Close Call - Looking for Critiques

[cbdtran_imp]

Sorry, I have to disagree with most everyone here.
That car looks like it was and did stop as soon as they realized someone was coming.
I would think I would have went for my brakes, but then let up and continued to ride right by them once I saw they stopped.
If I am seeing it correctly, the entire time you are rolling up to it head-on, they had already stopped.

you are correct, the rider is panicked then stop the bike when he feels threatened - it is more dramatic since both biker and driver are inexperienced.

[rboe]

While I agree that he probably could have just proceeded (and in all likelihood I would have myself) it's a judgement call that comes with experience (good judgement comes from making bad decisions ) and if are unsure the best bet is to stop. That driver could have just as easily, seeing the motorcyclist attempt a stop, decided to proceed with the turn.

[silverbub_imp]

Additionally,after expressing relief that you came out of situation w/o injury or wadded bike, I thought it VERY fortunate that another vehicle was not behind you...or most likely you would have been run over from behind or "punted" into the benz!...glad your reaction turned out be one of the "correct" ones (in this instance)...how much, if any, reserve you had on front contact patch that could have been used is probably not much from the "skreetch" of the pads in video...it's risky riding out there!...try to keep a safety margin completely around at all times...i'm sure you will be heightened awareness on subsequent rides...maybe we all should remember your scene on video on our next ride...thanks for video...would have been valuable evidence should you have needed it while in recuperation...take care!

[GUNFTR_imp]

I think you came up on the driver faster than she thought you would so she froze in place. Given the driving environment we all face every day, cell phones, texting, and you name it, I save anything above the speed limit for stretches where I can see a long way in front of me and people can see me coming equally far away. My days of blind corners, rises in the road, etc., are long gone. Every month during the summer I read about 2 or 3 MC fatalities here in the Portland metro area, and at least half of them are not the MC fault, just bad fortune. But after the fact it really doesn't matter, the end result is the same. Mark it down as a lesson learned and you'll be better prepared the next time you go through that stretch of road. By the way, nice spot mounting the Go Pro on the front fender. For whatever reason that seemed to catch less wind noise than other spots I've seen.

[Firstfour_imp]

I hesitate to chime in, on a situation that I wasn't there for, and anyway...

I ride in an area with many, constant risks due to tourists/students/retirees/stoners, god only knows what. And how, so far, I've survived, is to ride as if they don't see me, and if they did, they don't care. Prepared at all times for whatever I can't predict. Cover the clutch, brakes, ready to go/stop/swerve, whatever it takes.

You are either in the moment, or in the hospital.

As an addendum, in the situation above, I'd be loud and strong on the horn. Can't hurt.

[lola_imp]

I think you did Very Good Joola! proves that hitting both brakes are far better than using just the front. A portion of your braking was on the painted surface on the road and the fact you did not wash out you had good brake modulation. Did you target fixate? I think what would help a little is less on the speed.

[CB4ME_imp]

Good riding, glad everything is OK. That camera works sweet.

What Ack said. Appreciate sharing and all the observations but ultimately you done good.

[cbdtran_imp]

My background is with dirt bikes and human powered road bikes so I consider myself to be relatively inexperienced with with motorcyles surrounded by other vehicles. Today was my first close call with another motorist and the first emergency stop I've had to do on the CB1100.

I was rounding a curve and the oncoming vehicle began to cross my lane (without signaling) to enter a business to my right. The teenage driver stopped once she saw me but I had already straightened out and began an emergency stop. The rear tire locked up, but overall front end braking left a lot to be desired. I will look into aftermarket pads for the front brakes. I was travelling between 35-40 mph when I began the e-stop.

I'm looking for any critiques the experienced lot of you may have for me as I want to stay a safe and happy rider for many years to come. It was a bit of a blind turn and I know the fault lies with the driver crossing traffice (signal or no signal) but I probably should have been going slower around the turn (i was about 5 mph over the limit). The second I saw the driver cross the double yellow, I straightened up and applied max pressure to my front and rear. To me, she was commited to the turn and even though she stopped, I had already cancelled my turn so I was comitted to stopping. Had I continued the turn, there wouldn't have been a problem, but I don't think that would have been the proper response in this given scenario.

Upon reflecting on the incident, I realized I didn't depress the clitch lever during the e-stop. The motorycle died when I came to a stop. I'm not sure why I didn't as I've practiced this numerous times. This is one of the errors I'm aware I made. My weight was still shifted to the right of the bike when I came to the stop, that's why the bike was leaning to the right. She was about a third of the way to getting dropped.

Captured with a GoPro Hero 2 mounted to my front fender with a suction cup.

you are inexperienced in street riding, should be able to lean right or brake more aggressively, you head directly to a car that stop in middle of the track.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xliif0McrwE

this link indicates most crashes are operator errors, either too fast; assuming others to see; or simply riding dangerously.

ride slower - today, I make a 360 degree turn in gas station, and find out my bike leans further on right, I have to right it up. Had my right foot landed on a slippery spot, I might drop the bike at 2-3 MPH.

People tell you how fast they ride, but rarely they tell you how many times they crash or drop.