Bikers Korner...........

Just got my bike back from the shop Saturday.

Was splitting eastbound last Thursday on the 10, some jackass in a truck in the #2 lane drifted into me, the impact basically exploded his left mirror and signal, knocked the right handguard down and out of place (which saved me broken fingers), ruptured the front upper brake reservoir line in a cloud of brake fluid, deflected the bike right, over-corrected left, bounced off a car in the #1 lane and - much to my surprise - recovered control before smacking into any of the things I could have smacked into, post-collision.

This is why practice is so vital. When I first started riding I would have found that departure unrecoverable, and I might well be in traction right now.
 
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From someone who has been there, it could have been so much worse than that. I remember one occasion, many years ago, when my 76 Honda 550 had a disagreement with a 67 Lincoln Continental.
 
Oh, yeah, it had real ugly-potential. The first impact basically acted as a steering input, causing a sharp yaw to the right. I was fortunate that wasn't a full departure, right there.

Of course there was that time a doofus in a Pontiac *did* cause a full departure and crash, also on the 10, but that's another story...
 
Just washed the Valk:

CleanBike.jpg
 
Sad Max said:
Just got my bike back from the shop Saturday.

Was splitting eastbound last Thursday on the 10, some jackass in a truck in the #2 lane drifted into me, the impact basically exploded his left mirror and signal, knocked the right handguard down and out of place (which saved me broken fingers), ruptured the front upper brake reservoir line in a cloud of brake fluid, deflected the bike right, over-corrected left, bounced off a car in the #1 lane and - much to my surprise - recovered control before smacking into any of the things I could have smacked into, post-collision.

This is why practice is so vital. When I first started riding I would have found that departure unrecoverable, and I might well be in traction right now.
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Yikes. That's sounds pretty frightening... Glad you're ok... :beer:
 
When these things happen I find that I have my hands too full, to be frightened.

And afterwards, when it's over, I'm not frightened, I'm angry.
 
Don't hate me for saying this but that's the chances we take when we split lanes........................................because we live life to the fullest.....and we take chances.......living life in the .....fast lane...in between....sort of?
 
Sad Max said:
Just got my bike back from the shop Saturday.

Was splitting eastbound last Thursday on the 10, some jackass in a truck in the #2 lane drifted into me, the impact basically exploded his left mirror and signal, knocked the right handguard down and out of place (which saved me broken fingers), ruptured the front upper brake reservoir line in a cloud of brake fluid, deflected the bike right, over-corrected left, bounced off a car in the #1 lane and - much to my surprise - recovered control before smacking into any of the things I could have smacked into, post-collision.

This is why practice is so vital. When I first started riding I would have found that departure unrecoverable, and I might well be in traction right now.
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but how do you practice for that? nooo all kidding aside ....man you are lucky to be alive! how fast were you going?
 
Practice means track exercise to keep the feel of the bike's handling under hard braking and acceleration (anti-lock brakes on a bike are f'ing panic-inducing before you get used to them) and daily play in traffic to maintain riding technique and situational awareness.

You always have to have your out. Technique and situational awareness are the main part of what determines whether or not you'll actually get to take it when you need to.

I'd describe the impact as high-speed, +/- 40 mph.
 
A "short" trip

A "short" trip

Quiet in here lately...
Just got back from a little trip... About 5000 miles in seven days or so.

Left Ocala, FL for Grand Forks, ND to visit a friend. And since I was in the neighborhood I made a quick detour to Teddy Roosevelt Park North - the view of the Bad Lands are spectacular - riding US2 across the northern part of ND through Minot.

After the park I kept on going a few miles south to Sturgis, SD, and the Black Hills. I think I rode every paved road in the Black Hills before ending up at the Crazy Horse Memorial. And that was awesome. If you haven't seen it yet, go. It's worth it.

Ok, then I hit the "Go Home" button on the GPS and let it guide me home. Had a blast. Had two headlight bulbs burn out. H7 single element bulbs. Danged near 40 bucks for a two-pack. Otherwise nothing. No accidents, no incidents, no near misses, no deers, no nothing. Just a great trip :)
 
Networker said:
Quiet in here lately...
Just got back from a little trip... About 5000 miles in seven days or so.

Left Ocala, FL for Grand Forks, ND to visit a friend. And since I was in the neighborhood I made a quick detour to Teddy Roosevelt Park North - the view of the Bad Lands are spectacular - riding US2 across the northern part of ND through Minot.

After the park I kept on going a few miles south to Sturgis, SD, and the Black Hills. I think I rode every paved road in the Black Hills before ending up at the Crazy Horse Memorial. And that was awesome. If you haven't seen it yet, go. It's worth it.

Ok, then I hit the "Go Home" button on the GPS and let it guide me home. Had a blast. Had two headlight bulbs burn out. H7 single element bulbs. Danged near 40 bucks for a two-pack. Otherwise nothing. No accidents, no incidents, no near misses, no deers, no nothing. Just a great trip :)
Click to expand...
NICE! SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT TRIP, I NEVER BEEN OUT THERE... WILL GO SOME DAY.:thumbup::beer:
 
Well boys, it's been years (decades actually) since I rode. And, truth be told, there really isn't any money in the kitty for a bike at the moment. But I have some prospects that might pay off before next spring, so I was gonna reward myself with a bike. I'm looking to spend about 3K (or less if possible) to get a cruiser. I've been checking the local CL ads and I can get a used Venture/Shadow/Vulcan for around that with a reasonable amount of miles.

But, it's been so long since I rode that I'm looking for suggestions. I'm 6'2" and 200lbs, and I want something that can also handle my wife on the back (about 130lbs)

It's a long way off, but I gotta think about something this winter....

Any suggestions?
 
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