Re-thinking the MC after a close call

[JCSMOKE]

I dorve truck for about 8 yrs. I stopped when a elderly driver with 3 passengers crossed into my lane and hit me head on..I did all i could do to avoid the collission, but in the end all 4 pepole in the van died. I only has a few bruses, but the emotional scares lasted along time. I lived because i was In a 50,000lb(loaded) truck. I went from a driving job to a factory job to avoid the roads.... This is why I'm having a tuff time with this...My mind says truck saved my life, but realisticly I know if I was in a smaller car I wouldnt be here...If i get hit head on ridin the spyder, I most likely wont be typin on here any more, in a car...maybe.....

Brother, we will support you in what ever choice you decide is best for you, there is no point to torturing yourself every time you get on the bike.

 

[Firefly]

Good opinions and advice on all sides of this topic. After my accident on the way back from Durango, the thought of not riding really never entered my mind... because it's such an important part of my life.... I MUST ride or I'm not living.. that's how I feel right now.

I ride every day knowing I could die.. which doesn't bother me... death is a reality of life... we all do it, can't avoid it. While I certainly don't want it to happen today, or anytime soon really.... when it happens.. it happens.

When it comes down to it... each person has to make their own choice about when to hang up riding.

Ride as safe as you can and enjoy life to the fullest every day. :thumbup:

 

[dliszews]

Others have stated this. You need to get back on and stay on long enough to feel comfortable with riding again. When I had my 2 wheeler totaled, I went out and bought and rode the spyder within a week. It was my best option while recovering. Again, loudest pipes you can afford, and a real horn,,,,and lotsa lights for night.

 

[harrypottar]

While I think all the advice here is solid, I would say that if you had been in a car, she would have hit you, and rubbed you into the guard rail. The serious issue here to me is that people are still being allowed to use their cell phones in cars. Why the car doesnt disable them at higher speeds, I cannot understand, every close call I have had has a cell phone and usually a younger driver involved. While I am sure it would not be popular, I am considering a jammer on my bike so that my bike has a decent sized bubble around it that cell phones just dont work. Add that to some of the stuff Scotty said and you are in a better situation.

Coupled with that, I constantly look at EVERYONE around me, if they arent paying attention to anything but their phone I either DocDuru and blow by them to get safe or I slow down and let them attempt to kill other people in front of them.

Jammer is a nice idea but may cause more accidents, I could imagine that a teenager would be more distracted to why they have no signal might be worth a try. The issue with disabling phones while moving is an issue for passengers, the technology is not there yet to detect drivers phone and leave all other alone. Side Note: My built in car's GPS is disabled while moving, fair enough but when my wife is in the passenger seat it would be nice if she could operate it while I drive. Not disagreeing with you by the way, distracted drivers is on the rise, I know with my own teenagers they think they're the exception and it does not affect them. I've told them over and over and drilled it into them that if I ever find out you've used your phone while driving, you will lose them ( I still pay for them).

We all have to learn to drive and if I see a younger driver I keep my distance, two things that bug me in MA, everyone tail gates, no one allows enough room between cars. If you try and leave enough room some one will sneak into the gap. I wish we had a ticket for tail gating that was effective. Secondly very few people use there turn signals. There was even a Dunking Donut commercial here where two guys where talking about Boston, "Turn signals? Sign of weakness"

On our car it as the front radar system that automatically brakes if your too close, so when some one pulls in front of me on the highway to take up the space between me and the next car, our car brakes.

I consider myself a very alert driver and try and read the road ahead no matter what I'm driving but you can always get caught out.

harry

 

[MikeinGA]

The comment was made,
"Don't let someone else steal your joy."
and I couldn't agree more with that statement.

But with all that you've been thru, not only recently, but with the past that you've shared with us, I'd have to ask you,
"Is that joy still there?".

This is so ture. If it's not fun anymore don't do it. The stress can make you ill. That's IMHO.

Mike

 

[Oldmanzues]

I wish the Police would enforce the laws we have on the books. I respect the Police for all they do, but some will look at a teen driver going bye and texting ( ilegal in Ohio ) and go the other way.
having Parents use common sense. I used to work at a teen driver school. A girl came back to class after out a while. She had caused a wreck with serious injuries to one person in her car, two in another, while texting. Her dad came in with her aand asked about coming back to class after being out. I said, no problem. He then said, she had a little accident, but was not reponsible since she was only 16 and he had been the car with her, but he had not seen the red light. He got all upset when I said, that was no accident it was attempted murder. Both of you are fault. If she is not responsible, why are you letting her drive to start with. No answer, my boss said i was to hard on him.
I used to ask the kids in class, is that cell phone call worth you life. This area had a 16 old calling her friends. Two died.
Glad you are okay. It is a hard desicion to make.
Oldmanzues

 

[eddieshep999]

I am disabled due to Polio when I was 22months old - This left me without the use of my left leg - I have to wear a calipier to support my normal functions e.g. walking , climbing stairs etc

I am now over 55yrs old and have always remained active but always aware of my limitations

At the age of 16 I wanted to ride a Motorcycle because My 2 brothers had started to ride
First I was told it was impossible for a disabled person to ride a motorcycle and I should consider the safety issue, Should I have an accident I could damage my Right leg and may end up in a wheelchair or worse



Well advice is good but at the end of the day only you can decide and I did


Since I was 16 I have been riding motorcycles inc Honda CB125J, CB400A - Automatic, GL500 Silverwing then moved on to BMW's due to Shaft Drive, water cooling etc Had 3 BMW's K100RT K75RT, BMW K100LT


Due to my age the weight of a 2 wheeled motorcycle it was becoming difficult to mange
(I remembered my limitations) and I went for the Spyder RT – There was no way after nearly 40 yrs and tens of thousands of Miles I wanted give up riding


In all that time I have had only 2 minor spills and have not been injured,.


I would have missed out on so many excellent adventures, meeting some excellent friends

Visited so many wonderful Sites all over the UK and now Europe


Yes I do ride with the possibility of an accident may be just around the corner, and in doing so
take extra care Hi-Viz Clothing, Excellent Motorcycle gear with built in protection,
Safety approved Helmet and visor, Motorcycle always serviced and maintained as per the
manufactures recommendations – Fitted a louder horn (Needed sometimes to let other know
of my presence believe me one or two blasts is enough)


I have also taken an advance Motorcycle test some years ago run via Police class 1 trained
motorcyclist and have learnt so much ref Observation and Safe riding


Just wanted to say – Take your time ref any decision you make and you know we all support you either way – Thanks for taking the time to post your thread – I am sure it will help others in the future because of the replies posted


Eddie Sheppard
Reading UK

 

[Lamonster]

I had a VERY close call the last Tuesday. Has me thinking about selling my spyder. Scared the ***** out of me. A teen was texting or doing some other distracting activity while driving, and drifted into my lane(55mph zone). I was hugging the guardrail and on the brakes and horn and when I thought I was a gonner, she looked up and jerked the wheel. I dont know how she missed me. It was that close. To dam close. This has been the 3rd time I had someone come into my lane since school let out, but this was the closest incident. Havn't been on the spyder since. Very close to sellin her.

If you haven't been back on since then and don't feel good about riding anymore I would either park it till you do or get rid of it and move on. Sometimes we get warnings in life to change directions, hard to say if this is one of those times or not but sounds like it shook you up bad enough that you won't feel the same riding again. I would hate to be one to tell you to keep riding and then something bad happens to you on the Spyder.
nojoke

 

[spydee owner]

Rob (Mowin) is a good rider, although he does have the worst color Spyder you can get for visability (Phantom).

I agree with the phantom panels being the worst to see. I have a set of phantoms and when they were on the bike I thought they looked pretty cool until I saw a phantom spyder meeting me one day. They really blend into the pavement.
Having said this, with this driver texting and driving,the bike could have been flourescent green and she would not have seen it. It was just pure luck that mowin was not wiped out.
Don't blame mowin for the way he is thinking. You get some real close calls, then a person has to think about what is REALLY important in their life and make a decision.

 

[Tazzel]

Sell Her, there are alot of people out there looking for a good used Spyder.

 

[bo9roadking]

You have to do what makes you comfortable. Sometimes you have to get out of your comfort zone or you might end up shut in your house and not go anywhere if things get too extreme.

My wife was scared to ride with me on my motorcycle and now on my spyder. She was afraid that we would get hit and die. It was a valid concern, but one day, she was hit by a car while walking across a parking garage. She was pinned under the front tire, but thank God, she survived. She will now ride with me, but we wear our safety gear (helmets, neon yellow riding jackets, etc). She managed to overcome her fear of riding when she realized that she almost died while walking.

When you put things into perspective, when your time is up, it is up. It doesn't matter if you are enjoying your spyder, out for a walk, watching tv, or sleeping. Enjoy life while you're able too, don't postpone it or put it off.

 

[Bob Denman]

Coupled with that, I constantly look at EVERYONE around me, if they arent paying attention to anything but their phone I either DocDuru and blow by them to get safe or I slow down and let them attempt to kill other people in front of them.

Hey; Doc has become a verb! :2thumbs:

 

[NancysToy]

We will support and love you no matter what!

I still support jamming cell phones. I think they are the #1 killer of people on roads. Just ask Firefly! He wants people to check phone logs at checkpoints. :yikes::yikes::yikes:

Nah, we just have to outlaw the manufacture and sales of power steering and automatic transmissions. When they need both hands and both feet to drive, they won't be able to use the phone, tune the radio, eat a sandwich, read the newspaper.....

 

[Illinois Boy]

Plain and simple...


Some people should not ride ever. No shame in that.

 

[Daisyjoe]

Near accidents. They happen to everyone regardless of the transportation mode. Think back of how many times you came close to being wiped out driving your car. A bike is going to be no exception. I had my bike approximately 3 months when I was nearly wiped out by a cager who was texting. I could see her coming up behind me and she was not slowing down. Suddenly it was the sound of brakes and smoke in the air. I had the same thoughts in my mind then that you have now. You need to step back and look at the whole picture. I would hate for you to sell your bike and a few months later have regrets, but if you will always have a fear of riding, then you should not ride. They are built to be enjoyed. May you have peace of mind in whatever decision you make.

 

[Bob Denman]

Nah, we just have to outlaw the manufacture and sales of power steering and automatic transmissions. When they need both hands and both feet to drive, they won't be able to use the phone, tune the radio, eat a sandwich, read the newspaper.....

That's actually not a bad idea until you unleash a whole bunch of idots onto the street who never driven a stick before... :shocked:

Tito might be right; the manufacturers could probably put something in the electronics package of the cage that disrupts cellphone service. :yikes:

 

[ARtraveler]

All this stuff about cellphones has me looking at other vehicles pretty good now. It just bothers me that pretty much every vehicle I look at, the driver has a cellphone going. They are either talking or texting. This is a real dangerous epidemic that is going on around us. It is getting very scarry indeed.

 

[Jeriatric]

Something to think about.

If she got that close she would have hit you had you been in a cage. It obviously wasn't your time. Life on two or three wheels (motorized or not) is not for the faint of heart. In the end no one but you can decide what your comfort level is, but we can say with near certainty that something similar will happen again. Reality sucks!

 

[StanProff]

Its scarry...This was the third time in a month I had some kid in my lane.

I always have a bottle of water handy to fling at the offender. I hate that my riding interfears with their :cus: texting!

 

[Bob Denman]

A.) I have such a device
B.) Could easily be installed in a car so that it is in effect when the car is in motion

Perhaps I have a future in mods

:shocked: So this is what you've been doing instead of watching T.V.??? :clap: :2thumbs:

Bring it to market; make millions and save lives! :yes: :firstplace: :thumbup: