Accident

[Boriken]

Glad to know that you are OK can always replace the spyder.

Pete

:agree:

 

[musicarcade]

:dontknow:
8 ft wide 11 ft high bright yellow school bus with red lights flashing and a strobe light on top also flashing, and people still run into them.
All the lights in the world won't help if the other guy is driving with their head up their A**.

:agree:

I ryde like everyone is out to kill menojoke
I slow down or speed up NOT to be in a pack.
I'm fortunate enough (actually one of the reasons I chose to live here) to live in a small town and rarely have to deal w/ rush hour traffic. Living in midtown Atlanta for 10 years I had plenty of that.:gaah:

I always try to utilize what I learned in drivers ed- Scan the scene, get the big picture, and ALWAYS try to leave yourself 2 outs in case something happens.:thumbup:

I am far from perfect however, so I am ALWAYS practicing to get better and more defensive.



Glad you are ok and I hope your :spyder2: is on the mend too!

 

[bikeguy]

The importance of more lights/brighter lights is relative to each individual. I have never added any additional or brighter lights on any motorcycle I have owned in over 40 years. The disregard for safety of either the car driver or the motorcycle rider will cause an accident, no matter what. We should all ride with caution, avoid blind spots, excessive speed in traffic, forget the 2 second rule (give the car all the room it wants...it's a no-win situation if you don't), loud mufflers will irritate car drivers more than it will protect you (to them all you are is noise), all the rules written about safe riding will not save you if you don't drive with common sense. I know many will not agree with me, but that's the rules I have lived by and survived since 1966.

:agree: I don't think additional lights will make much difference in the daytime and I almost never ride at night anymore. Deer are just too bad in this part of the world. But I can't really relate to riding in the heavy traffic that many of you ride in. If I rode in that kind of traffic, my opinions might be different.

Cotton

 

[StriperKing]

Sorry to hear about your accident. Glad you will be ok.

I agree with Dudley. More lights may help in a very small percent of the time but if you like the way they look, you still win. :thumbup: I have rode all my life on and off road and my riding philosophy is that everyone will do what they are not supposed to, turn the opposite way they indicate, turn at the next driveway without turn signal, stop for no reason, so on and so on. I am 47 and have never been in an accident because this keeps you ready to react and I always think the first accident is just around the corner. I am never affraid to be on the road, just the opposite. It is when I fill free and alive. Just my oppenion but you should be very cautious but being over cautious or affraid will get you in trouble. I have seen this many times in extreme off-road riding.

Be safe but have fun.:2thumbs:

 

[CyncySpyder]

Teddy & I are ray:'n for a quick recovery for you and your :spyder:

Question for ya :hun:

How do you think you would have come out of this if you were on a 2 wheeler :dontknow:

 

[BioSab]

Not sure how I would've fared on a two wheeler. I'm lucky not to of been worse bruises and cuts heal.

 

[BajaRon]

Not sure how I would've fared on a two wheeler. I'm lucky not to of been worse bruises and cuts heal.

Sorry to hear about your accident. Glad you're ok. Sounds like it could have been worse.

I agree with the post that says 'Ride like everyone is out to kill you!' I've found that to be the best overall approach.

That's because, whether they are actually trying to kill you on purpose, or they do it by accident, the results are the same. But if you assume they're trying to kill you on purpose, you have a great advantage.

As far as swerving, the Spyder will swerve much more quickly than any 2 wheeled machine. As Doc says, inflating the front tires to about 18psi, installing the aftermarket sway bar and stiffening up the shock spring setting will improve maneuverability. But even without all of that, the Spyder will respond more quickly than any motorcycle to handlebar input.

That’s because you eliminate 1 huge factor with the Spyder, balance. The Spyder can change direction without compensating for balance. But 2 wheels must take that split second before actually changing direction. You either lean and then turn, or countersteer, lean and then turn. Either way takes much longer than the virtual instant turn of the Spyder. In a countersteer, the motorcycle actually moves in the wrong direction (towards the oncoming vehicle, in this case) before it begins to move in the intended direction of travel.

Of course if you get hit, then no matter how quick the machine swerved, it was not quick enough. But after contact is made, you’re probably way better off on the Spyder than you would have been on 2 wheels.

Hope you and your Spyder heal up quickly.

 

[NancysToy]

I'm not convinced that the Spyder is quicker to swerve, since it must move farther, but it certainly won't fall down if you do. One thing to keep in mind is that it is much wider, so it takes up more of the lane. You can't swerve as far as you can on two wheels.

I strongly recommend that all riders practice evasive maneuvers regularly, in the safety of an empty parking lot, or by dodging manhole covers on an open stretch of road. Whether on two wheels or three, regular practice keeps you sharp, and gives you confidence that you can pull off avoidance maneuvers when the time comes. It is especially important to practice a bit early in the Spring, to brush off the rust of your long winter's nap.

 

[BajaRon]

I'm not convinced that the Spyder is quicker to swerve, since it must move farther, but it certainly won't fall down if you do. One thing to keep in mind is that it is much wider, so it takes up more of the lane. You can't swerve as far as you can on two wheels.

I strongly recommend that all riders practice evasive maneuvers regularly, in the safety of an empty parking lot, or by dodging manhole covers on an open stretch of road. Whether on two wheels or three, regular practice keeps you sharp, and gives you confidence that you can pull off avoidance maneuvers when the time comes. It is especially important to practice a bit early in the Spring, to brush off the rust of your long winter's nap.

Some good points. I think the perception is that 2 wheels will change direction from a straight line more quickly than the Spyder. And I am pretty sure this is not true.

But you're right about taking up more room and having less lane to work with.

 

[CyncySpyder]

long winter's nap.

:agree:

But what's that :dontknow:

 

[capt.jim]

Glad your going to be OK, Broward Motorsports in Davie seem to be very knowledgable about the spyders, they even had a couple of RSS in the show room with 18" wheels and nice exhaust work, seems like they are into the spyders alot, and friendly, they might help you, good luck

 

[COOLMACHINE]

A speedy recovery.

I wish you a speedy recovery and hope this does not deter you from getting back on that machine of yours. :thumbup:

 

[araknd]

accident

Glad you weren't hurt worse and get well soon! As someone else mentioned there are entirely to many people driving with their heads up a dark stinky place! Ride safe!
araknd

 

[obiwanbill]

I took the Experienced Driver course several years ago. Practicing stopping in corners, panic stops, etc built up my confidence.

When I got my Spyder, I installed extra tail and brake lites. Up front I placed a machine gun. Firing a burst of bullets seem to get the stupidest cager's attention

 

[ARtraveler]

Glad to hear you made it through the accident without too many problems or injuries.

In some places its that time of year when the motorcyclists are coming back on the roads. Cagers have had the roads to themselves for a few months--so are not evey paying attention to things like motorcycles.

It is good advice to drive with the idea that they dont see you, or are out to get you. I am noticing that almost every driver has a cell phone in their hand now and are engaged in conversation or texting. Even though this is illegal in most places--it goes on and on and on.

 

[baldman902]

Glad you are OK, feel better soon.

 

[M2Wild]

:dontknow:
All the lights in the world won't help if the other guy is driving with their head up their A**.

:agree:Nothing short of throwing a wrench at their car will get their attention.

 

[Raptor]

I'm not convinced that the Spyder is quicker to swerve, since it must move farther, but it certainly won't fall down if you do. One thing to keep in mind is that it is much wider, so it takes up more of the lane. You can't swerve as far as you can on two wheels.

I strongly recommend that all riders practice evasive maneuvers regularly, in the safety of an empty parking lot, or by dodging manhole covers on an open stretch of road. Whether on two wheels or three, regular practice keeps you sharp, and gives you confidence that you can pull off avoidance maneuvers when the time comes. It is especially important to practice a bit early in the Spring, to brush off the rust of your long winter's nap.

:agree: I practice evasive drills all the time. I have 2 big parking lots near where we live and I use them. I tend to place a higher premium on my riding skill and instincts to get me through and not so much external factors. When you deal with the kind of traffic that I tangle with every day you better know how to dodge! And it's already paid off. I have had a couple of close calls already and the fact that I have not been hit I can directly attribute to those drills. One was a Forest Rat near-miss situation which was probably the closest call of all. "Seeing" the field is a huge deal. After a while you get to the point where you can feel what is going to happen. I always try to think 3-4 moves ahead and try to have a bail-out just in case.

I'm very glad to hear that the rider and author of this thread wasn't seriously hurt. I wishyou a speedy recovery Sir! :thumbup:

 

[AntelopeSpyder]

Some times there isn't time to react.

Last November I was on the freeway doing about 65, I was in a middle lane next to a truck, I was about even with his back trailer when his tractor wheels drove over a piece of road debris. It was a about 2' x 2' flat something ( wood or medal ) Anyway it flew up into my lane, all I had time to do was duck. Just glad my wife wasn't on behind me! After I looked up there were scratches on my windshield. Later after I got to where I was doing I inspected the damage. The front bumper had a hole in it the size of a quarter and the plastic on the left swing arm was damaged. I didn’t ride anymore until January ( holidays & weather ect. ) Took the Spyder to my dealer and got an estimate. Anyway the insurance ending up paying about $800. Looks like new now.

So I would take my Spyder to your dealer as I don’t believe most body auto shops would have access to Spyder parts and they are filmier with disassembly and assembly of Spyders

 

[SpyderRyder2B]

:dontknow:
8 ft wide 11 ft high bright yellow school bus with red lights flashing and a strobe light on top also flashing, and people still run into them.
All the lights in the world won't help if the other guy is driving with their head up their A**.

or on the cell phone:yikes: