Watch out all u guys when following a cage.

[Cr1MiNaL]

Hey guys,

Just want to make an informative post to warn newby/amature and experienced riders alike not to follow a car too close... I was returning from westgate today bak to albany and just as the bridge finished this log of wood came at me from nowhere... the car in front of me had driven over it and nudged it into the middle of the road straight in my path.. I was crusing with one hand on the bike as we do in 50 - 70 zones and I hit the log... my front tire jumpped in the air and tank slapped about 4-5 times then hit the road and kept tank slapping...I was also drifting into the other lane which was packed with oncomming cagers... somehow I managed to straightne the bike out and stopped her just beside the new intersection they just built. Then I took a deep breath thanked god for helpin me avoid the spill and proceeded to walk back to the log and tell it what I thought of it. I beat the shit out of it in the middle of the road... stamped it and almost broke it before dragging it to the side of the road and throwing it over the ditch....

Moral of this story: Always be aware of the road ahead of you and obstacles that are near but not currently in ur path might just become in ur path.. always try n keep both hands on the bars and always peeps always keep atleast 10 feet or more distance between urself and the car in front... not because u cant stop in time .. just so that u can swerve without binnin ur bike... just a heads up guys never let ur guard down even for 1 second because that one second could be THE second. Ride safe and responsibly...

Regards
Raj.:scooter:

[thehovel]

My brother hit a concrete block that popped out from under a truck and unhorsed him.:shit: When riding in traffic ride in the car,trucks wheel tracks, they will straddle objects rather than run over them. Regards Richard:innocent:

[Chickadee]

Bloody scary stuff.

I nearly got caught out by a pothole following too close in built up traffic. I learned my lesson without crashing or having a near miss thank goodness!

Glad you lived to tell and tale and pass on the advice.
Take care out there guys & gals
Chickadee

[Mom]

Well done avoiding a more serious misshap. Yepper you have to be on to it when you are riding for sure!

[KoroJ]

Pays to hang off the back corner if you want to follow close. That way you can see ahead, your light will in there face (via the wing mirror) so they know you're there and if you're on the open road, it might encourage them to move over for you to slide through if they are so inclined. And, if they decide to brake without warning etc, you're more or less beside them and wont run up their butt.

[Puddlejumper]

Glad you managed to ride it out. Timely advice too. We all need to be reminded on a constant basis of the dangers involved in riding bikes lest we become complacent.
Or maybe that's just me cos of my mis-spent youth and impending alzheimers.

[sunhuntin]

yep... thingsll come out of anywhere!

went with the olds in the cage on sunday to welly. right in the middle of one of my favourite corners was a fresh hit possum. still fat enough to do some damage. looked to be right in the line most bikes would take too. :mellow:

[Timber020]

That was my bit of wood, did you pick it up for me?

[Cr1MiNaL]

Glad you managed to ride it out. Timely advice too. We all need to be reminded on a constant basis of the dangers involved in riding bikes lest we become complacent.
Or maybe that's just me cos of my mis-spent youth and impending alzheimers.


whats a "alzheimer" lol I dont believe that word exists ! he he :innocent:

[Drum]

That's some good advice there YR6, and nice save!

[BIGBOSSMAN]

whats a "alzheimer" lol I dont believe that word exists ! he he :innocent:
Alzheimer’s (AHLZ-high-merz) disease is a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys a person's memory and ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate and carry out daily activities. As Alzheimer’s progresses, individuals may also experience changes in personality and behavior, such as anxiety, suspiciousness or agitation, as well as delusions or hallucinations.
Not a nice thing to have.
Oooh, who the hell are you?? Where am I, what's that carrot doing there...........:shit:

[beyond]

Yep, good advice alright. It happens a lot more than some people think.
Imagine it getting thrown up and coping it full in the chest :(

Hows your front wheel? You might find it a bit squared off on the rim??

[McJim]

Hey Raj - another near miss - keep making those saves bud.

Go to RRRS (Ride Right Ride Safe) run by BRONZ once a month - it has tips for such situations and others you've not yet encountered. Recommended for riders of all levels.

That's one of the reasons I ride in the wheel track of the car in front. If there's an obstacle between the wheel tracks you won;t see it until your on it. If the car wheel bounce over something you get a bit of warning - if you site square behind a car (between the wheel tracks) you could get fU*ked real quick.

And I leave a respectable distance too.

[Cr1MiNaL]

gutted rotflol dont wish that on anyone.... orr wait a minute there was this 1 muppet on kb a few days ago....

I think I was really luky today aye Gary.. shd get a steering damper when i can afoard 1 !?

[BIGBOSSMAN]

gutted rotflol dont wish that on anyone.... orr wait a minute there was this 1 muppet on kb a few days ago....

I think I was really luky today aye Gary.. shd get a steering damper when i can afoard 1 !?

Dunno whether an Ohlins would make that obstacle disappear Raj! Another tip mate, when riding in the country watch out for cow crap - and especially when turning. It's like riding into (stinky) oil. Right O!

[Cr1MiNaL]

Hey Raj - another near miss - keep making those saves bud.

Go to RRRS (Ride Right Ride Safe) run by BRONZ once a month - it has tips for such situations and others you've not yet encountered. Recommended for riders of all levels.

That's one of the reasons I ride in the wheel track of the car in front. If there's an obstacle between the wheel tracks you won;t see it until your on it. If the car wheel bounce over something you get a bit of warning - if you site square behind a car (between the wheel tracks) you could get fU*ked real quick.

And I leave a respectable distance too.

Hows it goin mate!!
Yes I will make time to go this month for RRRS.
Now I will always ride in the cars tracks... and leave 15 feet distance in between just to be safe....
I pray to God 2ce a day now regardless....

:P Raj.

also: Im gonna make time to go to church every sunday morning b4 ma rides !!

[Lissa]

Was following a logging truck today, thought I was keeping a good distance behind, but got hit by some bark or something on my leg... friggin hurt!!! Never really sure how close to follow big trucks, as I want to pass, but the wind generated off them when following is annoying. :angry:

[Cr1MiNaL]

Dunno whether an Ohlins would make that obstacle disappear Raj! Another tip mate, when riding in the country watch out for cow crap - and especially when turning. It's like riding into (stinky) oil. Right O!

U know when I was in Mumbai (india) I used to dodge cows, dogs, small children, potholes, raged cagers, horses and even the odd elephant while I was commuting... used to be quite good at it too.. never had a single bin. butspeeds used to be considerably less than in NZ. Plus my 150 used to be heaps lighter n cud throw it arnd n get away with it.

*makes mental note: must always be carefull*

Raj.

[Cr1MiNaL]

Hows your front wheel? You might find it a bit squared off on the rim??


Shit u think i stuffed up the rim.. ima run downstairs n check it now...:slap:

[vamr]

Was over at my friend's place this arvo when his gf turned up laughing at how her coffee table flew off the roof on the motorway 10 minutes prior.
All I had to say was "I hate people like you".

[Devil]

I think you're having too many near misses that can be avoided. Do something about it.

15 feet is not enough even at 50 km/h. Use the two second rule as a guide in fair weather.
The road code suggests 20 metres @ 50 km/h
http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/roadcode/about-driving/following-distance.html

[kiwifruit]

back before there were speed limits i was pillion with the old man on his katana, we were in a group of bikes doing about twice today's speed limit when this 2.5 seater couch jumped out infront of us! :gob:
there was no time so the old man opened it up, like a dirt bike over a log.... lucky for us the said couch unit was made of wicker *phew* it looked quite spectacular apparently

[beyond]

Shit u think i stuffed up the rim.. ima run downstairs n check it now...:slap:

Well, is the rim okay mate? Hope so cos a good whack can spread the rim and square it off a bit. I hit a reasonably sized pothole at 120kmh on Highway 22 sometime back on my blue and white 14 and it seemd okay.
Got home and was cleaning it a few dyas later and found about 6cm of the rim had squared off and flared away from the bead on both sides!

Hope yours is ok or you'll have to get it fixed :(

[beyond]

back before there were speed limits i was pillion with the old man on his katana, we were in a group of bikes doing about twice today's speed limit when this 2.5 seater couch jumped out infront of us! :gob:
there was no time so the old man opened it up, like a dirt bike over a log.... lucky for us the said couch unit was made of wicker *phew* it looked quite spectacular apparently

Now that would have been interesting too watch. Thankfully it wasn't a solid leather one or that would have been real nasty.

[beyond]

Shit u think i stuffed up the rim.. ima run downstairs n check it now...:slap:


Hey got your message. Good to hear the wheels ok mate :)

[Cr1MiNaL]

yes mine is ok coz i was only doin 50 or less and i went over a log which broke a it instead of damaging the rim ! thnaks ^.^
Raj.

Ps: devil Im gonna go to the RRRS and The AWNMR (today) lets c what they can teach me... thanks.

[MSTRS]

.... always keep atleast 10 feet or more distance between urself and the car in front...


10 feet??? Asking for trouble.
Use the 2 second rule and position yourself in a wheeltrack (preferably the right).

[Disco Dan]

Hey guys,

Just want to make an informative post to warn newby/amature and experienced riders alike not to follow a car too close... I was returning from westgate today bak to albany and just as the bridge finished this log of wood came at me from nowhere... the car in front of me had driven over it and nudged it into the middle of the road straight in my path.. I was crusing with one hand on the bike as we do in 50 - 70 zones and I hit the log... my front tire jumpped in the air and tank slapped about 4-5 times then hit the road and kept tank slapping...I was also drifting into the other lane which was packed with oncomming cagers... somehow I managed to straightne the bike out and stopped her just beside the new intersection they just built. Then I took a deep breath thanked god for helpin me avoid the spill and proceeded to walk back to the log and tell it what I thought of it. I beat the shit out of it in the middle of the road... stamped it and almost broke it before dragging it to the side of the road and throwing it over the ditch....

Moral of this story: Always be aware of the road ahead of you and obstacles that are near but not currently in ur path might just become in ur path.. always try n keep both hands on the bars and always peeps always keep atleast 10 feet or more distance between urself and the car in front... not because u cant stop in time .. just so that u can swerve without binnin ur bike... just a heads up guys never let ur guard down even for 1 second because that one second could be THE second. Ride safe and responsibly...

Regards
Raj.:scooter:

Glad to hear your ok, if your coming tonight we can go through 'abstacle avoidance' if you like ;) ...there is a technique for dealing with such situations, come talk to Macktheknife tonight at AWNMR....

A lot of us get tired of the cages 'holding us up' and get a bit 'close' at times... a timely warning for us all!

[Swoop]

Thankfully it wasn't a solid leather one or that would have been real nasty.
Or possibly VERY comfortable!

[sunhuntin]

Was following a logging truck today, thought I was keeping a good distance behind, but got hit by some bark or something on my leg... friggin hurt!!! Never really sure how close to follow big trucks, as I want to pass, but the wind generated off them when following is annoying. :angry:

dunno how powerful your bike is lissa, but being a 250, im guessing its about the same as mine [a smidge more than a gn]
i almost never overtake trucks, and try and hang back far enough to see their mirrors.
any closer is too close [too me]
if a car squishes between us, i drop back even furthur.

shit flying up and hitting your legs can hurt, no matter what id is! ive found bees hurt heaps, and so do stones. had a stone flicked up just past the bulls bridge... truck heading north somehow sent it across two lanes and through the bike so it struck my left leg. nearly arsed off, it hurt so much.

thanks to a kber who works at ohakea, the stones were cleared up and havent reappeared since!

[Monsterbishi]

Now that would have been interesting to watch. Thankfully it wasn't a solid leather one or that would have been real nasty.

Would be the comfiest high speed impact ever though?

They'd cart you to the hospital, start cutting your leathers off and find $11.65 in small change, and a four year old tv guide...

[FruitLooPs]

Would be the comfiest high speed impact ever though?

They'd cart you to the hospital, start cutting your leathers off and find $11.65 in small change, and a four year old tv guide...

:laugh: ahah

Seriously though, I too have had some close calls from following too close. One not long ago coming up to a corner I go round everyday for work, I was following too close to a 4wd in front because I knew he was turning too and hadn't anticipated anything random from him.

Turns out about 20m out from the corner where I had reserved for slowing down there was a bit of road cut out down to gravel for roadworks couldn't see it because of the 4wd, it was the width of my bike and I went straight into (probably a 5cm drop from the road level couldn't safely get onto the tarmac again). Course I was going too fast too, had to slow myself.

Braked but managed not to impulse brake the front hard or I would've assed off, as it was I locked the back twice while pusling it zig zagged my way down in speed and made the corner.

Take a fair bit more care now! If you can't see you can't assume you know, It's the second time i've been caught out with my following distance (once when I was preparing to overtake and someone jumped the brakes). :sick:

[Chrislost]

i liek what somebody said up there^ about sitting outside them on the right hand side.
you can see everythign in front of them(unless its a truck/big can) and if they suddenly jump on the breaks you can either stop too or go around them

also points your headlight into their mirror so they usually let you past

[pritch]

when riding in the country watch out for cow crap

And today is the big day. Well the few days around June 1st is when the herds that are moving move.

Beware the green rain.


"I may have Alzheimers... but at least I don't have Alzheimers!"

[Cynos]

And horses, oh I do love the horses around my place. Great sodding mountains to practise my slalom with.

On the following too close thing, personally, I get real edgy if I can't see 4 - 5 cars ahead, so if I can't see over the vehicle in front of me, I'll either hang back or try to overtake if possible. God I hate the 4WD explosion that happened a few years back.

[Insanity_rules]

Ditto me around shelley bay in wellington. Following a cage and oh theres a rock on the road. I few loud curses, an almost suicidal lean and a quick inspection of my pants.

Thought I was going to bin it bad, cause I wasn't moving slowly.

[avgas]

yep ride as far as you can see. if you cant see - you cant ride.
also listen to your bike - she will tell you if something is up :yes: