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Near miss

3K views 14 replies 12 participants last post by  Bruce Haslam 
#1 ·
The other day I was driving some remote twisty roads. I had been riding for a couple of hours and had been passing a number of vehicles. People had been pulling over and giving me space to get by as I was going at a good clip. I was in a rhythm and each time I saw a car I was just itching to pass them. I eventually came upon an SUV pulling a pop up trailer that was driving very slowly. There were no cross streets or houses and the SUV began to brake almost to a stop (no turn signal). Thinking he was letting me get by, I zipped by him. Looking in my rear view mirror, I saw him turn left into a driveway right after I passed. My heart dropped realizing that I had just had a near miss. I was shaken up and pulled off the road to think about what had just happened (and berate myself for being so careless). I should have never passed that guy until I had a clear idea of what he was going to do and knew it was safe.
I try to be a careful rider but obviously not in this case. It really made me think and reconsider the aggressiveness of my riding. Be safe out there and learn from my mistake. Luckily, I am around to do the same.
 
#2 ·
Similar thing happened to me a few years ago in Utah. Completely rural, no homes, area and as I passed a slow truck and boat trailer he started to turn left into me.
You escaped injury and mayhem. Good on you. I ate it in the dirt when I ran off the road.
Gotta watch the bobo's in front and give yourself the extra few moments of aggravation sitting behind them and avoid being wiped out.
 
#3 ·
Good reminders. I was out quite a bit this weekend and found myself forgetting that nothing about your ride is more important than spotting danger and making the right decisions to avoid it. If that means you slow down and are patient, then you slow down and are patient.
 
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#4 ·
Serious danger. I had a friend hurt that way, and my ex (whose hobby was crashing cars) really slammed a gal this way. I almost never pass with a bike and even get hyper focused on the Interstate sliding by anyone. Too many unsignaled or bizarre moves.
 
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#5 ·
Many years ago when I first started driving, my dad gave me some advice that was similar to a statement made in my MSF class, regarding the cars around you, imagine the stupidest thing that they could do and expect it, never trust a turn signal or the lack of one.
Glad you are ok, stay safe out there.

I recall that when I was in HS in rural Arkansas, an elderly country gentlemen, (literally, overalls and a JD hat), made an un-signaled left turn in front of passing car, resulting in a crash, thankfully no injuries. In the investigation, it was determined that he did not signal a left turn, but responded that he was turning into to his driveway, he had been living in that house for 45 years, everyone knew he lived there.
 
#6 ·
Vase you got lucky this time, but you are ahead of the game because you recognized your mistake. Overtaking a veh that turns left has killed many motorcyclist usually because of the speed involved. This one always comes to mind since I had met the guy and even worked a photo shoot with him out at the airport with his Leer Jet, several hot models and a Harley: Bruce Rossmeyer, Daytona Harley dealer, killed in wreck

btadlock your Dad was a smart guy ;)
 
#7 ·
girlfriend on the back one day riding in a semi rural area I crossed the double yellow center line because of a couple of bicycles in my lane. Then I see up ahead on my left mostly obscured by trees was a driveway with a vehicle about to enter the roadway in what was currently my path. Nothing happened and I was back on my side of the road quickly reminded how fast a nice day could have turned bad.

I think most of us learn from these near disasters.
 
#8 · (Edited)
Slow moving lost drivers or those pulled of on the shoulder ring huge alarm bells for unexpected actions especially U-turns....

I get on my horn in a series of short beeps .....and look at the driver...

Good escape OP and a heads up for us all.

I'm gunshy of getting hit from behind and make sure I have an escape path against inattentive drivers coming from behind...my worst fear.....watch those mirrors.
 
#9 ·
come to Toronto if you want to see drivers changing lines without using turn signals. Out of 10 half of them do this. Police is after speeding. never seen them pulled over for this very danger behavior. another one - driving in heavy rain, snow or even fog without driving lights on. again - no police...
 
#10 ·
Try Boston. Left turns from the right lane and vice versa. They truly suck here. Zero consideration for anyone. Gotta have great peripheral vision to ride around here.

Outbackwack
 
#11 ·
I did what Vaseface did a couple years ago. I was really moving as I came up on a car to pass it that I'd been following for miles on a winding road. She turned the left turn signal on as I was approaching way too fast. There was a driveway on the left, first one for miles. She saw me and continued to an area where she could turn around. I waved a big thank you to her and chastised myself the rest of the day for not being more careful. Choose your opportunities wisely.
 
#13 ·
It's far too easy to blame drivers, and rightly so in many cases... but far too often we only have ourselves to blame. We are not exempt. And from reading this and other posts, it mostly involves speeding. I am guilty as most of this forum probably are, and it's one of the main reasons I sold my Honda ST1300A and got the Glee. That bike just felt like going fast and hated 35mph. Now my Glee is happy going 35mph, and so am I. It's nice to actually be able to look around and SEE things rather than seeing how FAST I can get by them. YouTube has no shortage of crazy people... don't be one of them.
 
#14 ·
And why do you think I'm on my 8th 650 (V Strom) after having 1000 twice. One of many reasons - no more speeding tickets. Whenever I was on 100 HP bike in the past (V Strom 1000, few Hondas VFR or Kawasaki Z750) there was always something... And you're right much more enjoiment and fun. As someone said "better to ride smaller bike fast then bigger slow"
 
#15 ·
That's great that you escaped unharmed and a little wiser. All-in-all, not a bad day.

I think that always riding aggressive will get a rider in trouble, sooner or later. I believe the key is to ride whatever style gives you the safest position, sometimes aggressive, sometimes passive. Personally, I have noticed that when riding passive at the proper time has kept me out of trouble; but, only the Lord knows that for sure.

I noticed that you own a V2. One of the reasons I purchased the V2 was for the additional HP for quick acceleration when passing and/or pulling away from traffic, when needed Just another tool in the toolbox.
 
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