For those of you who read the VFRmailinglist site there has been an interesting thread on crashes and the lessons learned. So I'd raise the subject here. My last crash, a long time ago, was in Switzerland on a Triumph Tiger, with a passenger, and everything we owned (too much) after 3 months in Greece lashed to the rack. We heeded up a mountain road where the grade exceeded anything that would ever be paved in the U.S. When we got to a section where the pavement ended the car ahead of me started to spin it's wheels and slow down. I came to a stop and the road was so steep I started to slide backwards. Sh*t!! I never learned to steer backwards very well and down we went. Well, anyhow, probably no good lesson here, but maybe you have an experience that could save someone else's butt. Ride on, and for you winter guys, Spring is coming...
JCM, You opened an interesting topic. Your experience sounds like beginning dirt bike days. Thankfully I do not have any street crash stories, though I have had some very close calls. The secret I have to avoiding the accident is to not ride over my ability and try to predict what can happen ahead and behind me, trying to avoid a situation before it develops (watch the actions of the other drivers). I have actually a pretty good sense in being able to predict actions of cars around me, giivng me the ability to get behind or front of them before they change lanes w/o signals, etc. Thankfully vertical, Spencer
If you ride in built up areas you soon develop a 'spidey-sense' The act of predicting what is just about to happen. When filtering check out wing mirrors (you'll often meet drivers eyes who are thinking of changing lanes right infront of you and check out the directions of the front wheels. The buggers don't always signal. If someone sideswipes you and it's unavoidable, try and take the brunt on the shoulder. You have armour and it can take a whack. It'll hurt but it'll save your pegs and bars so you can at least finish your journey. When someone is exiting a junction then ride the crown til you make eye contact. If none then tap the horn. Doesnt' have to be an agressive prolonged horn, just something to bring their attention to you. Above all, ride within yourself. I know a few who've ridden to others expectations only to end up a cropper. Safe riding.
Just a couple of insights learned the hard way on crashing. I learned from sticking a CB200 into the door of a Dodge many years ago that having a plan of action is a really good thing. Always have an "out" and read that intersection. Also when you put new tires on, that thing about mold compound making the tires slick: trust me, it is true. Either scrub the tire in or give them a couple hundred miles to ruff up. I washed out a front end on the first trip out. Laying in the road watching my cafe racer self destruct really sucked. Ride hard, just don't fall off...
I did unfortunately crash my 95 VFR. But, I also learned some valuable lessons. What happened was that I mixed 3 seemingly not so bad situations together and it added up to disaster. I was riding at night when it was quite cold on an unfamiliar road. My face shield fogged up and by the time I got it open, it was too late. I missed a curve in the road. I faced the split second decision to either hit the brakes hard and probably lay it down, or try to ride it out through the ditch. I chose the latter of the two, but it didn't work in my favor as there was a very large boulder in my way. I did manage to move the hugh rock about 3 feet, but it destroyed the VFR. So, take a look at the attached picture of my VFR and remember, if you ride at night, be really careful. If you ride at night when it's cold, be really really careful. And if you ride at night when it's cold and you decide to take an unfamiliar road, STOP, TURN AROUND AND GO BACK! Ride a familiar road! Joe the Klotzfreak.
