Glad your ok, I got rear ended about a month ago.

Any crash you can walk away from.


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Any crash you can walk away from.

Still sucks! Just not as bad.

 

When I was begining the Blue Ridge Parkway last week, i saw on the news, a lady passenger was killed, when their Harley was hit from behind. It seems to have begun to be as common as the left turn syndrome.

 

I always watch my six, I always remain in gear till a vehicle is stopped behind me.

Didn't help in my case cuz the guy had been sitting behind me at the light for 2-4 min before he tried to drive through me.

Grrrrrrr


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I would be tempted to seek justice on the spot! how wrong can it get !!!

 

When I see a vehicle with a busted up front end......I give them room. I figure if they aren't paying attention to a large object stopped in front of them , what chance do I stand. And Yes...I use my mirrors religiously at stops , in gear , to be on the safe side.

Dan

 

flash 'em

When sitting at stop lights tap your brake lever to flash your brake light. If I see a car coming up behind me I start tapping slowly and progressively tap faster until they have stopped. I'm not sure it's saved me and it may not save you but I've never been rear ended on a bike and I ride all over town for work.

 

Yeah,
I usually do the tap thing too. I just didn't look back this time to see him coming. I also have a second tail light and a strip of lights across the back of the Givi case. Has anyone ever been able to successfully pull away quickly when they saw someone bearing down? I might go ahead and run those yellow lights from now on.

 

Yeah,
Has anyone ever been able to successfully pull away quickly when they saw someone bearing down?

Yes, in my car. Did a full on 380 hp launch from the left lane down into the median/ditch as an idiot in a GM2500 4x4 shot through the space where I had been at 70+. He was so close that I sincerely believe my wife and I would have died on impact, and there was no space for him to stop or evade us without rear ending the right lane driver or going through the ditch into oncoming traffic.

 

Glad you are ok.

This is one good reason why lane filtering should be legal [only legal in some states here in Australia], I filter down through the stationary cars so I'm not last one in the line.

When I'm the only one stopped at the lights I flash the brake light using the front brake lever, keeping the bike in gear and ready to move out of the way if I need to.

I've survived 40 years on the road, been hit twice by cars- managing to stay on my wheels both times, after bouncing over gutters and dodging light poles/street signs.

In my first few weeks of riding when I was young an old biker on a Harley told me "ride like everyone else on the road is out to kill you, and watch your back!"

Stay safe out there people. :thumbup:

 

I do not filter, but hug the inside edge of the lane pretty closely at stops. I figure that if they do not have time to brake, the second driver instinct will be to swerve to the outside.

 

Hmmmm ... this is a very good observation and one that I will incorporate in my riding strategies.

Thanks!


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I also tap my brakes at stops, watch my rear views religiously, leave it in gear and stop to the inside or outside of a lane depending which side I have the most room to split the lane between cars and let the car behind me hit the car in front instead of me. Its saved me once in 45 years of riding from being sandwiched.

 

I never stop directly behind a car in front of me on the road, I am always on their right or left rear fender, they can see me in their outside mirrors, not sure how that helps me in any way, but I always have an out for the approaching vehicles from behind, yes I get strange looks in the mirror at times.

 

Hey ockerstrom,
You have a list of safety tips you can share?

 

I've been riding 10+ years and have only had 2 accidents. Both were influenced by other drivers, but inexperience on my part played into the results. Luckily ATGATT and I walked away from both with only some minor bruises.

Here are some of my safety tips that I've learned over the years, in no particular order.

1. If I don't feel 100% (tired, not feeling well, etc...) I will not ride.
2. Do not ride in the center of the lane, this is where fluids land when dripping from a car
3. Use the outside/inside/outside method when entering a curve. Start on the outside drift to the inside (at the apex) and accelerate to the outside of the lane. By starting on the outside, this will also allow you to see further into the curve
4. Leave your bike in gear and watch your mirrors when stopped at an intersection. I also tap my brakes as cars are approaching from behind. The flashing brake light can get their attention.
5. As stated earlier, I stay in the left part of the lane when stopped at an intersection because the average driver will swerve right because oncoming traffic is on the left side
6. The first 30 minutes of rain are the worst because the dried fluids on the road turn back into a liquid state and can make the road slick
7. Watch where you put your foot down when stopping. Many bikers have wound up on the ground because they put their foot down in fluids and their foot slipped.
** 8. Don’t grab a handful of your front brakes in a curve; this can cause a major accident. You can apply light braking using the front or rear brake to slow if necessary.
9. Look where you want to go in a curve. If you look straight ahead or at an oncoming car, you will go that direction. It’s called target fixation.
10. Lean into the curve to be able to carry more speed. By getting your butt off the seat, you will be able to corner faster, while keeping the bike more upright. You can try this on a straight away. Slide your butt off the seat to the right and the bike will try and go right. You will have to apply counter pressure on the bars to keep the bike going straight. By doing this in a curve, the bike will go through the curve in a more upright position.
11. Practice, practice, practice! Take an advance riding course to help increase your skills. Once you have taken the course, you have to continue to practice those techniques or they will deteriorate.
12. The road is not a track! You can ride somewhat aggressive, but know there are hazards on the road that aren't on a track (cars, animals, gravel and tree limbs to name a few). If you want to ride aggressively, do a track day. They are fun and you will be amazed at what you learn about yourself and your bike.

** Motorcycle Trail Braking - Motorcyclist Magazine

 

I do try and pay attention to behind me, but I also never ever stop in the middle of the road. I'm always right up against the center line to the left, as far out of the way as I can be. I also flash by break lights when I see someone approaching from the rear.