Of course you should keep doing all the things you have to do to minimise the chances of a crash - apart from giving up bikes, obviously. But crashes happen, and sometimes you are able to influence the course of events, provided you are paying attention, provided you react quickly, and provided you are able to decide what to do for the best and get it right. I've crashed dozens of times (not so much lately), and in my experience such as it is sometimes you have no chance to do anything at all - but sometimes you do, if you are prepared and react.
Sounds about right - good habits etc etc to avoid where poss, but sometimes you will get hurt, whether its your own fault or someone else's, no matter how good your obs etc are. Bit like an Exocet missile - you may (or may not) see it coming, but generally there's precious little you can do about it! (Bit of an extreme analogy granted:wink
thats ^^^^ why I don't believe the old tosh 'theres no such thing as an accident' because sometimes, there is, even if it is someone else's fault its still 'an accident' and you CANNOT be responsible 100% for the outcome. But you can minimise the risk. I'm not IAM, ROSPA or even RSPCA but I learn from those that do it better
That's exactly the boat I was in. I saw the car stop, I saw the guy look in my direction. I then saw it move out of my peripheral vision, no time to react, not even enough time to close the throttle.
May I give an example of a crash I had years ago? I was riding up Brixton Hill towards Streatham, filtering past slow moving or stationary cars, when a car drove out of a side-turning on my left - he turned right across me, then stopped. It was obvious I could not avoid a collision; there was not enough room to brake or take evasive action. So I immediately laid the bike down on its right side and got off it. The bike slid along and hit the side of the car, bending the front fork stanchions. I was sitting on the road perfectly unharmed. If I had stayed on the bike I might well have been seriously injured. It is rarely possible to do that sort of manoeuvre, but just occasionally it is. You have to have thought through all the options in advance, and worked out what you would do, obviously.
Well I managed to crash an Enzo into a bus (not my Enzo either)! Had many motorcycle accidents too, but none quite as epic.
I agree with Bradders having made the same mistake many years ago - usual Sunday morning ride leading a group of mates down a road I know very well - it was a cool day and had overjacket on so could not see much in crap Ducati mirrors - I took a look behind to check where everyone was and looked a split second too long which caused me to miss my braking point resulting in a huge accident which nearly ended my motorcycling days. Lesson - always look where you are going rather than thinking about what is behind you!
Me too, made the same mistake. This time on a motorcross bike, rear ended my mate in front (because I was looking behind at my mate who had an issue with his bike) and flew 20 feet in the air which resulted in me leaving a good poundage of my waist on the road.
You got to drive an Enzo. That sounds a lot better than my job to me. :biggrin: Salesman or cleaner or just a mechanic. To work or be around that stuff would be ace. Anyway, on topic. I never take my eyes off the road for a second. Not even when in the car. Thats when shit invariably happens. Ive learnt never to take the piss when riding at certain times or on certain roads and under certain circumstances. Crashing hurts like fuck and having a van drive over your head makes you rethink your actions. Thus i dont commute anymore. I dont ride in the wet. I dont ride when I am tired. I dont ride too fast all the time and I wont be suckered into a race. I wont ride in big groups either and will only ride fast with my mates who I trust.
Yes Fin. 'Pile' being the operative word. 'Top of the pile' would be a suppository. Or the apex of a haemorrhoid. I can work on all vehicles if I have the correct tools and environment. No formal training other than an honours degree in Mech Eng. Just always been handy with a spanner (nearly wrote 'tool' which would have been a gift to Fin) in my hand. My wife reckons Ive got magic hands as I fix everything. Sometimes I just take something not working apart, rebuild it and it just works. Its a gift. One i'd swap in a heart beat to be able to play my bloody guitar. I'm logical and methodical but I'd love to be 'arty' and creative.
not true. any one with TIME and patience can fix anything. i do it day in day out. every time on time in a profitable manner. put your money where your mouth is dude. i operate a no fix no fee policy with free diagnostics. if your as good as you say you are take a pop up i am looking for someone, i pay the best rates in argyll in the best environment. possibly looking for partner as i want to expand. personalty and ability required. spelling not required, my customers can read between the lines.
Dammit. Ive got no personality, yet I can spell. Anyone who can ride a Lambretta home from Gt Yarmouth after holing their piston must have some talent.
Pete..sounds like poor obs to me ;-) surely if you have time to lay it down, you have time to stop. Unless you just jumped off the back...or you're Colt Seavers ;-)
