BR, thanks for the reminder. For some of us that ride regularly, we get complacent because nothing bad has happenned in a while.
Papa Bear

Good tip BR...! Thanks.
Down here in the Sunshine State... you can't go 60 feet without seeing those "gators" in the the road.. (And, they're slway ready to take a bite out of somethin'!)
Another thing rigs do... is to pull you back into the tractors rear tires because of the "head wind" it's pushing out...
The wind coming off the front grill is going over the top and out to the sides and when it gets past the cab, it pulls right back in tight and down the side of the rig...Just perfect for suckin' in a scooter!
My technique for passing rigs is simple... Take control of the passing lane early... (At least the rigs length or better...) Hold the leftern most travel path long enough to grab the attention of the rig driver... Then, pass the rig at least ten MPH faster than it's going and hang on for the "punch through of the head wind...
Oh, yeah... If there's a car or some other obstruction to prevent you from completing the pass... don't "hang" in the travel lane next to a rig...
Lastly... Always show respect! Remember, you're in their workplace...!

I seem to remember either a bike company or an insurance company used to sponser a semi truck that would travel to rally locations all the time. Inside the trailer were like 25 bikes of all sizes and shapes.

They'd unload the bikes and park 'em all around the truck and trailer. Then they'd invite bikers to climb in the seat of the truck and count the bikes they could see.

The thing was fromt he drives seat you could see exactly ZERO bikes. They had 'em all parked in the blind spots and from the truckers perspective he was all alone on the road.

I always thought it was a great way to illustrate how aware WE need to be about our position on the road.

I try to always ride well ahead or well behind big trucks of all kinds. That goes for any vehicle driven by what looks like a big blue Q-tip behind the wheel as well.

M7

My wife drives 104.miles of interstate on her way to and from work everyday and she warned me after I bought my bike about the big rigs and their blind spots, blow outs, and things that come flying outa the bed of dump trucks ect.

She has came home safe everyday for 18 yr's but with a lotta horror stories about the interstates, she only had a inner fender ripped out by a gattor once. I try not to get onto the interstate unless I have no other choice I know some of you don't have any choice so be careful guy's and thanks to the clinic there are good people here to give us tips about our safety on the road.

Good reminder for all of us BR. Thanks.

Blackroadie

3 months ago this happened to me. I was getting on the freeway going to work in Jacksonville there was a rig about 50 yards in front of me, when his right rear tire blew, luckily for me there was a pickup in front of me and I tucked in close to him. The truck took all the big chuncks, and I was thanking the Lord. I now either pass fast or will give good distance from behind to dodge or stop.

Steve

Mythbusters did an episode to demonstrate this very subject.

They took some gators and feed them through a pitching machine (tires rotating in opposite directions). The target was a balistics gel shaped head. It is a pretty thorough way of getting decapitated if the gator hits you anywhere above the shoulders.

Peace,
Joe

Decapitated !!whata horror story, but a fact hey, now I know I'll be having nightmares.

yep... a buddy I work with had a friend get hit buy a recap on the interstate.
Wedged in his forks and caused him to wreck and put him in the hospital for several days in pretty bad shape.

Good thread, btw. As for following behind a big rig to be shielded from the wind.. well, its up to you, but as long as the truck isn't fully loaded if that driver slams on the binders he's gonna slow down alot faster than you expect. And if you figure hitting a car would be bad, the rear end of a semi is incredibly strong. This past winter I was rear ended by a Ford Superduty (1 ton) survey truck, and he was "lucky" enough to bounce off the driver's side corner and into the ditch, but it still did this to him (hopefully the pic works.)



Ride safe out there boys, always be watching because chances are other people aren't!

And a side note... that big blue Q-tip comment made me laugh. Oh, our new Canadians.

Dan