I need a new seat for my RS!

[NancysToy]

Am I just being extremely unlucky here (2 emergency stops in 5 weeks of ownership, about 600 miles of Spydering), or does this sort of thing happen often to other riders? I'm beginning to feel like the Spyder is a magnet for bad drivers! :dontknow:

Thanks.

- MIchael

I doubt it is a magnet for bad drivers, but any black motorcycle poses visibility and recognition problems. One thing that would help would be to wear a hi-vis helmet and hi-vis riding gear. The head and arms move and attract the most attention, so hi-vis headgear and shirts/jackets have been proven to reduce the accident rate. Extra lighting helps, as does running with high beams in the daytime. I'd also suggest some more intense defensive riding techniques. Ride like you are invisible, and try to make eye contact with other drivers at those intersections. Watch those drivers more than their vehicles...you can often tell which ones are unlikely to stop or who will pull out. Slow down for them and be prepared to stop or take evasive action. Have your escape route planned as you approach, in case you have to avoid them. Remember that no matter what the law says, ride almost like everyone else has the right of way. You'll live longer that way.

 

[Bob Ledford]

Yea,but

My butt tore a hole in the OEM one today trying to hold on... eeek! :yikes:

Riding the RS earlier today on a divided freeway near town going ~40mph, a mini-van with 2 elderly ladies coming the other way suddenly (no turn indicator or anything!) made an illegal left turn not 25 feet in front of me! Arghhhh! :banghead:

Man do I ever thank Can-Am for those ABS brakes and stability control system, it's the only reason I'm able to post this. I stood on the brake and held onto the RS handlebars for dear life while steering for the rear of the min-van, and the RS dropped 30+mph in some 14 feet or so giving the min-van just enough time to get clear of my lane (thank GOD there wasn't another vehicle following close behind me come to think of it now!).

That just shook me up something fierce, I never even got my thumb on the horn button it all happened so fast...
[\QUOTE]

You are alive and well which is all that really counts. What color is your ride? Bet it is one of those colors that other drivers do not tend to notice very well.. Spyder's do stop well when you stomp the stuffing out of the brakes. I would be willing to bet your A B S worked too!

Anyways, I cannot imagine what shape it'd have put me in had the Spyder not been able to stop so fast today (or if somebody had been following right behind me at the time this happened for that matter; I never even thought to look in the mirrors to see if there was a vehicle behind me there simply was no time and nothing I could have done anyhows).

I swear other drivers are going to be the death of me this is the 2nd time in the 5 weeks I've owned this Spyder that I've had to do an emergency STOP because of another motorist not paying attention to their blasted driving. [\QUOTE]

Granted you escaped harm this time and your Spyder performed great. Hopefully you have had your quota of close calls for this century. But I ask you to do one thing for me. Try to remember every time you got out the door that you and your Spyder are totally invisible when it comes to driving anywhere outside of your garage door.

 

[Michael211_2000]

I'd also suggest some more intense defensive riding techniques. Ride like you are invisible, and try to make eye contact with other drivers at those intersections. Watch those drivers more than their vehicles...you can often tell which ones are unlikely to stop or who will pull out. Slow down for them and be prepared to stop or take evasive action. Have your escape route planned as you approach, in case you have to avoid them.

Woah! And what part of that "more intense defensive riding" do you think I did not do today? I thought I did a darned good job avoiding what could have been a terrible life-threatening/life-altering majorly ugly collision. I wish my insurer could see what I successfully avoided today in fact.. and where is a cop when you want one dangit? Those ladies needed a stern talking-to, they're going to kill somebody IMHO!
If I get any more intensly defensive, I may just stay parked in my own driveway from now on! :gaah:

- Michael

 

[Michael211_2000]

Hopefully you have had your quota of close calls for this century. But I ask you to do one thing for me. Try to remember every time you got out the door that you and your Spyder are totally invisible when it comes to driving anywhere outside of your garage door.

Me too Bob, before I get too afraid to ride the thing anymore! (Sigh!)

Bob believe me I am I am, hence why I was able to get on the brake almost instantly when the mini-van turned right in front of me. I wish I could have laid on the horn button as well but holding on to the handle-bar was far more important at that second otherwise I could have been ejected from my seat by the G-force of the Spyder's decelleration. I already went outside and flipped my headlight switch to high-beams so it'll be on high-beams (during the day at least) from here on.

Again, my observation is that those little old ladies would have made that sudden turn to keep from missing the driveway they wanted even if I'd been driving a Peterbilt truck today... they weren't paying a lick of attention to what was coming in front of them! Had I been in my 1 ton dually pickup truck I certainly would have killed the passenger, it could never have stopped as fast as this Spyder did!

Now originally I had wanted one of the 2008-10 Black/Red Spyders (favorite 2 colors actually, and red is a bit more "visible"), even made a deal on a black/red 2010 RS in Austin TX but the seller backed out at the last minute when he got offered more money by someone else (who never came up with that more money, as it turns out... it's still listed on CraigsList today he should have stuck with the deal he'd agreed to with me but oh well!). I ended up buying this all-black 2012 RS for just a little more money, which as far as the color goes I'm quite happy with it but of course I may be more invisible than the typical Spyder as a result. (sigh!)

ps. Did I mention I only spent like $1.5K more for this 2012 RS with only 880 miles on it, as compared to that 2010 one in Austin with some 2200 miles???? This one even had that "new car engine smell" to it it had been run so little when I bought it last month. hyea:

- Michael

 

[Michael211_2000]

If a Spyder as large as it is (especially from the front) is "invisible" then how much more invisible is a 2-wheeler when viewed head-on by other traffic? :dontknow:

I've never had any complications or issues or close-calls with motorcycles on the freeway when driving my 4-wheeled vehicles, I recognize and avoid them like any other vehicle in fact. I've never thought about how skinny they are when viewed from the front or from behind really.

All my vehicles are black... except for my jetboat which is red (but I intend to have it re-gelcoated black at some point too). I'm used to driving black vehicles, it's my thing since high school.

Used to riding atop black vehicles on the public highway system, not so much though! Eeek! :yikes:

- Michael

 

[Topshotta]

Michael,
glad you are ok. Check out Motorcyclegear.com for some deals on mesh jackets if you are on a budget.

 

[poordom]

it sounds like a new pair of underwear might be in order too! :roflblack: glad you're ok bro!:thumbup:

I agree, maybe carry some Depends.

Its scary out there some times, always have to keep your eyes on other drivers.

Dom

 

[Michael211_2000]

You mean there's somebody out there who isn't on a budget? Man would I love to be THAT guy! LOL! ROF! :yes:

Seriously though this machine has cost a small fortune so far (totally worth it though I do love the thing already!). Thanks for the suggestion, I do appreciate it!

- Michael

 

[Michael211_2000]

Its scary out there some times, always have to keep your eyes on other drivers.

Dom

Preaching to the choir, Dom. I've been in a head-on collision where I T-boned another pickup truck it is no fun no fun at all... like a nightmare you can't wake up from! It suxs to see another vehicle suddenly turn right in front of you and know there's nothing you can do but stand on the brake hang-on and hope for the best!

Now that I'm calmed down, I realize that today could have been sooo much worse... and that I did ok really.
I did ok, the Spyder did fantastic though what a machine! :f_spider: :thumbup:

- Michael

 

[NancysToy]

Woah! And what part of that "more intense defensive riding" do you think I did not do today? I thought I did a darned good job avoiding what could have been a terrible life-threatening/life-altering majorly ugly collision. I wish my insurer could see what I successfully avoided today in fact.. and where is a cop when you want one dangit? Those ladies needed a stern talking-to, they're going to kill somebody IMHO!
If I get any more intensly defensive, I may just stay parked in my own driveway from now on! :gaah:

- Michael

You did a great job of avoiding trouble, but it sounds more like a reaction than defensive riding from the way you described it. Riders these days almost have to be paranoid...trying extra hard to stay out of trouble, being ready, long before they see the trouble coming, to take evasive action if necessary, and being poised to apply the brakes as soon as they see movement. The eye contact and watching the other drivers are big keys, too. I had an old driver's ed teacher that told me that if I had to slam on my brakes or if a situation made me sweat, then my defensive driving skills needed to improve no matter how good I thought they already were. I think that probably applies here. No matter how good yours were, you had too close a call, and it is worth examining your skills to see if you could find a way to do it better. Think about your thoughts and actions leading up to your scare. Maybe there is something that could have made it a little less close. If not, then keep up the good work and trust in your skills and your machine, but we all can do better in most cases. I learn from every situation that surprises me or scares me.

 

[Michael211_2000]

You did a great job of avoiding trouble...Think about your thoughts and actions leading up to your scare. Maybe there is something that could have made it a little less close.

Thanks... but short of having "Spidey-sense" or an eagle's vision or just staying parked in my own driveway, there was nothing else I could have done to preclude today's unsettling experience. I can't swerve or hit the brakes everytime I approach another vehicle just in case they suddenly decide to turn right in front of me.

I can control my speed my direction and keep constant situational awareness with my head on a swivel, just like I do when boating at the lake and just like I did earlier today. It took less than 1/2 second for me to realize a vehicle had just turned right in front of me stand on my brake pedal while simultaneously steering for the rear of the offending vehicle... which apparently the Spyder ABS brake system doesn't give feedback to the rider, the brake pedal didn't vibrate nor pulse or anything like my dually's ABS brake system does. 1 front wheel locked up for just a fraction of a second I heard the rubber screech on the asphalt but then the screech stopped like instantly and the machine decellerated with serious G-forces so much so that I could barely hang on to the handlebars! Amazing that!

I have no idea if Nanny intervened otherwise, no time to look at the instrument cluster. But the machine remained stable in what was otherwise a rather unstable situation (hard braking and turning at the exact same time to avoid another motorist). I'm pleased with the way the machine responded to the emergency.

As I already posted, I have been in this exact same situation once before where another motorist suddenly turned in front of me on a divided freeway... last time it got pretty ugly, you just cannot stop a 1 ton dually pickup truck on a dime no matter how good it's ABS power brake system is there's just so much mass involved.

- Michael

 

[NancysToy]

Thanks... but short of having "Spidey-sense" or an eagle's vision or just staying parked in my own driveway, there was nothing else I could have done to preclude today's unsettling experience. I can't swerve or hit the brakes everytime I approach another vehicle just in case they suddenly decide to turn right in front of me.

I can control my speed my direction and keep constant situational awareness with my head on a swivel, just like I do when boating at the lake and just like I did earlier today. It took less than 1/2 second for me to realize a vehicle had just turned right in front of me stand on my brake pedal while simultaneously steering for the rear of the offending vehicle... which apparently the Spyder ABS brake system doesn't give feedback to the rider, the brake pedal didn't vibrate nor pulse or anything like my dually's ABS brake system does. 1 front wheel locked up for just a fraction of a second I heard the rubber screech on the asphalt but then the screech stopped like instantly and the machine decellerated with serious G-forces so much so that I could barely hang on to the handlebars! Amazing that!

I have no idea if Nanny intervened otherwise, no time to look at the instrument cluster. But the machine remained stable in what was otherwise a rather unstable situation (hard braking and turning at the exact same time to avoid another motorist). I'm pleased with the way the machine responded to the emergency.

As I already posted, I have been in this exact same situation once before where another motorist suddenly turned in front of me on a divided freeway... last time it got pretty ugly, you just cannot stop a 1 ton dually pickup truck on a dime no matter how good it's ABS power brake system is there's just so much mass involved.

- Michael

Being situationally aware and poised to react quickly, as well as being prepared to know where to steer may well have been all you could have done in this case. It pays to debrief yourself though, and assure yourself that you did all you could, and noticed the other driver's intent at the earliest possible moment. It sounds like your defensive riding skills are pretty good if you did all you could and reviewed your actions in your mind. From that point on better visibility is about your only other available tool. Even that isn't enough sometimes, but every little bit helps. People ask me why I do parking lot practice on a variety of bikes, each and every year when I have been riding for over 50 years. I guess they don't undertand that knowing how each vehicle reacts and practicing panic stops and evasive actions makes you better at them and more comfortable doing them if the need arises. The Spyder has a lot of tools to help pull your butt out of the fire, but it helps to know how those tools work. At least it makes me more comfortable knowing.

 

[Topshotta]

You mean there's somebody out there who isn't on a budget? Man would I love to be THAT guy! LOL! ROF! :yes:

Seriously though this machine has cost a small fortune so far (totally worth it though I do love the thing already!). Thanks for the suggestion, I do appreciate it!

- Michael

I think about 6000 of the 12000 spyderlovers on this site are not on a budget...... Just my thought

 

[Spyderjockey]

No matter how defensive you ride or drive......

You can't fix stupid!!!

A few days ago I was following a cager and he put his right side turn signal on and even started to make the right turn and then suddenly changed his stupid mind and turned "left" right in front of me just as I was starting to accelerate to go by him as he had slowed for the turn. I too had to hit the brakes really hard and avoided the collision. I guess you just have to be ready for anything and believe that the the other driver has no regard for any one else around him. :yikes::gaah:

 

[Michael211_2000]

You were following and attempting to pass if I understand correctly... the mini-van I encountered today was coming towards me on a divided freeway and suddenly turned left immediately in front of me crossing my lane! It really shakes the confidence level and lessens the enjoyment of riding to be sure. :yikes:


Practising for just isn't the same as experiencing these kinds of situation on the road. It is however good to know your machines capabilities and limitations in advance if possible.... I actually haven't had the opportunity to push my RS to it's limits, I don't have access to a private space to test drive it at so I had no idea what it would do when I stood on the brake pedal at ~40mph and swerved to avoid today's encounter. I'm impressed that it did so very well!

I tell ya, you better hold on to that handlebar if you ever have to do this to avoid a collision because you will come unseated and go over them otherwise it took all my upper body strength to hang on! My neck still hurts tonight, the helmet was pulling my head forward with tremendous force as I braked....

As soon as temps start dropping this Fall I'm going to try getting a Spyder-friendly safety course under my belt where hopefully I can try some different things on the RS in a private paved area under professional supervision. The discount on insurance is another plus of course.

Everytime I get on the Spyder to head out on an errand or to grab lunch in town or something, the thought crosses my mind: will something really bad happen this time out? Once I get going and am going thru my routines on the Spyder I relax and get more confident, but the worry is always in the back of my mind that something like what happened today will happen only I won't be able to avoid in time. It's much the same in my big 1 ton dually as well, especially since I've been in a bad collision with it before and it's just not an experience I ever want to repeat!


Thanks for the talk and support today guys, I really do appreciate it it helps alot!

- Michael

 

[NancysToy]

Michael, a large empty parking lot makes a great practice field. Try a school lot on a Sunday.

 

[fas2000]

. the mini-van I encountered today was coming towards me on a divided freeway and suddenly turned left immediately in front of me crossing my lane! It really shakes the confidence level and lessens the enjoyment of riding to be sure. :yikes:

Hi
As a counter point, maybe this experience today was a good thing. The question is not if this will happen to you, but when will it happen. It should shake your confidence. It should make you question the dangers that come with the thrill that we do seek on these machines. Hopefully this incident will make you more situationally aware for the next time. You cannot be thought this type of real world experience, you have to go through them. But it is extremely fortunate you gained some more valuable experience without harming even a hair on your head. I think for that reason I would say it was something that makes you a better and more capable driver.

And thank you for posting your incident, I hope this makes me that much more aware when I'm on the road. One thing I do remember from safety classes was that the most dangerous place on the road are intersections, and that is where most deadly motorcycle accidents occur.

Be safe
Fas



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[KEBIE]

Glad you are safe...