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General SportbikesThis area is made for sportbikes in general. Posts that dont really belong anywhere else besides here. Questions can be answered and addressed to fully understand certain aspects. If your question is Manufacturer specific please post it there.
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Sportbike: The one with 2 wheels
A Sad Reminder About Following Too Closely and Not Paying Attention
A multiple-bike accident yesterday morning on California Highway 1 in Northern California provided a harsh reminder of the penalties for following too closely and not paying close enough attention to what's going on ahead of you.
A group of four riders was traveling two abreast in the left lane when the Toyota pickup in front of them slowed to make a left-hand turn onto a side road. The two lead riders reacted late and were barely able to stop in time, according to reports in local newspapers. The two riders following behind rear-ended their stopped buddies, bringing all four bikes (two carrying passengers) down.
End result? All six people (four riders, two passengers) were taken by helicopter to a local hospital, where two were listed in critical condition. Although both of those riders have been stabilized and will probably survive, they and/or their friends could have easily died in an accident like this.
Our first reaction when we hear about something like this is to extend our deepest sympathies to the injured riders and their families. Secondly, we ask ourselves if anything can be learned from such a tragic event.
It is possible that had the two riders in the lead been paying closer attention to the actions of the driver in front of them, they would have been on the brakes earlier and less aggressively than they reportedly were. More fault goes to the two following riders, who obviously didn't leave enough distance in front of them to allow for a safe and controlled stop.
Every rider knows that riding a bike requires constant vigilance. Even so, it is easy to become complacent, particularly on a scenic coastal road like Highway 1 in California.
We urge all of our readers to take this as a reminder to "keep your head up", and allow a generous following distance whether you are behind a fellow rider or an automobile driver.
For more information on the accident, check out the article on the Palo Alto Online News web site and the cbs5.com site.
Posts: 20,019
Casino Cash: $60456
Sportbike: The one with 2 wheels
Well the point of the article wasn't about "HD idiots"
It was meant more as a saftey reminder to all as the upcoming season approachs and initally some of us may be lackidasical the first few times out. Watch your spacing and keep your eyes open.
point well made.. .no body is looking our for you out there but yourself.
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The act of riding is a form of meditation, because the concentration that's required to safely ride a motorcycle tends to focus the mind in a way that eliminates other mental distractions that might interfere with the mission. This creates a single-mindedness that, in effect, displaces the continuous stream of thoughts that normally flow through our consciousness.
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When riding in groups I always hate when riders creap up beside you instead of staying back. I don't mind riding two abrest like you're supposed to, but I like to keep the rider that is behind me visible in my mirror. If he starts to creep up and all of a sudden I can't see him in my mirror any more, I know he is getting close to being beside me, and that is not very safe. Likewise, when I am following someone, I like to make sure I can see that riders visor in his mirror. If I get too close and can't see his visor in his mirror I know that he probably can't see me either and that I am too close.
You have to leave room in between other riders so that everyone has some room to manuver their bike in emergency situations.
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Maturity is vastly overrated.
Don't let it get in the way of a good time.
That just happened on a ride I was on about a month ago, guy on a hayabusa slows down for a turn, the guy behind him was too close and swerved to the right, right off the road.. I was behind that guy but I kept my distance, unfortunately the guy in front of me ended up in the hospital and totalled his bike.
So yeah even if it's your riding buddies, keep a safety margin.
__________________
"We all make choices. Gear can't always save you. All the best leather, denim, Cordura, Kevlar, fiberglass, and plastic is useless when fate throws the Immovable Object or the Irresistible Force in your path. But I choose to stack the deck in my favor. If it all ends up for naught and the stacked deck and the cards up my sleeve end up losing to Fate's royal flush, so be it. But I'll try."
assman wrote: sounds like they werent wearing proper gear to me. Look at the link some got head injuries, they all had broken bones.
For info, a photo of the crash site showed a Triumph Sprint ST, and a news article reported that one of the bikes was a Yamaha V-Max.
Your gear can prevent some fractures but not many. It can't prevent the compound leg fracture one rider had or the fractured ribs and collapsed lung another had. Leather provides abrasion and laceration protection, and armor absorbs enough energy to soften an impact with the pavement and prevent bruises. But running into a solid object like a Toyota Tacoma or even another motorcycle subjects you to more impact energy than your gear is designed to absorb.
The lesson to be learned from this incident isn't about gear, it's about exercising good judgment and staying out of trouble. As Rascus wrote:
We urge all of our readers to take this as a reminder to "keep your head up", and allow a generous following distance whether you are behind a fellow rider or an automobile driver.
Some people I know think I'm a bit morbid because I'm always reading up about crashes on this and other forums, but the truth of the matter is: there's always something to learn from someone else's mistake. whether it was the rider's or the person in front/behind/hit them.
It also provides the added benefit of seeing people's injuries and keeping my own courage level in check....
A Sad Reminder About Following Too Closely and Not Paying Attention
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