About a month ago we bought a Can-Am for my wife. We try to get out 2 or 3 times a week riding and practicing maneuvers. Today we were out for about 3 hours. On our way toward home on one of my favorite roads for killing a few minutes, We are going slow, maybe 30 MPH. I go around a deceptively sharp curve which I am familiar with and mention it to her.
One of those giant pickups with big wheels and wide mirrors sticking out comes over the hill well on my side of the road. He appears to be correcting. Suddenly I realize he is not getting back. I go far as I can to the side, but he keeps coming. SMACK! He stops, completely on the wrong side. My mirror is knocked sideways and my clutch lever is pointing up. His mirror is knocked back too.
As I stop I can hear my wife bitching him out already. I walk back debating whether to shoot him now or later. He was very apologetic saying his steering failed. There were a few parts in his trail, and oil under his engine.
Anyhow. the lesson is: One of the things the wife and I practiced with the Spyder was emergency stop and escape. She told me she was ready to execute the escape had he not stopped when he did. That is good. Practice emergency procedures often.
I'm still a bit rattled, she is too. My damage can be adjusted, nothing permanent. I just can't believe we contacted mirrors, and I'm still alive. This is the third time I have cheated the grim reaper. Once in a car, twice on the XCT. If I'd been in a car those 2 incidents would have got me.
Being a Jeeper also I can tell you those big tire vehicles are very hard on power steering components and they do fail but usually with enough warning to stop driving them first so they can be fixed.
The exercise involves approaching the instructor at about 30 mph. At the line, the rider does a maximum performance stop. The instant he stops the instructor points left or right and the student bolts in that direction immediately.
So does the bike come to a complete stop? Does the rider put their feet down or is the stop brief enough that they remain upright without putting a foot down. I have braked hard on my XCT but have never braked hard enough to activate the anti-lock brakes except on a very bumpy road which was a false activation based on the wheel(s) leaving the ground and very briefly on a wet surface.
That is what I expected in an "escape." Like a vehicle coming up rapidly behind you then you move out the way. Always keeping eyes in all directions for that reason.
The decision is, do you go for the ditch side, or the side that may have oncoming traffic. Neither option is perfect but both are probably better than being a pizza!
2 or 3 years ago I almost got squashed between 2 18 wheelers. We were doing 65 down a hill and the first truck locked up his brakes. The truck behind me jackknifed. As I was leaving I was thinking I'm glad I had practiced that move at a Prorider class.
The bike comes to a stop very briefly. You would need to put a foot down because of the aggressive nature of the stop.
If your ABS is working, that is the light is off when riding, I would recommend doing a few maximum performance stops in a parking lot so you know what it feels like. It is safe and it stops very quickly. It does take a little practice to do it and be in first when you stop.
About a month ago we bought a Can-Am for my wife. We try to get out 2 or 3 times a week riding and practicing maneuvers. Today we were out for about 3 hours. On our way toward home on one of my favorite roads for killing a few minutes, We are going slow, maybe 30 MPH. I go around a deceptively sharp curve which I am familiar with and mention it to her.
One of those giant pickups with big wheels and wide mirrors sticking out comes over the hill well on my side of the road. He appears to be correcting. Suddenly I realize he is not getting back. I go far as I can to the side, but he keeps coming. SMACK! He stops, completely on the wrong side. My mirror is knocked sideways and my clutch lever is pointing up. His mirror is knocked back too.
As I stop I can hear my wife bitching him out already. I walk back debating whether to shoot him now or later. He was very apologetic saying his steering failed. There were a few parts in his trail, and oil under his engine.
Anyhow. the lesson is: One of the things the wife and I practiced with the Spyder was emergency stop and escape. She told me she was ready to execute the escape had he not stopped when he did. That is good. Practice emergency procedures often.
I'm still a bit rattled, she is too. My damage can be adjusted, nothing permanent. I just can't believe we contacted mirrors, and I'm still alive. This is the third time I have cheated the grim reaper. Once in a car, twice on the XCT. If I'd been in a car those 2 incidents would have got me.
please take a gander at my post about Scared riders.....
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