Certainteed Outstanding HDF Member
2008 HD Sportster

tell people this: if the damned thing kills me, know that it saved me first. besides, i'd rather die while in the process of living my life... rather than die in the process of living your life.

Perfect, mind if I pass along this reply?

 

not at all

 

Are you freakin' serious? Also, how do you know he didn't take a safety course.

 

Sooner or later we're all gonna have something happen while riding. It may or may not end up with something broken (human or machine) or just a close call, but it has be used as a learning experience. I'm sure from now on your friend will wait until all traffic that could be used to kill him has come to a stop.
It's like being told by people who just want to be negative that once you have an accident in your car you need to stop driving.
If he still wants to ride he should do it, just with a heightened sense of awareness.

 

YES, I'm freaking serious. More often than not, it's rider error that causes accidents. Yes, the woman was no doubt in the wrong, but if I trusted every cager at a stop sign, I'd have been dead years ago and so would you.

By rights, OP's buddy should have seen the woman in the car LONG before he got to the intersection. As he got closer and realized that she was "slow rolling" through the intersection, seeing her tires still moving, he should have adjusted accordingly - slowed, stopped, swerved around, etc., etc.

The reason I mentioned the riders course, is because that's part of what they teach you. You always scan 2, 4 and 12 seconds ahead so that you know what's coming up. 12 seconds is a long-*** time and gives you plenty of opportunity to adjust. It just doesn't sound like his buddy did that.

No, you were pretty specific in your OP - this only makes it worse. What you described IS a slow roll (no stopping at all). Now you throw oncoming turning traffic into the mix - even more reason for him to be on his toes. It may not have legally been his fault, but from what you describe, it sure sounds like he could have avoided it.

And, don't get all bent outta shape here. You started a thread and asked for opinions... didn't you?

When a rider loses concentration then accidents happen and people automatically assume that motorcycles are dangerous. Then, bikes in general get a bad rap. So, by not paying attention, the guy had an accident that probably could have been avoided. Rather he just proved to his loved ones that what they are telling him is true. Let's face it, we all know people who ride like asses and get in accidents. At least the ones that I know, are ALWAYS blaming someone else. Just so we're clear, I'm in NO WAY saying OP's buddy was riding like an ***. I'm just saying that some people, based on their riding style, are just statistics waiting to happen.

 

You said it all when ya said, 'non bikers'. They have no idea. Hope your bro gets better quick and back up. Once its in ya blood, it never leaves.

 

I hope your friend gets healed and strong and back on two wheels soon. Riding is dangerous. So are a lot of things. I won't live in a bubble. We can do everything possible to think, see, react etc but we can't have total control of every situation 100%. He is the one to think about it over and over. He'll know IF there was something he could have done differently. Maybe so...maybe not.
I wish him well.

 

You don't understand you can hurt or killed on these things before you ever get on one your a damned fool and dense one too boot . His problem let him deal with it he'll either get another bike or he won't .

 

True, the most common accident is failure to negotiate a turn. Typically the result of not understanding how counter steering works (inexperienced rider) or an experienced rider going into a turn too hot.

The second most common accident is failure to yield and while having your head on a swivel will help, it does not mean that you will be able to see everything all at once. Assuming that the rider could have prevented the accident is simply ridiculous. So, don't confuse luck with skill.

 

Well said TwiZted Biker...