Spyder vs Road Hazard

[C3517C]

I was riding on the freeway today, the traffic was tight but we were all going about 65 MPH. A large chunk of twisted metal, say breadbox size, came flying out from underneath the car in front of me. I had absolutely no chance of avoiding it and rode directly over it with the middle of the Spyder. It made a horrific metal slamming metal sound, and just about threw me off the bike. It then hit my rear tire and instantly blew out the sidewall of a fairly new Kumho . I was able to pull off the road and call for a tow truck. After I brought my heart rate back down, my first thought was "Thank God for 3 Wheels". If I was on a 2 wheeler this would have ended very badly, there's no doubt about it. I'm also happy to say that the Spyder did not lose any control when the tire blew. I had the bike towed to the dealership and have not assessed all the damage yet, but I can see the metal plate under the oil tank is ripped and hanging. My left NBV footrest bracket is bent and is pushed into the Tupperware also. Thankfully, no fluid leaks. Sorry no pics yet. I'll try to swing by the shop and snap some once they get it in the air.

[wyliec]

Glad you may it safely through.

[Road Runner]

Your story is painful. I see pieces of tire on the expressway and the imagination goes wild.....guts...glad your safe and back on the road soon. Gary

[Spy+]

glad you are ok dude

[NancysToy]

I have had similar encounters without the tire puncture, and have thanked my lucky stars I was on a Spyder. I love my bikes, but the more I ride the more I realize how great the Spyder is. Glad you were riding one and survived to tell your story without any road rash.

[3 wheeler]

Wow glad you're okay, you would have definitely been in worse shape if you were on 2 wheels...

[Bob Denman]

Three tire tracks makes it very difficult to miss stuff...
But it also adds tremendous stability to the bike!
Glad that you are okay!!

[Chupaca]

glad you and the spyder were able to hold it all together. Sorry about the damage and your heart rate but that did come back to normal. Hope not to much wrong with the spyder..!!

[Benggolf]

Glad to hear you made it safely! Hope the repairs will be done quickly and you be back on the road soon.

[MouthPiece]

I have had similar encounters without the tire puncture, and have thanked my lucky stars I was on a Spyder. I love my bikes, but the more I ride the more I realize how great the Spyder is. Glad you were riding one and survived to tell your story without any road rash.

Ditto, and I'm glad you're okay.

​Chris

[CyncySpyder]

Glad your ryde saved your bacon

Teddy drew the line at 2 wheelers for a reason, guess this was one of them

[RBS66]

Wow glad you're okay!! Bummer about the bike though

[Mets79ST2013]

I was riding on the freeway today, the traffic was tight but we were all going about 65 MPH. A large chunk of twisted metal, say breadbox size, came flying out from underneath the car in front of me. I had absolutely no chance of avoiding it and rode directly over it with the middle of the Spyder. It made a horrific metal slamming metal sound, and just about threw me off the bike. It then hit my rear tire and instantly blew out the sidewall of a fairly new Kumho . I was able to pull off the road and call for a tow truck. After I brought my heart rate back down, my first thought was "Thank God for 3 Wheels". If I was on a 2 wheeler this would have ended very badly, there's no doubt about it. I'm also happy to say that the Spyder did not lose any control when the tire blew. I had the bike towed to the dealership and have not assessed all the damage yet, but I can see the metal plate under the oil tank is ripped and hanging. My left NBV footrest bracket is bent and is pushed into the Tupperware also. Thankfully, no fluid leaks. Sorry no pics yet. I'll try to swing by the shop and snap some once they get it in the air.

I'm glad that you are ok, the bike is an easy fix,

[currin20fan]

Glad you're okay. This is the main reason I avoid the interstates when I can. Too much trash on the highway and the scenery stinks.

[Bob Denman]

What are the safety folks saying about safe following distances these days?
Three seconds?? Two???
I leave as much of a following distance as I can...
If folks cut in front of me; I back off to rebuild my buffer...
But my eyes aren't that great, and I need more time to react to "unforeseen circumstances"

[billrob71]

Glad your ok sucks about the tire but getting pulled over safely is more important.

[daltmeyer]

Im glad youre ok and posting about this on here.

This is a subject I think should be stressed to Spyder ryders... Following distance. You need lots of it IMO.

Youve got 3 tyre paths and should the car in front spit out something you need to be able to react or youve got a high chance of nailing something.

Lots of times theres something that got worked right to the center of a lane and nobodys swerving but thats gonna bite a Spyder ryder. I learned this the hard way on 2 wheels running over a dead dog in the center of a lane at 60 mph that the trunk in front didnt have to swerve to avoid and I almost got thrown from my bike running over that one.

I made two mistakes that night. Following too close and not following the trucks tire path when doing so.

Again Im glad youre alright.

[boborgera]

What are the safety folks saying about safe following distances these days?
Three seconds?? Two???
I leave as much of a following distance as I can...
If folks cut in front of me; I back off to rebuild my buffer...
But my eyes aren't that great, and I need more time to react to "unforeseen circumstances"

Buffer whats a Buffer? On most highways if you leave a Buffer, With everyone cutting in You'll wind up going backward...
I took a ride today to Honesdale Pa, Came back 97 along the river though the Hawks Nest, Can't tell you how many cars blew by me on the double yellow and i was going 10 over.. And one put a smile on my face when he was stopped by a squirrel chaser down the road..

[Captain Fin]

I learned many years ago to keep a safe following distance and always try to have a way out if things turn bad around you. I taught professional driving for 15 years to the big rig drivers. I must have learned something from the experience as I drove over 500,000 miles per year training drivers with only one accident that was not the fault of the trainee. I apply this principal also when driving the Spyder.

[ARtraveler]

Glad you made it through the situation.

[Bob Denman]

Buffer whats a Buffer? On most highways if you leave a Buffer, With everyone cutting in You'll wind up going backward...
I took a ride today to Honesdale Pa, Came back 97 along the river though the Hawks Nest, Can't tell you how many cars blew by me on the double yellow and i was going 10 over.. And one put a smile on my face when he was stopped by a squirrel chaser down the road..

driving licenses in New Jersey should be issued with a handgun, and a lire of 151 proof rum...

[boborgera]

driving licenses in New Jersey should be issued with a handgun, and a lire of 151 proof rum...

97 Is on the New York side, But Your right about Jersey drivers , And thats why they ''Don't'' issued them in Jersey....

[Bob Denman]

New York licenses come standard with a bottle of amphetamines...
But it's the Pennsylvania licenses that are all stamped, "007".

[Dan McNally]

What are the safety folks saying about safe following distances these days?
Three seconds?? Two???
I leave as much of a following distance as I can...
If folks cut in front of me; I back off to rebuild my buffer...
But my eyes aren't that great, and I need more time to react to "unforeseen circumstances"

. . . I leave lots of room between me and the car/truck in front . . . that said, I'm glad you are OK . . .

[Dan_Ashley]

What are the safety folks saying about safe following distances these days?
Three seconds?? Two???
I leave as much of a following distance as I can...
If folks cut in front of me; I back off to rebuild my buffer...
But my eyes aren't that great, and I need more time to react to "unforeseen circumstances"

in MSF courses they teach two seconds. I think that is too short. I maintain three seconds, and if people cut in front, I back off to maintain three seconds. Sometimes I get anoyed if I get cut off a lot--but I figure that their bad manners doesn't mean I should change my behavior. I mean just because their mothers didn't care enough to teach them good manners, does't mean I should jeopardize my safety.