ShovelStrokeEd Posted July 13, 2008 Posted July 13, 2008 OK, earlier this morning I showered, dressed and went downstairs in my hotel to enjoy breakfast. Got back upstairs and grabbed my helmet and gloves to do a little shopping. Nearly T-boned an 80's Chevy Suburban in the parking lot. I never saw him. No biggy, got stopped before it became an issue, I was destination fixated on locating the exit from the parking lot to the highway. 1/2 mile up the highway, I nearly blew a stop light at 50+ mph. Again, never saw it. I was looking for the store I wanted to go to. This one was a bit scary as I really had to hammer the brakes to get stopped. Front end got squirmy and actually locked a bit. Rear tire about 8" off the ground for the last few feet. Empty intersection with no cross traffic. Analysis: I'm still not sure what went on, I'm normally very aware of my surroundings. My mind was on my destination again, I guess. I came back to the hotel with my head pivoting like a radar antenna and riding pretty slowly. Parked the bike and decided the run up Bear Mountain is gonna have to wait for another day. Gonna watch the GP coverage instead and work on some VB stuff I've been trying to master. I'll risk another outing when it is time for dinner.
ninermatt Posted July 13, 2008 Posted July 13, 2008 Hmmm, I guess its not just the cagers then LOL! Enjoy the race.
Wooster Posted July 13, 2008 Posted July 13, 2008 Hmmm, I guess its not just the cagers then LOL!. For sure. While DB posts invariably target four wheel drivers as guilty, we too have the capacity to space out and/or screw up. Wooster, an all too human being btw, glad shovelstroke shared his capacity for mischief; can happen to any of us
bakerzdosen Posted July 13, 2008 Posted July 13, 2008 Front end got squirmy and actually locked a bit. Rear tire about 8" off the ground for the last few feet. I would have LOVED to see the LEO's face (giving you a ticket for being some young punk doing a stoppie) when you took off your helmet... Alls well that ends well - right?
Dave McReynolds Posted July 13, 2008 Posted July 13, 2008 I blow by a stopsign or a traffic light unintentionally every few years. I don't recall if I've ever done it on the bike; mostly when I'm driving the car. It's always a shock to me when it happens, since that's a law I don't ever intend to violate. The only thing I can say is, I've never had a close call in traffic because of it. Probably because I would never enter an intersection that I haven't scanned for traffic. If I ever violate THAT rule, it's time to apply for my senior pass on public transit.
ShovelStrokeEd Posted July 13, 2008 Author Posted July 13, 2008 OK, a little investigation. I needed some lunch and a drink after watching all that water at the GP. The light in question has about a 3 second yellow. Another on the same road is no more than 5 seconds. I looked around and couldn't spot a red light camera anywhere but man, that is STOOPID. Speed limit on the road, as far as I know, is 45, it is 6 lanes wide, not counting turning lanes, at that point. I may have looked up and seen green and by the time I got there it was very, very red. One more thing to look for. I wonder what I'll have to forget to make room for this?
Laura Posted July 14, 2008 Posted July 14, 2008 Ed, Ed, watch out man! What would we do without ya? Glad all is okay. Phew!
Wheels Rollin' Posted July 14, 2008 Posted July 14, 2008 Parked the bike and decided the run up Bear Mountain is gonna have to wait for another day. Ya' know, Ed, that was probably a very good decision given your experiences of the day... For what it's worth, I know that would've been mine <>... ~ Bill
Ken H. Posted July 14, 2008 Posted July 14, 2008 Parked the bike and decided the run up Bear Mountain is gonna have to wait for another day. That's the most important (and wisest) part of your post! A good message for all of us. When I set out on a bike, any day for any reason, I'll allow myself one 'oops', trying to pull away on the side stand or something. But if I make two, I know my head's not in the game and I'm in the cage that day. Good decision Ed, better to be here to ride another day.
Huzband Posted July 14, 2008 Posted July 14, 2008 After doing 1550+ miles on the slab in the last 27 hrs, I can relate. Had to be very mindful not to blow a red light the last few miles home. Had I not been so close, I'd a parked it too.
MotorinLA Posted July 15, 2008 Posted July 15, 2008 Or, as in my case this morning, 'remove head from a$$ before parking bike'. Haven't pulled this bonehead maneuver in a couple of years. Pulled up at court this morning, turned off the bike and as an afterthought put the bike in neutral to keep from having to do it when I came back out from court (running on neutral to warm up). Then went to put the bike on the sidestand only to find that the sidestand was not deployed... Nothing makes a grand entrance like placing your motorcycle flat on the ground :smirk:.
Wheels Rollin' Posted July 16, 2008 Posted July 16, 2008 Then went to put the bike on the sidestand only to find that the sidestand was not deployed... Nothing makes a grand entrance like placing your motorcycle flat on the ground :smirk:. Ya' know, I think we've all had one of those moments <>... Never seems to happen when no one's around either... Ever notice that? Probably some corollary o' Murphy's Law or somethin' <>... ~ Bill
RTTomster Posted July 18, 2008 Posted July 18, 2008 Regarding the sidestand...here's a great tip...When stopping the bike, leave the engine running (clutch in, 1st gear) put the sidestand down, If you have fully deployed the stand, the engine will shut off. Lean her over and pull the key. Works every time!
MotorinLA Posted July 18, 2008 Posted July 18, 2008 It wasn't really a "fully deployed" issue, more like a "completely forgot" issue .
EddyQ Posted July 22, 2008 Posted July 22, 2008 Putting the bike away seems to be the best. Usually after one incident, the brain wakes a bit. Yours seemed to need a bit more. . . Being alert is one thing. But not knowing your head is not 100% is another. One thing that one can do is focus on alertness as you ride. Test your ability to keep a fixed distance from a car ahead of you. Do this as part of your riding routine. If not 100%, test your ability to stear around obsticles in the road, fake ones. That sometimes helps with some self awareness and focuses your head where it should be. You will know when you are not 100% and possibly lower some risk. Sometimes you do not have the option to put the bike back in the garage. Happens to me more often than I like during my commute home after a long stressful day. If after several attempts to regain 100% and still not there, I might stop for gas even though my tank is half full. Take off the normal route. Break the routine. Glad your ok. Hope it doesn't come back with near death occurances and you notice in time to do something about it.
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