Lesson Learned

[DIGGER]

My 16 yr old gson got his first road bike...Kawasaki KLR 650.   He has been riding dirtbikes for several yrs.   He and I went riding in the countryside last Friday.  We were riding between Navasota Tx and Carlos Texas headed to "Yankees to get a coke and some fried mushrooms and some jalapeño poppers....on Tx  hiway 3090.   Its a very windy twisty rd and I was taking it very slow and easy.   Came onto a blind curve going about 30 mph and a wide load pilot truck with lts flashing came around the corner in the middle of the road and I had plenty of time to stop so I started braking and my gson behind me was looking off and suddenly realized he couldnt stop in time and laid the KlR down on the pavement going about 15-20 mph.
He had on a full helmet and a riding padded jacket.  Tore the jacket and put a pretty good stawberry road rash on his left elbow.  Other than that and a few scratches on the KLR all was well.  I think his ego was a bit bruised too...ha.  He got back on it and finished out the ride with no problems...  thank the Lord he wasnt hurt badly. 

[Jess from VA]

Digger, that basic scenario is how I had my first fall and slide in the road in 30 years (last year) (maybe 5mph).

Instead of a wide load around a blind corner, I was going under a single lane train trestle and the guy ahead was going under then braked hard suddenly and I didn't see it in time, and I swung wide, slid and dumped to avoid maybe kissing his bumper.  To his credit, the guy jumped out of his car and apologized and even helped me lift the fat bastard back up.  It was my own fault, just like it was your grandson's fault.  Taking your eyes off the things ahead of you for even 1-2 seconds can make the difference.  The bike was fine (scraped the underside of the fore and aft interstate engine guards, you have to get down on hands and knees to even see) and I only bruised my lowside hip, but my ego was smashed up pretty good.  

[DIGGER]

Digger, that basic scenario is how I had my first fall and slide in the road in 30 years (last year) (maybe 5mph).

Instead of a wide load around a blind corner, I was going under a single lane train trestle and the guy ahead was going under then braked hard suddenly and I didn't see it in time, and I swung wide, slid and dumped to avoid maybe kissing his bumper.  To his credit, the guy jumped out of his car and apologized and even helped me lift the fat bastard back up.  It was my own fault, just like it was your grandson's fault.  Taking your eyes off the things ahead of you for even 1-2 seconds can make the difference.  The bike was fine (scraped the underside of the fore and aft interstate engine guards, you have to get down on hands and knees to even see) and I only bruised my lowside hip, but my ego was smashed up pretty good.  

I imagine just about all riders have a similar story.  I have several.  Since my gson didnt get bad hurt...it was a good motorcycle lesson

[Jess from VA]

I forgot to mention I also scraped up my favorite helmet pretty good.  It didn't take any big hit so it was fine.  But it wasn't going to buff out, and I wasn't going to ride around with those war wounds on my head as a reminder, so it went in the trash.  The replacement is OK, but my old one was discontinued (bummer). 

[Hook#3287]

Glad your Gson got out with just some scrapes and a hard lesson learned.

He'll remember that ride forever.

One of my rules, try to never be distracted when approaching, or in, a corner or curve

Another is always look as far down the road as you can see.

Nothing is absolute and second rule worked against me in a corner when I hit a pot hole I didn't see and bottomed out the motor on pavement.

On my Wing and thankfully I had a belly plate installed.

Glad to hear the Gson got right back on.

[Beer van Huet]

Turning left in trail at a traffic light or stop sign.
Got me twice.
If you follow someone in a group who turns left from a standstill at a traffic light or stop sign and then suddenly stops at the middle of the junction. Because of a dog crossing the street or some other reason not related to traffic.
You think the road is clear and your mindset is to accelerate because you want to cross the junction as quickly as possible and not holding up people behind you. And once you hit the throttle, you immediately have to brake.
Basic stuff, safe distance/expect the unexpected and all that. But that situation, to me is the worst.
Once hit a rear fender and once had a narrow escape.
Especially after a few hours riding you think you can predict what people in front of you are doing and follow accordingly.

[Jess from VA]

Good advice Beer.

I ride for distance between me and traffic.

I let turners go ahead before I start to go, leaving space to maneuver if everyone is suddenly on the brakes in a turn.  Bikes all leave stops faster than cars, and being too close in turns is a mistake.

[3fan4life]

Digger, that basic scenario is how I had my first fall and slide in the road in 30 years (last year) (maybe 5mph).

Taking your eyes off the things ahead of you for even 1-2 seconds can make the difference.  

That is GREAT advice!

Although WE don't always heed it, even when we know better.

Yesterday, I was leading a group ride @ Inzane.

We were on I-64 headed back to Ground Zero, there were some dark clouds looming in the sky and they had diverted my attention from the road for a few seconds.

When I looked back at the road there was a large doe standing in the middle of my lane staring at me.

At 75 mph I was closing fast and only had seconds to react.

I grabbed a handful of brake and swerved into the left lane behind her.

The whole time I'm doing my best to "will" her NOT to run in the direction that she had came from.

She didn't and everything was fine, thank God!

Back at the hotel several in the group commented about the incident and asked if I had seen her two fawns standing on the left shoulder?

I hadn't, my complete attention was focused on her, if she had ran back to her fawns it would've been "Game Over".

This just goes to show how quickly things can change and how even a moment's diversion of our attention from the road can become a real problem.

[Jess from VA]

Deer scare the hell out of me Mark.  You can never know what they will do.  Just stand there and look at you, or bolt right in front of you. 

I was on a group ride on a hillside and watched one jump off the hillside, right over the head of the rider next ahead, and kept sprinting down he hillside.  Her hooves were just inches from his helmet.  When we all stopped a short time later I asked him if he saw that deer.  "What deer, what are you talking about??"

Sometimes 'ignorance is bliss.'  That scared the dickens out of me, and he never even saw it.