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Played Pinball Today on the Freeway

nimzotech

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On my way to work this morning I was passing a slow-po driving a subcompact in the freeway fast lane. Splitting lanes I had the slow-po dufus on my left and a much larger moving truck on my right. Going about 70 MPH between the two vehicles I notice slow-po veering off to the right almost completly squeezing me off the lane. I respond quickly by moving to the right but not too much as not to be hit by a truck. Slow-po continues to veer to the right I have not much space to work with when BAM! :eek:
My right handle-bar hits the side of the truck. O-Sh/T! The bike begins to wobble but somehow I manage to keep the bike upright. Luckily no damage to my bike and yours truly. It was a nerve racking experience, but looking back in my mirror I must of have scared the living daylights out of slow po, because he was way way way in the back slowing down.
 
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Pleased to hear you're OK, I don't have to tell you that this could easily have turned out differently :eek:. you can't trust most cagers.
 
That story sucked. I was smiling expecting to hear about you playing Bride of Pinbot at a rest area and getting high score... I was way off.

Wow, scary moment. Glad you made it out ok. I do believe I would have $hit myself.

.
 
You mean lane splitting, like riding the striped line at 70mph! :eek:

or any speed...

I just keep my trap shut when it comes to lane splitting. In this group of Safety-First'ers I'm amazed that it isn't a cardinal sin.

Me? I sit in traffic like the rest of the suckers.
 
You mean lane splitting, like riding the striped line at 70mph! :eek:

My thoughts exactly!!!! I do feel sorry that you had a near accident, but feel riding in that manner will eventually get you smashed like a bug. That's just my opinion of course. Stay safe...
 
Safety is first I agree! However I don't know how long you would keep your word in L.A. traffic, where most freeways are packed with bumper-bumper vehicles.
 
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Safety is first I agree! However I don't know how long you would keep your word in L.A. traffic, where most freeways the are packed with bumper-bumper vehicles.

ehhh, LA traffic is all hype... you're just trying to keep the tourists out. :thumbup:

No, I have spent a few months there and I know it's bad. I still believe I would keep my word though.

(edit: I was just saying how I always keep my mouth shut about lane splitting and here I am yapping about it. Sorry)

.
 
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i would say thats why it is illegal in most states! I can understand in a traffic jam situation but at 70mph thats what a horn is for!
 
Actually the speed of 70MPH was not safe for me to be in that location. Had I been going 100 MPH I would have simply split lanes before the slow-po had time to realize what had actually happened. As a result he would not be squeezing me out of the fast lane. Cheers.
 
i would say thats why it is illegal in most states! I can understand in a traffic jam situation but at 70mph thats what a horn is for!

+ 1 on the horn.........and a wake up call what can happen lane splitting at 70mph. Consider yourself very lucky with a second chance. This scenario what gives motorcycles such a bad rap. I agree, LA traffic is very bad, but is there a need to be splitting lanes at 70mph? The rule on lane splitting what I understand is up to 35mph and no faster than 15mph than the flow of traffic. I think this is a classic example of a rider becoming over confidence in their riding skill and pushing the limit. Just my two cents.
 
Yea you are lucky thats all that happened. But IMHO, lanesplitting shouldnt be legal anywhere. We all know the dangers of less an attentive cagers, so why would anyone want to add more risk to it by going between them?

Stay safe, ride smart.

-bryan
 
Man I bet that was terrifing. I am not a detractor or proponet of lane splitting. I just dont know, never seen it done, dont know about the traffic, and havent been there. I am just glad your ok.

Lets try and discuss more about how and why this happened, and how to prevent a simular situation in the future.

Nismo what kind of horn do you have? Were you wearing something bright?

I mean look if Nismo hadnt been there the slopoke may of hit the truck instead.

Here is how I handle trucks. I used to work on them, have met many drivers and know the state of repair they ride down the road in. (its not good and alot of drivers are good, but some are freaking retarded)

I wont move past the rear edge of the trailer untill I can shoot to the front of the truck. I dont pass on the right unless it is absolutley needed. (truck lane restriction, or just a stupid trucker. I then ride the far solid white line at high speed. I just dont hang out near them.

For example

I recieved a call from a driver saying his steering felt funny and he would be in about 2 hours. OK WTF? Thanks dude.

2 hours. Truck rolls up. Loaded. The freaking front wheel is at a crazy angle. The wheel bearing had failed and he just drove on. Melting MELTING the freakin spindle, it was deformed. Not just seized on, but deformed. Destroyed the tire as well.

Another time. One had a blow out on the drive. Kept driving cause he wanted to come home. The chunks of tire beat the huge fuel tank apart. Huge holes. Pouring huge amounts of diesel fuel, and beating it with pieces of steal belted radial.

Another time. Hey Steve, my trailer feels funny. Ok whats up? It goes KaThunk evertime I stop or start. Oh reaaaalllly????? Yeah. Ok I will get it in here. Its loaded. Ok WHY????!!!!!!!!!
Fuel Hauler. Its freaking full of gasoline. You can drop the trailer full but it is really not advised.
The freaking bolts that hold the fifth wheel plate were breaking. Several missing, other just finger tight. Had he made the runs that night, there would of been a full trailer of gas driving by itself down the interstate.

Ever seen them brake chambers on the axles of trucks and trailers? Yeah well sometimes they come back with out them. Where do they go? Its a mystery....

Seriously dont trust trucks. Dont be near trucks. Logger, dump, and farm fertilizer are the worse. Also those drywall crane trucks. Stay the F. away from them. Bad news all around.

Cement trucks are usually well maintained and the drivers are usually polite. I dont know why but thats been my experince.

I may some day feel the need to split lanes. I cant say I wont. Trucks make me nervous though.
Oh and also there are lots of idiots that work on them and send stuff out that is worse than it was when they got it.

Braquets welded back where they cracked, no grinds, just tossed in water to cool and spray painted. Put em back on, and wonder where the fitting box went in a few weeks when it broke in the same spot again.

End Rant.

Oh and on the lanesplit.

The risks of getting slammed from behind are pretty bad too.
 
Man I bet that was terrifing. I am not a detractor or proponet of lane splitting. I just dont know, never seen it done, dont know about the traffic, and havent been there. I am just glad your ok.

Lets try and discuss more about how and why this happened, and how to prevent a simular situation in the future.

Nismo what kind of horn do you have? Were you wearing something bright?

I mean look if Nismo hadnt been there the slopoke may of hit the truck instead.

Here is how I handle trucks. I used to work on them, have met many drivers and know the state of repair they ride down the road in. (its not good and alot of drivers are good, but some are freaking retarded)

I wont move past the rear edge of the trailer untill I can shoot to the front of the truck. I dont pass on the right unless it is absolutley needed. (truck lane restriction, or just a stupid trucker. I then ride the far solid white line at high speed. I just dont hang out near them.

For example

I recieved a call from a driver saying his steering felt funny and he would be in about 2 hours. OK WTF? Thanks dude.

2 hours. Truck rolls up. Loaded. The freaking front wheel is at a crazy angle. The wheel bearing had failed and he just drove on. Melting MELTING the freakin spindle, it was deformed. Not just seized on, but deformed. Destroyed the tire as well.

Another time. One had a blow out on the drive. Kept driving cause he wanted to come home. The chunks of tire beat the huge fuel tank apart. Huge holes. Pouring huge amounts of diesel fuel, and beating it with pieces of steal belted radial.

Another time. Hey Steve, my trailer feels funny. Ok whats up? It goes KaThunk evertime I stop or start. Oh reaaaalllly????? Yeah. Ok I will get it in here. Its loaded. Ok WHY????!!!!!!!!!
Fuel Hauler. Its freaking full of gasoline. You can drop the trailer full but it is really not advised.
The freaking bolts that hold the fifth wheel plate were breaking. Several missing, other just finger tight. Had he made the runs that night, there would of been a full trailer of gas driving by itself down the interstate.

Ever seen them brake chambers on the axles of trucks and trailers? Yeah well sometimes they come back with out them. Where do they go? Its a mystery....

Seriously dont trust trucks. Dont be near trucks. Logger, dump, and farm fertilizer are the worse. Also those drywall crane trucks. Stay the F. away from them. Bad news all around.

Cement trucks are usually well maintained and the drivers are usually polite. I dont know why but thats been my experince.

I may some day feel the need to split lanes. I cant say I wont. Trucks make me nervous though.
Oh and also there are lots of idiots that work on them and send stuff out that is worse than it was when they got it.

Braquets welded back where they cracked, no grinds, just tossed in water to cool and spray painted. Put em back on, and wonder where the fitting box went in a few weeks when it broke in the same spot again.

End Rant.

Oh and on the lanesplit.

The risks of getting slammed from behind are pretty bad too.

My father was an owner operator for years and the main thing he tought me was to watch the truck as your coming up on him. Watch how straight he pulls the trailer. Make your decision then on how quickly you need to get by him. As you going by the truck watch the steering axle. That is your first indicator if he sees you or not.

Just adding some more advise.

-bryan
 
Nismo what kind of horn do you have? Were you wearing something bright?

I have the stock factory horn. I had my highbeam lights on, sliver helmet, and, jeans, black leather jacket with reflective sleeves. Honestly I did not have much time to use the horn. My mind and instinct were instead focused on first moving out of immediate danger coming from the slow duffus veering in to me and second, the moving truck on my right. All in all, I had a nice adrelanine rush, and found myself respecting life a lot more today.:D

Oh and I did not have time to soil my pants as it all happened too fast and I was just focused on keeping the bike up and out of the vehicles way.

I hear of harley riders who will smash the bad driver's mirrors in with a little padlock attached to a bandana and/or small hammer when they get cut off. But that is just wrong or is it not?!
 
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Yeah its wrong. I cant say I dont want to, I have tried to kick one ladies door in. I am ashamed of that reaction, but she did look right at me, and then try to drive over the top of me. After that she backed way off, and wouldnt even get near me at the stoplight.
 
On and completely off topic. Am I the only one that has a overwhelming urge to cruise up and wipe a booger on someones side window?
 
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