[No Worries]

I'm on the CBR today, heading home from the store. I'm in a left turn lane and get a green arrow for turning, but I'm behind a 6,000 pound SUV and there's a car in front of him. The green arrow turns to yellow and the SUV is lumbering along just starting to make the turn. I could stop, but I figure I could ride close behind him and make it through.

Going onto a six-lane road and the SUV is turning into the center lane. I'll just lean a little bit more and blast by him in the left lane. One problem is the highway is heavily crowned, so I have to lean pretty hard to go into the left lane, but also miss the center divider curb. The other problem is I didn't see the crosswalk stripes because I was too close behind the SUV.

The crosswalk stripes are about two-feet wide, six-feet long, and spaced two-feet apart. They are made of vinyl strips that are glued down. Super-slick when wet, and not much better when dry. I usually steer between them, but my rear tire hits a stripe at full lean. Plus I was probably giving it some throttle.

I could feel the rear of the bike slip to the right. Luckily, it happened so fast I couldn't brake or let off the throttle. That probably saved me. The rear of the bike did a one second dance and I blew past the SUV. But my heart was in my throat and I was pumping pure adrenaline. Lesson learned: Don't follow too close.

 

[DLIT]

I know that feeling. Glad evrything is GTG.

 

[R1up0n1]

I've hit a few painted lines and had the rear slip, I know that feeling.

 

[jeeps84]

I've hit a few painted lines and had the rear slip, I know that feeling.

:withstupi

No Worries,

Glad you made it and reminded you of a lesson I know you learned along time ago. Don't follow to closely and avoid those damn stripes.

 

[R1up0n1]

oh yeah I learned my lesson about following too close last year.

 

[jappysRR]

Luckily, it happened so fast I couldn't brake or let off the throttle.

Biggest mistake EVERYONE does. That's the worst thing you could of done. I'm glad you didn't. It's that SR (survival response) kicking in.

That probably saved me..

and you're prolly right. I think we've all had the back kick out from under us a few times, I know I have. Every time it happens to me, my butt still puckers up!

 

[marko138]

Good save. Be safe.

 

[ne1469]

Lesson learned: Don't follow too close.

:iagree: Im always amazed at how close some riders get behind cagers...I often see this on the highways :bonk: ...a tap of the cagers brakes & its over.

 

[EIDROEDYR]

I've had the rear slip out on me while during a Michigan U on fresh, new black top. It was timed perfectly because I caught the green light. I leaned and gave some throttle and......Oh Sh!t! (pucker factor).

 

[ebbs15]

:iagree: Im always amazed at how close some riders get behind cagers...I often see this on the highways :bonk: ...a tap of the cagers brakes & its over.

same here... it's crazy... I'd see these guys with their front tire no kidding 3-4 feet off the bumper... at 65mph! and it wasn't just a few... it was like 70% of them!

I thought for a while they were just trying to get by... but I'd give them room to move over... and they'd just stay there... on the guy/girls ass... :screwy:

 

[Wockman]

Speaking of slick surfaces. I used to live in on the east coast of Florida. We had a lot of toll bridges in my area. The section of the bridge that they raise to let a boat go under is made of metal grating, which is really slick when it is dry let alone when it is wet. I would creep over the bridge and would still get sideways sometimes.

 

[ebbs15]

Speaking of slick surfaces. I used to live in on the east coast of Florida. We had a lot of toll bridges in my area. The section of the bridge that they raise to let a boat go under is made of metal grating, which is really slick when it is dry let alone when it is wet. I would creep over the bridge and would still get sideways sometimes.

they have a big metal grate bridge in Portland... the whole thing is grate... my friends avoid that bridge at all costs... but last summer they (I think there were a group of them maybe 5 or 6) were forced to cross it due to a detour... one guy ate it... BAD... wearing nothing more than a t-shirt, running shoes, shorts and a helmet. he broke 7 fingers and both wrists from having them go through the grating... and had some of the worst road rash I've ever seen... basicly ripped his shoulder muscle off... (it was hanging from his arm uke and ripped his knee cap OFF!... I"m not sure how fast they were going... but needless to say... too fast:nonod:

 

[Gas Man]

Following too close is probably the root to 60% of all accidents... second being driver/rider in-attention!

 

[fastbaill2004]

they have a big metal grate bridge in Portland... the whole thing is grate... my friends avoid that bridge at all costs... but last summer they (I think there were a group of them maybe 5 or 6) were forced to cross it due to a detour... one guy ate it... BAD... wearing nothing more than a t-shirt, running shoes, shorts and a helmet. he broke 7 fingers and both wrists from having them go through the grating... and had some of the worst road rash I've ever seen... basicly ripped his shoulder muscle off... (it was hanging from his arm uke and ripped his knee cap OFF!... I"m not sure how fast they were going... but needless to say... too fast:nonod:

Ouch!!!! hope he recovered

 

[jeeps84]

I lost traction from accelerating in my cage on those steal bridges. I can only imagine how dangerous it would be on a bike.

 

[plasticweld]

In 31 years of riding I an honestly say that if it can go wrong it will, Murphy's Law and gravity are a motorcyclists worst enemies