People keep dying

[nhawk7504_imp]

There's always the couch, TV and a bad of chips...some bacon pizza. But, that might get you sooner!

[drswan92028_imp]

That happens A LOT. I don't condone it, but there is nothing strictly PROHIBITING splitting at that speed. Personally his big mistake was splitting next to a truck. That is a HUGE no no.

Actually the statute states "you may split lanes in a safe and prudent manner:, 70-80 between a semi and a car is NOT SAFE. I don't split the lanes until under 35mph and then with high beam on and allot of caution.
I was actually involved in an accident the second day I had my bike. A new 16 year old driver turned left in front of me with no signal and maybe on the phone even? It's a good thing I put a shield on that morning. It saved a lot of damage to the front end. I can ride it safely after removing the shield and moving controls back in place. Fortunately no fork damage and just a few scratches on the tank, the speedometer is toast and there are scratches on the motor casing. I have a slightly separated shoulder and a few patches of missing skin. I've been restoring bikes for a few years now, but I think it's time to just enjoy the new one and clear out the stable. I have 1980 CB900Custom x2(one driver, one parts bike), 2003 Kawasaki 750 Vulcan and a 1984 Honda V30 Magna/VF500. All bikes are titled in my name in California with current registration and insurance for test riding.

[ClassicVW_imp]

Hi drswan and welcome to the forum

I too had an '81 900 Custom (and a '78 400) right before I bought the CB1100.
I'm sensing a pattern here on the forum. Several of us after buying the new CB have thinned the herd, selling one or more "other" bikes. Maybe because we also owned older CBs and they were now redundant, and/or the new CB allows us an almost maintenance-free ride and hence, more riding time and MUCH less wrenching time. And also that the CB1100 fulfills most of our riding needs for us?

[Cormanus]

G'day Drswan and welcome to the forum. Hope you're recovering well from the accident.

[Randy B]

That happens A LOT. I don't condone it, but there is nothing strictly PROHIBITING splitting at that speed. Personally his big mistake was splitting next to a truck. That is a HUGE no no.

Actually the statute states "you may split lanes in a safe and prudent manner:, 70-80 between a semi and a car is NOT SAFE. I don't split the lanes until under 35mph and then with high beam on and allot of caution.
I was actually involved in an accident the second day I had my bike. A new 16 year old driver turned left in front of me with no signal and maybe on the phone even? It's a good thing I put a shield on that morning. It saved a lot of damage to the front end. I can ride it safely after removing the shield and moving controls back in place. Fortunately no fork damage and just a few scratches on the tank, the speedometer is toast and there are scratches on the motor casing. I have a slightly separated shoulder and a few patches of missing skin. I've been restoring bikes for a few years now, but I think it's time to just enjoy the new one and clear out the stable. I have 1980 CB900Custom x2(one driver, one parts bike), 2003 Kawasaki 750 Vulcan and a 1984 Honda V30 Magna/VF500. All bikes are titled in my name in California with current registration and insurance for test riding.

There is no statute. What the CHP had up on their website were "guidelines" and nothing more and as such they were forced to remove them as there is no law in the state of California governing lane splitting (sharing) and they didn't want people on either side of the isle thinking there were rules set in stone when there is not.
Other states have laws strictly prohibiting lane splitting where CA has nothing on the books either for, or against it even though MANY people are just so sure that it is illegal.
Now someone can be sited for reckless driving if the splitting is done in such a manner that it is deemed to be unsafe, but that is solely at the discretion of the officer that witnessed the pass.

Read here.

http://www.chp.ca.gov/programs/lanesplitguide.html

And here.
http://lanesplittingislegal.com/

[offroadfx4_imp]

Another local rider down this weekend here:
[url=http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/offroadfx4/media/News/2014-11-3054yearolddies_zps4e9c159b.jpg.html]
Another source says: Deputies believe high cross winds may have played a role in the crash

[nhawk7504_imp]

I saw a guy's Harley in FL off the road in a ditch. He had been killed. They are too heavy. Once momentum takes em, they keep going. Awful brakes. I bought my 96 VFR because it's handling and brakes had been tried and tested on a race track. I could trust that. What a great machine. The credit card I paid for it with was the bad idea.

[offroadfx4_imp]

I don't know this man personally, but I know he actually teaches motorcycle safety classes and is a VERY experienced rider! btw: I was told he just got a new customized BMW, but the article says 1981 so I don't know what's going on with that?

I guess it just shows that circumstances beyond our control can get to the best of any of us.

My only crash has been from sand/gravel. The one concern I kept having when riding the dragon was not my ability, not a mechanical failure, but what havoc something normally harmless such as a little shoulder dirt, gravel, lawn mowing trimmings, even someone tossing a full soft drink cup would cause in one of those turns we were blinding around on the maximum edge of losing traction. I was able to put most of those thoughts away and actually enjoy the ride. I kept thinking what a fellow motocross rider used to say, if you worry about every little bump, crest on a hill then you will crash....so I just block out all of those thoughts....until it happens....then it may not be so easy.
-----------------------------
Loose gravel topples motorcycle rider
November 30, 2014
By BILL POWELL
Herald Staff Writer

HAYSVILLE — Loose gravel factored into a motorcycle crash this afternoon on County Road 325E, south of State Road 56.

Chris Hancock of Newburgh was northbound on the county road on a 1981 BMW motorcycle at the time of the 12:54 p.m. accident, according to the Dubois County Sheriff’s Department.

Hancock encountered loose gravel near the top of the hill and lost control of the bike, which slid off the west side of the road and stopped against a fence.

Deputies said Hancock was ejected and complained of shoulder pain after the accident. He was transported by ambulance to Memorial Hospital in Jasper.

Damage to the motorcycle was estimated at $900.

The Dubois Volunteer Fire Department and Memorial Hospital Emergency Medical Services assisted.

Contact Bill Powell at bpowell@dcherald.com.

[ClassicVW_imp]

You can be the best rider and still things happen. Many years ago, an acquaintance was on his Harley and just disappeared while riding on a local highway, 60MPH speed limit. This is in North Jersey, the most densely populated area of the U.S.A. Everyone retraced his route, and he wasn't found until 3 days later down an embankment. The investigation found that the Harley's chain had snapped and got entangled in the rear wheel with obviously, catastrophic results.

[holy666diver_imp]

I don't care what anyone says, if you ride without a helmet you are an idiot.

Another local rider down this weekend here:
[url=http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/offroadfx4/media/News/2014-11-3054yearolddies_zps4e9c159b.jpg.html]
Another source says: Deputies believe high cross winds may have played a role in the crash