Your Spyder can hop an Axe at 65 MPH

[Graptor]

I got a pretty good scare on the way home from work today. Driving on the expressway an Axe was laying in the middle of the road. It came up pretty quick and there was no way to avoid it. I managed to get it to go between my front wheels, but the back tire went right over it. When I drove over it, the axe spun and hit my right floor board. I'm thinking that farkle saved my foot. I also believe the Spyder saved me, I'm pretty sure I would have lost it on my Harley. The Rivco floorboard fell apart, but I was still able to work the brake. You can hear the metal falling off at 26 seconds of the video.

One of the reasons I bought my Spyder was to have a safer ride to work and back. I love my Spyder a little more today.

[Bfromla]

Glad that turned out well

[ARtraveler]

Glad that worked out all right. Was that a toilet paper moment?

[Graptor]

A whole roll.

Glad that worked out all right. Was that a toilet paper moment?

[ekfraz]

If you were on 2 wheels it could have possibly taken you out, happy that you are safe.

[blitzkreig]

Holy Cow that axe was laying cross-ways and there was NO WAY to avoid running over it no matter how you maneuver it.

I have practiced letting some road imperfection run between my two up front tires and yet missing the rear tire. I can do it quite readily on my right side but fail miserably when trying to do it to the left of my rear tire.

You are fortunate it didn't do more damage ...

[pegasus1300]

The first time thru I thought it was just another tar snake. Good vision to see that I think.

[Graptor]

The camera makes things seem smaller. In real life, that was a big axe I couldn't miss. I truly thought I was going to not make it over without wrecking.

The first time thru I thought it was just another tar snake. Good vision to see that I think.

[Dmpsam]

Holy Moly, that's scary!
Glad it didn't cause you to wreck on the highway.
I'm pretty sure I would have to go home and change my pants!

[Chupaca]

Really...an Axe..!! glad you caught that and were able to manage the situation. Hard to say what would have happened without the boards but glad that is all the damage...😓

[Bam Bam and Pebbles]

With all the tar snakes and traffic, you did a great job avoiding the axe with the front wheels. Be thankful that you didn't change lanes at that spot, or you would have been really screwed.

[vided]

wow, S C A R I E,
glad your ok

[Graptor]

The day after, I'm thinking the floorboard really saved me. That axe spun around and smacked the floorboard pretty good. Without the board the business side of that tool would have been able to get to my right leg.

I'm going to be riding my Spyder a lot more now. I just keep thinking of how I would be this morning, if I was riding my Sportster yesterday. It was a toss up yesterday as to which bike I was going to ride too. If I was ridding my bike, I'm pretty sure after the front wheel made it over it would have caused the axe to spin and that would have taken me down.

[Bob Denman]

Sooner or later: something always happens, that makes you wonder what you could have done differently.
I'm glad that you're okay, and the floorboard can be easily replaced.
What would you change about your riding techniques?
Could you have been doing anything different, that would have allowed you to identify this risk quicker?

[Graptor]

Bob, I think most of us obsess about what we could have done after a mishap. I've obviously been obsessing about this one. Here is my thoughts:

• I was in the middle lane, so I had an out on both sides. If I was riding on the right I wouldn't have had an out, also if someone else hit the axe, it could have come at me. so their really was no safe position on the road.
• I had at least a couple car lengths between me and the truck in front. That gave me a second to adjust my path to clear the axe from my front wheels.
• I was actively trying to get distance from the cars on my sides, to put myself in the best position. You can even see me doing this in the beginning of the video.
• When I seen the axe I drove straight for it, instead of making an abrupt maneuver. I think I was in the best position when I hit.
• I had all my gear on even though it was hot as hell. I was wearing my riding shoes that have protection on the sides, but not a thick sole. I might be replacing those.
• Most importantly, I was riding my Spyder. I installed floor boards that ended up protecting me from debris. The safest bike I have.

I've been driving for 35 years, I've never driven over an Axe on the highway. There is a part that is just dumb luck. Anything can happen on any day. Obviously, I got out of this without much more than a story to tell. I'm pretty sure there were a lot of other guys who were riding yesterday and had a much worse problem than I did yesterday. The only reason to tell this story is, so that we are reminded that what we do can be very dangerous and we think about how we can be safer.

AXE.jpg

Sooner or later: something always happens, that makes you wonder what you could have done differently.
I'm glad that you're okay, and the floorboard can be easily replaced.
What would you change about your riding techniques?
Could you have been doing anything different, that would have allowed you to identify this risk quicker?

[Bob Denman]

That's a solid assessment!