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orange1800
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Posted: Tue Aug 26th, 2008 05:35 pm | 1st Post |
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Best wishes to all those injured at UK Treffen last week.
It sure sent a shiver down my spine just thinking about how close I have come to similar accidents over the years.
Just a few months ago, while at the Italian bash, about 100 or so Wings were on the first ride out of the Treffen, about 20 minutes into it or so. Wafting along in the morning sunshine, 55mph ish, taking in the early breeze, no overtaking at all, simply bliss. Cruising along, well spaced out, Wings in front, Wings behind, what could be better....
Then, for a split second I edged towards the centre of the road as she curved right....I looked into the rapidly approaching cab of a bus as it appeared from the shadow of large trees on the left side....I was lined up with the offside mirror....I jinked...and flinched...as it passed by with only inches to spare.
I almost turned to stone for a second, with the fright. Later, at a stop, friends behind me were equally shocked at how I had gotten away with it.
We talked about it for days after....a lesson learned....never.... ever....relax that much on a ride out...phew!!!
Now come on, be honest, when did you last get a fright like that?
Steve
Last edited on Wed Aug 27th, 2008 10:14 pm by orange1800
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Who Dares Wings
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road_rascal
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Posted: Tue Aug 26th, 2008 05:43 pm | 2nd Post |
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| I had one this morning. Riding to work around 5:30AM I watched a car getting ready to exit out of a parking lot about 100 yards from me. For some reason or another I knew the driver wasn't watching where he/she was going. I slowed down to about 20 mph (limit is 40) and got ready to brake. Sure enough, the car pulls about halfway out into the street and then slammed on the brakes when the driver saw me. I managed to brake hard and then swerve around the front of the car. Got to work and had a nice, hot cup of coffee... Last edited on Tue Aug 26th, 2008 07:58 pm by road_rascal
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Thomas K.
1998 Aspencade, 1997 Nighthawk 750, 1982 Yamaha XS400J, 1999 Yamaha SH50
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orange1800
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Posted: Tue Aug 26th, 2008 05:53 pm | 3rd Post |
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Well done, at least you were prepared.
Makes you think what goes on in the average cager's head at times like that?
Being a cager myself mostly, I dread to think I would pull out on a motorcycle.
I spoke to a very experienced cop recently, who astonished me when he told me the number of times he had pulled cagers over for pulling out in front of HIM!!!
He rides a dayglo yellow Pan Euro 1300 for his job, impossible to not see, I would have thought. But no, people just don't see a bike, no matter what colour it is. So be warned friends, "be careful out there"
Steve
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Rudy
Forum Ferret
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Posted: Tue Aug 26th, 2008 06:21 pm | 4th Post |
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Two words for visibility. Headlight. Modulator.
Stops the 'don't see you' ones cold.
Won't stop a don't care type but even then it causes pause long enough to get through it most times.
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Rudy
'89 GL1500K 96k - http://goldwingtech.info
http://glhelpers.com/members
http://RudysBackyard.com/
http://annualssgwrally.us/coppermine/
SaberCycle: The lesson that just keeps on getting learned.
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marvo75
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Posted: Tue Aug 26th, 2008 06:23 pm | 5th Post |
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| What do them headlight mods cost?
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Just doin what i can with what i got.
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orange1800
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Posted: Tue Aug 26th, 2008 06:40 pm | 6th Post |
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Hey you guys in de US of A...
Maybe headlight modulators have their uses over there, but over here in the motherland (Europe...where all life began  ), they are a death sentence.
Ye see, flashing your headlight is taken as a sign to "go ahead", to the other traffic.
So it would be like saying "go ahead..pull out and hit me"...not so clever.
The use of headlights for signalling is generally frowned upon because of the many possible meanings. So, modulators are a no no here, possibly even illegal.
Myself, I am thinking of starting a campaign to restrict motorcycles to use between 0200 - 0500am, and then only below 15mph, preceded by a man with a red light and flag... Now that would be safe...
Steve
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Monk
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Posted: Tue Aug 26th, 2008 06:48 pm | 7th Post |
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Rudy wrote: Two words for visibility. Headlight. Modulator.
I can't count the number of times I've seem cagers do a double take and hit their brakes after they see the headlight modulator.
And like you say, there have been a couple of times when they did the double take and pulled out anyway.  It is necessary to be on your guard all the time!
Nothing that we do to the bike can be regarded as an all inclusive solution to keeping the cagers from wanting and sometimes taking our space on the road. 
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1994 GL1500 - 2001-2006
2003 GL1800 - Dec. 2006 - Oct. 2007
2008 GL1800 - Nov. 2007 to Present
Retired and riding Arkansas
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orange1800
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Posted: Tue Aug 26th, 2008 06:55 pm | 8th Post |
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Hi Monk,
You are right of course, we are the vulnerable ones, and we should never forget it.
Even on a bike as large as a Wing you will invariably come off worse when you tangle with others. Your legs, arms, in fact all of you is hugely exposed to injury, there is nothing to stop you flying off the bike and into the nearest solid object.
So, ride defensively is the order of the day, better still stay in bed.....
Anyway, I started this thread by asking for your stories of near misses on ride outs, any takers?
Steve
Last edited on Tue Aug 26th, 2008 06:59 pm by orange1800
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BC
Active Member
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Posted: Tue Aug 26th, 2008 07:03 pm | 9th Post |
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I was riding to work on my Honda Nighthawk at about 65 mph just after sunrise. I looked to the East to take a glance at a beautiful sunrise and as I looked to the front, I saw a deer running out of the tall grass rigth in front of me. I didn't have time to hit the brakes. The bike hit the deer right on the front shoulder. The deer was running flat out when I hit it and this caused the bike to swerve to the right. I rode into the ditch, downshifted and cranked the throttle wide open. In my youth, I did alot of dirt bike riding and was sure glad it came back to me real quick. I rode back up onto the road wondering why the bike was so slow to respond to input on the handle bars, I guess that happens when you have a big buck wrapped around the forks. The forks were bend, my foot was sore, but the bike and I went on to ride another day.
I sure said alot of prayers of thanks to God for not taking me that day.
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Keep riding, it keeps you young.
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Wolfman
Forum Greeter
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Posted: Tue Aug 26th, 2008 07:04 pm | 10th Post |
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marvo75 wrote: What do them headlight mods cost?
It varies, I've seen models as low as $70 and as much as $150. Various bells and whistles, or ease of installation.
I have had two now, both times I went with the Kisan Pathblazer. They have a plug and play model (easy installation, no cutting wires) for about $110. That's the one I went with because I didnt' want to cut wires.
Signal Dynamics (I think) makes one for about $70, and it has more features, but you have to cut and splice the wires.
This is the installation of mine:
http://www.hrot.org/martino/goldwing/headlight/index.htm
____________________
'96 GL1500 SE
Honda Riders of Tidewater -- Chapter President
http://www.hrot.org/
http://www.hrot.org/martino/goldwing/
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orange1800
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Posted: Tue Aug 26th, 2008 07:18 pm | 11th Post |
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Hey BC,
That WAS close ...I guess someone was thinking of you that day.
I have had the odd scrape, but thinking about it, I would nearly always instinctively hit the brakes..... ....not the throttle, probably the survival instinct taking over.
Perhaps some advanced training might be in order?...for me I mean...
Steve
Last edited on Tue Aug 26th, 2008 07:23 pm by orange1800
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Rudy
Forum Ferret
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Posted: Tue Aug 26th, 2008 07:27 pm | 12th Post |
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Sure... had plenty of them...
Trying to make a right turn on a busy street. My lane available and start to pull out, next thing I see is a black SUV that has changed lanes in the intersection taking my space.
A couple more inches and she would have hit my front wheel from the side doing about 50 mph or better.
Another is going down the freeway in the second lane and some redneck in a Florida red dually comes up from the slow lane with no one ahead of either of us and tries to cut into us by pulling over on to our space on purpose.
Lots of them like that.
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Rudy
'89 GL1500K 96k - http://goldwingtech.info
http://glhelpers.com/members
http://RudysBackyard.com/
http://annualssgwrally.us/coppermine/
SaberCycle: The lesson that just keeps on getting learned.
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mikef
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Posted: Tue Aug 26th, 2008 07:28 pm | 13th Post |
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Rudy wrote: Sure... had plenty of them...
Another is going down the freeway in the second lane and some redneck in a Florida red dually comes up from the slow lane with no one ahead of either of us and tries to cut into us by pulling over on to our space on purpose.
Lots of them like that.
Yup, 'member that one....
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Mike
93 Aspy
Do not place a sharp object in the hands of amateurs....
http://goldwingtech.info
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http://www.northamericangoldwings.com/
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GLester
Senior Guru
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Posted: Tue Aug 26th, 2008 07:38 pm | 14th Post |
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If I don't have at least 1 close call a day on the way to work or to the house, I feel like I'm being neglected. Most of the time it is on the way home, where I have to merge onto I30 South, either I'm about to get ran over, by some idiot trying to exit too fast, or the idiot behind me is in too big of hurry, and almost pushes me out into the traffic, or a combination of both. I have to be ready to gun it, while looking for a opening in traffic, while checking in front, behind, and on each side.
Gene
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Gene Lester
Present Bikes: 1993 Goldwing 1500A
1981 GL1100
"Loud pipes don't save lives, they just annoy everyone"
"My Remington shotgun says I don't need an excuse"
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orange1800
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Posted: Tue Aug 26th, 2008 07:52 pm | 15th Post |
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Hey Gene...
I dunno...I get the feeling from your posts that there is an almost "out to getcha" thing goin' on over there ...
Do US bikers in general get a hard time from other road users?
Or is it a little paranoia?
In mainland Europe (not Ireland or UK), bikers are treated very well in my experience. Especially on Wings, people are curious and friendly when you park up. On the road, they give you room to ride in safety, pull out of your way, generally give respect.
Any thoughts?
Steve
Last edited on Tue Aug 26th, 2008 07:57 pm by orange1800
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Wolfman
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Posted: Tue Aug 26th, 2008 07:59 pm | 16th Post |
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I believe it's an "out to getcha" thing going on.
Yes I can be accused of driving aggressively, but that's because I am looking out for people to run me over.
I think there are some people out there that really think that I'll move out of the way because I am on a motorcycle.
But most of the time, it's really just that they are in "THE WORLD REVOLVES AROUND ME" mode and they don't care about anything else.
It's really common to see several bikes riding together in group formation, and to see cars crowd into the center of the group, and just stay there. If there's an exit coming up, I assume they are trying to get to the exit, so I'll give a car room to get in, but as often as not, they just stay there. Why would anyone in their right mind want to split up a motorcycle group?
Or you're riding in a group and someone want's to pull out into traffic and they pull into the middle of the group.
When I pull out of my neighborhood in the morning to get onto the main road, there are two lanes going my way. So I wait for there to be an opening in the closest lane and I start to pull out into it. At least once a week, I have to stop because someone in the far lane decides to come over into the lane I am trying to pull into. They could't wait until they got by me, they have to do it just as I am pulling out. I don't think they are trying to hit me, but I do think that they decided that they want that spot, and they know that I will hold up for them because I am on a bike.
Last edited on Tue Aug 26th, 2008 08:05 pm by Wolfman
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'96 GL1500 SE
Honda Riders of Tidewater -- Chapter President
http://www.hrot.org/
http://www.hrot.org/martino/goldwing/
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road_rascal
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Posted: Tue Aug 26th, 2008 08:03 pm | 17th Post |
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| I think the problem here in the USA is that anyone who is old enough and has a heartbeat can get a drivers license. Driver education is a joke and people think driving is a right and not a privilege.
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Thomas K.
1998 Aspencade, 1997 Nighthawk 750, 1982 Yamaha XS400J, 1999 Yamaha SH50
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orange1800
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Posted: Tue Aug 26th, 2008 08:11 pm | 18th Post |
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Wolfman and Road_Rascal,
You may have a point there! Is it an American culture thing, where everyone has rights, but little regard for responsibilities?
I don't wish to be insensitive here, forgive me if it sounds like it.
We too have been going down this track for some time now, and I think it demeans us as human beings.
I prefer to look out for my buddies, not use them as target practice.
Steve
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Big Kahuna
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Posted: Tue Aug 26th, 2008 08:11 pm | 19th Post |
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My closest call was in 1986 while riding the autobahn in France on my way to Costa Blanca, Spain. We were riding 2 up (my ex-wife) and crusing in traffic at about 120-130kph(75-80mph) behind a tour bus. Lot's of traffic as everybody was on holiday. I still don't know what happened, but all of sudden everybody was hitting the brakes and I knew that I would not be able to stop in time (did not want that tour bus to be my end)so a zigged to the left and slipped between the bus and trucks and cars while carefully applying the brakes. I could have swore that I left small scrapes on the bus with the handlebar grips. I still don't know if my ex understood how close it was to our end, but in most of Europe, it was common for bikes to skirt between the vehicles to get out in front of a traffic jam, so I think that she thought that I was just manuevering. I didn't let on to her, I didn't want to scare her, but it was hair raising to me!
To all of the other times, I am a retired helicopter pilot, so I ride like I fly. Be prepared for the next thing to go wrong, because it will!
Ride safe out there boys and girls!!!
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Big Kahuna Now riding 2008 Caliente Red Goldwing
Old friends:
1983 1100 Aspencade with Squire sidecar trailer
1980 450 Honda
1968 650 Trimuph Tiger with bolt-on hardtail
1965 305 Honda
1971 175 Yamaha Enduro
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Bagmaster
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Posted: Tue Aug 26th, 2008 08:16 pm | 20th Post |
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Well, I had my last one just this past Sunday. We were about halfway up the mountain on 276 past Looking Glass Falls when I took a right hand hairpin curve a little too fast and drifted right up to the center line just as a car was coming down and was across the line. Luckily I had already bled enough speed off to do a quick correction to the right without putting her down.
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Michael
Too much chrome to polish, too little time!!
Have trailer, will travel!! Not all Wingers are old Wingers.
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