I bought my first R3 (a well cared for '05) yesterday and decided that an early Sunday morning ride to meet a few friends for breakfast out in the country might be a good first real ride with the new (to me) steed. It almost ended up being my last ride of any sort.
The restaurant sits on a 4-lane state highway, speed limit 60 or 70 with an improved shoulder and a center turn lane. I've been to this place several times before (via car, MC and bicycle) and knew that there are patches of gravel in the entrances that sometimes extend out onto the shoulder, so I was approaching the right turn rather cautiously and looking for the clearest way in.
Sunday AM traffic was very light. I had already eased it down to maybe 10-15 mph, riding about a couple feet shy of the white line and was just putting along toward the first entrance when something in the right mirror caught my eye - it was an SUV quickly coming up on me in my lane (there were very few cars around and the inside lane was totally clear). It was close and coming on like I wasn't even there. I completely forgot about turning into the restaurant, focused on getting the heck outta the way, juiced the thottle and headed for the paved shoulder. I had gotten just past the 2nd entrance and was fully onto the shoulder when the SUV flies by me (still going fast) ON MY RIGHT SIDE about 2 feet away.
We've all heard stories about drivers getting off onto the right shoulder, over-correcting and losing control, but I had never witnessed anything like that until today. After narrowly missing me, the SUV ran with two wheels on the grass for a bit, swerved back into the roadway, skidded toward the oncoming lanes, got to the center turn lane, and then corrected back hard to the right. That last move caused it to flip over 2 or 3 times and finish right side up in the grass off the right side. An off-duty firefighter and a police officer on her way to work were right there when it happened. I was still pretty shaken up (and angry) , so I called 911 and let them go talk to/check out the folks in the SUV. Fortunately, both occupants were belted and, although they were understandably not feeling well, didn't seem to be seriously hurt.
I strongly suspect (but don't actually know for sure) that the driver was texting or chatting it up on her cell and, even though the view was clear and unobstructed for almost 1/2 mile behind me (and I was wearing a very red riding jacket), she never even noticed me until the very last moment. I cringe to think of what would've happened if she had rammed me at that speed. I've no clue as to why she went right (except maybe "target fixation" when I moved to escape) when she had two completely empty lanes to work with. I also figured that she ran across the shoulder in the spot where I had been when I first realized the danger and would have squarely nailed me from behind if I hadn't immediately given it the go-go. I truly thank God that I'm now sitting here living, breathing and unscathed.
Time to work on improving rear visability. I've got Hyperlites on my FZ1 and they're pretty decent, but I'm goin to figure out the best place to mount the same type of Whelen LIN3 emergency vehicle strobe and progammable flasher setup that I had on my FJR. That was an effective attention grabber for drivers coming up on my backside. Video - Whelen LIN3 - Motorcycle Brake Flasher - YouTube and discussion Whelen LIN3 as an Ultra-bright brake safety flasher - TWT Forums I'll probably make a bracket of some sort and put it under the license plate.
I enjoy the Rocket. Check your six.
The restaurant sits on a 4-lane state highway, speed limit 60 or 70 with an improved shoulder and a center turn lane. I've been to this place several times before (via car, MC and bicycle) and knew that there are patches of gravel in the entrances that sometimes extend out onto the shoulder, so I was approaching the right turn rather cautiously and looking for the clearest way in.
Sunday AM traffic was very light. I had already eased it down to maybe 10-15 mph, riding about a couple feet shy of the white line and was just putting along toward the first entrance when something in the right mirror caught my eye - it was an SUV quickly coming up on me in my lane (there were very few cars around and the inside lane was totally clear). It was close and coming on like I wasn't even there. I completely forgot about turning into the restaurant, focused on getting the heck outta the way, juiced the thottle and headed for the paved shoulder. I had gotten just past the 2nd entrance and was fully onto the shoulder when the SUV flies by me (still going fast) ON MY RIGHT SIDE about 2 feet away.
We've all heard stories about drivers getting off onto the right shoulder, over-correcting and losing control, but I had never witnessed anything like that until today. After narrowly missing me, the SUV ran with two wheels on the grass for a bit, swerved back into the roadway, skidded toward the oncoming lanes, got to the center turn lane, and then corrected back hard to the right. That last move caused it to flip over 2 or 3 times and finish right side up in the grass off the right side. An off-duty firefighter and a police officer on her way to work were right there when it happened. I was still pretty shaken up (and angry) , so I called 911 and let them go talk to/check out the folks in the SUV. Fortunately, both occupants were belted and, although they were understandably not feeling well, didn't seem to be seriously hurt.
I strongly suspect (but don't actually know for sure) that the driver was texting or chatting it up on her cell and, even though the view was clear and unobstructed for almost 1/2 mile behind me (and I was wearing a very red riding jacket), she never even noticed me until the very last moment. I cringe to think of what would've happened if she had rammed me at that speed. I've no clue as to why she went right (except maybe "target fixation" when I moved to escape) when she had two completely empty lanes to work with. I also figured that she ran across the shoulder in the spot where I had been when I first realized the danger and would have squarely nailed me from behind if I hadn't immediately given it the go-go. I truly thank God that I'm now sitting here living, breathing and unscathed.
Time to work on improving rear visability. I've got Hyperlites on my FZ1 and they're pretty decent, but I'm goin to figure out the best place to mount the same type of Whelen LIN3 emergency vehicle strobe and progammable flasher setup that I had on my FJR. That was an effective attention grabber for drivers coming up on my backside. Video - Whelen LIN3 - Motorcycle Brake Flasher - YouTube and discussion Whelen LIN3 as an Ultra-bright brake safety flasher - TWT Forums I'll probably make a bracket of some sort and put it under the license plate.
I enjoy the Rocket. Check your six.
