I was out a run yesterday with two mates and I had the unenviable pleasure of witnessing one being wiped out big style by an idiot car driver.

We were riding along the A82, which is a long straight single carriageway, passing a minor road on our left. I was third in line and my mate who was hit was in the middle.

My mate in front passed the side road with no drama, however the plonker at the give way thought he'd cross our carriageway, turning right, and would appear to have neglected to look right:wonder:

For some reason, he thought it'd make more sense to look left as he pulled out, after all, the traffic approaching at speed from his right obviously wasn't deemed sufficient enough a hazard to merit his attention. :cuckoo:

Anyway, he pulled out and t-boned my mate on his GSX1400 and send him flying through the air onto the road in the opposing carriageway, causing oncoming cars to brake hard and swerve to avoid killing him!

I've personally had one bike accident before caused by a HGV which caused me to have second thoughts about riding, however as soon as I'm in the saddle, all doubts leave my mind. I hadn't witnessed a bike accident close up before and it was truly frightening to see your mate stare death in the face. :eek:

Anyway, he isn't too badly injured but his bike looks like a write off.

So, I've had the old "you have responsibilities" lecture from the wife and a few mates, telling me to get rid of my baby....

I'm only just in the process of running her in (K7 GSXR 750), however I have to admit I'm tempted to give it up and get myself back into a decent performance car. (at the moment I have a VW Golf GT TDi 140 and the bike)

Whats your thoughts?

I had a near miss, overtaking a lin of cars only to have the one at the front turn right into a side road. I sold the bike 3 weeks later!

Since then have bought another 2 bike currenty got a zx10r. I ride much more defensivly now.

Biking is dangerous, I guess it up to each person to decide if the risk is worth the reward.

Try and do a few more track days, and less road riding perhaps.

Take it easy, dont be a sheep chart your own course.

6 of one/half dozen of the other

The car driver should have looked right but the rider should also have been checking to make positively sure that the driver had seen them.

Just one of those things and as much the fault of the rider for lack of defensive riding (although i appriciate that in law the car driver was at fault)

Get back on the bike and learn something from this - YOU are responsible for YOUR safety on a bike. You are soft and squidgy and die easily so the highway code means **** all when your dead - always think for other road users and assume at all times that they are going to try to kill you.

Sorry to appear negative (which i'm not trying to be) but defensive riding is really important and i think that this is a lesson learned. Don't stop riding because of something so minor but do at least become a better rider because of it.

(ahhh thats better - i have put the soap box back away in the corner for the time being)

i sold my GSXR1000 cos i couldn't ride it how i wanted to, i.e fast! the roads these days just dont lend themselves to bikes, its not the actuall road but the idiots who also use it.
My mate was killed 2 years ago cos of an idiot driver and i had too many near hits never mind misses to keep me happy on a bike,
I still get my bike fix though as i do enduros and MX which is just as much fun imo, and keeps you fit as well.

To be fair guys, all the defensive riding in the world won't save you when your carrying 60mph on a national speed limit single carriageway and a numpty emerges from a side road. Even Rossi couldn't have avoided this one! :)

No excuses whatsoever for the car driver. He probably looked, misjudged your mate's speed and distance (single headlight makes it harder to judge both). Inevitable result, sooner or later.

Stick to track days.

There is nothing more dangerous than going for an afternoon thrash with your mates on a Bank Holiday weekend. It's Russian Roulette :(

Trying to be positive. The most two-wheeled fun I've ever had has been on track :D

Richard.

To be fair guys, all the defensive riding in the world won't save you when your carrying 60mph on a national speed limit single carriageway and a numpty emerges from a side road. Even Rossi couldn't have avoided this one! :)

What if your mate had been expecting this guy to pull out? Would he still have hit him? A genuine question by the way, despite the rather obvious logic behind it. Was your mate really doing 60mph on a dead straight road on a GSX1400? Honestly?

What did the car driver say? How do you know he was looking left?

These things happen though and I've been hit by enough dozey drivers in very similar circumstances, I won't bore you with the details in this thread. Just one of those things. It's not inevitable I suppose and there is a lot you can do to avoid such things but it is highly probable that something like this will happen to us all.

**** it; you only live once.

Screwd.

I've been riding on road for about 1 1/2 yrs now,
can't say i've had any close calls at all. Think because
i pick and choose when to horse on a bit I don't know.
All i know is you can't let these things stay in your head
by doing so you're not really 100% focused upping the chance
of something happening to you. You either shrug the shoulders
get back on the bike or sell it - simple. If the hurdle's too big - bike trader it is !! Hope your mate gets well soon.

Whats your thoughts?

All the time fella, more recently, as we rode through winter and have gotten back up to pace quickly and it's getting maybe just a bit too fast, but anything less than jail time speeds seems pointless...wrong i know.

But then i have a blinding blast out and have a hoooge grin, personally i could see myself just tracking the Gix if i had a bad accident, but until then i'll still ride on the road.

I think you need to replace the fix of biking on the road to really be able to give it up...that or have **** yourself about how NOT in control we all are.

Pud

p.s. hope ya m8 heals quick

I have had 3 get offs on various bikes over the years, and always got back on and got over it, Then one year watched my mate get hurt in a bump, funny thing was, that it was harder to get over watching someone else, so I know exactly how it feels in your situation.

What if your mate had been expecting this guy to pull out? Would he still have hit him? A genuine question by the way,

Even if he had been expecting him to pull out, he may have taken some speed off in anticipation, however, when the guy actually encroached, my mate would never have stopped in time, and if he'd tried to avoid and swerve, he'd have gone into a ditch, or into oncoming traffic.


Was your mate really doing 60mph on a dead straight road on a GSX1400? Honestly?


In all honesty, probably much less. The traffic was pretty busy, probably averaging 50mph and double white centre lines so no overtaking.



What did the car driver say? How do you know he was looking left?


Sorry x 50 times!

The reason I know he was looking left is cos I saw him. As my mate realised what was happening and braked/swerved/panicked, I closed ground pretty quickly and saw it all in slow motion. The guy had tried to slip between the traffic and turn right.

Cheers for the comments guys.

In all honesty, I'll probably keep the bike. I've only done 650 miles on her and totally love getting out to play. I just felt that perhaps its not all worth the hassle since so often your life can be in the hands of numpties. Anyway, I'd take a huge hit selling a 5 week old bike! :D

Another mate (the one at the front yesterday) was sitting at a red light two weeks ago, both feet down, front brake on, when a stupid bint driving a Mini Cooper failed to see the obviously "miniscule" SV1000S sitting in front of her in broad daylight and knocked him over. :cuckoo: Luckily his exhaust and bar end took the brunt but yet another example of the idiots we give driving licences to!

Sorry to hear of your mates accident - happens too frequently these days glad hes ok thought.

I rode for just over 10 years, through winter and summer, every day to work and at weekends, and apart from a few v.near misses (one with a horses arse and a tractor!) never had a spill, but my brother in law had his ZXR400 for only a few months before losing it on a roundabout and demolishing his forearms (now had plates in both) and breaking a few other bones. He was pretty messed up.

A few months after his accident I sold my bike and bought an Impreza.

Now got 3 kids, and partly because of that wouldn't risk it on todays roads- which is a shame as I miss it greatly

Being just an average rider, (who never managed to get my knee down on a roundabout), I put my spill free biking down to luck and a police adv riding course I went on shortly after taking my test (was free and most counties run them)- taught me 2 things - firstly just how bad it can be when you get hit / hit something (course started by showing an hour long video of real-life smashes)and secondly to expect everyone not to see you.


Neil

Never thought about it, 30k a year and wouldn't change for any car.
I think my all white helmet and yellow jacket help a lot - people take the piss but touch wood so far the only falling off I have done is my own fault.

People die in cars every day so would you give up driving ?? The issue could be for you that you have now thought about it and the impact that might have on your riding. If you are used to riding in a certain way and try to change you might actually be more risky as you are out of your comfort zone.

sometimes when i look at my daughter i think of selling the bike as i do ride like a twat sometimes, makes me feel guilty and hate the thought of her not having a father should the worst happen :(
But as soon as im on the bike, as i think someone already said, all those thoughts dissapear and the demons take over ;)

Firstly, let me briefly summarise my biking experience of accidents:

I've witnessed one accident where a friend lost concentration and ran into a kerb on a exit slop road - ended up in hossy.
I've seen how a friend has been nearly crippled through being t-boned as he performed an overtaking manoeuvre opposite a lay-by. Currently spent four years having his knee reconstructed (not to mention all the other bits).
I've been t-boned myself by a old fella exiting a side road into my path.

All these accident could have been avoided with more attention to the road conditions and road sense.

You've got to give biking the respect it deserves. I use these rules.

Don't ride thinking you're invincible.
Don't expect other road users to have road sense.
Don't challenge other riders, if they're faster let them go past.

As long as I keep telling myself these things I can keep riding.

Suzuki and VW Golf GT TDi 140 - we must have something in common, I have the same (except I've got an extra 250cc;) )

However, if I had kids and a nagging wife circumstances may have to change but for the moment I'm living by the sword.

Suzuki and VW Golf GT TDi 140 - we must have something in common, I have the same (except I've got an extra 250cc;) )


Your Golf is a 2250cc? :D ;)

What if your mate had been expecting this guy to pull out? Would he still have hit him? A genuine question by the way, despite the rather obvious logic behind it. Was your mate really doing 60mph on a dead straight road on a GSX1400? Honestly?

What did the car driver say? How do you know he was looking left?

These things happen though and I've been hit by enough dozey drivers in very similar circumstances, I won't bore you with the details in this thread. Just one of those things. It's not inevitable I suppose and there is a lot you can do to avoid such things but it is highly probable that something like this will happen to us all.

**** it; you only live once.

Screwd.


good questions screwed, and i understand were your coming from, and to some it doesn't sound like your on there side, but its the truth:thumb:
been fitting a car engine today:cuckoo: , and the weather:cry:
really missed a thrash out on the ttr600supermoto:cry: :cry: :cry:

Riding 6 yrs now only had 1 off when numpty turned out in front of me an shot off he never looked at all just came out, in my pathetic attempt to not stuff it I came on a corner thankfully no kerb and had to jump off on the grass. Broken brake lever, dint in exhaust and pride dinted but not permanent. I ride mostly alone mainly cause I know my pace and ive seen others in gangs just ride like complete knobs just so they stay with each other, in the end someone always has a close call as they find themselves riding beyond their ability.:cuckoo:
In the end close ones will always think of you as selfish but I now have a girlfriend who actually likes to sit on the back, plus she looks fantastic in leather:luxhello:
An NO I wont be putting piccies up :thumb:

I have given riding up for the mo but its a mostly finacial reason, but I very nearly quit for good in 2001 as I witnessed my mate being taken out by a confussed German on the wrong side of a sweeping bend in the I-O-M, the clossing speed was silly and its left my mate without the use of both legs and a arm, it could so easily have been me, I cut my trip short to come home as I couldnt face riding more than I had to :-(

I did keep my bike for a couple of years but it was certainly an eye opener and tbh I prob will go back to a bike in the future.

Jez

Just to add the hospital in the I-O-M is one scary place on bike week.....!

If you are used to riding in a certain way and try to change you might actually be more risky as you are out of your comfort zone.

I am considering giving it up this summer once my Mrs has our daughter. The bike has been garaged all winter after a few years of riding all year round. I got the bike out again a week or so ago and it just didn't feel the same when I thought i'd get the same buzz I used to. I was actually very disappointed although was only out on it 10 minutes. Its been back in the garage since. I am planning to use it close to birth time for a quick way of getting home from work if needed and then that will be it I think apart from any SN meet that might happen. I've been riding nearly 14 years and the safety aspect for me and the thought of my kids has finally ground away the enjoyment I used to have.

The quote above is spot on, I thought last year about slowing my riding down and trying to be more careful but I found I was having more near misses by riding in a way I was uncomfortable with than I was if I was riding how I had always ridden. Unfortunately I ride too fast too much of the time including filtering which is irresponsible and why its time to get rid this year for me. I can't keep it in the garage indefinately as its a waste of money and I don't ride with any mates so never go out on it socially. Driving a car to work over winter really brought home the feeling of responsibility and safety aspects, something i'd previously been imune to. The Mrs doesn't believe i'll do it but for the first time since I started riding I actually feel like I can give it up and not miss it.

no never never never
unless iam dead after 30yrs of riding i love it :D :D

I think of giving up biking almost every week, I use mine purely Mon-Fri to get to work and never on the weekends (the w/e is when most bike accidents statistically happen)

The main reason for me riding instead of driving is to beat the traffic, on average I save about 25 minutes per journey, that's less than 1 hour per day for a round trip.
My family constantly tell me that I am risking my life for the sake of 1hr per day, it's true really. I could get knocked off & killed, leave behind a Wife and two young children, miss their weddings etc all for not wanting to spend that extra 25mins stuck in traffic.
Is it worth it? you tell me?

I could get knocked off & killed, leave behind a Wife and two young children, miss their weddings etc all for not wanting to spend that extra 25mins stuck in traffic.
Is it worth it? you tell me?

There are are a thousand ways to die, you don't know which will be yours... and you've survived so far on a bike - you must be improving with all that experience, why change? :Suspiciou

As the last few drops of blood ebb away in a motorway pile up - you'll be in your Golf Tdi thinking "I wish I'd kept the bike" :thumb:

I've often thought about it, its the idiots at junctions that always worry me, if you slow down they think you're turning and pull out if you dont (and I dont mean hooning around at warp speeds) they could just pull out. You do what you can to make sure they see you, but you're never certain. Sound like there was nothing your mate could have done if the driver T boned him.

No amount of defensive driving will keep you 100% safe. But one thing I have learned from local deaths, never ever pass any one near a right turn, even a farm road.

No.

The only times I've scared myself silly were totally self-inflicted (point fixation). I take things very easily, try and ride within my own capabilities (not always easy) and I don't get bated by people who want to 'have a go'.

I love it and notwithstanding some unforeseen circumstances, I'll keep riding for as long as possible.

Cheers
Kav

I am considering giving it up this summer once my Mrs has our daughter. The bike has been garaged all winter after a few years of riding all year round. I got the bike out again a week or so ago and it just didn't feel the same when I thought i'd get the same buzz I used to. I was actually very disappointed although was only out on it 10 minutes. Its been back in the garage since. I am planning to use it close to birth time for a quick way of getting home from work if needed and then that will be it I think apart from any SN meet that might happen. I've been riding nearly 14 years and the safety aspect for me and the thought of my kids has finally ground away the enjoyment I used to have.

The quote above is spot on, I thought last year about slowing my riding down and trying to be more careful but I found I was having more near misses by riding in a way I was uncomfortable with than I was if I was riding how I had always ridden. Unfortunately I ride too fast too much of the time including filtering which is irresponsible and why its time to get rid this year for me. I can't keep it in the garage indefinately as its a waste of money and I don't ride with any mates so never go out on it socially. Driving a car to work over winter really brought home the feeling of responsibility and safety aspects, something i'd previously been imune to. The Mrs doesn't believe i'll do it but for the first time since I started riding I actually feel like I can give it up and not miss it.

Thats a shame Bravo, thou I understand you commute on your bike to London?

I must admit i wouldnt relish a morning commute with my fellow road users every day now, however after 20+ years of riding , for me, nothing comes near the thrill of a bike..Owning a car and the whole "performance car" scene is slightly dull in comparison ...and much more expensive!

It feels as good now to me as as it did when i first rode a bike at 16.

I had a fantastic ride yesterday evening, sun setting, plenty of warmth left in the day ,fantastic roads and enjoying the power and feel of riding the bike.

I have changed my style somewhat I actually prfer to ride on my own or with a mate rather than a pack of us, which does bring the red mist down at times

Having a child shouldnt make you a different person, your still(whatever you real name is!) with your own identity as well as being a Dad.

When my daughter was born i was worried about the money side of things so thought it best to buy a new bike just before she was born as id have to keep whatever I had for a few years.It didnt enter my head to sell it.

Nothing would persuade me from riding my bike, despite all the accidents and few deaths of friends and friends friends..TBH Ive had worse car accidents than bike accidents but i cant give up the car..we can choose to ride but often as not cant choose to drive ...anyone can drive a car and thats what makes "bike people" different and interesting to me.

bravo , you need to have a ride with a few pals and have a laugh m8 . get ya ass up the oakdene on a sunday or the ace cafe friday night , its alot more fun when theres a few of ya :thumb: . there a good stunt spot meeting up at enfield which is a right laugh { i can feel sb frowning at me } which is safe {trust me } and theres some proper boys up there , if you like that sort of thing . theres allways a trackday , nice safe and friendly now the suns here its sticky tarmac time . dont give up ! just find away to put the fun and smiles back into your biking miles .
yeeeeeharrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I have been riding bikes for 32 years now and have never considered giving up even though I'm between bikes at the mo.

Riding a bike is a very big part of my life.

Giving up riding a bike would be worse than death.

I fully understand the "family first" attitude, in fact I admire it. That's one heck of a sacrifice though and really, the statistics are skewed by the vast majority of poorly skilled nutters. While it is sadly quite possible for even the most highly skilled rider to have an accident or even be killed - **** happens.

Everybody dies.

Screwd.