Well, it didn't take long...

I got my Maxim 750 yesterday, and I'm just grinning. Took it for a short spin last night, and for a longer ride this morning. I went into town and bought some gas. I was headed out of town when a car pulled over to the right and started to make a U-turn in front of me. I saw it coming and eventually the driver saw me, and it wasn't all that bad...but it sure didn't take long for my first close call and for me to be reminded in a concrete way that we are invisible. I'm glad it happened so soon so that I have that image in my head as I get back into this after a while without a ride.

As Sarge said in Hill Street Blues, "Let's be careful out there!"

 

Glad you are ok. Their is definitely no shortage of careless cagers out there.
I do a 34 mile round trip commute to work in the metro Detroit area on my XJ and learned quickly to drive defensively with a capital "D".

 

Drive Offensively!

 

I had my first close call on my first highway ride - I was in the left lane in moderately heavy traffic, and a car nearly moved his rear door into my front wheel from the middle lane. I 'stood' on the brakes, and he saw me and moved back. Then I blew by him - I'd rather have a guy like that behind me than in front of me.

My wife (who was following me in the car) later told me that she knew the guy who almost hit me - and had a serious beef with him from when they formerly worked together. So now she had an extra reason to want kick his ass.

 

Revisiting this thread, because despite my cheerful advice, I apparently didn't ride "offensively" enough.

Long story short, an SUV tried to merge into me from an onramp/transition lane. I hit the horn, he dropped back and clipped my rear fender. Then he veered across four lanes of traffic and ate the center divide.

After the initial contact, the rear end wobbled a bit, then straightened out -- I was actually kinda pleased with how the bike reacted. I didn't even go down. I pulled over to check for damage -- a broken turn signal stay and a bent license plate frame that I was looking to get rid of anyway.

And don't bother asking if I'm okay -- I'm sad to say that I was mortally wounded, and bled to death on the side of the freeway waiting for the ambulance to arrive. :wink:

Here's the aftermath:

 

Schmuck, glad you're okay!

 

Those of us who have been reading your posts were already convince you are not OK :lol:

Glad you survived your mortal wound, had to have been scary!

 

Loud pipes man! Loud pipes! They may not be able to see you, but when cruising on the big roads at 5-7K rpms they hear you and usually look for you if they can't see you. Loud pipes may be annoying to some, but they do save lives. As they say on Speed TV, "Keep the shiny side up".

 

Schmuckaholic,

Glad to see you made it through that in good shape.

 

It's the same in the UK. Many Car drivers have had my left boot in their door. it seems to make them wake up!.. Blind and comfortable! thats their problem!

 

[quote
. I pulled over to check for damage -- :[/quote]

I know what you pulled over to check and it wasn't damage. To check the same thing I would have. My underware!!!

 

Daum... More than a close call there.

I'd be checking my boxers too... and, like XJRat, I'd be inclined to give the DRIVER a good kick.

 

Schmuck, glad you survived!
From the Hurt Study: Motorcycle modifications such as those associated with the semi-chopper or cafe racer are definitely overrepresented in accidents. (this includes loud pipes!). Key here is being able to hear what is going on around you, not to overwhelm the environment with noise precluding that (the car stero effect).

 

P.S. I've got replacement parts for ya!

 

Glad you survived safely.... but your rear tire looks kinda bald. Hopefully it is just the lighting.... I don't mess with bad rubber on my bike.

 

I figured if you didn't, Len would. And he does.

It is -- I took that pic late at night, and the camera flash washed out the details some. I'm nowhere near the tread bars.

 

8O




Glad you made it through unscathed. Bikes and such are replaceable. You, on the other hand, are not.

 

Robert,
When I say "loud pipes" I don't mean to the point where it is obnoxious or deafening to the rider. About 100 Dbs. I have always been able to be fully aware of what's going on around me even when listening to my MP3 player along with the loud pipes. I just like the sport bike sound and people looking for me instead of not hearing me and running me over. Now my bike was extremely loud without restriction at the end of my muffler, even I couldn't take that much loudness. Take care.

WesleyJN1975

 

Schmuck,

Glad you're alright. If the cage hit you then crossed 4 lanes of traffic and hit the divider, was this a DUI case?

 

Dunno. I do know he was in the welcoming hands of the CHP shortly after the incident. As I was leaving he and one of the officers were standing near the back of one of the cruisers, and the officer had just pulled some sort of plastic case from the car. I imagine he was getting ready to run some sort of field sobriety test; I'll know more in about a week, as that's when the accident report will be ready.