I had taken a ride down for a meeting and hook up with some others for the ride back. On the way back we stopped and ate and then we split up and went our separate ways from there. On the way home and just around the corner from my house I was puttin through the neighborhood streets and I saw a pickup at a stop sign on my left. Just as I came up to the intersection he pulls right out. Luckily I was only doing about 20 MPH and I had to mash both brakes to max to get stopped. He saw me about the time his front end was about in the middle of the intersection and slammed on his brakes. My initial reaction was cussing him with much anger behind it. He didn't protest. That is the closest I have ever come to being hit. I quit riding for about 20 years, but before that I rode since I was a kid. I can tell you it is nothing like before. It is much more dangerous on the roads than it was back in the 60's 70's and 80's. I guess that goes without saying. Be careful out there and be on the defensive always.

Glad it was a near miss and not a wipe-out. I'm currently reading David Hough's, "Proficient Motorcycling," and he goes into quite a lot of detail about emergency braking, swerving, and traction. Very good, solid, practical stuff that expounds upon things that I've always heard, and things that were briefly covered in the MSF course that I took last summer. This next summer, I think I'm going to sign up for the advanced course... Be safe. Glad you were alright.

Road_hawg glad your ok your right it is different than the 60's 70's the Beatle's sound different on these digital station's of today and there is a lot more cars/trucks not to mention cell phone/texting! Like frank eluded to it would be well advised for everyone that rides to take MSF course whether your a new rider or someone that been riding like I since the LATE 60's Slezy

When It happens to me, I just make eye contact and see what they do, if they obviously didn't see me, my smile and gesture Say's "I had ya covered." No one wants to hit a bike, a smile will make em want to be more mindful of the nice biker, a cuss out on the other hand will make them want to forget the whole thing, including the fact they almost hit you. It's a mistake, if your made of human parts you'll make em as they will.

Remember, that person may well be on the jury who decides the outcome of the lawsuit you have for when you did get hit. What will they decide?

You did good in making up for their mistake, that's what we do every time we hit the road. It's a game of "What will they not see today?" You guess em right and you win. You won, be happy.

MC

I received my Hit Air vest a couple off days ago I had an E-bay link last week. He has more 2xl vest a coats at a great deal all new. It a airbag that deploys at .5 sec with 55lb pull on the check valve. Price 135 to 175 buy it now. Great deal considering 400 to 500 at dealer. Not sure how he could do it but verified it was the real McCoy and he seems on the up and up. They have ladies sz too. Just check the cc before you get refill backup.

I had a suv couple months ago do a last min stop almost went down. Had to go off road these bikes are not duel sports thats for sure.

MS1700 wrote:
When It happens to me, I just make eye contact and see what they do, if they obviously didn't see me, my smile and gesture Say's "I had ya covered." No one wants to hit a bike, a smile will make em want to be more mindful of the nice biker, a cuss out on the other hand will make them want to forget the whole thing, including the fact they almost hit you. It's a mistake, if your made of human parts you'll make em as they will.

Remember, that person may well be on the jury who decides the outcome of the lawsuit you have for when you did get hit. What will they decide?

You did good in making up for their mistake, that's what we do every time we hit the road. It's a game of "What will they not see today?" You guess em right and you win. You won, be happy.

MC

Yeah I hear ya. I reacted out of fear. I think I have the mindset that most people on the road do not pay attention, period. And I think I am right on that. I see it every day. A lady pulled out from a side street in front of me and other cages the other day. We were doing about 50 MPH. She pulls out in front of me in my lane and instead of gaining speed to keep others from hitting their brakes, she proceeds at about 30 MPH. When I finally was able to get over and pass, she was talking on the cell phone oblivious to anything else in the world. The very next day I saw a car weaving around in the left lane. I thought the driver might be drunk. When I passed him on the right he was text messaging with both hands, and steering with his legs up on the bottom of the steering wheel. I have a word for this and it is spelled I D I O T. I have even seen people reading a book and the paper while driving. WTF? I hope that all states will eventually pass laws to ban cell phones and texting while driving. But, I guess there are all kinds of distractions in a car these days. It would probably be a good bet they will find something else to take their attention off the road.

Glad to hear that your OK, RH. If you think suburbia driving is bad, come try it in the concrete canyons. My 'suburbia' is the Jersey Turnpike.

As the saying goes: If you remember the 60's/70's ... then you weren't really there.

Glad you are ok, man. I feel ya. I live in a college town full of college girls ( not always such a bad thing!)texting, make-up blah blah blah and drunken frat punks. The city is also full of....how should I say this diplomaticly....people who maybe shouldnt be in this country, who pay absolutely no atttention to the road. Its a daily game of "Dont Get Killed" But its that way all over.

I've seen this topic come up a few times and am glad you came through this unscathed. When riding I treat all uncontrolled intersections (occupied and unoccupied) as a potential accident site. Occupied intersections are treated with extra care, I basically anticipate the driver will pull out in front of me. I slow down, brake if necessary, to slow the bike to a speed that I can react safely if the other vehicle decides to pull out in front of me. It gets to be a drag at times and takes something away from the ride, but its worth it to me knowing that it improves the safety for me and my wife. Won't have it any other way. I watch other bikers go through occupied intersections at full speed and have to wonder how things would turn out if a vehicle pulled out in front of them. How do the rest of you approach and treat intersections?

Yakman wrote:
I've seen this topic come up a few times and am glad you came through this unscathed. When riding I treat all uncontrolled intersections (occupied and unoccupied) as a potential accident site. Occupied intersections are treated with extra care, I basically anticipate the driver will pull out in front of me. I slow down, brake if necessary, to slow the bike to a speed that I can react safely if the other vehicle decides to pull out in front of me. It gets to be a drag at times and takes something away from the ride, but its worth it to me knowing that it improves the safety for me and my wife. Won't have it any other way. I watch other bikers go through occupied intersections at full speed and have to wonder how things would turn out if a vehicle pulled out in front of them. How do the rest of you approach and treat intersections?

I do the same as you basically. If I see a cage at an intersection, I will slow down and cover my brake and proceed as if they will pull out in front of me.