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02-08-2010, 11:37 AM TheCrusher1234 Joined on 01-24-2010 Gilbert,AZ Posts 40 just watched a guy die in a bike wreck last week i was sitting at my shop and i saw a guy on a valkarie get hit by one of my customers trucks. the truck driver pulled right out in front of the biker and the biker ended up in the front wheel well of the truck. when i first saw the accident i didn't think it was bad. the guy was awake and alert (yelling bloddy murder) so i thought he would just end up with a broken leg. found out this morning he died. i haven't started riding yet i'm still repairing my bike and getting the hang of things. this guy was a county sherriff and from the looks of it a long time rider. i'm really considering giving up before i get started i have a wife and a young child that i could not stand to leave in the way this guy did. what does everyone think? 1981 GL500 Silver Wing    Report

02-08-2010, 12:54 PM Blue fox Joined on 04-18-2008 COLUMBIA, MISSOURI Posts 1,127 Re: just watched a guy die in a bike wreck I think that is terrible to hear.  So sorry for the wife and children too.  As bad a this was to witness, it probably will make you a much safer rider. First, ride like you are invisible.  You are to most cagers.  You have to anticipate that any and all vehicles are going to not see you and will either pull out in front of you or will turn in front of you.  Defensive driving only scratches the surface.  You must allow for an escape route, and never expect the drivers to do what you think they will.  Even if you have their eye, and they have their signals on.  You are on your own, and ride like your life depends on it.  Cause it does.  Second, make yourself as visible as you can.  Ride with the high beam on, wear a reflective vest (even if it looks geeky, your brown suit in a casket looks geeky too.)  Keep the running lights operational, add some more if you can.  Flick your beams at drivers who look unaware of you.  Third, ride with a double safety margin.  That means double the distance behind other vehicles,  (have you ever seen a tire thread come off a semi?).  Unless you have a very good reason, and very good skills, the footpegs aren't just there to drag in turns.  Freshly mowed grass thrown on the road, gravel spilled, and oil and grease can surprise you at any time.  You will have your appointment with St. Peter soon enough, you don't have to rush it.  A person traveling 60 MPH will make a 60 mile trip 12 minutes slower than one going 75 MPH.  Start sooner if you need to be there earlier.  These are just some musings from a 60+ year old.  But I have been riding some sort of 2 wheel motorized vehicles for over 50 years and can still write about it.       Blue Fox 79-CX500C, 1980 CX500C, 82-GL500I, 82-GL1100, 76-CB550, 81-CB750C, 73-CB350F, 71-CT90, 81-C70 Just added: 1983 GL650I    Report

02-08-2010, 1:13 PM Gene McCall Joined on 03-02-2006 Murfreesboro Posts 1,051 Re: just watched a guy die in a bike wreck TC, I am not going to try to talk you into anything.  This is a dangerous hobby, that can not be denied and you saw the most dangerous of the crash situations you will face on a motorcycle.  No matter how good a rider you are it can happen.  Now having said that it will all come down to how bad you want the freedom of a bike.  Thats what riding is to me, the freedom of the open road and the ability to travel & experience the world as you can in no other way.  With the responsibilities you have perhaps now is not the time for you to ride.   I grew up riding bikes of all kinds (starting in 1952) and owned many different bikes up through college.  I had to sell my bike to finish my senior year of college and did not purchase another for over 20 years.  However, I did have some very good friends & brothers who were kind enough to loan me a bike for the occasional trip.  By the time I restarted my ownership of bikes my kids were grown with kids of their own!  I have always carried a large amount of insurance and still do today, it will be a large part of my estate.  The decision is yours alone, for every accident many, many miles are ridden, injury free, its almost a roll of the dice! Gene My pictures are Here I didn't get this old by being timid, just not being stupid!    Report

02-08-2010, 2:31 PM Abes_CW Joined on 04-17-2007 saskatoon Posts 2,526 Re: just watched a guy die in a bike wreck Kinda the same thing happened to me way back in 1990, when I was 19.  I had cash in my pocket on my way literally to purchase a co-worker's katana. Drove past what turned out to be a 2x fatality, doing CPR to a guy right there on the road. It was 17 years later I finally got my bike. 1983 GL650i Had 4 CX/GL's at one point this year, down to one, next spring is another adventure! age 38 (29 plus tax)    Report

02-08-2010, 2:52 PM mr. softie Joined on 03-14-2009 Beautiful Bucks County PA... I ride a 83 GL650I Posts 514 Re: just watched a guy die in a bike wreck I am sorry for the loss of another motorcyclist, and for those he left behind. He was fatally injured doing what he loved, and that is something.  I am also sorry for you and I feel for you, having witnessed fatal crashes myself, it's not something you forget. The fact that he was on a bike brings it home to us riders just how suddenly we can be snuffed out by someone else's carelessness. And also our own carelessness. I was in a serious motorcycle wreck myself many years ago, when my children were very young, and I quit riding until they were older, and not as dependent on me. I ride all the time now, and am willing to take the risks, in return for the rewards. Was the victim traveling at or below the posted speed? Riding defensively? Was he wearing protective gear? Helmet, armor etc? A biker has to ride like he is a cat in a room full of rocking chairs, every one with a psychotic cat hater rocking out his disdain for cats for all it is worth. Zen Riding, with a warriors mind, won't guarantee an incident free riding career, but it will increase your chances of survival. Plus wearing the gear. Awareness and knowledge will take you farther down the road than fear and aggressiveness, for sure. Ride safe! I am starting to feel like I am just an insect trapped in a tiny square, and I can't seem to find a way out!    Report

02-08-2010, 3:34 PM Silverado 6x6 Joined on 08-13-2009 Wasilla, Alaska Posts 322 Re: just watched a guy die in a bike wreck Thats sad to hear that it really wasn't even on the highway, I drive a concrete mixer and it absolutely terrifies me whenever a bikers is alongside of me, in back or  in front in bad weather. For others please also give us big rigs plenty of room, we cannot see absolutely everywhere, ESPECIALLY BEHIND US. Not all drivers have good clutch skills and they may or will roll back on even the slightest grades, most new drivers I hire are green and make that mistake often with a loaded concrete mixer. Hopefully with some new laws drivers won't be distracted by cellphone usage, here in Alaska its illegal for any commercial driver to text while driving now, in my company we have literally baited new drivers by having a spotter call the driver on the road, if they answer their cellphone while driving they are fired. 1980 CX 500 Deluxe with Vetter Vindicator Electric Fan conversion LED lamp conversion Bridgestone Spitfires New Ricks Motorsports stator H4 HID headlamp 2009 Yamaha V-Star 1300 Tourer New stuff being added every day.    Report

02-08-2010, 3:47 PM rickbert Joined on 01-05-2009 Missouri....60 mis East of KC Posts 909 Re: just watched a guy die in a bike wreck Crusher, Believe me I think about this ALL THE TIME....I have SIX kids and 2 grandkids that my oldest of 6 doesn't do a good job of supporting himself....it's all up to ME ! I think the main thing with me though (and I know it is NO guarantee either) is that 90% of my riding is on the same rural country highway where there are very FEW cars EVER....I can see EVERY gravel road or driveway that any car can pull out of way ahead of time.....that being said I love riding on the interstate which is probably even more safe. I live in a little town with no stop lights and the max speed anywhere is 30mph. Guess what I'm getting at IS if I lived closer to the KC metro area where there was alot of cars I'd probably not ride until my kids were older. 1982 CX500C...20K miles...owned since 10/08 My age: 44 Bike's name: "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress"    Report

02-08-2010, 3:47 PM FOWG Joined on 05-24-2009 Woonsocket, RI Posts 343 Re: just watched a guy die in a bike wreck Silverado, No allowance for bluetooth? That's harsh. 1982 GL500 Silver Wing God wants us on motorcycles.    Report

02-08-2010, 5:24 PM WHODAT? Joined on 06-01-2008 Rowan, IA Posts 90 Re: just watched a guy die in a bike wreck Though I've had my bike since it was new, I only put on 1,000 total miles or less between the years of 1995 and 2006. I stopped riding primarily because I thought my kids needed a dad. When they were out of college and on their own, I began riding again. This wasn't the ONLY reason, but it was a major factor. 1981 GL500I Original owner. Lots of time to ride now. Laid off.    Report

02-08-2010, 5:30 PM Silverado 6x6 Joined on 08-13-2009 Wasilla, Alaska Posts 322 Re: just watched a guy die in a bike wreck I had a driver with one, not even then. I am referring to the drivers I have to train at the start of every season, we rarely see any stay longer than a year or two because its seasonal work usually from april til early december. And the drivers I get are usually school bus drivers or the ones just out of truck driving school, we are a small concrete batching facility with ten mixers and other trucks here in Wasilla Alaska, an area thats probably just a bump in the road to most people but there is something like 30,000 people in the nearby communities, not many main roadways either so the highways see a diverse amount of traffic from huge double trailer rigs, motorhomes and everything else. The mixer I drive is 12 cubic yards fully loaded, at is over 76,000lbs. A huge blind spot behind me because of the drum, no cameras either like some new models have. Unfortunately the pay is so-so and seasoned experienced drivers don't stay long either, and maybe in that case we could make an exception, and none of these mixers are automatics, you grab gears and you try to be more than a steering wheel holder. I have a driver right now that is still working against my best efforts because he was on a cellphone and made a lane change at a traffic light wiping out a new Mustang last august. I have been with this company 15 years now, I have built most of the batching facility, I do the hiring and evaluations and I'm the only mechanic for absolutely EVERYTHING. I could not bear the grief of a fatality because I was lax in my tutorship of these drivers, yes I'm hard nosed about it, anyone willing to come up here to Alaska can walk in my boots for a week and see for themselves. And being a bike rider it will make me more concerned, and I hope most anyone here will agree with that. 1980 CX 500 Deluxe with Vetter Vindicator Electric Fan conversion LED lamp conversion Bridgestone Spitfires New Ricks Motorsports stator H4 HID headlamp 2009 Yamaha V-Star 1300 Tourer New stuff being added every day.    Report

02-09-2010, 12:12 PM spanish bandit Joined on 02-12-2009 southern spain Posts 3,588 Re: just watched a guy die in a bike wreck ill tell you a worst story tomorrow,happened to me,ill just have to see if its ok to post first when i feel the need,i do it,llego,ve 60,s ----------------------------- 1975.lambretta 200gt scooter 1975.bsa 250 1976.honda 250 superdream 1978.honda 400..4 2008.1982 honda gli silverwing [uk model ]    Report

02-09-2010, 2:10 PM Panther Joined on 05-09-2006 Las Vegas, NV Posts 927 Re: just watched a guy die in a bike wreck The risk is there. For myself, I could not enjoy a life without the option to ride. There have been years I haven't been able to. but only due to money not being there to fix/buy a bike. For me those years sucked a bit more. This is something you and your lady need to discuss. If you decide to ride, take the BRC. Wear Good gear. After your first 2-5k miles, take the ERC. Take a dirt or dual sport riders course. Get good health insurance. Have enough life insurance. I Love riding, it helps me enjoy life much more. all parts of my life are better with motorcycling in it. Best of luck. Peace & Light >^..^< .......... '83 GL650swi "My Little Grey Lady" '82 GL500swi parts bike '78 DT175 '86 LS650 Milady's bike    Report

02-09-2010, 3:09 PM Gene McCall Joined on 03-02-2006 Murfreesboro Posts 1,051 Re: just watched a guy die in a bike wreck Silverado, you touched on one of my personal rules.  If I am near or passing a big rig or large motorhome/RV I will lag back in full view of the mirrors until I can safely pass.  When I do pass I shoot for maximum effort from my bike and the shortest time near the big rig.  I always scare myself by thinking "what if one of those huge tires lost a cap, what would I do" and I am always ready to dodge!  When I switch from the ST to any smaller bike I remind myself to adjust for the difference in power.  Since I am far more agile on the bike than that big rig I figure the burden is on me to dodge him, not vice versa! Gene My pictures are Here I didn't get this old by being timid, just not being stupid!    Report

02-09-2010, 6:08 PM Blindstitch Joined on 03-14-2009 Greenfield Wisconsin Posts 6,449 Re: just watched a guy die in a bike wreck I hate riding by anyone but big rigs and buses take the cake. Fast passing and in the sight of view is a must. I think mythbusters did a thing about tires exploding and not being able to take out a riding motorist but anything can happen. Wonder if there is a video on youtube of this. better go check. 1979 Honda CX500 Custom Supertanker ATGATT makes riding a bike like a sled easier. Quick Reference Info    Report

02-09-2010, 6:16 PM Blindstitch Joined on 03-14-2009 Greenfield Wisconsin Posts 6,449 Re: just watched a guy die in a bike wreck http://kwc.org/mythbusters/2007/06/episode_80_big_rig_myths.html I don't count the final test because anything can be kicked up by a tire. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvcwCCWkhBI 1979 Honda CX500 Custom Supertanker ATGATT makes riding a bike like a sled easier. Quick Reference Info    Report

02-10-2010, 5:48 AM spanish bandit Joined on 02-12-2009 southern spain Posts 3,588 Re: just watched a guy die in a bike wreck  spanish bandit wrote: ill tell you a worst story tomorrow,happened to me,ill just have to see if its ok to post first 8 years ago[it still feels like last week].myself and a friend were having a few pints of ale after a good day.it was a monday night at 7.30.the main A-38 south of bristol is a very fast road full of hills and dips.and notorious. the noise of the crash was scary.for a split second we stared at each other,then ran into the road,the car involved was right outside the pub door,shurning out steam,oil everywhere,a frontal hit......the driver just sat there..stunned but not really hurt.... we couldnt work out what it had hit,no other vehical was close...... 45 or so metres away,we found the other vehical,a motoguzzi ,i think,but not sure it was so badly broken up. so sign of the rider,anywhere near his bike.it came to pass that he,s under the car,helmet still on,but in a bad way. an ambulance had already been called by others,and was on route[a 40 minute drive] this guy was not going to last 40 mins. i scrabbled under the car to reassure the guy hel be all right, rob [my mate] was on his phone to the hospital,they were relaying instructions..not to move him,they kept reiterating ....do not lift the car and drag him out... it felt like hours i was under the car with him , holding his hand,talking to him.reassuring him. still no ambulance had arrived...........it was my decision,to override the hospial ...3 guys lifted the front of the car and i eased him out,,,his lips had gone blue,unconcious,id lost his pulse.i started mouth to mouth on him.with alternate chest compressions. blood had stopped pouring out of him,just a trickle,i lost him. 5 or 10 minutes later the ambulance arrived,duley put him inside,probably using their onboard equipment trying to revive him.it did not move,no attempt to drive to the hospital,after 40 minutes it slowly left. the following sunday luchtime[i wasnt there] but the guys mum came into the pub to find me.left her number for me to ring her. i met her where her son had died on the tuesday  night,she just hugged me and cried. that was a true story.it still haunts me to this day....should we have got him out straight away.dont know when i feel the need,i do it,llego,ve 60,s ----------------------------- 1975.lambretta 200gt scooter 1975.bsa 250 1976.honda 250 superdream 1978.honda 400..4 2008.1982 honda gli silverwing [uk model ]    Report

02-10-2010, 6:33 AM Silverado 6x6 Joined on 08-13-2009 Wasilla, Alaska Posts 322 Re: just watched a guy die in a bike wreck It sounds to me like you have still the weight of guilt upon your conscious for not trying to get him out sooner. I was not there of course and I'm not by any means trying to say anything else here friend, things happen sometimes. But there is no denying the reality that by just bringing this up now and out in the open it may very well save someone elses life is as how the next person realizes that action sooner may prevail than being told to be cautious. I may have a crude approximation but I carry a gun because I can't carry a cop, or when seconds count help is minutes away. Its a fruitless endeavor to live in ones hindsight of what they could have done, life is a revolving door to many that are quick to get through and for some that miss the exit, we learn by mistakes to hit the next event with a better decision, hopefully, and thats all a person needs to guide them. Riding a bike has so many avenues of disaster and injuries, it would be better for many to use skills like CPR, I'm glad you tried, many people never bother to take the course, its literally a lifesaver. You know now what you will do next time, and I suppose anyone that has read this will do the same solely because you have already experienced the pain of the "what if". You did your best, nothing wrong with that friend. 1980 CX 500 Deluxe with Vetter Vindicator Electric Fan conversion LED lamp conversion Bridgestone Spitfires New Ricks Motorsports stator H4 HID headlamp 2009 Yamaha V-Star 1300 Tourer New stuff being added every day.    Report

02-10-2010, 6:58 AM gopher Joined on 11-06-2008 Sk.Ca. 56 Posts 443 Re: just watched a guy die in a bike wreck That's a heart rending story SB and tough to read. My admiration to you for crawling under and being the supportive human contact for him. I expect it meant more to him than you know.    Report

02-11-2010, 3:23 PM Panther Joined on 05-09-2006 Las Vegas, NV Posts 927 Re: just watched a guy die in a bike wreck In one situation, moving him could be the worst thing, in another, Not moving is worse. There is no way to know unless you are there, and then you Still can't be sure. you make the best call you can and do what you can. It's all you Can do. Just being there for him in his last moments is a very good thing. Peace & Light >^..^< .......... '83 GL650swi "My Little Grey Lady" '82 GL500swi parts bike '78 DT175 '86 LS650 Milady's bike    Report

02-11-2010, 11:51 PM spanish bandit Joined on 02-12-2009 southern spain Posts 3,588 Re: just watched a guy die in a bike wreck  Panther wrote: In one situation, moving him could be the worst thing, in another, Not moving is worse. There is no way to know unless you are there, and then you Still can't be sure. you make the best call you can and do what you can. It's all you Can do. Just being there for him in his last moments is a very good thing. Just being there for him in his last moments is a very good thing..........................Thats exactly what his mum said when i feel the need,i do it,llego,ve 60,s ----------------------------- 1975.lambretta 200gt scooter 1975.bsa 250 1976.honda 250 superdream 1978.honda 400..4 2008.1982 honda gli silverwing [uk model ]    Report

02-13-2010, 7:37 AM Sidecar Bob Joined on 03-02-2006 Kawartha Lakes, Ontario Posts 1,606 Re: just watched a guy die in a bike wreck If I had stopped biking while my kids grew up I probably would have ended up in the loony bin. And the kids all have fond memories of places we went on the bike or bike events we attended as a family. It makes you want to wring the necks of the politicians that are trying to make it illegal to carry passengers under 24 in Ontario, but that's another issue. I'm sure I would not have been any safer in a car most of the time. Particularly in winter when a sidecar outfit's direct steering allows you to feel what's going on under the wheel a lot better than anyone in a car, with all those linkages. gearboxes, &c. I have been criticized by some more daring than I because I wait for too big a break in traffic and commit other such acts of caution, but my driving record speaks for itself. Remember that no helmet, armour, reflective vest or other gear you can wear and no lights or other accessories on the bike (not that I am recommending against such equipment) has anywhere near the effect on your likelihood to stay safe as your "space cushion". You can always tell the difference between a car person on a bike and a dyed in the wool biker by how far behind they follow. (Car guys figure the bike's superior maneuverability will save them. Bikers know they need to stay further back to allow for the idiot in the car that's too close behind them or the non-working brake lights or turn signals of the car in front.). NEVER drive beside another vehicle, whether it's a car/truck/other such monstrosity in the next lane or another bike in the same lane. If there are vehicles waiting to turn into your lane from sideroads or driveways, make eye contact with the drivers but still never trust them. If you have time, move around in the lane a bit (if they aren't sure what you are doing they might pay more attention). Remember what happened to Arnold Schwartzenagger a couple of years ago. If a driver can look directly at someone his size on large sidecar outfit and then drive right into him, they can easily overlook mere mortals like you & I. When you are in traffic you should be constantly thinking about where you can move to if some draino-brain around you does something stupid. If you get there without some sort of evasive maneuver you were lucky. Today. Don't count on it happening again tomorrow. Always remember that bikes are safe. It's the idiots in other vehicles that are dangerous. Mr. Honda ('83 GL1000) summer The Famous Eccles ('84 GX650EI/Velorex700) winter WHY I HAVEN"T BEEN AROUND MUCH LATELY    Report

02-13-2010, 11:24 PM OLD MAN CX500 Joined on 02-02-2010 Posts 61 Re: just watched a guy die in a bike wreck It dont alwas happen like that but sad to say most times, two yaers ago I was in salt lake city on I 15 a car and abike go togeather when I got to the sean they were working on the guy from the car with the rider standing by the bike was still rideable the car well I dont think it would make parts    Report

02-14-2010, 9:21 AM Gene McCall Joined on 03-02-2006 Murfreesboro Posts 1,051 Re: just watched a guy die in a bike wreck  Sidecar Bob wrote: If I had stopped biking while my kids grew up I probably would have ended up in the loony bin. And the kids all have fond memories of places we went on the bike or bike events we attended as a family. It makes you want to wring the necks of the politicians that are trying to make it illegal to carry passengers under 24 in Ontario, but that's another issue. I'm sure I would not have been any safer in a car most of the time. Particularly in winter when a sidecar outfit's direct steering allows you to feel what's going on under the wheel a lot better than anyone in a car, with all those linkages. gearboxes, &c. I have been criticized by some more daring than I because I wait for too big a break in traffic and commit other such acts of caution, but my driving record speaks for itself. Remember that no helmet, armour, reflective vest or other gear you can wear and no lights or other accessories on the bike (not that I am recommending against such equipment) has anywhere near the effect on your likelihood to stay safe as your "space cushion". You can always tell the difference between a car person on a bike and a dyed in the wool biker by how far behind they follow. (Car guys figure the bike's superior maneuverability will save them. Bikers know they need to stay further back to allow for the idiot in the car that's too close behind them or the non-working brake lights or turn signals of the car in front.). NEVER drive beside another vehicle, whether it's a car/truck/other such monstrosity in the next lane or another bike in the same lane. If there are vehicles waiting to turn into your lane from sideroads or driveways, make eye contact with the drivers but still never trust them. If you have time, move around in the lane a bit (if they aren't sure what you are doing they might pay more attention). Remember what happened to Arnold Schwartzenagger a couple of years ago. If a driver can look directly at someone his size on large sidecar outfit and then drive right into him, they can easily overlook mere mortals like you & I. When you are in traffic you should be constantly thinking about where you can move to if some draino-brain around you does something stupid. If you get there without some sort of evasive maneuver you were lucky. Today. Don't count on it happening again tomorrow. Always remember that bikes are safe. It's the idiots in other vehicles that are dangerous. Bob, I quoted your post because I hope folks will take it to heart and learn to drive as you describe!  I would add only one comment.  Many folks reading your post may think "that is a lot to remember!"  The neat thing about habits is that it makes what seems difficult at first become simple & easy!  For instance, I started using seatbelts in cars when they first became available, now I am very uncomfortable sitting in a vehicle without a seat belt on!  I started wearing helmets when riding in 1954, 2 years after I started riding.  I added other gear later, now "all the gear, all the time" is very easy to do.  Anyone beginning their riding career should work to build safe habits, such as allowing safe zones in traffic or always thinking ahead and in short order it will become something you don't even have to think about, you will just do it!  In addition, anyone who really looks honestly at their riding habits can change them, they will just have to work harder for a while than the new rider who has not learned all those "bad" habits! Ouch, I just fell off my soapbox so I will yield the floor! Ride safe & have fun!  Gene My pictures are Here I didn't get this old by being timid, just not being stupid!    Report

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