Topic: Clipped by a car coming to work this morning -CB750

[andy750]

So I usually ride in one of my 2 CB750s - either the cafe bike (CB750K2) or my long distance K4. This morning my girlfriend was coming in with me so I took the 2-up K4. Its a fast bike and pulls strong.

I was coming down a fast 2-lane section, through some traffic lights and there is a treacherous left hand-turn shortly after the lights. I was in the right-hand lane and no one in front of me. A car was making a left-turn and there was a white care behind it. I was accelerating towards them both when suddenly the white car lurches out from behind the turning car coming into my lane. I couldnt do anything (well except steer to the right slightly) and hit the car side-on, but since I had turned to the right (and lucky for me there is a bicycle lane between me and the large kerb) I had momentum to steer away from the car...I got in front of the car and pulled to the side....the car stopped behind me (both of us now in the bicycle lane) - I checked for damage - some white paint on the engine guard and a paint scuff on the exhaust. Apparently the car also touched both our legs (I was too busy reacting to notice). No damage.

The guy was decent enough and gave me his details/phone number and all in all it was just lucky it wasnt worse. Easy thing to happen and Im telling this here just to remind you to look out for people stuck behind cars turning in the left lane!! First time its happened to me in 18 years so odds are in my favour...although it only takes one time.

cheers
Andy

   

[sparty]

Glad you and the girlfriend are okay Andy.  I was afraid to read the post as I feared it would be worse.  We can be really safe, it is the other yahoos we need to fear.

Art

[bill3749]

You are one lucky dude. I just got my 78 cb750k running about 2 weeks ago. I haven't riden in a long time so I'm being extra cautious. 2 times over the last week-end I had people just pull out right in front of me to the degree that I had to come to a full stop to keep from T-boning them. They just give you a sh--y grin and keep going. I'm going shopping for a truck horn. At least I can try and break their eardrums.

[azuredesign]

Hey Andy,
Having just spoken with you, I'm really glad you're both OK. I don't know if you remember but coming back on 110 from Clinton on Sunday, there was an old white van in front of us that turned off about a mile from the center of town, motioning that he wanted to speak to me. He had been making hand signals that I thought meant my directional was on, but it wasn't so. I didn't know what he was excited about, until he flagged me down. What he was concerned about was that my headlight was not on, and he was worried that the bulb was out. It was a very bright day but I turned it on, mostly to appease him. I had been riding without the lights on, as I was concerned that the charging system might not be able to handle the load with the GPS I'd installed, but also was priding myself that I could anticipate dangerous situations without offering the extra visual clue to drivers. My other bike is newer and there is no off switch. I think it was kind of a novely, kind of like riding without a helmet, which I enjoy but know is tempting fate more than usual.

Reading your post and speaking with you reminded me how delusional I was. We really need all the help we can muster to let folks see us, and riding with lights is a no brainer, er, well maybe it'll help keep the situation from becoming a no brainer!

Thanks for the heads up. I have to say, I was impressed with how calm you were on the phone. I think I would have had to go someplace and vent for a bit.
Best,
Ben

[UnCrash]

Glad to hear that you both are ok.

That's really scary.  Thankfully there was that bike lane to accomodate you!

A great reminder to be extra vigilant and observant and never trust another driver.

Cheers,

Ben

[S-Dog]

Jeez.... Good to hear you came out ok... especially with a VIP passenger  ... I am sure your experience helped you avoid a potentially disastrous situation.

Generally unless you are a hotdogger or are VERY inexperienced, its the other guy that needs to be watched.

And Ben,  Keep those lights on!!!! Any little bit helps.

I ride with my high beams on during the day .(except when riding in groups.) Just for that little extra visual.

[gerhed]

--Good to remind us about that specific type of situation--Thanks.
Glad you're O.K.

[ekim98]

--Good to remind us about that specific type of situation--Thanks.
Glad you're O.K.

+1

[azuredesign]

Hey Scott,

The hi beam also helped me to see you better in the mirror while I was leading the Sunday ride. It's actually a pretty good idea even in a group day ride I think.

[Raul CB750K1]

After reading the thread title I expected a worst outcome; seems that it could have much worse. In these situations is when experience pays out, as the escape manouvres has to happen automatically, as if ingrained in your brain, and the only way to do that is to accumulate experience.

Furthermore, after the scary picture of your rear rim after the pothole encounter, seems to me that you are one kind of a lucky guy...  


I'm very glad you and your girlfriend are OK.

[Gordon]

Same goes for when you're riding in the city, in the left lane, and there's a bus stopped in the right lane picking up/dropping off passengers.  I automatically assume that at least one car stuck behind that bus is going to swerve into my lane to get around it, so I always cover the brakes with my hand and foot and move to the far left side of the lane.  Just those two little precautions have saved me several times.

[jtb]

Andy, glad you are both OK.  I never start shaking until long after an incident like that, but when I do, I have to sit down until it's over.  Thanks for the reminder to be ever vigilant.
John

[obnoxshuz]

Glad to hear that you're both OK...

[andy750]

Thanks for all the kind words. I just talked with my g/f and she told me that as the car lunged at us, she had knocked on the window to alert the driver who at that point then swerved in the opposite direction. So it was a good thing we both swerved in opposite directions to each other!  . She also mentioned that the car hit both our legs and the engine guard (which I knew about). Good thing to have an engine guard  .

Anyway its good to discuss these things and remind ourselves that we dont always get seen (even with headlight on!).
Ride hard and safe!

cheers
Andy

[Master Ted]

Great score you made on those Hagon shocks on ebay this AM. I saw it was you and decided to let it go...

Make the bastage that raked you pay for the new shocks.  

[andy750]

Thanks Staphcar but I didnt get the shocks - reserve not met  . Appreciate the gesture in any case. However I did want the dyna coils/plugs from the same seller but they ended up going for $177!! Too much for me.

Im still looking for "new" shocks.

cheers
Andy

[Master Ted]

Thanks Staphcar but I didnt get the shocks - reserve not met  . Appreciate the gesture in any case. However I did want the dyna coils/plugs from the same seller but they ended up going for $177!! Too much for me.

Im still looking for "new" shocks.

cheers
Andy

Bummer... I didn't notice the guy had a reserve on the shocks.

[Klark Kent]

well handled on both you and the GF's parts, glad you are A-OK and that the rubber stayed south.  Your efforts where much better spent than if you where frantically honking or highbeeming the douchebag. a wise man recently told me that trying to be visible to most cagers, through a freeway blaster i was planning on installing on my bike, is like teaching a pig to sing.  something about it being a waste of your time (precious seconds to get out of a bad situation shouldnt be wasted) and it annoys the pig.  anticipating the pigs seems like the only way to stay upright.  glad you held your own andy
-KK

[mick750F]

   Jeebers Andy! I'm glad you and May Lee are okay. The title of the thread caused me to gasp when I saw it. Were you on Brookline Ave. or somewhere else around the medical center? That entire area is crazy with traffic all the time between the hospitals and schools. I'm going to be at Brigham Circle either Wed. or Thu. night to deliver some doors and then hang out to watch the game. I should have time to buy you a beer to help calm your nerves before doing all that. What time are you off work?

Mike

[andy750]

No it was by the Arboretum/Faulkner Hospital on Center Street. KK was right in that there was no time to use a horn or anything, just time to react. Of course once I got to the side of the road and got off the bike, and helmet off I did signal for the guy to get out of the car.....but as I said he was good about it, admitted he was in the wrong and gave me his details. No harm done this time. I used my usual phrase though..."its people like you, who kill people like me"......sadly he agreed.

I can be off work anytime Mike -usually after 6.30pm -  and always up for a beer so just let me know when is good for you. Where are you thinking of going? Email me!

cheers
Andy

[Sam Green Racing]

Pleased you're both OK, it's not beam me up Scotty time yet

Sam.

[azuredesign]

Pleased you're both OK, it's not beam me up Scotty time yet

Sam.

Gee Sam it kind of sounds comforting when you say it like that!

[Sam Green Racing]

Andy is from Scotland Ben, hence Scotty

Sam.

[andy750]

I appreciate the comments Sam 

cheers
Andy

[MoTo-BunnY]

Glad you are OK!  Too many dolts preoccupied with stuff more important than respecting the road and other drivers - stuff like shaving a few seconds off their transit time, taking a cell phone call, texting in traffic, adjusting the stereo. . . .  much more important stuff.   

You are one lucky dude. I just got my 78 cb750k running about 2 weeks ago. I haven't riden in a long time so I'm being extra cautious. 2 times over the last week-end I had people just pull out right in front of me to the degree that I had to come to a full stop to keep from T-boning them. They just give you a sh--y grin and keep going. I'm going shopping for a truck horn. At least I can try and break their eardrums.

I would highly recommend the Stebel Nautilus air horn for waking people the f**k up. . . .lol. Though it wouldn't have helped in this accident scenario, I have used mine on several occasions to get drivers about to pull into my path and looking the other way, to NOT cream me (with just a 'friendly' tap on the horn). I also gave a good blast to a dumb lady gabbing on her cell phone that started to drift over with no lookie/no signals while parallel to me. Her reaction that she thought she was about to be run over by a semi or something, was gold.   

These can be a bit spendy but I got my all chrome one off of feeBay for like $39.00, so price around. Its an air horn with its own mini compressor so you will need a relay and some heavy wire to hook it up, as it will draw a bit of current.