Hello INGO, I thought I'd post this as a way of working through the adrenaline dump.
I bought my first motorcycle in 2014, a sort of "Midlife Crisis" purchase. I had always wanted to ride a motorcycle, but my parents instilled an irrational fear of the machines from early childhood. Finally, at 39, I decided I could make my own decisions about these things, and bought a brand-new Yamaha FZ8.
I still have a healthy fear of these machines, so I took a training course and bought the best gear I could afford. I ride very conservatively.
So, today I got the bike out of storage, filled the tires and the fuel tank, and went for a easy ride around the city. I was on my way back to my house, waiting to turn North onto Lafayette road from Eastbound 56th street. The light turned green (left-turn arrow), and the car in front of me started to accelerate away from the light. I followed suit, and leaned into the turn as I accelerated...
...at just that time another driver decided to pull out of the corner gas station, almost hitting the car in front of me. That car had to perform an emergency evasive stop to avoid a nasty collision. I grabbed a handful of brake, but was already leaned into the corner...and I lost control of the bike and went down (low side).
Fortunately, I was still in the intersection and traveling at relatively low speeds. I managed not to hit the stopped car in front of me, but I ended up rolling over into the street as I came off the bike. Now, I never ride without full protective gear, even though it makes me look like a street-racing douchecanoe, so I was well-protected when I fell.
The aftermath: I have a slightly skinned left knee and a little soreness in my right wrist. The bike was equipped with frame sliders for track-day use, and while the ones on the left side of the bike got chewed up pretty bad, the resulting damage to the bike ended up being negligible: a bent footpeg and a couple of light scratches on the plastics. All told, I was quite fortunate...and I know it.
Looking back on it, the only way I could have avoided it was to give myself a little more room. I will work that into my riding habits going forward.
The best part of the story is the reaction I got from the driver in front of me...she stopped to make sure I was okay, and I think she was more shaken up than me! She kept apologizing and asking me if I was okay...I ended up giver her a hug and telling her there was nothing she could do. I was pleased to see that some people still worry about others.
So, for my fellow riders out there: Stay alert. Be safe. WEAR YOUR GEAR!!!!!1!
I bought my first motorcycle in 2014, a sort of "Midlife Crisis" purchase. I had always wanted to ride a motorcycle, but my parents instilled an irrational fear of the machines from early childhood. Finally, at 39, I decided I could make my own decisions about these things, and bought a brand-new Yamaha FZ8.
I still have a healthy fear of these machines, so I took a training course and bought the best gear I could afford. I ride very conservatively.
So, today I got the bike out of storage, filled the tires and the fuel tank, and went for a easy ride around the city. I was on my way back to my house, waiting to turn North onto Lafayette road from Eastbound 56th street. The light turned green (left-turn arrow), and the car in front of me started to accelerate away from the light. I followed suit, and leaned into the turn as I accelerated...
...at just that time another driver decided to pull out of the corner gas station, almost hitting the car in front of me. That car had to perform an emergency evasive stop to avoid a nasty collision. I grabbed a handful of brake, but was already leaned into the corner...and I lost control of the bike and went down (low side).
Fortunately, I was still in the intersection and traveling at relatively low speeds. I managed not to hit the stopped car in front of me, but I ended up rolling over into the street as I came off the bike. Now, I never ride without full protective gear, even though it makes me look like a street-racing douchecanoe, so I was well-protected when I fell.
The aftermath: I have a slightly skinned left knee and a little soreness in my right wrist. The bike was equipped with frame sliders for track-day use, and while the ones on the left side of the bike got chewed up pretty bad, the resulting damage to the bike ended up being negligible: a bent footpeg and a couple of light scratches on the plastics. All told, I was quite fortunate...and I know it.
Looking back on it, the only way I could have avoided it was to give myself a little more room. I will work that into my riding habits going forward.
The best part of the story is the reaction I got from the driver in front of me...she stopped to make sure I was okay, and I think she was more shaken up than me! She kept apologizing and asking me if I was okay...I ended up giver her a hug and telling her there was nothing she could do. I was pleased to see that some people still worry about others.
So, for my fellow riders out there: Stay alert. Be safe. WEAR YOUR GEAR!!!!!1!