FJR nearly takes out R6

[FJRBluesman]

Ironic after reading Big-D's posts on NHTSA motorcycle accidents.

I was riding home today nice weather, typical June gloom in SoCal, nice and cool, I'm only a couple miles form home riding on the street, not even up to the posted 35mph speed limit, and I see a biker brother on a newer R6 in a parking lot getting ready to merge into traffic, into my lane. I figure I'll greet him with a friendly wave as I go by, he looked right at me, and much to my horror as I was just pulling my hand off the throttle to wave the guy pulls right out in front of me!

I go from friendly fellow biker dude to emergency evasive maneuver and braking dude. The guy never looked back and quickly turned right on the next street which was only 50 feet further. I didn't even have time to give him both barrels of the mighty Stebel Magnum horns.

I should have thought more about his behavior as he was stepping along with his bike going down the driveway transition, maybe nervously perhaps? He also made the turn on to the other street real jerky as if very unsteady.

I'm not sure whether to chaulk this up to his total inexperience or just a plain :******: or both. I expect cagers to do that, not other riders. One would think a new motorcyclist would be over cautious. Lets hope he doesn't wind up as, or create a NHTSA stat.

 

[FZ/FJR Mike]

Glad your skills allowed you to not become a stat. How was the young squid attired?

 

[Tenchi]

Probably realised the FJR had him out gunned in all aspects and got out of there before you gave him a swift kick in the pants Well done in keeping it rubber side down.

 

[madmike2]

I'm not sure whether to chaulk this up to his total inexperience or just a plain :******: or both.

Yep....oblivious! Was he talking to his girlfriend on his cellphone? :blink:

 

[FJRBluesman]

Glad your skills allowed you to not become a stat. How was the young squid attired?

The guy had a real nice looking gunmetal gray and black Alpinestars leather jacket, helmet, jeans and tennies.

The other funny thing I'll add to the post is, he looked right at me just before he pulled out.

 

[Docholiday]

Glad you didn't have a closer meeting with the squid. You just never know where the next test to your skills will come from. Happy that you were up to the challenge.

 

[Knifemaker]

He may have taken your wave as a signal for him to "go ahead"...you took your hand off the throttle so he thought you were slowing down to allow this?

I have this happpen all the time with cagers, first time I seen someone have it happen with a fellow 2 wheeler.

Shows again...don't trust anyone they ALL are out to get you..

KM

 

[FJRBluesman]

He may have taken your wave as a signal for him to "go ahead"...you took your hand off the throttle so he thought you were slowing down to allow this?
I have this happpen all the time with cagers, first time I seen someone have it happen with a fellow 2 wheeler.

Shows again...don't trust anyone they ALL are out to get you..

KM

KM - I never thought of that. My hand really never got much off the bar or close to a wave or signal to him; however, you bring up a good point I never thought of. It'll make me think twice of moving my hands around someone in a merging situation.

 

[DailyCommuter]

Ironic after reading Big-D's posts on NHTSA motorcycle accidents.

I should have thought more about his behavior as he was stepping along with his bike going down the driveway transition, maybe nervously perhaps? He also made the turn on to the other street real jerky as if very unsteady.

Maybe he was stealing it..... LOL JK. But seriously I think it was more likely he thought you were letting him go.... Careful with that.

You could have the same situation coming up to a parking lot or sidestreet... and go to scratch your ass and some one thinks thats their signal to go.... :angry: Bunch of retard's

I am getting to the point where I want to carry a frigging heavy 3 foot chain with me on the commute home. Getting sick of having to "defend" :assassin: my lane spot and my safety buffer in front and behind me.

I think we need to start a push for some type of legislation that makes it a ticketable offense to be within 75 feet of the rear of a biker. after all no way they can stop as quick as us. I know impossible to enforce but it would be nice. I also think every cage type vehicle should have to have the close up spot mirrors installed from the factory. I have an F-350 that has huge rugular mirrors and the close up fish eye type below them. I know I can see everything next to me and behind me. But I still look over my shoulder changing lanes on the highway. Unfortunately the rest of the world doesn't. I can just tell who has their mirrors adjusted properly as I approach them, You can either see the driver or you cant. I cant believe how many people drive with their mirrors all f'ed up. The ones that REALLY PISS ME OFF. tell me if you've seen this one..... someone must have folded their mirrors in the last time they parked and forgot to unfold them!?!? And yet there they are driving next to me at 75 MPH. I mean I know they cant reach the passenger side one while driving, but the drivers side?!?!? reach out your frigging window and fix it ******! Don't worry about the passenger side mirror, I'll get that one for you as I go by! Boy they hate it when I do that!

 

[Checkswrecks]

Glad that you had your act together and nothing was damaged.

You know that other thread about who you see that instantly sets off your red CAUTION alarm?

An R6 or a Gixxer does it for me. Don't get me wrong, they are great bikes and a lot of experienced people do ride them.

But those two seem to be a magnet that 17 year-olds with a fresh license can afford!

 

[Geezer]

My guess is that the kid was just inexperienced. Either he actually didn't see you or he incorrectly thought that there was enough room for him to merge. I don't know if you have ever ridden a sport bike, but I can tell you that it is not easy to get your head up and look over your shoulder with a full helmet, a stiff riding jacket, and your weight on the bars until you get your muscles accustomed to it.

I'm not trying to make excuses for the kid's mistake, just thinking it through. Good thing he didn't pull out in front of another inexperienced rider.

 

[eeksnake]

Nice save, could have been much worse.

Just reinforces my belief that I should be wary of ALL while riding.

 

[Silver Penguin]

My guess is that the kid was just inexperienced. Either he actually didn't see you or he incorrectly thought that there was enough room for him to merge. I don't know if you have ever ridden a sport bike, but I can tell you that it is not easy to get your head up and look over your shoulder with a full helmet, a stiff riding jacket, and your weight on the bars until you get your muscles accustomed to it.
I'm not trying to make excuses for the kid's mistake, just thinking it through. Good thing he didn't pull out in front of another inexperienced rider.

+1 That's my opinion too. Target fixation. He saw you, he liked you and headed straight towards you. The bike probably had more control of the manoever than the rookie rider did. IMHO, that's far too much bike for a beginner to be trying to ride.

Jill

 

[El Toro]

Arnold the Gubinator had an accident a couple of years ago on his motorcycle with side car. His son was in the side car if I remember right.

He just kept saying that he looked right into the eyes of the woman who pulled out in front of him. He knew she had made eye contact, and yet she came out anyway.

I guess the lesson is that, just like in most sports, don't look at the head fake, look at the body motion.

And as for waving by taking a hand off the throttle, is that some kinda regional thing? Never seen it in 41 years of riding on the street. My first reaction was that he thought you were giving him the high sign to go ahead, and slowing down to accmodate him.

Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men... :dntknw:

 

[Scab]

Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men... :dntknw:

The Shadow knows...

 

[Open Fire]

I guess the lesson is that, just like in most sports, don't look at the head fake, look at the body motion.

Amen....

Bluesman- nice save on your part.

 

[MojaveFJR]

Nice save.

Most cagers will look right at you as well before they pull out in front of you.

odds are he is a n00b and doesn't know how to turn that sportbike.