Late for Work: Got hit by a Car This Morning

[Max Wedge]

  I left this morning (ATGATT) about 20 minutes early, excited for the nice weather expected this afternoon. It dark and  heavy fog, but I have ridden in worse. I was on a two lane road, with a center turn lane, following 3 cars ahead of me, to block for deer. I was travelling at about 50mph, and a older Mazda RX7 was approaching up a driveway on the right, maybe 10 mph. He slowed, but after the third car passed him, he gunned it, crossing my lane completely, and about a foot into the left turn lane.

  I stood on the brakes, aimed at the drivers door. He started braking at this point, and I leaned hard to the left, hoping that, at worst, I would impact the tire, and go over the hood, and not into the roof. I managed to clear his front end, and as he finished stopping his bumper connected with my cylinder head.

  I was knocked off my line a little, recovered, and pulled to the side of the road. He pulled up, was very apologetic, asked if I was okay, and was more shaken than I was. He asked if I wanted to file a police report, and said he would cover towing or anything else I wanted. He was very respectful (do I look old enough to be called 'sir'?), and I got pictures of his car, license and all that stuff, and since I know where he lives, I opted to not do a police report. I was 7 minutes late for work.


  On inspection, I didn't see any cracks, and I was not leaking oil. I decided to finish the ride to work, but told him if it was leaking he was also paying the tow. No leaks after work, so I will present him with a bill for the $250 in parts, and live to ride another day.

[sleazy rider]

It was nasty with heavy fog this morning for sure.  Glad to hear it's just minor scrapes on the bike and none on you.  I'd just take his money and buy another farkle.  Them's just "character" marks.

[Max Wedge]

I've gone over it in my head all day to see if there was anything I could have done differently, but at this point I am coming up blank. Maybe weaved in my lane a little? Add more lights?

I think I may like this ABS thing though--I couldn't tell you if it went off, or if I was still braking as I started to veer. I know I did let off once I came around the front, not wanting to linger in front of him.

[Max Wedge]

It was nasty with heavy fog this morning for sure.  Glad to hear it's just minor scrapes on the bike and none on you.  I'd just take his money and buy another farkle.  Them's just "character" marks.

How much are those Touratech cylinder head guards?

I just need to make sure Mrs. Wedge never asks about those marks.

[sleazy rider]

You rubbed a tree playing off road.   . I had marks similar on my GS.  They really were from off road drops.  

[Max Wedge]

Thanks, Tom. I knew I could count on you.  

[Justin]

Coulda been much worse, glad it wasn't  

Who is this "Mrs Max Wedge" currently browsing this thread though?


 

[Rogue]

Glad to know you are okay.  Yup could have been worse.

Maybe don't follow cars next time?  I try not to stay behind cars as I think they are most dangerous when they are ahead of me.  I do understand your reasons for doing so though.  I also understand why the RX7 guy went for it.  He wasn't looking for bikes.

[Hardware]

Good save!

I had a very similar incident a few years ago.  Swerved around the front of the car and wasn't sure if we'd made contact or not.  Got home and found brush marks in the layers of road grime on the starboard cylinder head oddly similar to your scratches - but mine wiped off.

Gotta' love the pucker factor on those, eh?

[Max Wedge]

Oh, and $2.50 for underwear. Thanks for the reminder.

[Royal Tiger]

Glad you are ok.  Sounds like a scary one.

[Hardware]

Oh, and $2.50 for underwear. Thanks for the reminder.

I ride commando...so it was a simple matter of hosing out the JR pants...LOL

[Bender]

I ride commando...so it was a simple matter of hosing out the JR pants...LOL

Note to self... NEVER buy riding pants from Hardware.  

[Flyer]

A lottery ticket is in order, Sir!
 

[tomek]

I`m glad you are O.K. but you really need a louder then OEM pipe on your bike , they do  save lives .  


Those rub marks should come right off with something mild like a lacquer thinner .  

[R Doug]

Bravo on the save.  And, way to keep your cool.  

[Andrew]

Glad you survived

Get some more lights, be visible.

I recommend a set of MotoLights   http://www.motolight.com/motolight_motorcycle_lights_for_bmws

or a set of Clearwater Glenda lights   http://www.motolight.com/motolight_motorcycle_lights_for_bmws

[Frankienuckles]

Happy you are alright!

[Meemuh]

   Glad you're okay...yikes.

[sagerat]

Way to do emergency braking and manuevering.  

Glad you emerged unscathed and the bike only had a minor marring.

[Rattlehead]

Glad you’re alright.   Major props to the guy for manning up to his mistake and apologizing. Not everyone is so willing to take responsibility for their stupidity.

I had a similar incident towards the end of last year. I was on my way to work at about 6am so it was still dark. I was going down this 2 lane road and the whole left side was blocked off by a utility truck (they were doing work on the poles or something). Anyway this bozo goes right around the truck and decides to play chicken with me in my lane. I laid on the brakes and swerved to the right. I came close enough to his hood I could have counted the rock chips; no exaggeration, I vividly remember that white hood with lots of small rock chips in it.   My helmet actually clipped his driver’s side mirror as I left the road and stopped in someone’s front yard. The moron in the truck didn’t even stop, they just casually drove off as I sat there trying to gather my thoughts and make sure my undies weren’t filled with anything unpleasant.   I ended up with no damage to the bike what so ever; how my fairings, or leg, didn’t clip the front of that truck I’ll never understand. My only proof of the whole thing was a small scuff about 2” long that went across the very left side of the visor and down the helmet shell from where my head hit his mirror. Needless to say, I had a hard time concentrating at work that day.

[Redbandit14]

Great save and glad you're ok!  

The Fog is bad here this morning too.

[Bad Dad]

Glad your O.K.

[Liquidsilver]

Nice save.  

[ksmdigital]

How about adding a headlight modulator.

[falconati]

Glad you're okay, and it's nice to hear of motorists who actually do the right thing.  I was beginning to think they were mythical creatures (like Honda DN-01s).

[Fourstring]

Glad to hear you're OK.  


Has anyone else noticed that the drivers are fuller of fucking crazy this year than in year's past?

[Justin]

Has anyone else noticed that the drivers are fuller of fucking crazy this year than in year's past?

Nope - just as crazy as ever. This year has seemed better since adding my LED driving lights. Car actually stop and look at me now, as the profile of the bike has 3 lights spread out. Seems to make a big difference.

[Max Wedge]

Meeting the driver tomorrow for repair $$$. I'm going to ask him what he was thinking to see if there is anything I can do improve my visibility. (I will be adding some lights too.)

[jesse v]

Your avoidance maneuver skills are inspiring, as are your keeping-your-cool skills.  (I guess those are one in the same.)

Regarding your choice to follow vehicles in a low visibility situation... I think that was the right thing to do.

[Cheddarhead]

Nope - just as crazy as ever. This year has seemed better since adding my LED driving lights. Car actually stop and look at me now, as the profile of the bike has 3 lights spread out. Seems to make a big difference.

Pictures, please....

[Justin]

Pictures, please....

Sure - phone camera doesn't really do justice though. Lights were at @20-30% here.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Gy7FS4e_bq0/Tu9gK0oicWI/AAAAAAAABEM/PjgtYsjnR1s/s800/IMG_0702.JPG

[Mr. Whippy]

I hope this isn't too late.  

Also ask for the price of the Time Sert for the valve cover bolt.  At least on the older Oilheads, the bolts were long and the cylinder threads for it were delicate.  It's pretty easy to damage them so that you cant retorque the cover down to spec and then it WILL leak.  The kits run about $50 so it's not chump change.  

Personally my list would be

Valve cover
Spark plug cover
1 Valve cover bolt
Time Sert kit

There must be a little bit of pain or it's not a learning experience

[viffergyrl]

Meeting the driver tomorrow for repair $$$. I'm going to ask him what he was thinking to see if there is anything I can do improve my visibility. (I will be adding some lights too.)

I applaud your measured response but there's also a teachable moment here as well. For whatever reason, he didn't see you - part of that is his responsibility. I hesitate to add any commentary beyond this as... well.... I wasn't there.

Good job on avoiding serious impact - any event like that where you can walk away without serious injury is a win in my book.  

[sagerat]

Actually, I think asking the guy you almost collided with what he saw is a cool idea.  It's not letting the cager off the hook for his responsibility, it's gathering info that could aid you in lowering the chances of future similar mishaps.

[Max Wedge]

  Well we met after work. He paid and threw in a little extra. Funny thing is, he has been asking himself the same question, so he doesn't have a repeat incident. He is a gearhead, does the Formula SAE racing thing at school, and is restoring an old XR so he can start riding. He has been talking with the riders at school to get their input on what he could have done, or didn't do. He is well aware of the gravity of the situation, and was open to answering any questions I wanted to ask. It's not often you get to ask the driver what he was thinking.

  It was very foggy, and he said that he looked down, and when he looked back up he thought I was a car much farther down the road. As he started to pull out he realized it was a bike, and MUCH close than he originally thought. He said that 'bike' did not register at first. We discussed that the 'triangle of light' or 3 lights might help differentiate enough to make people actually ask themselves what that is.

  I suggested, and he agreed that he will be taking the MSF before he gets his license, and be wearing gear all the time.

[dm_gsxr]

How about adding a headlight modulator.

Probably wouldn't have worked in heavy fog.

Glad you're ok though.

Carl

[BwanaDik]

Glad you survived

Get some more lights, be visible.

or a set of Clearwater Glenda lights   http://www.motolight.com/motolight_motorcycle_lights_for_bmws

Yep, I've got a set of these on the forks of my Feej.  I can see the folks in cages notice I'm approaching by the change of expression on thier faces.  And yes, a slight weave in your lane makes all the difference for visibility

[eye.surgeon]

Thanks for reminding me why I don't commute on my bike. Most dangerous hour to ride is morning and evening rush hour.

Glad you're OK.

[R Doug]

I applaud the way you and the driver handled this post incident.  I don't believe every rider would have kept as calm as you nor do I believe every driver would be as responsible on his/her follow up as this guy. 

[lionlady]

Meeting the driver tomorrow for repair $$$. I'm going to ask him what he was thinking to see if there is anything I can do improve my visibility. (I will be adding some lights too.)

Glad you're okay. If you'd had the P3 lights on your bike, the driver probably would have stopped. I don't think the heavy fog would effect them enough to reduce their visiblity. ( http://www.lights.skenedesign.com/ ) They are super bright LEDs that show solid when you look AT them, but they "glimmer" when seen in your peripheral vision. Its a high speed flicker, that says "LOOK! PAY ATTENTION!" I've seen them on a bunch of bikes and they really do catch your eye.

P3s are on my "next modification" list.

P

[Andrew]

  Well we met after work. He paid and threw in a little extra. Funny thing is, he has been asking himself the same question, so he doesn't have a repeat incident. He is a gearhead, does the Formula SAE racing thing at school, and is restoring an old XR so he can start riding. He has been talking with the riders at school to get their input on what he could have done, or didn't do. He is well aware of the gravity of the situation, and was open to answering any questions I wanted to ask. It's not often you get to ask the driver what he was thinking.

  It was very foggy, and he said that he looked down, and when he looked back up he thought I was a car much farther down the road. As he started to pull out he realized it was a bike, and MUCH close than he originally thought. He said that 'bike' did not register at first. We discussed that the 'triangle of light' or 3 lights might help differentiate enough to make people actually ask themselves what that is.

  I suggested, and he agreed that he will be taking the MSF before he gets his license, and be wearing gear all the time.

"Every could has a silver lining"  
Again Glad you survived and had the skills and reflexes to not get pasted.
The gentleman you had the run in with seems like a good guy and the fact you and he spoke about what was the cause and what could be done to avert this in the future (spreading the word here as well) is Fantastic!!!  So often it is just call my insurance and go F yourself or you hit me defense.
The admission "he thought I was a car much farther down the road"  is gospel as to what happens.
  For me I believe that the triangle (lights on forks + headlamp) vision of a bike makes much more of an impact on drivers. I read it somewhere that most people are trained to see horizontal objects and to block out vertical objects (telephone poles don't move but the vertical lights/car do).
  Glad you survived and you as well as all of us got a chance to learn from this, a "silver lining"  to a possible black cloud. Thank you Max

[falconati]

Wow, I didn't think those kinds of people still existed.

[the drummer]

Good on ya' !! Got to like the Beemer brakes!!  Cooler heads prevail, much better than a screaming match along the road! Here's to a SAFER season!
   Glad you made it to ride another day!!

[Papa Lazarou]

Excellent bit of riding and excellent behaviour afterwards.  

[sodapop6620]

Found out that the local National Guard station is using sidecar rigs.  I found this out because one of them just ran out in front of me, I aimed for them then they stopped in the middle of the road.  Luckily they restarted and motored on across the road.  I restarted my bike and continued on my way.  I am sure the passanger in the sidecar gave his buddy some shit.  The rider must have fixed on the truck that was following me.

[MGoBlue]

I applaud the way you and the driver handled this post incident.  I don't believe every rider would have kept as calm as you nor do I believe every driver would be as responsible on his/her follow up as this guy. 

+1 ^^

I definitely learned something from this thread. Glad to see everything is working out.

[Max Wedge]

Glad you all enjoyed the thread (and glad I was able to post it). Shopping for extra lights now and thanks for all the links, P3's, Clearwaters, etc.

Any accident I have ever been in (2 in 36 years, in cars) have been rear-enders. Going to add some hyper-lights on the rear also.

Ride on!

[me109g4]

Hyper-lites are wonderful,, i put them on my zzr1200 and my kz1000. I got a lot of positive feedback from people coming from behind, especially at night. Well worth the $$$$