Topic: The invisible motorcycle

[Mercuno]

So I am still new to motorcycles, only been riding for a month. Yesterday I was just a cruising along and was about to pass a coca-cola truck on the right on a two lane. I got right about at his rear bumper and he decided to come on over--at the last second he saw me and swerved back over. I was about to just grab onto the bars on his back and hitch a ride lol. I passed him and went on my way no harm no foul.

I go two more miles and then take a left onto another two lane where you go a quarter mile to a stop light. I usually just put it in nuetral and coast into stop light really slow and usually never have to stop.
I get about 10 feet from the back of an old 53 chevy truck that was stopped when this granny in the right lane decided that she wanted to move over into my lane and get behind that truck. Holy crap I thought Im about to wreck. I mashed levers and button and stuck my legs out to stop flintstones style. I couldnt have fit my fingers through the distance from my tank and here car.

HAHA I slapped the fender on her car a couple of times really hard and then just smiled and waved at her. I bet she will be on the lookout for us at least for a little bit now.

Your turn, Tell about your close calls..

[trueblue]

I had one where a d!ckhead pulled a u-turn in front of me from the other lane then stop in my lane and start yelling at me for nearly hitting his car, as he drove away a boot to the rear light on his ute settled the score I think

[dave500]

riding for a month?everyone is trying to kill you all the time,thats how you have to think,,maybe take a bike education course,if you ride carefree like when you drive a car you wont last man.

[Stev-o]

I ride my bike much different than I drive my car - I am very defensive on the bike. I always assume they don't see me or won't stop in time. I'm been very lucky, been hit twice by cars, once while just sitting at a red light. Did not get hurt either time.
Ride safe!

[srbakker]

Last year I was riding on a small two lane road near my house.  It's pretty tight with many blind corners.  I came around a corner only to come face to face with a truck hauling a boat cutting the corner in my lane.  He forced me off the road but fortunately I didn't drop the bike.  Interestingly, he stopped to help me out and apologized profusely - I haven't had many truly close calls, but still, it was the only time that's happened.

And yeah, to echo the thoughts of the other guys, ride like the other guy wants you dead.  Maybe consider an MSA course if you haven't already.

Good luck, welcome to motorcycling, enjoy the ride and stay alive!

[Dyrden]

Besides having technical riding skills, a good rider will do one thing average or poor riders wont.  He will anticipate what every other moving object will do around him.  If he cant anticipate well or loses focus then hopefully his technical skill or even luck will bail him out, but that only lasts so long...

[mjstone]

Mine happened just a couple of days ago.  An old fart pulled out of a restaurant, crossing in front of me.  I slammed on my brakes and knew I was going to t-bone him.  I thought maybe I could swerve around behind him and was about to do that when he stopped two thirds of the way across my lane.  I quickly changed to a swerve in front of him, but had to stay in my lane as there was traffic coming in the other lane.  Managed to just clip the front of his car with my right side saddlebag.  I came to a stop on the shoulder and hopped off to check the damage.  Noticed that he had pulled across the road, stopped on the shoulder and was running back to see if I was alright.  I was alright and the only thing wrong with the bike was some white paint and black rubber marks on my saddlebag trim.

He apologized profusely. Said his wife was yelling at him and it distracted him.  He didn't see me, but his wife did and yelled at him again which is why he stopped in the middle of the lane.
I was looking for possible trouble, but his abrupt pull out was to quick to stop for.  My ability to swerve around him successfully I attribute to the MSF class I took.  I definitely recommend take the MSF class, it could be a lifesaver.

MJ

[Mercuno]

Yeah I took the class and Im sure that helped save me. I am horrified most of the time so thats good and it keeps my adrenaline junkie status current. I just never would have beleived the 100's of stories till I saw firsthand just how crazy people really do drive and how little attention they pay to anything. +1 MSC

[weekend_junkie]

I've been riding in-and-around NYC for the last ump-teen years.  I get cut/pushed/ignored/honked all the time.  Expect it always.

"Death can come at any time, in any place, from any direction." ~ Weekend_Junkie, 2008

[Bob Wessner]

.. I usually just put it in nuetral and coast into stop light really slow and usually never have to stop.
I get about 10 feet from the back of an old 53 chevy truck that was stopped when this granny in the right lane decided that she wanted to move over into my lane and get behind that truck. Holy crap I thought Im about to wreck. I mashed levers and button and stuck my legs out to stop flintstones style. I couldnt have fit my fingers through the distance from my tank and here car.

Not to sound preachy, but coasting in neutral is not a good idea from a safety standpoint. You may need to escape a situation.

[Retro Rocket]

.. I usually just put it in nuetral and coast into stop light really slow and usually never have to stop.
I get about 10 feet from the back of an old 53 chevy truck that was stopped when this granny in the right lane decided that she wanted to move over into my lane and get behind that truck. Holy crap I thought Im about to wreck. I mashed levers and button and stuck my legs out to stop flintstones style. I couldnt have fit my fingers through the distance from my tank and here car.

Not to sound preachy, but coasting in neutral is not a good idea from a safety standpoint. You may need to escape a situation.

+1 Also, when in traffic and passing cars, look in their mirrors and if you can see them, they should see you, i said "should" but you can also see if they are looking at all. You need to ride like everyone is trying to kill you, then you might just make it. Your engine in neutral is plain noob stuff, how you going to accelerate out of a sticky situation with no power, also putting your legs out lessens the control you have over the bike, another noob mistake. Do yourself a favor and do a rider training course or update your life insurance.......Your call....

[Don R]

We all need to presume we are invisible, I've posted invisible stories here too.