Memorable Rides (Horror Stories)

[XMRGWX]

So there we were, three friends out for a spring ride. The weather was great and its about 4:30 in the afternoon. We're doing about 60 and traffic is light. We've been at it all day and I am little tired. The road is a fairly smooth dual divided highway with concrete barrier in the middle. I was out front at the time in the right lane. As sometime happened I drifted onto the shoulder a little and bam. My rear tire dropped about 4-5 inches while the front tire stayed up on top. The next thing I know I'm completely sideways flat trackin a full dress XS 1100. All you could hear was tires screeching, no wind no nothing. My handlebars are fully locked to the stops and I'm heading for the concrete island. Then the bike rears up, the handlebars lock the other way and I'm off what felt like 90 degrees in the opposite direction. The tires smokin the whole time. On top of all this the deceleration is phenomenal. This goes on for 6 more cycles or so, each time less severe. The whole time I'm thinking thank God Yamaha did a good job on those stops. Finally it's over, I'm safely in the center of the road going the right way maybe 10 mph. After this I have a new found respect for bull riders. As I roll on the throttle to help clear the smoke from behind the fairing and in the helmet I see my buddies in the mirror. It appeared their forks were fully compressed and behind them a row of cars with bumpers almost dragging on the pavement. Aside from two bruises where the handlebars drove my elbows into my ribs and some major tire wear all was well. Man you talk about lucky!

You've heard this before but - Kids please don't try this at home.

[Hobbit]

!

I love stories with happy endings! Congratulations.

[Pat Kelly]

My horror story dosen't have a happy ending. Not sure I should post it. (actually two of them)

[XMRGWX]

If it would make you feel better to tell it then I would go for it Pat. In the real world unfortunitly not all the endings are happy. It dangerous out there especially for new riders. Sometimes we need a reality check. I would hope there would be plenty of happy stories so we don't all get too bummed out though.

-Mike

[Pat Kelly]

I'm not traumatized. I've told the stories many times over the years relating how dangerous it can be on a motorcycle. I just didn't want to put a damper on things.
First one (1978) was Mike and me riding down Camelback Rd in Phoenix. I was behind Mike and I stopped for the red light at Central, he didn't. He was T-boned and died at the scene. It was his fault, he ran the red light.
Second one (1980) was on South Mountain in Phoenix. I was doing the 'twisty dance' on my 400 and some guy I don't know was trying to keep-up with me. He rode off the mountain and died at the scene too.
Over the years I have had hundreds of close calls. I've been hit 3 times by cars yet have never been down (dirtbikes don't count).
I've been very lucky as I have average riding skills. Yes I used to roadrace on the track but I never have won a race or even come close to winning (someone has to make it interesting for the leaders). I know that experience slowed me on the street and taught me the limits of the motorcycle and myself.
I have noticed that since I no longer ride on the track I have started 'playing' on the road a bit more. I'd like to think that I keep it within reason. I don't hotdog it in town or when anyone else is around.
My luckiest story (1982) was when I was travelling from thru L.A. to San Diego. Lots of traffic but moving around 60 MPH. I was in the middle lane and too close to the van in front of me. His brakelights came on and went UP (he must have hit the vehicle in front of him). There was a delivery van right behind me. I cut from the middle lane, across the left lane between two cars, to the shoulder, dodged around a Datsun Z that was spinning into the cement wall on my left, back to the middle lane, then I had the freeway to myself. No one around but a big mass of cars in my mirrors and the cars in front were 300 yards away. The bike started to shimmy so I pulled over. My hands were shaking too much to get my helmet off (the shimmy of the bike ). Ten minutes later I continued on to my sisters house in San D.

[XMRGWX]

Thanks Pat. I'm sorry about your friend but glad your story had a happy ending (besides maybe a few extra grey hairs ). I think there is something to be learned from each close call we have. Developing that 6th sense needed for safe riding takes years to learn but even then sometimes it's not enough.

I know there are plenty of stories out there - Please post them

- Mike

[mro]

From a post last year:

crashing
its to easy!!!!!!!!

went to work today, normal.
things were slow.

took off at noon to a sorta local bar and had breakfast, lunch and dinner.

now i need all new turn signals, right/left engine cover plates, new crash bars, misc. other parts and my black jeans and leather jaket need patches. lost skin will come back

went around a corner which is also a RxR under pass.
have regularly passed thru it at 40mph(15 posted) from center of lane(start of crow canyon road ). was only gong about 45, went wide and ran over a bunch of leaves. front wheel decided to go south. flopped on left side and then a few feet , hit the curb. bike stood up with me still on it then slowly went the fu@# the other way landing on the side walk.

left wrist/nuckels/knees and right hand took most of the fall. back and legs looked bad (jeans/jacket) but are most likely just going to be sore for a while.

teach an old dog new tricks???
don't think so!!!
after 40 years of off/on riding you think you'd learn.


went thru canyon anyway. bought a pack a smokes at sunol and looked over my xs.

maybe need to be xs only with the bike and not my drinking

__________________________

start of crow canyon road >>> should have said "start of Niles Canyon road
__________________________

While drinking or not, would not have changed anything in the actual crash, possible that I would not have tried to push my luck going faster thru that turn when I knew 40 was really close to the edge and needs both lanes to make it. If I had not been in second and let off as soon as I entered the turn would have smacked into under crossing concrete wall.

Little crash above has left me with a few reminders, left wrist, second finger same hand and left ankle still "sore" at times.

Glad I survived my childhood. Late 60's, early 70's, life was much different then and although we bitched about the traffic then, only a fraction of what is now. Was a total idiot at times riding or driving. Lucky for me I never hurt anyone other than myself.

Mishaps I've had over my younger years, been just flat out lucky. All except two were because of my own stupidity thinking the street was a pretty good race track.


mro

[XMRGWX]

Thanks for re-posting mro. The hardest part of motorcycling for me is constantly maintaining a healthy "Risk-Reward / Safety" balance. I don't remember any other activity I've done affecting me this strongly. The open road on a nice day can be so intoxicating, leading us to take chances we would not take doing other things.

Here's hoping you always find the optimal balance.

-Mike

[scappod]

Horror stories/Stupid mistakes

A little embarrassed to say this,

I had been working really long hours for about a month (disclaimer) As I was riding the last leg of my journey hone on my then CB550 I came to the combination last stop sign, last corner of my trip home. I slowed down and made all preps to stop and then freakin' BAM I was on my left side... FEET still on my pegs Gawd!!! I hope I looked good doing that.

[XMRGWX]

Hopefully you didn't get too banged up, but if I were one of the judges I'd have gone with a 9.5 for keeping your feet ON the pegs.

- Mike

[e.z.nightrider]

Scappod, thanks for the story. Been there, done that, bought the t-shirt on an XS750 years ago. But I still feel like a fool every time I remember it.

Ed Z.

[EZMoney]

My Horror Story:
August 04…a brand new Yamaha Vstar 1100 ( which belonged to my best friend )…my son (15) and myself….. and a twisty road.
My friend threw me the keys to his bike and said taker for a ride with Chris (my son) you’ll love it. I had taken his bikes out many times over the last few years, as I hadn’t owned one since the kids were born, and it was a nice day.
We have lots and lots of twisty roads up here in the mountains of British Columbia and my son and I had been out for several hours riding all over the place. We were on our way home along a windy road down through a river valley when we got into an S-curve that swept right and then left. We weren’t going all that fast (posted speed 50 km/hr), we were maybe going 60 km/hr, I had done this ride many times before at higher speeds than that with no problems. Got into the curve going right all ok, started to lean into the left and the bike just wouldn’t cam over, couldn’t just turn the handlebars or I would have high sided. Kept trying to bring it around with no avail, yelled at my son that we were going off the road and down into the ditch. As we went over the edge my son bailed and rolled (he was ok only a few road rash marks and a little stiff), I on the other hand road the bike to the bottom of the ditch where I came to an abrupt stop and went over the handlebars and windshield. I was banged up real good but nothing broken except my pride and my buddies new bike.
Hardest call I have ever had to make was to him to tell him about the bike
Second hardest call was right after that to my son’s mother.
We took the bike to the dealship the next day and asked how bad it was, they said that it was repairable and they did (back to new condition)

Lesson learned! Don’t borrow your best friends bike because S#*t really does happen.

Cost of two new helmet for my friend $450
Cost of bike repair $6,000
Still having my son here with me PRICELESS

Ed

P.S And my best friend is still my best friend, now that I have my own XS11 we go riding when ever we can.

[XMRGWX]

Thanks for posting Ed. I'm glad to hear in the end everything worked out ok. It amazes me how quickly one of your best days can turn into one of your worst.

- Mike

PS: In the fall of 84' I did some riding & camping out your way, it was the best.

[xs650mike]

Countersteering!

One word for EZMoney: Countersteering! Could have prevented your unfortunate crash. Every crash comes with a lesson. I learned that particular one 45 years ago, don't ask me how! To initiate a lean turn the bars in the opposite direction from the way you want to turn and the bike will immediately lean since you have steered the wheels out from under the center of gravity. Once leaned over the bars come back to turning in the direction of the turn. To straighten up turn the bars in the direction you've been turning and the bike will immediately straighten up and go straight. Try it, you'll like it! No more trying to get the bike to lean by shifting your balance, our bikes are too heavy to turn quickly by shifting weight.

Glad all ended well and that you're still riding!