Topic: Co-worker and fellow rider + idiot in a car = not so good outcome

[Rocker]

Wednesday morning a coworker of mine as riding his FJR1300 to work. He has had the bike a little more then 2 months. You can see it here. Top pic, blue bike on right.

http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=23307.msg239642#msg239642

We was turning left off of a highway ramp. A man that had the red light didn't even brake and slammed right into the back right of his bike. He lost control and (as a good rider always should) he instinctively let go of the bike. He went down and slid across the road. His adrenaline must have been pumping because he said he jumped right up, ran to his bike, and tried to pick it up. A few seconds later the pain kicked in. He was wearing a full face and upper body armor but still had some nice road rash on his arms and back. His visor shattered and his helmet is toast. Just about all the plastics will have to be replaced as well as right side controls, mirror, luggage cases, pegs, and more.

I talked to him today and the soreness has kicked in. He is dopped up on pain meds. The doc said he may have fractured his right foot but he had not heard back from the doc when I talked to him.

Any wreck you can walk away from is a good one but man.....talk about 10 on the pucker scale!

[Wheelhorse77]

You know there are all of these high fines for hitting construction workers because of vunerability; what about motorcyclist?

I think for this instance-- the driver ought to be fined 10,000 dollars. People need to be more aware. A few examples made and people will open their eyes more.

I also think that cell phone use of any kind behind the wheel ought to be banned as well. People can't pay attention as it is, why allow any sort of distraction other than the radio?

[techy5025]

Sounds all too familiar. The first thing I did after my bif was to try to pick up the bike (why is it we think of the bike first?). The dinged shoulder wouldn't allow that, but help was soon there.

I'm sure glad he is up and about. The rash will go away in 3/4 weeks..hope the foot is OK. The bad parts will go away with the liberal use of another type of plastic.....hopefully from the guy that hit him. 

Jim

[mark]

I also think that cell phone use of any kind behind the wheel ought to be banned as well.

Agreed.

People can't pay attention as it is, why allow any sort of distraction other than the radio?

Some drivers cannot even handle that much distraction.

A buddy at the body shop actually  had a customer ask him to take the new antenna off the estimate "because the radio made her run into things".

Happy trails.

[TwoTired]

A buddy at the body shop actually  had a customer ask him to take the new antenna off the estimate "because the radio made her run into things".

That's more intelligence and awareness than I give most drivers credit for having.     Most seem to be intermittent passengers.

[ProTeal55]

I almost got killed yesterday on the Ducati, as a guy next to me wanted to be in the same lane I was.
I mean you cant blame him, he was eating a hamburger and on his cellphone (so he must be important  and hungry)..

[HITMAN]

It would be one thing to have someone pull out, turn, slam on their brakes or even change lanes on you.  But it's a totally different game to get hit from behind...  Surprise!!!

I agree that they should stiffen fines for the vunerability of 'bikers' but in a governmental paranoia opinion I think they use our statistics as a baseline contol study.  Look at you local areas and see what they have done for bicyclists and pedestrians.

[DarkRider]

thats insane!! ...the trucker was more concerned for you then the idiot that caused the mishap..

[Wheelhorse77]

Last week a cube van merged into my lane (before the solid white line broke) he merged so fast I barely had time to react. Got pushed into the side of a FREIGHTLINERS HOOD. YES I made contact with the hood!. (just with my arm, but man was that close) The Freightliner driver slammed on his brakes for fear of running me over, the cube van driver never knew what he did, never once looked in his mirror. (that is until I caught up to him and expressed myself with my middle finger)

That's when you wish you had a collapsible baton.

[Wheelhorse77]

there are some awareness programs, but I do believe states need tougher laws against incidents with motorcycles.

http://www.smsa.org/motorcycle_awareness/

http://home.att.net/~ericmlarson/may/

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/PEOPLE/outreach/safesobr/18qp2/mcycle.htm

http://www.reachawareness.org/

Neat proclimation

http://www.nysgtsc.state.ny.us/mc-proc.htm

[DarkRider]

Usually in situations like this friends of mine would react by smacking the offending cars mirror hard enough for it to "break" away on cars with that style of mirror (im refering to the type that swing one way or another when they are struck to prevent them being ripped off) though i have heard of one incident on a group ride where the lead rider did his best homer choking bart impersonation after smashing the guys window in with his armored fist. The guys and girls i ride with are sick of the #$%* brought up by idiot drivers out there...there is a very good chance that im probably going to add to my own protection with armored gloves and possably a collapsable baton...

[Wheelhorse77]

Usually in situations like this friends of mine would react by smacking the offending cars mirror hard enough for it to "break" away on cars with that style of mirror (im refering to the type that swing one way or another when they are struck to prevent them being ripped off) though i have heard of one incident on a group ride where the lead rider did his best homer choking bart impersonation after smashing the guys window in with his armored fist. The guys and girls i ride with are sick of the #$%* brought up by idiot drivers out there...there is a very good chance that im probably going to add to my own protection with armored gloves and possably a collapsable baton...

The only problem is that you are technically taking the law into your own hands because no physical damage other than the load in your pants has been done to you.

You could write common sense on your baton and then tell the office that you were simply teaching them common sense, sometimes you have to beat it into your students LOL.

[DarkRider]

Lol thet is a good point however...the streets have gotten so bad here that us riders do have to take the law in our own hands just to stay alive. and you better believe it if someone even makes contact with my bike with their stupidity they will be learning some common sense. There was a story on here about a rider who smashed the #$%* out of some kids car with his lid because he almost got run down as the kid came flyin out of a parking lot...Ironicly i have had a couple close calls like that..at least managing to keep the bike under control and get it around the front of the car before i became a hood ornament...

[Wheelhorse77]

that's where a complaint system needs to be for pressing charges. Some communities give parents speed guns to report offenses, well, it ought to be that you take down a plate number and report reckless driving.

It amazes me how fast people feel the need to go. I like to go out on the wide open roads by my house and I could be cruisin 65-70 in a 55 and people go flying past me. I caught one guy whe was doing over a ton which is reckless driving. thankfully being on open road they have plenty of room to go around me. I like to enjoy my ride and don't feel the need to get everywhere I am planning to go in record time.

[Bob Wessner]

Here, regardless of the vehicle, once you are 16 mph over the limit, you can be charged with reckless driving.