Topic: maybe it was fate

[wardenerd]

On my way home on my 550 on a busy city street going 50 to 55 in a 45 passing cars but not being crazy. A yamaha passed me like I was stopped and we are talking about fairly heavy traffic.  He makes the next light and I stop.  Traffic stops moving and 20 minutes later when I get to the intersection there lays the Yamaha with the tank and seat missing and the front blasted half way off the bike.  A lady had made a left turn on a blinking arrow and the Yamaha could not miss her.  Hr died at the scene. 

[DustyRags]

Rough. It's a matter of odds. Sway those odds away from you wherever you can, but in the end, it could have been any of us.

[ChuckG750f1]

You make your own fate sometimes.  Sounds like a very reckless scenario to me.  Personally, I don't ride to die.

[dhall57]

When something like this happens it makes all kind of thoughts run through your mind., if it didn't I guess you wouldn't be human. Don't want anyone on a bike to get hurt or killed, even if they are riding like a idiot. But maybe if he was riding more senseable the accident could have been avoided. I guess no one will ever know. Wardenerd, glad you didn't lose your cool and take off after him when he flew past you. Doing this is one of he first things that enters my mind, and it's a split second decision. I either do or I don't, 99% of the time I don't and at 55 I want to live to be a lot older and see my grand kids grow up and I tell myself your smarter than that. But than the ole 1% well I guess everyone can figure that one out

[ChuckG750f1]

When something like this happens it makes all kind of thoughts run through your mind., if it didn't I guess you wouldn't be human. Don't want anyone on a bike to get hurt or killed, even if they are riding like a idiot. But maybe if he was riding more senseable the accident could have been avoided. I guess no one will ever know. Wardenerd, glad you didn't lose your cool and take off after him when he flew past you. Doing this is one of he first things that enters my mind, and it's a split second decision. I either do or I don't, 99% of the time I don't and at 55 I want to live to be a lot older and see my grand kids grow up and I tell myself your smarter than that. But than the ole 1% well I guess everyone can figure that one out

+10

[333]

I'm sorry, but I have no sympathy for idiots like that.  And their actions, regardless of whether they wreck or not, make ALL of us look bad.

[DustyRags]

I don't have sympathy, but I do feel bad for them, if that makes sense. It's not like he deliberately ran into a brick wall- he took a risk, and didn't make it. We all do that, every time we get on a bike (or a car, of a bicycle, or cross the street, or...) He or she just took more of a risk, tipped the odds a little less in their favor. I think they were dumb, and I'm not happy they make the rest of us look bad (or make my girlfriend flip out just a little bit more every time I hop on the CB), but I don't think they deserved to die for the stupidity.

[ChuckG750f1]

FWIW.  No matter what we ride, how long we've ridden or where we've been we all share in the inherent danger of what we love to do.  Those who ignore that danger are, sooner or later going to have it hit them hard.  Some of us learn early on and some of us don't.  Life is not a video game or a movie.  Luck has nothing to do with safe riding.

[333]

You can't compare the wreck of someone who is riding in a sensible manner, and a rider who is blatantly dangerous.  You're fooling yourself if you do.  This idiot caused this wreck, not the woman who turned left in front of his path.  I do feel for her.  I'm sure she would have had plenty of room if the guy was traveling at a reasonable rate of speed.

[ChuckG750f1]

You can't compare the wreck of someone who is riding in a sensible manner, and a rider who is blatantly dangerous.  You're fooling yourself if you do.  This idiot caused this wreck, not the woman who turned left in front of his path.  I do feel for her.  I'm sure she would have had plenty of room if the guy was traveling at a reasonable rate of speed.

+1

[Duke McDukiedook]

Speeding does kill sometimes.

[OldSchool_IsCool]

When you test the envelope, sooner or later your stamp will get canceled.

[Magilla]

Ride like a hero, die like an idiot.  It's sad but true.  I feel for all that we're involved including those who had to see it.

Riding a bike is dangerous. Believing that you have the right of way, at any time, is foolish.  You need to surrender the thought that you have the right of way and you will increase your chance of living to ride another day.  And then sometimes no matter how careful you are, your time can come.  This is true on a bike, in a car or walking.

My first ever trip to Laconia bike week (1988). I saw a woman in a car try to make a u turn on a state (non divided) highway.  The bike ahead of me never had a chance.  He hit the center post between the front and rear doors at full speed.  There was nothing he could have done differently.  He bleed to death in front of us.  It was a very sad thing to witness.

[333]

I have a problem with two things you said, Magilla.

Ride like a hero, die like an idiot.

The first half of that sentence glorifies the very same idiotic behavior we're talking about.  Nothing heroic about it.

Riding a bike is dangerous.

Here, I'm just being a bit pedantic, but the accident rate is a couple tenths of a percent better than auto accident rates.  It's the injury rate that is more severe, for the obvious reason.

Otherwise, I'm in total agreement.

[Duke McDukiedook]

Walking out your door in the morning is statistically dangerous.

[Markcb750]

When I was in the USAF it was said there are Old Pilots, there are Bold Pilots, but there no Old, Bold Pilots..The Airbase General addressed our MC safety class and called us "road fighter pilots ".

Six years ago I was passed on I485 in South Charlotte by a sport bike doing what I thought must be 100+.  A few miles further along, thru slowed traffic, I see he is scattered in the medium with someone administrating first aid and the police pulling up on the other side.  Local news reported that the police estimated he was doing 130 when he glanced off a car and into a guard rail where the sudden stop ended his life. 

I feel sorry for the parents,  I am thankful every day my three are still alive and well.

[Magilla]

I have a problem with two things you said, Magilla.

Ride like a hero, die like an idiot.

The first half of that sentence glorifies the very same idiotic behavior we're talking about.  Nothing heroic about it.

Riding a bike is dangerous.

Here, I'm just being a bit pedantic, but the accident rate is a couple tenths of a percent better than auto accident rates.  It's the injury rate that is more severe, for the obvious reason.

Otherwise, I'm in total agreement.

There is sarcasm implied when I say "riding like a hero".

[333]

Okay.  Sarcasm is such a hard concept in print.

[74cb750]

Man, I feel bad when someone dies on a bike.
One thing not mentioned: it IS possible the rider was driving in a safe manner
at the time of the accident.
peace,
michel

[ChuckG750f1]

Man, I feel bad when someone dies on a bike.
One thing not mentioned: it IS possible the rider was driving in a safe manner
at the time of the accident.
peace,
michel

The following quote by OP does not describe "safe".

On my way home on my 550 on a busy city street going 50 to 55 in a 45 passing cars but not being crazy. A yamaha passed me like I was stopped and we are talking about fairly heavy traffic.  He makes the next light and I stop.  Traffic stops moving and 20 minutes later when I get to the intersection there lays the Yamaha with the tank and seat missing and the front blasted half way off the bike.  A lady had made a left turn on a blinking arrow and the Yamaha could not miss her.  Hr died at the scene.

[heffay]

It also does not describe that he was at the scene... in fact, did not arrive to the scene until 20 minutes later.  It is possible, sounds unlikely though.

Man, I feel bad when someone dies on a bike.
One thing not mentioned: it IS possible the rider was driving in a safe manner
at the time of the accident.
peace,
michel

The following quote by OP does not describe "safe".

On my way home on my 550 on a busy city street going 50 to 55 in a 45 passing cars but not being crazy. A yamaha passed me like I was stopped and we are talking about fairly heavy traffic.  He makes the next light and I stop.  Traffic stops moving and 20 minutes later when I get to the intersection there lays the Yamaha with the tank and seat missing and the front blasted half way off the bike.  A lady had made a left turn on a blinking arrow and the Yamaha could not miss her.  Hr died at the scene.

[the technological J]

its all speculation any way.... he could have been walking his bike through the intersection

 i work near a traffic light and there are more accidents there because everybody is trying to beat the yellow light often because theyre turning and the other is trying to beat the red.... i take special caution at lights changing
ive seen that and a biker trying to turn beating traffic only to find hess in the wrong gear and get creamed

[Duke McDukiedook]

That sucks when you find out you didn't hit first. Luckily I find out quicky enough.