a cell phone while driving? 

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

[godfire]

Rainmaker,

Glad that you are OK.

If you are still sore, maybe you should get checked out.

gf

[SideCar]

Dang. Glad you're (mostly) alright!

[Jeff A]

So glad to hear you were not seriously injured. 

Jeff Atkins

[RainMaker]

Thanks all.  A lot less sore today - advil is a wonder drug!

The boss says I have to cage for a while as she is a little freaked out.  I'll be at the wrench party, though.

RainMaker

[Doc809]

Find out who that was and we will have them committed.  I know a good hospital where they can get treatment for their addiction to the cellular world.  Glad you are OK!

[LemonDrop]

Glad it wasn't any worse.  I've always heard the third day is the worst for soreness, which would make it Sat.  Hopefully, you can kick back and recoup.

[Wanderer]

Advil works much better on bone pain than morphine! Give it a shot, or in this case - a swallow! I hope you are healing up real good, Mark! ~Jeff

[Thalas'shaya]

Glad you made it out of the scrape safe and sound!  Keep up the advil and get well soon!

[txstomper67]

I am glad you are ok. Hope the soreness leaves soon.

[Blade]

Sorry to hear this happened and I am glad to hear you were able to ride away. I have gone on and on about cell phones ,And I use one all day in the truck but I have hands free and a ear piece and voice dial ,
I have used 2 way radio for years, and you need to be careful .I all most always try to pull over while talking ,Glad your OK.I will try to see you all at the next meeting .Blade

[elgato]

Good to hear your OK Mark!! I don't know how people can drive and talk on the phone at the same time. I can't do it, but then I can't chew gum and walk at the same time either, LOL!

[f-Stop]

Rainmaker,

Hope most of your soreness has left and your back up on SilverValk.  Here's a link (hope it works) that may be of some interest:

http://ldrlongdistancerider.com/hang_up_and_drive.php

FYI, two weeks ago Friday, my son and I were running some errands after school on the Valk.  Not once but twice, we experienced CPLDS (Cell Phone Lane Drift Syndrome).  I think they just could not hear the stock Honda horn beeping away as I had to take evasive action (once at 50mph!).  Rivco Air Horns where ordered that night and were installed by the Mid-Winter Gathering Ride.

Ride Safe!

Charlie

[Disco]

Here is my +/- $50.00 Anti-CPLDS device.  The Stebel Compact Nautilus is rated at 139db.  In less than a year, with a well-placed and well-timed blast, I have generated whiplash, spit-up, and curb bumps from LDS offenders who thought they were about to get nailed by a train.  It's also very effective at scattering goat herds while riding in the country.  Cows and horses not so much.

[mooserider]

I have the same horn, it is very effective and loud. I have mine mounted in the stock horn location, I used the arm off the stock horn. It looks like part of the bike. I bought mine from JC Whitney a year ago for less than $50.00, Well worth the money. Glad that you are okay Rainmaker.

[godfire]

Do you have any pictures of your horn mounting Mooserider?

I'm trying to decide on a chrome version mounted on the horn mount or a cheaper one mounted in "Dave from Frisco" fashion.

Last month I was on in the right lane on Central and a car (driver on cell phone, hold the phone so that it shielded me) started merging over. I had no where to go. I honked my stock horn twice. Nothing, then I pulled in the clutch and rev'ed the motor. That got his attention, so he looked at me, like what are you doing there, and gassed it and cut me off.

I would rather have a fool like that in front of me then behind me.

[Rocketman]

Do you have any pictures of your horn mounting Mooserider?

If you have an Interstate, mount it in a radiator pod.  Fits perfectly.

[Dragon-6]

Mount one of these in your saddle bags.  http://www.phonejammer.com/product.php?productid=16144&cat=249&page=1

[Hollywood]

Glad your ok, everytime i see someone on a cell while were on Dragonbrethe i want to slap them!

many people we know have been t boned by uncaring people on cells.

 Take care.

[Jess from VA]

Had a debate with my buds on a jammer, and while it is a very nice idea to inconvenience these azzholes, the fact is it would probably make things worse.....right at the moment you find it necessary to goose them because of their driving, their phone cuts out so ALL their attention suddenly goes to the phone.  Now a jammer in a movie theater or on public transportation is a capitol idea.

I am against all excessive Govt regulations, but I am for a total ban on cell phone use in vehicles, hands free or otherwise.  While many people can multitask, many are sh!tty drivers even when they are paying full attention to the road!!  Those people don't need to be on any phone at all.  I live in a major traffic area (No VA), and in the last couple years I and many riding friends have been nearly killed and/or run off the road numerous times (my wife rear ended at 35mph, no brakes before collision), all by cell phone driving azzholes.   The law must be written to protect us from the the sick, lame, crazy, and chronically poor driver, so it needs to be a total ban.  I think there ought to be a bounty on them.

Out in the countryside it might not be so bad, but in population it is bad.

If you can multitask and wear a hands-free and don't get caught so be it.

I am certain that the reason we don't see quicker government action on this issue is because politicians are certainly at the head of the list of cell phone driving azzholes.

I am not sorry for this rant, but it is over.

[VMODON]

It's Friday the 13th!!!, Glad it wasn't a lot worse...