Don't do this! : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

godzilla22 · 10-28-2006, 06:20 AM

I had an aquaintance get killed recently on his new motorcycle. He was approaching a blind right hand curve. In order to see further down the road around the curve he moved to the extreme lefthand side of his lane almost on the center line. A car approaching from the opposite direction had the same brilliant idea. When the car came around the curve it apparently startled him and he jerked into the oncoming lane and hit the car head on at about 50 mph. The car was travelling at about 45 mph. Closed casket funeral.

The only way to see around a curve is to live until you get around it.

TerryMiller · 10-28-2006, 09:07 AM

Sorry to hear about your acquaintance.

It's often recommended to start a curve from the outside edge of your lane to improve your view around the corner. Any idea what caused the swerve?

godzilla22 · 10-28-2006, 01:02 PM

Apparently he was given the same foolish advice.

The driver of the car said that at the last second he seemed to kind of jump and swerve the wrong way like he was startled by the car. He was about halfway through the curve and was about a foot to the left of the center line on impact.
I have always given myself a little bit of a space cusion between me and the center line when entering a curve because you never know when some fool is going to come around the curve and be halfway in your lane.

Paniolo · 10-28-2006, 01:07 PM

I am so sorry for the loss of your friend.

Although most accidents are cause by a combination of factors, could it be that instead of counter steering away from the car, he turned into it?

pa-glazier · 10-28-2006, 01:09 PM

It sounds like object fixation. He saw the car fixated on it and drove right into it.
Sorry to hear about your friend.

LazyLion · 10-28-2006, 01:26 PM

Sad to hear that the world lost another rider.

My first thought toward a cause was lack of countersteering. Target fixation came close behind. A "new to the rider bike" may have been a contributing factor as well. Any idea what amount of riding history this person had?

godzilla22 · 10-28-2006, 01:36 PM

He'd been riding regularly since the early '70s. He was a nice guy but was sometimes a little judgement impaired if you know what I mean. I had spoken with him about the practice of hugging the line on curves 'cause he was talking about it a couple of years ago at the shop. He thought it was a great idea and I argued the point with him that all you were doing was setting yourself up to get hit head on.

Unfortunately for him I ultimately won the argument...

Low_Rider · 11-03-2006, 04:29 PM

That sucks zilla - I agree with the assessment of the others. Although we should always strive to increase our visability and to allow others to visualize us, riding on the line is way too dangerous if you're not ready to handle oncoming traffic - slow down and stay within your limits.

If you said that he had been plagued by bad judgements on riding, do you know whether he practiced and joined a riders saftey course?

Scabbydoo · 11-03-2006, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by godzilla22

I have always given myself a little bit of a space cusion between me and the center line when entering a curve because you never know when some fool is going to come around the curve and be halfway in your lane.

Sorry to hear of the loss of your acquaintance. I, like you prefer to give myself a buffer in curves and pretty much run just lelft of center leaving room for the line hog coming the other way as well as for road hazzards and pull-outs on the right.

dave E · 11-03-2006, 06:39 PM

some people have 30 yrs riding experience
others have 1 yr 30 times .
safety courses are a good way to improve your skills.

P 0 P E Y E · 11-03-2006, 08:45 PM

Tragic.

I am sorry for all involved.

I hope your post saves a life(s)

v2711 · 11-03-2006, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by godzilla22

I had an aquaintance get killed recently on his new motorcycle. He was approaching a blind right hand curve. In order to see further down the road around the curve he moved to the extreme lefthand side of his lane almost on the center line. A car approaching from the opposite direction had the same brilliant idea. When the car came around the curve it apparently startled him and he jerked into the oncoming lane and hit the car head on at about 50 mph. The car was travelling at about 45 mph. Closed casket funeral.

The only way to see around a curve is to live until you get around it.

A damned shame. Sure wish that your buddy was around to "splain himself".

Hugging the centerline is dangerous and I do it daily.

KNOW thy roads and be very, very careful.

May your Buddy RIP and May you teach others.

godzilla22 · 11-03-2006, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Low_Rider

If you said that he had been plagued by bad judgements on riding, do you know whether he practiced and joined a riders saftey course?

One of the problems was that he thought that he rode better after a few "cocktails" He explained to me that they made him more relaxed and therefore more in tune with his surroundings. I always told him that he was talking out of the side of his neck when he said Sh1t like that. No...No riders safety course but I haven't done that either and after 37 years in the saddle more than likely never will.

YukonHogger · 11-17-2006, 05:37 AM

On straights with no traffic, I will hog the centre line, but when a corner comes up, I usually move to just left of the centre of my lane. ALWAYS keeping an eye for oncoming traffic. Just before entering the corner, I roll off the throttle and ease towards the centre of my lane, and by the time I'm almost 1/2 way into the corner, I begin to roll on again, lean a bit more and power out of the corner, heading back to the centre of the road if no traffic is coming. If traffic is evident, I usually stay just to the left of my lane's centre.
But, and there's always a 'but', if there is an unfamiliar or sharp corner, I'll move to the right of my lane's centre line, keeping an eye out for loose gravel, etc.

Gil11 · 11-17-2006, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by godzilla22

Apparently he was given the same foolish advice.

The driver of the car said that at the last second he seemed to kind of jump and swerve the wrong way like he was startled by the car. He was about halfway through the curve and was about a foot to the left of the center line on impact.
I have always given myself a little bit of a space cusion between me and the center line when entering a curve because you never know when some fool is going to come around the curve and be halfway in your lane.

I totally agree with the you, have to leave yourself an out , so sorry to hear when theses things happen. But this day in age of the cell phone/in a hurry culture we have. You have to stay clear of the center line and just always anticipate someone will be coming around and over in your space. Even though the MSF course I took years ago stated start into the curve where you can see around I have always stayed clear of the center line period. just my thoughts , once again sorry to hear this stuff,