They say it's not if, but when. Well I've had mine, so I don't need to have any more.

Out running errands and had a pickup stop real short on me for no apparent reason. I had to move right into the next lane to avoid a nasty rear ender and kissed a car in the passenger door.

Her left side mirror caught my right mirror and twisted it out of alignment and got some slight scratches on the right hard bag. Otherwise no damage thanks to the crash bars. Her car was worse off than my R*.

Didn't go down at all and in fact I followed the other driver into a parking lot to wait for LEO for accident report.

All in all, while scary the side-to-side kiss was preferable to the rear end of a pickup with a huge bumper. Still don't know why he stopped and he didn't hang around to provide any excuses.

Bottom line is I was in the wrong and should have given the vehicle in front of me more room. I didn't maintain the buffer zone that I KNOW I should. I suppose the improper lane change ticket and bump up in insurance will sting enough for me to try and remember to stay back away from the rear of cars so I don't have to meet the side of one with my crash bars.

Nice to know I could stay calm and cool even though I was pressed up against the side of a moving 2000 lb. hunk of metal. Not that you can practice for something like this, but I think the courses I've taken and the agility training with this big beast should be given some credit for helping me keep things under control and upright.

So fellows, practice, practice, practice.

M7

Glad to hear you're okay Mark, the bike can be fixed. Stuff happens quick, especially on a bike.

Glad you made it out ok - things could've been a lot worse.

damn.....hate to hear that Mark. glad there wasnt more damage. there is a guy in another forum with some new hardbags for sale. IM me if you want/need the link.

Mark, Glad to hear you fared well! Good to know your practice pays off.

Gidday Mark7...glad to hear you came out ok...metal and bike bits can be fixed or replaced. I've had a few close calls lately with people pulling out in front of me

Hey man, Glad your alright. Got to love those cagers!

Glad to hear you are okay and that your bike is relatively unscathed.

Yikes, glad it was minor.
I know it is easy for me to get to close to suvs and such, knowing how much quicker I can stop. Cars at least you can see beyond. Sat a suv was cruising along pretty good in front of me on a three lane road with moderate traffic. turns out he sped up to get just by and yank in front of a car to avoid stopping for a moron who pulled mostly into the left turn lane at about a 75% angle, blocking the lane. I had to stop pretty darn fast, and figured on trying to squeeze between the moron and the cages in the next lane if I heard or saw a rear-ender coming. Not a great feeling waiting to hear that screech (which never came, thankfully- the guy behind me wasn't as dumb as me).
Kept thinking, "Dumb, dumb, dumb!"

Yep, two kinds of bike's those that have been in an accident and those that are going to be. You realize the mistake and that's commendable. I got lured into same trap a few times this year but no accident. I hate it when people stop for no dag gone reason, but the law says they can. Glad your OK and bike is alright. MC