How Not To Ride A Valkyrie - Near Death Experience

[tedj]

I'm an avid MC rider and enjoy my 98 Valk more than any bike I've owned over the past 45 years. It's also the quickest, meanest, stock 850 pound cruiser crotch rocket on the planet, with the exception of the Boss Hoss.

I bought mine about six months ago. I've wanted one since they first came out in '97 but couldn't afford one then.  About two months ago, a long time friend, and riding buddy who's also an experienced 40 year rider decided to take a ride on mine. He instantly fell in love with it and decided his Harley and Goldwing didn't quite match up to the performance and agility of the Valkyrie. So he bought one. A 2000 T model, customized, modified and bad-to-the-bone.

I made it very clear to him that he was not dealing with a "normal" motorcycle and emphasized even a stock Valk such as mine, will "turn on" way beyond the capability of other cruisers. Told him the six-banger beast isn't something to play around with and always be aware of the monster between your legs. Well, he laughed at that and said, "yeah, I understand"......obviously he didn't.

I called him today to see if he wanted to set up a ride for next weekend. He told me he didn't think he would be able to ride for a while. Well, being curious about why a 40 year veteran rider didn't want to play with his new toy, I suspected something was wrong.  I asked, and sure enough, something was wrong.  Nothing physical of course, he still walks and talks just fine, but he's literally "scared to death"........he didn't listen.

He's the type of guy that, upon occasion, will get into a heated discussion with another rider about who's bike is faster.  About a week ago, that is exactly what happened, only this time the discussion turned to action, and they both decided to prove who had the faster bike, so they made a bet and headed for the highway. Now keep in mind my buddy is 61 years old, and generally his admiration for speed stops with getting the last word in. Not this time.  His opponent, a much younger guy with a big HD V-Twin, was more than happy to run against this "old man" and his six-popper. Well, they both decided a dead stop, off-the-line race would be appropriate to end this feud once and for all.......they almost ended everything.

There they were, on an isolated rural highway, revved up and ready to burn about 40 dollars off their rear tires. John let the HD pop off the line first......(said he knew he could take him).....then he popped the clutch, blew by the HD in first gear, hit 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th......About 50 bike lengths ahead of the HD, blasting at 130 MPH a car pulled out in front of him.  Now I'm sure the guy that pulled out in the car saw the on-coming bikes and thought it was clear, and no way realized that in 5 tenths of  a second he was about to be plastered with 850 pounds of steel and 200 pounds of human flesh. To make things worse, another car was traveling toward them in the opposite lane.

Obviously, traveling at 130 MPH on a rural highway with no shoulders, heading toward the rear end of a slow moving car, having another car barreling  toward you in the lane you'd like to swerve in to avoid your death warrant, and realizing in about a half-second you're going to die, will get you thinking about why in the hell you're doing this.

John swerved to the left, rode the center line, went straight between the two cars as they passed each other, mirrors missed each car by about two inches.....and in less than a second, it was over.  The guy on the HD swerved around the slow moving car and pulled up along John sitting on the side of the rode, shaking and puking his guts out.He told me it took everything he had to get back on the bike and drive it home and hasn't been on it since. He said "man I don't know if I can get through this or not. I saw my life pass in front of me and I really don't know if I'll ever ride again"..............He may not.

They call it the Dragon for a reason............this is a true story.

[Chrisj CMA]

 

[Valker]

Remind him that if he'd bought a ZO6 Corvette and done the same thing, the result of the race would have been the same except everybody in his car, the slow car, and the oncoming car would have died....
See, riding the bike saved his life.

[Willow]

Exactly what does he have on and how much has he invested in that bike?  I may be able to fix his problem for him.    

The other rider had plenty of room around both cars?    

[tedj]

Not sure how his bike is modified but it's about two grand worth of fast stuff. The other guy swerved after the oncoming car passed.

[Walküre]

.The other rider had plenty of room around both cars?    

Sure, he was 1/2 a mile behind, by that time! 

Been there - had one pull out, swerved around him, with just feet to spare before cutting back across in front of the on-coming car. Not NEAR that speed, probably about 60, but that was enough. I didn't get the shakes until an hour or two later, and remember feeling that all the hours on bikes, had caused my immediate, and correct, response. There's NOthing like practice and familiarity.

Hope he finds himself able to get back on the horse. But then, I can understand if he doesn't. I've only been to around 120 mph on an old CB900F punched out, and that was plenty fast for me. I get into more than enough trouble, just going the speed limit!

Keep us posted...

R

[RoadKill]

Some of us learn by watching others,some by reading or being told,the rest of us have to pee on the electric fence for ourselves! 
 Been there and pissed on that one!  .
 Getting back on is tough enough but making the decision that you WILL RIDE AGAIN is the tough one. After that it seems funny that it was even ever a question 

[Duckwheat]

Tell him to man up. He's not dead.

DW

[Medicine Man]

Hi guys, I'm John "Medicin Man" Teds old guy riding buddy that just about bought the farm. They call me Medicin Man because I take 43 pills a day (over 14,000 a year) plus a shot every other day. I also have a computer implanted in my back with 8 titainium electrodes wired to my spinal cord. Im a disabled x-undercover drug enforcement officer in southern Illinois. East St. Louis, Venice, Brooklyn, Washingto Park well you get the idea. I say this because I want you to know I dont scare easy and always thought I had major cahonies. Well I did (notice I didnt say do) but I must have lost em out there on Frank Scott Parkway last Friday night. Im proud to announce I did man up and get on it again and Im takin it off Craigs List tonight. I have not been bikeless since 1964 and hope I never am but that was one hell of a ride and I will never forget it. Did the word STUPID come to mind when you read Teds story about me and my near death experiance?   Well its HONDAs fault, nowhere on that bike does it say BEWARE this bike will make you act like a 16 year old. Im a pretty easy goin kind of guy but when guys openly discuss that thier P.O.S. HD will eat my Valk I cant take it. My eyes go red and my brain refuses to function properly and I immeadiately go into combat mode. Now I know better than to do what I did but in that condition I am capeable of being very very STUPID. I think the only thing that saved me was the fact that my blessed Valkyrie is not only fast but NIMBLE. With a twitch I was able to move left, stay there and go in between the cars at mach 9. Case closed

[Medicine Man]

Just a side note. I do have a Vette, a 72 ( last year with chrome bumpers front and back) big block four speed built to the max that with past time sheets from Gateway Drag Strip proves it will eat a Z06. I dont drive it ANYMORE because it gave me a similar experience and now it is just a very pretty conversation piece. I think Im down to about 5 cat lives left so if you see me out there DOIN THE SPEED LIMIT please dont tempt me. My heart cant take it anymore. Thanks, Medicin Man

[czuch]

Wisdom comes with age. Some times it takes more age. Glad your still with us and can tell us stories. I've thought of modifyin mine up, then,,,,,why? She's plenty bad enough.
 Reminds me of the old adage about 4 wheel drive.
Know the difference between 2 and 4 wheel drive? 4wheel drive gets you stuck further out. truth.
Listen to some of the stories,Medicine Man. I've ridden 38 +- years and it took me a year to find the throttle stop on my 97 Tourer. I do have a sticker on my CR250R on the handlebars that says "DONT" for that very reason, however.
Good luck, brother, and master the Dragon.

[tedj]

Hey Dude.....curiosity got the best of ya, huh?  Didn't know you were going to join the forum. I just felt compelled to write your story after you telling me about seeing the "white lights" at 130 MPH. Hopefully it will sink in to some others who haven't learned not to screw around with the Dragon. Man it's good to see ya. I guess we're ridin' this weekend? By the way, I just ordered you a big blaze orange sticker for your Valk.....it says: WARNING-I'M NOT 16 YEARS OLD. I'm gonna stick it on your windshield. I'm glad I'm not putting roses on your casket!  Love ya Brother !!!

[RoadKill]

Wisdom comes with age. Some times it takes more age. Glad your still with us and can tell us stories. I've thought of modifyin mine up, then,,,,,why? She's plenty bad enough.
 Reminds me of the old adage about 4 wheel drive.
Know the difference between 2 and 4 wheel drive? 4wheel drive gets you stuck further out. truth.
Listen to some of the stories,Medicine Man. I've ridden 38 +- years and it took me a year to find the throttle stop on my 97 Tourer. I do have a sticker on my CR250R on the handlebars that says "DONT" for that very reason, however.
Good luck, brother, and master the Dragon.

"Wisdom comes with age" 
I'm sorry but I have to disagree.  It may be true for some but for others it is all experience based. Like I said ...We just hafta pee on the fence for ourselves.  I have gotten more cautious in my riding due to experience,aches and pains,memories that you just can't shake,etc...but as a member of the younger crowd (35) I have to say that there is NO age requirement to enroll at the school of hard knocks! The question is...... will you pay attention in class ?

[tedj]

RoadKill, you're right. There is no substitute for experience. My buddy John lived to tell me about his near death experience because of his experience. Not because of age, or book learning or advice or big nuts or anything else...period. When you have about 1/2 second to make a life or death decision it is always experience that will get you through and save your life.
.........Ride on......

[big turkey]

People that ride with me see that everytime I ride.

It's called Lane Splitting.

Nobady can kill the Wild Man, only me. And the Good Lord if he Chooses.

My Valkyrie won't go that fast.

My Tourer would only do 128 confirmed.

he must have a real monster.

He'll ride again.

Tell him to change his shorts and hit that throttle till it pukes it's rev limiter and then swap gears.

Big Al

499 Hp suzuki hayabusa at top speed	powered by Aeva

[Jabba]

I have done stupid stuff on more bikes than the Valk.  So has Joe, Al, you and your buddy.  In fact... on my nephews hayabusa, I had a 100 mph wheelie about 2 weeks ago.  Although it WAS a small wheelie.  Man... DAT thing is FAST!

You have to try to pick your spots...  they didn't pick their spot wisely.

Glad everyone is OK.  We're all gonna buy the farm someday.  Hopefully I die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandpa, and not screaming in terror in some sort of car wreck, like all of my grandpa's passengers!   

Be safe Medicine Man.  You're too "experienced" to make teen age mistakes.  Nice recovery though Mav!

Jabba

[Black Dog]

Great story, and glad everything worked out OK, in the end.  We've all had the 'close' ones, and  it depends on how close, or how much that coulda hurt, or how long it takes to stop yer body from shakin', as to how long it's gonna take to get back in the saddle...

I had 'close encounter of the ouchie kind' back in '82, when I got smacked by a drunk driver, while on my '77 Wing...  Pissin' blood, broken thumbs, wrist and nose, along with a face swelled up like a punkin' (along with a promise to my then wife), kept me off of ANY bike, until I met the Valk in '99.

I still love to tickle triple digits, but only once in a while.  I'll pull a HD, if he's askin' for a lesson, but that don't happen much any more either...  Like the campaign Honda ran for a while sez...  'Stupid Hurts'...  They are right, and I'm gettin too old to go through another healing process...

Black Dog

[Master Blaster]

Yea wisdom comes with age, NOT.  71 here and have seen 180 on my ZX14.  My Bud John and I do it occasionally just to get the juices flowing, him on his Busa, and me on the ZX.  Twisties are a blast untill you look down and see how fast you are going.

[Hef]

I had a scary moment last week but not because of anything I did. I pride myself on being a safety conscious rider. I was riding to work on a two lane highway. A semi was approaching in the oncoming lane and everything was normal. About the time we met a pickup truck with an idiot for a driver darted from behind the semi to pass without even being able to see if anything was coming and was heading right for me. What To DO? DO I take the shoulder and then he decides to do the same and we hit head-on on the shoulder or hold my lane and hopes he takes the shoulder. Of course everything is happening here in seconds so you make a choice and hope for the best. I decided to take the center of the road and hope for the best. The idiot did go to the shoulder and the semi driver (thank God) when to the shoulder on his side and I went through between them. I have ridden for about 45 years and there have been about three times I thought "this is it" Can now say four times. Scared the crap out of me.

[Gryphon Rider]

Two points:

1.  Riding at super-legal speeds - I hope it's the back of a semi-trailer that idiots slam into, and not a mini-van with a family inside.  If you are going to ride that fast, make sure it's on a road with 100ft of open space on either side of the highway, and you can see 3/4 of a mile ahead of you with no other vehicles on the road, and NO intersecting roads.  This way it's only you in danger, and it's easier for the emergency crew to find all your parts after your bike goes into an unexpected tank-slapper.  Almost been there, done that.  My buddy behind me thought I was done for.

2.  Hef - You lucked out.  In that situation every driver with common sense will go RIGHT.  Be glad the idiot pickup driver (who made the first mistake) was able to react to your mistake and keep left.  The passing driver's instinct is to try to get back into his proper lane, whether that means jamming on the brakes and tucking back in behind, or mashing the gas and swerving back in front.

[Kidd]

I don't   think much of someone who will race  where there is a possiblibility
of  a car pulling out in the way  .
There are too many places where you can race where this wont happen .
The 2 were stupid .

Still , glad no one was hurt  much

[tivoklr]

I think a good point to be made here is that even after owning my valk for several years, it continues to surprise me with extra ponies when I'm up high in the RPM band. My car's peak powerband is between 2500-4500 RPM and I think the extra scoot I get at 4000+ on the valk is what sketches me out on it from time to time. By 4500 RPM my car is starving for fuel, at 4500 RPM the valk feels like it's getting ready to lift the front wheel, and this is at 8000' with stock jetting.

The speed demon in me keeps on wanting to put a supercharger on her but when I can startle myself regularly without one, why spend more money on the bike when I can dump it into my real fast toy, TDI VW.

Plus, my sled could really use a turbo, ic and controller way more than the valk needs one...

To the medicine man, I'm glad you made it through this trial and that nobody got hurt.

[Andy #7759]

tedj and Medicine Man thanks for that story.

Wisdom gomes with age, I hope it will come soon to me.

I love this Bike and it allways frighten me when I got my self by speeding.
Your story brought me down again that there is no sheet metal between me and my opponent.

Today it scared me when a Deer past the Road just 15 feet in front of me while I"am approaching with 40mph.
And more scary was, that I was not wearing any saefty clothes or even a helmet like I do in Germany.

Man It's time that I go back to work and get a electric shock to wake up.