Stupid shit cagers!

[Phreak]

So, coming home from my girlfriends place this afternoon, traffic pretty average, NOT speeding, just riding nice and gently...

About 2 mins away from home (coming through Glenfield township) I'm doing 50, some A$$HOLE in an old white ute coming towards me decides that he wants to pull across my lane into a driveway - with me less than 50 metres up the road!

Instinct took over, stomped the back brake, my back tyre locked up, grabbed a big handful of front brake too (pulsing it so it didn't lock up too...) didn't think about changing down gears - the bike was sliding all over the road at this stage, managed to narrowly slip in front of him when he finally saw me and stopped dead in the middle of the road blocking off both fricken lanes... Even slid my right elbow across his bonnet as I slipped through - that's how close it was!

Consider myself SO LUCKY to get away from this without doing damage! Not sure what the traffic behind me did, I was still trying to gather myself as I rolled away. In hindsight, I shoulda stopped and given him a right good rev up. Guess he's just lucky I'm a nice guy.

Anyways, what have I learnt? Well, not so much a lesson as a reminder - don't trust other drivers on the road, no matter where or when or what speed they (or I) are doing!

[Genie]

Glad you are a sharp man, I sometimes, and I'm an fairly novice on the bike, but I thank God for the shit head drivers (sometimes) for it keeps me sharper and more alert. There is so much out there and I'm only riding around puny litttle Nelson. In Auckland I think I'd be too scared to even drive. though once I got off a plane and drove straight to Tauranga, did like the motorway.

You're right, never trust the other drivers on the road. someone recently mentioned that I should always think the drivers are out to kill me....stay safe.

[Mom]

Nice avoidance skills there for sure, gives you the shits when that happens eh? Lets hope you gave that driver a bit of a fright too.

[Sis]

I think it sounds like you were invisible to him.
Called "motion camouflage" and when he finally saw you that was "looming" which made him freeze.
There are articles on this and how to reduce it happening to you.

http://http://www.motorcycleinfo.co....&pageId=146841

[The Baron]

Good to hear you are OK. That sounds just too close for comfort.

[PrincessBandit]

Sure does pay to keep your "escape" options uppermost in your mind. These last two weeks esp. for me have been a good lesson in keeping my eyes peeled and not taking anything for granted on the road. It's also been a big reminder to me how much rush hour traffic in Auckland is something to avoid if at all possible. I'm trying to keep in mind that the next two years of facing this grind will be a good chance to develop my patience, alertness skills, as well as maximising the advantages of being on a bike instead of in a car.
Good for you for escaping with your life and health; and well done for not giving into the urge to chase and vent! Fingers crossed that the driver will have learnt an important lesson too and didn't require a startled-then-pissedoffas motorcyclist to drive the point home!

[T.W.R]

Instinct took over, stomped the back brake, my back tyre locked up, grabbed a big handful of front brake too (pulsing it so it didn't lock up too...) didn't think about changing down gears - the bike was sliding all over the road at this stage, managed to narrowly slip in front of him when he finally saw me and stopped dead in the middle of the road blocking off both fricken lanes... Even slid my right elbow across his bonnet as I slipped through - that's how close it was!

Consider myself SO LUCKY to get away from this without doing damage!

Anyways, what have I learnt? Well, not so much a lesson as a reminder - don't trust other drivers on the road, no matter where or when or what speed they (or I) are doing!

Lucky escape

2 fails though:

Hitting & locking up the back brake

And

Aim for where they've been NOT where they're going

[Metastable]

Good job on not being road pizza. Don't pulse the front brake though... if it locks release a tad, but that's it. In most cases you'll start to stoppie before the front locks.

[CookMySock]

Don't pulse the front brake though... if it locks release a tad, but that's it. In most cases you'll start to stoppie before the front locks.

Good advice. You can brake a lot harder than you think. Pretty much your rear wheel is airborne, so it is not much use to you - use it anyway. Most of the "brake management" crap you read is just crap. Use the bastard and use it harrrd until the bike starts to wriggle, and then use it some more.

Steve

[Blackbird]

Lucky escape

2 fails though:

Hitting & locking up the back brake

Not so. The back brake only accounts for about 10% of your braking capability and locking it doesn't actually have much impact. Was taught that on an advanced course and told not to worry as in an emergency, there are more effective things to worry about like making staged front braking an automatic reaction.

[T.W.R]

Instinct took over, stomped the back brake, my back tyre locked up, grabbed a big handful of front brake too (pulsing it so it didn't lock up too...) didn't think about changing down gears - the bike was sliding all over the road at this stage,

Not so. The back brake only accounts for about 10% of your braking capability and locking it doesn't actually have much impact. Was taught that on an advanced course and told not to worry as in an emergency, there are more effective things to worry about like making staged front braking an automatic reaction.

There's a difference between applying a theory practice in a controlled enviroment to applying it in the real world and then there's a panic stop as above stability, controlled slides, panic slides all have different consequences

[howdamnhard]

[QUOTE]

I'm doing 50, some A$$HOLE in an old white ute coming towards me decides that he wants to pull across my lane into a driveway - with me less than 50 metres up the road!

50m at 50km/h you should easily be able to make that stop. Remember most of your stopping power is on your front brake. You don't pulse it,you progressively squeeze it as the weight comes onto the front wheel. Do a Ride Right Ride Safe course as they will teach you how to emergency brake and countersteer . These two skills are vital for your survival .

Anyways, what have I learnt? Well, not so much a lesson as a reminder - don't trust other drivers on the road, no matter where or when or what speed they (or I) are doing!

Yes treat all other road users as idiots (we all make mistakes from time to time) and imagine you are invisible. Think about escape paths and imagine what you would do in "what if" scenarios as this can by you some time to react. Anyway glad you came away unscathed.

[Phreak]

Cheers all for the advice, seems it was both needed and wanted (even though I didn't know it till now!)

Looking into NASS days, to broaden my riding skills and enjoy more time out on the bike.

Thanks.