[ButchA]

As I just wrote on Facebook:

To all motorcycle riders: Wow, what a shock... I did my good deed of the day, but am still in shock because it was a Honda Shadow motorcyclist - - right there next to me!!!

I was on my way to the county dump to recycle bottles and used motor oil. It had just started sprinkling and roads were getting wet. I was right there at Gaskins & Three Chopt, right by I-64, and I was in the center lane at the traffic light. I see a headlight/motorcycle rider in the left lane getting ready to turn left onto Three Chopt. I watch the guy slow way down, but in complete shock, one minute the guy is slowing down/stopping, and the next minute he was down!! OMG!!!

He hit the painted white left turn marker on the pavement, while hitting his rear brake pedal. WHAM!!! His motorcycle immediately skids sideways (damn near hits my truck with the backend/fender/rear tire!!!), and the guy lands on his left elbow and left hip, but gets right back up on his feet, holding his left elbow. The Honda Shadow Spirit (just like mine, but with the skinny front tire) has crash bars on the front end, and went down on its left side with minimum damage. Just scraped the chrome crash bar and bent the left mirror bracket.

I did my good deed of the day, because I saw the whole thing and it scared the daylights out of me, because it happened so fast! One minute the guy was upright and slowing down, and WHAM! the next minute, he was down, like someone pulled the rug out from under him, you know?
Anyway, I immediately put on my four way flashers, as did the car behind me. I got out of my truck (I had to quiet down my dog Amber - who always rides with me - as she was growling and barking at the guy), and I helped the guy. He was okay but was seriously P.O.'d at his now scraped up Honda Shadow. The lady behind me was going to call 911, but he refused and he and I checked out his Honda Shadow and got it restarted. He got back on it and was carefully going to go back home and put some ice on his elbow. Thank God he had full gear on (leather jacket, gloves, boots, etc...) and he didn't even hit his helmet either. He wore a 3/4 helmet with a face shield, like I do.

WOW... It doesn't matter how good you are or what you ride. Eventually, one day, some day, you will go down on a motorcycle!

 

[Mike R.]

Whens the last time you had a heavy rain? Sometime the roads get a build up of oil right in the center of the lane where cars sit at a stop waiting for the light to change, then the first few minutes of a rain is when it is the slickest, just enough wetness to slicken up the oil build up. I always thought that well into a down poor that you would have better traction after the oil film has been washed away.

 

[Registered Coonass]

Glad to hear he was ok and the bike survived too.

Its amazing how fast one will go down with you.
Its ALARMINGLY fast!

When I laid a bike down years ago, it totally caught me off guard.
You would think that you could anticipate the fall. But you can't.
It comes much faster than you think it should.

They say there are only two kinds of riders.

Those who have wrecked.
And those who are going to wreck.

I'm glad I am of the first kind!

 

[Aufgeblassen]

As I just wrote on Facebook:

It doesn't matter how good you are or what you ride. Eventually, one day, some day, you will go down on a motorcycle!

Not necessarily. Especially if you are super talented, and don't OVERREACT under any circumstances.

 

[John Hopkins]

Whens the last time you had a heavy rain? Sometime the roads get a build up of oil right in the center of the lane where cars sit at a stop waiting for the light to change, then the first few minutes of a rain is when it is the slickest, just enough wetness to slicken up the oil build up. I always thought that well into a down poor that you would have better traction after the oil film has been washed away.

Also it is at corners that overfilled vehicles spill diesel from their tanks as they turn.

John.

 

[jpr1968]

You're wrong about going down but it was good lesson about when not to use the rear brake. Where is that guy who took the front brake off his new Phantom?

 

[Chazmar]

You're wrong about going down but it was good lesson about when not to use the rear brake. Where is that guy who took the front brake off his new Phantom?

Yea, I always warn new riders to not brake in a turn. Especially the back brake and especially when it's wet.

Glad the fella is ok though. :wink:

 

[ButchA]

Its amazing how fast one will go down with you.
Its ALARMINGLY fast!

I know... Like I said originally, it was mind boggling and shocking all at the same time. One minute the guy was slowing down at the intersection, hits the painted white arrow/left turn pavement stripe, and WHAM! he was down. I watched it happen so fast too... :shock:

I've been caught in the rain a few times, but have always taken it real easy and careful. I always avoid the center of a lane at an intersection and pay serious attention to those painted white stripes on the roads, as they become like ice when it rains! :shock:

 

[Harryc]

... pay serious attention to those painted white stripes on the roads, as they become like ice when it rains! :shock:

^^^^+1, that one.

 

[Bobolto]

Riding when it "just begins to rain" increases the chance of going down a LOT.
Oils and Grime in the road is just being brought to the surface and not yet washed away.

Mix that with inexperience and its an accident waiting to happen.

Good thing he wasn't hurt bad.

 

[7xclm]

Sure wish someone could come up with a additive so the paint was not so slick when it gets wet.

 

[Bobolto]

Sure wish someone could come up with a additive so the paint was not so slick when it gets wet.

There is an "Additive" for it, the reflective Grit that makes the lines glow at night. If not already mandatory, it should be used on all yellow lines painted in the future imo.

 

[Mark-B]

Hey Greg! Nice to see you back!

 

[Bobolto]

Hey Greg! Nice to see you back!

Thanks Mark! Its good to be back....

 

[2500hdon37s]

Watching a bike go down is always scary.

I remember on a bigger ride a guy on a Harley Ultra highsiding his bike and watching it go air borne as it passed me. VERY erie to see and to me it was like watching it all in slow motion. Sparks flying, man lies as I pass back by.

 

[KCochran]

Glad the rider was o.k. Rain always scares me and causes me to be extra cautious, especially on 2 wheels.

 

[skullcap]

WOW... It doesn't matter how good you are or what you ride. Eventually, one day, some day, you will go down on a motorcycle!

Negative!

 

[Old Dad]

If you know how slick the painted lines, arrows etc are, be warned of the huge steel plates that get placed temporarily over work uncompleted. Hwy dept had one near my house, it was right where the 1st car/bike/truck would be if 1st stopped at the light.

Coop was behind me when I did the slow speed high side in the rain. Gravel and a very worn front tire played their roles and dumped me. It happens fast, to the best and beginners alike. Gotta be careful out there.

 

[Mark-B]

We have cattle guards around here, they are all over the place, being at every entrance to our community and all pretty much within leaning distance of a corner.. It doesn't rain that often in Arizona, but you'll slide pretty good on them if you are not careful on a winter morning. Gotta be respectful of the slick-stuff.