Ducati Monster Forum

Moto Board => General Monster Forum => Topic started by: lifeinohio on June 17, 2010, 09:51:50 AM

Title: Be careful out there
Post by: lifeinohio on June 17, 2010, 09:51:50 AM
So, last night I was riding the monster home from work...stop at a light, I want to turn left and head home, light turns green, I roll into the intersection, but some idiot in an old Ford Festiva runs the light and I'm looking at her front fender.  I for some reason did not touch the front brake, I locked up the rear, slid sideways( I love flattrack) and just missed the front fender.  The bike started to stall so I pulled in the clutch  and released it again, the motor fired back up, picked up the falling bike and kept going in my intended direction.  The cager didn't even slow down and I didn't feel like chasing...so I went home.  A lady that was behind me, pulled up next to me at the next light and said my "angels" must be with me, but I just thought it was my old dirt biking skills cutting in.  So anyway, be careful, as always :o
Title: Re: Be careful out there
Post by: SacDuc on June 17, 2010, 09:57:32 AM


Glad you are okay.

Next time use your front brake. Go find a nice clean parking lot and practice your panic stops.


sac
Title: Re: Be careful out there
Post by: DucMouse the Mighty on June 17, 2010, 10:21:59 AM
glad you are ok...

Title: Re: Be careful out there
Post by: Howie on June 17, 2010, 11:23:12 AM
Nice save [thumbsup] 
Title: Re: Be careful out there
Post by: fastwin on June 17, 2010, 11:36:23 AM
Glad you're OK! [thumbsup] Man, in my God forsaken town I have learned to never, I'll repeat that, NEVER EVER be the first off the line when the light turns green. And when I do pull away I try and keep a cage between me and potential red light runners. At 4 way stop signs I have to watch the cars in the other three lanes come to a complete stop or make sure they are far enough away that I can clear the intersection before they get there. I don't trust anyone under any conditions in this town. Sure, it's another added riding hassle but I know for a fact it has saved my ass more than three times. Two of those times I was in my truck.

As hard as I try to follow my own safety program I'm sure the day or night I drop my guard that will be the time I get t-boned. It's a combat zone out there on a good day. Again, glad your "spidey senses" kicked in! [clap]
Title: Re: Be careful out there
Post by: Bill in OKC on June 17, 2010, 11:51:34 AM
I wish I had dirt skills - and a video of your save.  I think you must learn things about motorcycle dynamics in the dirt that you just can't learn on the street -
Title: Re: Be careful out there
Post by: fastwin on June 17, 2010, 12:10:42 PM
I agree. I'm an old dirt biker, that's where I started as a kid. I wish everyone could spend six months dirt bike riding before ever rolling down a paved road. Not that it made me into a fantastic street rider but it sure taught me things that would have been expensive to learn on the street and painful! Besides it's damn fun!! [moto]
Title: Re: Be careful out there
Post by: lifeinohio on June 17, 2010, 12:47:39 PM
Quote from: Bill in OKC on June 17, 2010, 11:51:34 AM
I wish I had dirt skills - and a video of your save.  I think you must learn things about motorcycle dynamics in the dirt that you just can't learn on the street -
I wish I had a video of it , too.  It happened so fast and I wasn't going that fast since I just left the light.
Title: Re: Be careful out there
Post by: Popeye the Sailor on June 17, 2010, 02:13:28 PM
I'll be the pain in the ass of the day

1) Learn to watch for red light runners
2) Use the front brake-you're not on dirt
3) Don't chase the cager down-green does not mean go-green means go if it's safe. You put yourself in that position.


Ride safe!
Title: Re: Be careful out there
Post by: DoubleEagle on June 17, 2010, 05:19:16 PM
Hey welcome,

I'm glad things turned out the way they did, but I'm always concerned too about the cager who sees the green from behind me and barrels ahead and if I haven't moved ....then I get smashed .

Got to be aware of like someone said ...all 4 directions at intersections.

Dolph     :)
Title: Re: Be careful out there
Post by: causeofkaos on June 18, 2010, 05:53:34 AM
Quote from: MrIncredible on June 17, 2010, 02:13:28 PM
I'll be the pain in the ass of the day

1) Learn to watch for red light runners
2) Use the front brake-you're not on dirt
3) Don't chase the cager down-green does not mean go-green means go if it's safe. You put yourself in that position.


Ride safe!

arent you at least supposed to turn that in a compliment sandwich?

compliment
be an ass <--your words
compliment

im just kidding dont take it serious  ;D
Title: Re: Be careful out there
Post by: Popeye the Sailor on June 18, 2010, 06:04:38 AM
Quote from: causeofkaos on June 18, 2010, 05:53:34 AM
arent you at least supposed to turn that in a compliment sandwich?

compliment
be an ass <--your words
compliment

im just kidding dont take it serious  ;D

Just want people to be safe  ;)
Title: Re: Be careful out there
Post by: orangelion03 on June 18, 2010, 06:26:12 AM
I'm impressed with your reactions and glad you avoided a serious accident!   This was a reminder to myself to more consistenly follow one of my personal rules:  never be the first into an intersection!  In my eagerness to take advantage of my narrow footprint, I will on osometimes split the lane at a light to be the first one gone...bad habit.  I more typically hang back a car or two.
Title: Re: Be careful out there
Post by: Ddan on June 19, 2010, 04:09:28 AM
All the second-guessing aside, it sounds to me like you did exactly what needed to be done.  By-the-book will work 99% of the time, but it's nice to have a trick or two in your bag for that other 1%.
Title: Re: Be careful out there
Post by: richard on June 19, 2010, 07:33:30 AM
Its also a good thing your on a monster which is light and kinda like a dirt bike. Anything bigger than a monster is gonna be hard to do what you did. Good reflex man! Do you by any chance play tennis or ping pong or do martial arts? I heard they sharpen up your reflex a lot.
Title: Re: Be careful out there
Post by: eyeboy on June 19, 2010, 03:02:28 PM
it's funny that you mention you didn't even touch the front brake...

last summer a guy in a car suddenly turned in front of me, i was traveling at very slow speed, 15-20mph and I did exactly the same thing, stomped on the rear only, did a little slide and just missed hitting the guy.

i learned to ride on the dirt also, i wonder if I was channeling that...

i practice my emergency stops pretty regularly, it's amazing how quickly you can slow if you need to
Title: Re: Be careful out there
Post by: lifeinohio on June 21, 2010, 11:35:09 AM
Quote from: eyeboy on June 19, 2010, 03:02:28 PM
it's funny that you mention you didn't even touch the front brake...

last summer a guy in a car suddenly turned in front of me, i was traveling at very slow speed, 15-20mph and I did exactly the same thing, stomped on the rear only, did a little slide and just missed hitting the guy.

i learned to ride on the dirt also, i wonder if I was channeling that...

i practice my emergency stops pretty regularly, it's amazing how quickly you can slow if you need to
Yeah, I don't know why I stomped on the rear brake...I very rarely use it cause it makes so much noise...
Title: Re: Be careful out there
Post by: R0CKETMAN on June 21, 2010, 12:42:30 PM
Thy are not paid for thy methods but for thy results.

Good job