Accident Avoided - Thanks BRP

[eaglemrpaul]

I purchased a Spyder RT first and foremost for safety reasons. I haven't ridden a cycle for 30 years. Back then I was on 2 wheels and had a car pull away from a stop sign in front of me. Totaled the bike but luckily I walked away unhurt. I figured that I had burnt up enough lives so I would try something else. Got my private pilots licence. There's less traffic up there. Training to be a pilot is all about preparing for emergencies, planning ahead, and being fully aware of the airplanes performance, your surroundings, and your own abilities. These are concepts that served me well in the air as well as on the road in automobiles.

Last Sunday afternoon I was driving home from a day trip. I was traveling out of a small town. The speed limit was 35 MPH. The only traffic on the road in front of me was a late model subcompact car 100 yards ahead. The car was slowing down and had it's right blinker flashing to turn into the main thoroughfare of a subdivision. When I was about 75 feet away, instead of turning right the driver decided that they were going to make a U-turn in front of me. My foot was instantly on the brake and I veered hard left. I was looking down at the cars front bumper as I prepared for impact. The car had crossed the centerline by 2 feet. I heard a tire squeal and the car stopped. The driver had finally seen me. I watched as the Spyder's right front fender cleared in front of the cars front bumper by about 12 inches. I can tell you that it felt like the Spyders right front had tipped down. With the hard braking and the severe turn to the left, I'm not sure if the suspension gave that much or if the left front tire had come off the ground. Once clear of that car's bumper I released the break and turned to the right to stay on the roadway. There must have been an angel on my shoulder. As I rolled to a stop I saw the car driving away in my rearview mirror.

I didn't think about what I was doing I reacted. The Spyder did everything it was supposed though and I'm more grateful than ever to be a Spyder owner. With the anti-lock brakes and all the momentum of the Spyders weight on the front tires due to the rapid deceleration, the front wheels never stopped turning and I never lost control. I know I never could have pulled off a maneuver like that under the same circumstances on 2 wheels. I'm not real confident I would have been able to pull it off on three either if the 2 tires made up the rear axle.

Great engineering BRP

[Bob Denman]

I'm sorry to hear that you had to find all of this out under real-traffic condtions , but I'm gald that it all worked out successfully for you!

[Cuffs19]

Glad you're ok. And good work keeping it between the ditches and shiny side up!

[donec]

Glad you're ok.

[Chupaca]

Glad things worked out and you and the "nanny" made a safe landing. Although we all complain about her she does have some redeeming qualities and it's good to hear they work..be safe..!!

[jerpinoy]

We're glad your ok , right on BRP.

[shrubs]

Gald you're OK and man that sure was close.

[kepople]

Wow that is very lucky! People are real knuckle heads some times, but I am glad the Spyder did its job to save you from injury.
I would have reacted just as you did. If it were I, and on 2 wheels, the bike would have immediately went down, locking brakes, and swerving are a bad combo on 2 wheels, and I guess, the cats meow on the spider...

were you riding alone?

[ARtraveler]

Very glad to hear the safety equipment kicked in at the appropriate time. The safety equipment adds to the complexity of the but it is invaluable when needed.

The outcome would probably have been much different on two wheels.

[eaglemrpaul]

Wow that is very lucky! People are real knuckle heads some times, but I am glad the Spyder did its job to save you from injury.
I would have reacted just as you did. If it were I, and on 2 wheels, the bike would have immediately went down, locking brakes, and swerving are a bad combo on 2 wheels, and I guess, the cats meow on the spider...

were you riding alone?

Yes I was riding alone. I would guess that if I would have had a passenger they too would have been OK had they been holding on to the grab handles or me (Which is the usual case). The instant the driver of the car decided to initiate that uturn I'm guessing that I was in their blind spot to the left of what they could have been seen in their rear view mirror alone. Any defensive driving coach will tell you that that is not a good place to be. But it does happen all the time if even for a moment.

I know because I have a Spyder I'm putting more miles on which increase my chances for an incident. The more baseball games you attend the better your chances of getting hit with a foul ball. I am not what I would call a seasoned rider. I have less than 2K on the Spyder. Being in my 50s I have road experience but I almost can't believe what I was able to pull off. I'm not that good. I would suggest that the safety features built into the Spyder provided the opportunity, I just executed a maneuver.

[Stharbor99]

Yes I was riding alone. I would guess that if I would have had a passenger they too would have been OK had they been holding on to the grab handles or me (Which is the usual case). The instant the driver of the car decided to initiate that uturn I'm guessing that I was in their blind spot to the left of what they could have been seen in their rear view mirror alone. Any defensive driving coach will tell you that that is not a good place to be. But it does happen all the time if even for a moment.

I know because I have a Spyder I'm putting more miles on which increase my chances for an incident. The more baseball games you attend the better your chances of getting hit with a foul ball. I am not what I would call a seasoned rider. I have less than 2K on the Spyder. Being in my 50s I have road experience but I almost can't believe what I was able to pull off. I'm not that good. I would suggest that the safety features built into the Spyder provided the opportunity, I just executed a maneuver.

So happy everything turned out safe for you! May your Angels always ride with you!