Thanks be for Lee Parks/FJR accel

[ngarider]

So, I'm sitting at a light this morning waiting to turn left in a protected lane. I'm sitting in first gear, holding the brake. I had been sitting for, oh, 45 seconds or a minute.

Now, the rear of my bike lights up pretty good. In addition to the stock lights, I've got an E52 with AdMore's LED kit:

I typically keep an eye on my mirrors, and in this case glad I trained myself to do so. I see a fairly old BMW cage coming up behind me. Fast. Not slowing appropriately. Surely the hideously ugly asian chick will find the binders and stop. Still not happening. ****.

In front of me are 2 cars. The first in line has blocked the left path up to the front. The 2nd car is over to the right, and I have a clear path (and, the second car left alot of space in front of him).

Tire squealing from behind. Oh ****. Time to go.

Light just turned green (protected arrow). Ah ****.

A snap decision was made, clutch and throttle engage and I pull up on the left of the guy in front. Just as I clear his rear bumper, impact. BMW chick smacks the back on car in front of me, HARD. He's already let off the brake and was moving forward a bit. The impact pushed #2 car right, blocking me from zipping in front of him.

Car #1 decides to u-turn, and instead of finding myself going with the flow next to car #1, I'm staring at his drivers door.

Go-Go total control. I managed to swing my head left, hard, and execute a u-turn INSIDE of car #1's u-turn (he swung wide, 2 lanes in each dir, he picked the right lane to end up in). Good thing I practice 1-lane u-turns.

Make the u-turn, look back in the mirror and see car #2 now rear ended by BMW AND into a car in the lane immediately to the right.

Anyone know how to extract a GenII seat from my ***?

Moral of the story: ALWAYS pay attention to your mirrors, and be ready at stop lights. Had I been sitting in neutral, I'd probably be out a bike right now.

 

[cougar8000]

I have been preaching power of a U-Turn in MSF for years. Always saying that it will earn you a cool points. No one listens. Now, I got a real story to tell. Thank you very much for sharing and glad you have been practicing.

 

[gasportrider]

Car #1 decides to u-turn, and instead of finding myself going with the flow next to car #1, I'm staring at his drivers door.
Go-Go total control. I managed to swing my head left, hard, and execute a u-turn INSIDE of car #1's u-turn (he swung wide, 2 lanes in each dir, he picked the right lane to end up in). Good thing I practice 1-lane u-turns.

Make the u-turn, look back in the mirror and see car #2 now rear ended by BMW AND into a car in the lane immediately to the right.

Anyone know how to extract a GenII seat from my ***?

Moral of the story: ALWAYS pay attention to your mirrors, and be ready at stop lights. Had I been sitting in neutral, I'd probably be out a bike right now.

Dom,

You're a MSF instructor's STAR Student! This was a very COOOOOOOL move on your part to be watchful, aware, ready, prepared, and PRACTICED in a manuever that saved your bike and likely saved YOU from serious injury. Congrads on the move!! I guess you were just making sure you will be in great shape for the trip to EOM.

 

[Sherman]

Did you stick around and explain it to the LEOs? It sounds like you are ready for Death Race 2000.

Congratulations on your escape.

 

[ngarider]

Thanks Steve, man I just didn't want to wad the bike before EOM. What a schmuck I'd look like pulling up on a goldwing! LOL!

Sherman: no. I was not involved in the collision, and forced myself to just ride away. I wanted to go throw that stupid **** into traffic, but, jail would have made me late for work.

And the other moral (thanks cougar) is to practice often.

 

[Toecutter]

Awesome save!

A vast majority of "riders" would have been plowed, so consider yourself an Ace, and stay on that game you've built!

Standing :clapping:

Coming to a town near you! (Scroll down) More to be added next year....

 

[RiderCoach Lar]

[SIZE=14pt]Well done!!! [/SIZE] :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

....and thanks for sharing the story. It's great to hear this kind of story about heads-up riding and good solid execution of critical motorcycling skills, which have obviously become second-nature to you. Like cougar8000, I too will be sharing your story with my students as a perfect example of why good habits and well-practiced skills are key to survival on two wheels. Sometimes you just don't have time to think; all you can do is rely on your skills and habits and react .