Yesterday, riding home from work, I turned left at an intersection, and there was some asshat in a white truck backing out of a small parking lot, and then STOPPED in the middle of the road, perpendicular to traffic, and then took off in the WRONG direction and zipped up a side-street. I cranked on the brakes, dropped my left foot to the ground, and as the bike was skidding and sliding like it was a motocross track, I smelled my tires burning.

Holy sh*t!!!

I didn't lay the bike down, though. As he zipped off, I flipped him off and screamed, "ASSH*LE!!!"

I pulled up to the next intersection, and a woman who had been behind me and had seen the whole thing, caught my eye. She shook her head, and I knew she was shaking her head at the asshat, and not at me. I smiled and waved, and she smiled and waved back. The light changed and I took off, feeling much better...

While I was sliding, I was very aware that I had my sleeves rolled up, and the only protective gear I was wearing was a helmet and sunglasses. This morning, I wore my leather jacket, leather chaps, helmet, sunglasses, and armored leather gauntlet gloves. Yes, it was hot and uncomfortable. I don't care. I'd rather be a little uncomfortable than dead or injured.

Be careful out there, folks. There are some thoroughly oblivious buttholes on the road.

Gunhead, great job keeping her on two wheels! Thank God you weren't hurt. It is a crazy world out there with plenty of idiots who have keys and a vehicle. Most of who do not think about those of us on 2 wheels.

I wore the same thing I always wear this morning: riding jacket with ballistic pads, full-finger gloves, helmet, over-the-ankle boots, and goggles. You just never know what or when will take you to the pavement, and I'd rather walk away from it with skin intact.

I remember telling someone that wanted to get their M/C license and asking me if it was difficult riding ... especially in heavy traffic. I responded by telling him to start by considering all the cagers were really out to hurt him and to try and imagine the most idiotic maneuver any car or truck could do to cause him personal injury because he wouldn't be disappointed by the cagers. He got the point about being aware of his surroundings, defensive driving and not to drive like an asshat himself.

Glad everything turned out OK for you. (How's the leg?) I just hope you learned from the lesson because learning from crashing really sucks.

I agree we must wear proper gear no matter what the temp or how uncool it may be. When my wife and I crashed in June we had all our gear on in 90 deg temps. The only injury we had was my damged leg which was due to impact. We had no scratches or road rash at all and no head damage. The gear did it's job.
You are very fortunate to have had that revelation without having to be injured first. Good job keeping it upright.

IMTopGun1 wrote:
I remember telling someone that wanted to get their M/C license and asking me if it was difficult riding ... especially in heavy traffic. I responded by telling him to start by considering all the cagers were really out to hurt him and to try and imagine the most idiotic maneuver any car or truck could do to cause him personal injury because he wouldn't be disappointed by the cagers. He got the point about being aware of his surroundings, defensive driving and not to drive like an asshat himself.

Glad everything turned out OK for you. (How's the leg?) I just hope you learned from the lesson because learning from crashing really sucks.

Good summary.

No injuries whatsoever. The only thing I lost was maybe a few millimeters of tread. This guy was backing into two lanes of oncoming traffic. It wasn't that he had no regard for ME, but the fact that he had no regard for ANYONE, including HIMSELF!

When it was happening, everything went into slo-mo, I became brightly lucid, and everything in that moment was about control, control, control.

Glad to hear that your OK and no injuries.

Thank you very much.

glad to hear yer ok Been riding sinc 1969 you gotta keep your eyes and ears,common since about ya because theres idiots out there that shouldn't be driving ,we all make mistakes but we gotta think an most don't defensive driving on a motorcycle is the key!sheww i feel better

Yep. Always thinking, always looking, evaluating, and being alert.