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Message started by scottnj on 08/21/11 at 21:57:24

Title: I am an idiot -- saved by cager
Post by scottnj on 08/21/11 at 21:57:24

So, was out riding this weekend on a twisty road in great weather -- it was motorcycling nirvana and I was having fun with each turn, feeling comfortable as I zipped along. But I carried too much speed into one turn, couldn't get the bike leaned over in time and ended up crossing the center line, heading for a truck coming the other way. Driver of the truck recognized what was happening and gave me a few extra feet by swinging to the outside of the road immediately, even though there wasn't much space to begin with. That gave me enough time to get the bike leaned over more and I made the turn, dragging a peg the whole way. Fortunately I didn't hit the brakes or panic, just leaned the bike more and made the turn. But it was the closest I've ever come to losing it on a bike.

So, as much as we rightly complain about some cagers, this one reacted to my mistake in milliseconds and saved my bacon. Oh, and I was truly an idiot. I had never had a close call before. For whatever reason I got overconfident and rode too fast. Simple as that. Bad judgment on my part. Scared the crap out of myself and my riding buddy behind me (and no doubt the driver of the truck). I am still kicking myself for being such an idiot. Wish I could apologize to the driver and thank him or her for saving my a$$. I am posting this as a warning against overconfidence and to satisfy my urge to apologize to as much of the motorcycling community as I can for being that guy who gives us all a bad name. I urge all of you to slow it down just a little when you're out there having fun. I know I will.

Now riding with renewed sense of humility and a lighter hand on the throttle...

Title: Re: I am an idiot -- saved by cager
Post by Serowbot on 08/21/11 at 22:07:06

Even bikers drive cages once in a while, ('cept for Digger)...
... or,... maybe he just didn't want to scuff up his paint... ;D...

Good reminder,... ride safe... ;)...

I had a great ride today, up the mountain to 9000ft... nice n' cool up there...
...then back down to 100'+ and humid....
Uhh!... hate goin' back down... :-?...

Title: Re: I am an idiot -- saved by cager
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/21/11 at 22:18:54

I am still kicking myself for being such an idiot.

& you are live & you arent hurt & your bike is okay & you learned something,, no need to kick youself, not this time,, do that again, tho, & you'll be replaying this time as you go thru it, If you get hurt, pulling the same stunt, THEN youll kick yourself, youll kick yourself for the rest o your life,, & rightfully so.
Ride safe,

Title: Re: I am an idiot -- saved by cager
Post by babyhog on 08/22/11 at 07:59:31

Yep, nice lesson learned, I'd thank the truck driver too. He's probably telling the story about the biker that he could have squished. LOL But I'm sure he knows that he saved you, and he feels good about that. So I'm happy for you. And glad you're ok. Pants still dry? LOL

Title: Re: I am an idiot -- saved by cager
Post by kimchris1 on 08/22/11 at 09:53:35

Glad to hear your near accident, was just that.
Now your aware and will be more cautious.
Nothing wrong with that. Take care and
good advice you passed along. :) kim

Title: Re: I am an idiot -- saved by cager
Post by drharveys on 08/22/11 at 13:26:53

Old saying -- we start out with a full cup of luck and an empty cup of experience. The trick is to fill the experience cup without emptying the luck cup.

Hopefully you have just added more to your experience cup than you drained from the luck cup!

8-)

Title: Re: I am an idiot -- saved by cager
Post by scottnj on 08/22/11 at 14:45:15

Thanks for the kind words. Much better not to have put myself in that situation, but at least I can learn from it and become a safer rider for it.

I like the luck cup/experience cup idea. Pretty sure I spilled a bunch of...whatever is in that "luck cup"...when I saw that big Ford grill in front of me. Let's hope some landed in the "experience cup." The rest ended up on my pants. At least I think that's what I think it was. :P

Title: Re: I am an idiot -- saved by cager
Post by Boofer on 08/22/11 at 18:44:30

I guess we all get saved by strangers occassionally. I just read in a local paper about a 22 yr old who died when his mc ran off the road in a curve. Nobody but him involved. Whether or not you believe in biblical principles, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is good to use on a daily basis. You had a learning experience with no rash to prove it. That's what I call a good day. :)

Title: Re: I am an idiot -- saved by cager
Post by scroop on 08/22/11 at 19:12:40

Glad you're still with us, scottnj, and thanks for posting. I'd rather learn from someone else's mistakes than from my own. I almost had a head-on with a cager 20 years ago when I failed to negotiate a turn - I ran us both off the road and into a gravel lot (there is a fence there now). I was dumb enough to have had a few (or more) beers before getting on the bike. I'm glad to say that I haven't had a drop of alcohol in the past fifteen years.

Title: Re: I am an idiot -- saved by cager
Post by ncron1103 on 08/22/11 at 23:59:29

hey scott want to meet up sometime and ride? im right down the road from i=you in georgetown ky

Title: Re: I am an idiot -- saved by cager
Post by scottnj on 08/23/11 at 06:00:20

ncron, it would be great to meet up and ride sometime. PM me some time when you're up for a little trip and maybe we can meet in the middle.

Scroop, thanks for sharing your story. Reinforces my decision never to ride if I've had any alcohol, even one drink. Glad to hear you turned your close call into something positive. :)

Title: Re: I am an idiot -- saved by cager
Post by runwyrlph on 08/23/11 at 09:59:23

that story of yours gave me a sick feeling in my stomach just picturing it!

glad you're ok, buddy!

Title: Re: I am an idiot -- saved by cager
Post by mmosel on 08/23/11 at 20:49:33

I almost crossed the line once by not leaning enough on a curve. I came waay too close to a car and it freaked me out big time. Took me a while to shake that off. After that I stopped riding while listening to music.

Title: Re: I am an idiot -- saved by cager
Post by Southpaw on 08/24/11 at 10:30:41

+1 on the luck and experience cup. Those are the experiences that stick with you. Glad you're safe and hope to hear of more experience posts than luck posts in the future! ;)

Rubber side down!

Dan