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Message started by RTC on 04/14/10 at 22:40:08

Title: First fall!
Post by RTC on 04/14/10 at 22:40:08

So i woke up a little late the other morning (530 unfortunately that's late for me) and headed to work in a hurry....bad i idea. i was going about 55 somthing on a feeder road comin up to a light with one car between me and the light. the light turned yellow as the car was about 100m from it. I sped up to about 65 thinking that he would not slam brakes and i would easily pass through the yellow. i had a good following distance but he slammed his brakes and in turn i did too. i locked the back up a little and fishtailed left and right then put it mostly to the front. i realized if i continued on my path i would hit his rear so i went to the left where i met with a 2' tall construction barrier at about 10-15 mph. i didnt leave the bike. i immediately picked up and restarted as if nothing happened. guy asked if i was alright which i confirmed. busted my shin on the peg and scratched the fornt of the mirror. good to go!!!......there has been four bike fatalities in el paso this month!

Title: Re: First fall!
Post by Reelthing on 04/14/10 at 23:17:02

glad to hear nothing much was busted - either you or the bike!

but really that was the first time with the ground? - well welcome to the club!

Title: Re: First fall!
Post by Serowbot on 04/15/10 at 00:53:06

Small price for a good lesson....
...bikes can't stop like cars....

Glad you're okay.... ;)....

Title: Re: First fall!
Post by babyhog on 04/15/10 at 06:01:54

Whew! That coulda been alot worse. Glad you are ok! (and the bike too!)

Title: Re: First fall!
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/15/10 at 06:18:31

If youre late, youre late. Cant make up lost time. Its okay to be late once in a while, but if you get in a hurry, trying to make up for it, you could be "late" forever. We dont want to be referring to you as
The Late RTC, Former Savage owner. Ride safe, & on those days when you are stressed out over something, be Extra Careful.

Title: Re: First fall!
Post by Charon on 04/15/10 at 06:42:54

So, ask yourself why you were trying to beat the yellow light. Doesn't matter what the car driver planned to do. YOU should have stopped for the yellow.

Title: Re: First fall!
Post by Rocco on 04/15/10 at 07:00:50

be safe man! glad you're ok! when i laid mine down(6 days after buyin her) i asked on here if the bike was mechanically tough enough to take layin it down......everyone was right !! ;D

Title: Re: First fall!
Post by Stones on 04/15/10 at 08:52:47

Theres a thread on here about ride times etc and distance which i read.

When i go for a ride theres no time limit or distance involved i just go.

Theres no pressure far as im concerned.

I only have 2 things on mind enjoy it and get back safe.

Just my opinion mind.

Glad you are okay [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Title: Re: First fall!
Post by Phelonius on 04/15/10 at 09:22:09

Never, never trust your health and welfare, or the bikes', to someone elses driving.
You should have assumed that he would slam on the brakes to try to collect you on his rear bumper.

Just like at a crossing situation you should not assume that that the car to your right or left is actually going to stop merely because he has a red light. Keep your fingers covering the brake and your foot ready until the intersection is behind you, and eyeball a ( what if) escape plan.

Phelonius

Title: Re: First fall!
Post by RidgeRunner13 on 04/15/10 at 10:48:55

073F323B38393E2224570 wrote:

EXACTLY!!!!!!!
Spoken by someone who probably learned from YEARS of riding.
All the MSF courses in the world can't help if you don't practice what they teach.
AND they can not prepare you for every situtation the road will throw your way.

Just imagine the worst & do your best to be prepared for it & you will live much longer. 8-)

Title: Re: First fall!
Post by Staplebox on 04/15/10 at 18:23:58

Glad you're ok. When I read 55 then 65 I was figuring it would be a worse story. Sounds like a cheap lesson.

I was only going about 25 or so when I high-sided last year and I'm still limping - but still riding too. ;)

Title: Re: First fall!
Post by Skid Mark on 04/15/10 at 19:38:39

Phew!!!!! Good to hear no major dammage to you or your bike. I bet you will be approaching intersections a lots more carefully now. I know I would.

Title: Re: First fall!
Post by kimchris1 on 04/15/10 at 19:51:20

First I am so happy to hear you and your bike are ok.

2nd. Your one lucky rider. I hope you take the advice of the experienced riders that have voiced their opinons before mine.

I am still recovering after being rear ended March 20 after I had cleared a 4 way stop. I never seen it coming. I have learned that in the future when I ride and I will ride again, to keep my eyes on what is going on behind me even when I clear the intersection.

Sometimes were given choices in order to learn. I hope again you re read these posts and really think about what you could have done differently.

Ok now get out there and ride safe and remember this was a warning.

Title: Re: First fall!
Post by wolfmrp on 04/15/10 at 21:48:24

Glad to hear your not hurt. Lots of good comments above.

Title: Re: First fall!
Post by RTC on 04/15/10 at 22:17:07

Those were all excellent comments guys (and gals)! I knew as soon as it happened that it was basically my fault. Too much speed too much aggression. I own up to it fully and have definitely learned a lesson. I took the MSF experienced rider course less than five days before this mishap. I can say that I learned at that course to rely mostly on my front brake but when you encounter a situation like I did, it's hard to keep that right foot loose. I think if I had been a little less on the rear and a little more on the front (and a little wider awake) things would have gone fairly smoothly. I am glad to have a banged up shin and glad that I've already put another 100 miles on my bike since then. It scared me straight but didnt scare the fun outta me!! ;D Thanks guys!!

Title: Re: First fall!
Post by Serowbot on 04/15/10 at 22:31:54

7D687065667B090 wrote:

I can say that I learned at that course to rely mostly on my front brake but when you encounter a situation like I did, it's hard to keep that right foot loose. I think if I had been a little less on the rear and a little more on the front (and a little wider awake) things would have gone fairly smoothly.

I do the same thing... and have known the rules for 30 years....
Don't know how it can happen... but there's that rear tire skid mark.....
.....it's mocking me.... :-?...

Title: Re: First fall!
Post by RTC on 04/15/10 at 22:32:38

I also wanted to add that the skills I learned at the MSF course contributed greatly to me and my bike remaining uninjured! I had never touched a motorcycle until about two months ago. The Army requires riders to take the basic course to be able to drive on post and then to follow up with the experienced course no later than 90 days after getting a bike. I was the only one in both classes to get no points deducted on either examinations. The instructor of the experienced rider course informed the class that this was because I had chosen a bike that provided the proper size and fit. Everyone else in the class was on either a Harley or a crotch rocket. GO SAVAGE!!

Title: Re: First fall!
Post by jsarsfield on 04/16/10 at 01:19:18

A little rule that I've lived by during my motorcycle riding is that when I'm on a bike it's "weight of way" instead of "right of way" always prepare for the worst and one thing that has saved me on numerous occasions is TRY TO MAKE EYE CONTACT with as many other drivers as possible even if its in their side mirrors do this and then you KNOW that they see you. My first bike was a GSX-R 750 when I was 16 and I'm 29 now and still haven't (knock on wood) went down ... I admit that my first bike was out of my league but I always respected what the bike was capable of and more importantly what I was capable of. So my advice eye contact it will save you eating asphalt. I'm glad to hear that you are alright.

Title: Re: First fall!
Post by james may on 04/16/10 at 20:10:49

deffinately agree with the weight of way. I don't care when I'm driving my wifes 4000lb minivan.. Extra careful on a bike. Anyone else have any good scared straight storys of downing their bikes? It's good to have storys to keep those of us who've never layed their bike down honest.

Title: Re: First fall!
Post by jsarsfield on 04/17/10 at 00:38:04

2223383324222F2633560 wrote:

The very first day I picked up my GSX-R 750 My buddy met me to go for my first ride ... he was on a Yamaha Radian 600 and everything is going great until he starts to show off a bit taking corners too fast for his skill level and being that its early in the year the roads still have literally piles of sand in the middle of the lanes from the winter salt/sander trucks ... well you see where this is going .... he takes an almost 90 degree corner at around 80 Km/h as soon as he approached the corner i knew he was going down and started to slow right down good thing i did because he hit the sand and slid out like he was on ball bearings ..... luckily the only real damage he suffered was a much needed assault on his ego .... he was scrapped up and bruised and needed 2 stitches over his left eye where his glasses smashed against his face .... it scared him bad enough that a couple days later he signed up for some rider training and since then he hasn't went down since. squids and show-offs all eventually learn the hard way that asphalt is tougher than their egos.