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Cruiser
Posts: 53
Raleigh, NC | I was bringing my son home on the Vision tonight and we got knocked off the bike. After stopping behind someone who decided to turn left, I heard screeching tires and held on tight. We got grazed on the left, pushed forward and knocked over. My son and I ended up in the grass on the side of the road next to the Vision. We were both alright. I have what amounts to a barely a scrape on my lower leg and a lot of very shaky and tired muscles.
When I turned to look at the bike, there it sat on those wonderful tipovers. It turns out that the edge of the minivan's wheel just caught my tailpipe and pushed us, and the center of her wheel scraped over my left bag. I'm not sure what was worse, the actual fall, or listening to the screeching tires and wondering what was about to happen.
Anyway, Victory should get a design award for the tipovers. They did a wonderful job at protecting the legs of both me and my son, not to mention the bike itself.
Needless to say, I rode the bike home and will await the insurance company's call.
Lastly, I don't remember where, but I watched a video linked on this forum about the tipovers which also demonstrated how to pick the bike up. That turned out to be a useful bit of information tonight, So thanks whoever made/ and posted the video.
Ride safe. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 259
Land O Lakes, FL | Glad your ok! And I hope to never test that bit of engineering |
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Cruiser
Posts: 207
| Happy to hear you two are fine. Hate to hear the Vic got hit. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1365
Central Maryland | Damned women in mini-vans.... Glad you and son are OK. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 219
Pittsburgh, PA | As others have said in other posts, I have learned to take a look in the mirror at each stop and I usually keep checking the mirrors until there are two stopped vehicles behind me. glad you and your son are ok. What was the lady doing that she did not see the stopped traffic? cell phone, eating, or make up? |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1109
| Glad you two are ok, I learned a long time ago to look in the mirrors when I stop and keep the brake light on until the person behind me stops. Not that it always works but it's all I can do. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Glad you are okay. I try my best to always look to the rear. Speaking of screeching, one time I was at a light and one car pulled up behind me and then I heard screeching. The car behind him slammed him in the rear, it could have been me.
I've also been bumped and pushed 3 feet at a stop sign a couple of years ago riding two-up. We were stopped at the sign looking for traffic when the guy behind me thought we had left (???) and was checking traffic. (truth is he was looking at the tricked-out car at the stop sign going straight. The wife starts saying "he's going to hit us, he's going to hit us!" He had already eased up, bumped against the back of the bike, his right front, my left rear and he's now pushing us and I'm holding on to the brake, turning and yelling "what are you doing?". He finally stops after pushing us three feet. There are visible scratches on the bike, and potential internal damage so I call the police to do a report. His insurance agreed to the damage after assessing it and wrote me a check. At the 45,000 mile service I checked all the stuff out and couldn't not find any damage beyond the external scratches. Check paid for my service. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 206
Lumber Bridge, NC United States | good to hear you and your son are ok.
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | I was sitting at an intersection on my very first bike and heard tires screeching. This wasn't an ordinary tire screech. It was a 60mph, full lockup, screeching, howling, huge car, waiting for a giant impact screeching. My spine actually felt like it was turning to jello and I braced for impact as I feverishly scanned my mirrors. It turns out that the intersection was surrounded by tall buildings that reflected all the traffic noise and I looked up to see a huge Crown Vic sliding to a stop, coming from right to left, not behind me. Most sickening feeling I've ever had. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 178
LaGrange, GA | Glad you're okay. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 785
Mt. Vernon, WASH. | I too am glad that you are 99+% OK.
For years my stopped at a light or 4 way routine has stayed the same. I see where the vehicle in front of me has stopped in the lane (usually towards the right side of the lane) I ease over to the left half of that lane and stop initially about 20 feet behind the next vehicle ahead. This let's me put my left foot down out of the center of the lane grease line and I keep my vision focused on the traffic with my mirrors behind me until the next two vehicles have come to a stop, then I'll ease forward about 10 feet but leave that 1/2 second space and my 'out' to go between the two vehicles stopped ahead of me.
When stopped where there are two lanes of traffic I let the car/van/bus/ whatever next to me roll first and use it as a 'pick' against the errant 'Mommy Box' coming across who brain farted the red light and let them hit that vehicle and not me. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 192
Republic of Tejas | Good news that you two are okay. Always have to watch your six, and if your in your cage, pull over in the lane to protect that other scooter rider who is out on his scoot. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 154
Danbury, Connecticut | Glad you were fortunate enough to come out of this nearly unscathed. Just out of curiousity, how did the accident affect your son's attitude to the motorcycle thing, and what was his mommas reaction? Again, so glad you guys are ok. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 281
| Sorry to hear this. Hope it turns out well for you and your son.
The sound of screeching brakes is something I have not heard yet, but dread.
I often check 6 when coming to a stop and keep an eye on cagers that get too close to my tail.
Ride safe folks! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 188
Tifton, GA | Glad y'all are OK! I'm always checking the rear when stopped or in sudden slow downs. If wife is along on her bike and she can hear I am always saying watch your mirrors! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 53
Raleigh, NC | Thanks for all the well wishes. I'm not sure how my son's attitude was affected. My neighbor came and drove him home.
We were not stopped at a fourway, it was just a car turning down a side street off of a fairly busy 2 lane road that travels through residential areas. It was dark and the car slowed to turn left, then stopped when oncoming traffic appeared over the hill ahead. I was over toward the right side of my lane and I think that helped.
As for me, i am reconsidering owning a motorcycle while I have young children. I may pass the Vision on to someone else and look to get back on when the kids are older. Not totally sure what I'm gonna do just yet. I'm going to get it fixed first and then decide. I love my Vision and would miss it , but the kids have to take priority.
Wait and see I guess. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 63
Calgary, AB, | Glad you're both OK, and best wishes in the decision on whether or not to continue to own. I personnally went through this many years (+25) ago and was off road bikes for all that time. It's a tough call to make. Loved the description by Synstr above about what he does at lights. Thats' EXACTLY where I've gotten to since I've been riding again the last few years. It's another level of "defensive driving" I try to always leave an escape route and watch my mirrors constantly. I've actually thought about buying a Magellen GPS like I've got in the truck which has an accessory wireless rearview camera. Triggers the camera when reverse lights go on, so am thinking maybe off the neutral light, have it come on, and then have 130+ degress of horizontal rear view of what's coming rather than have to keep looking in the mirrors all the time while actually stopped. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1308
Sand Rock, AL United States | Glad you're ok. The first time I dropped my bike in a parking lot, I went through a few emotions. I was 1. embarassed , 2. very impressed with the tip over protection, and 3. excited to try the pick up technique. My boy was on with me and when he tried to help me pick it up , I yelled "No!" and pushed him back (he's 13) because I wanted to pick it up by myself hahaha |
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Cruiser
Posts: 53
Raleigh, NC | Thats too funny. I haven't dropped it yet, and I was bound and determined not too. I think I can still claim a clean record since It was out of my control. There was one time at an uphill stop turning right when the bike started to go. I stopped it from falling, but I think I strained a couple leg muscles. I was not letting it drop (if I could help it).
The bike got towed yesterday, so we'll see what happens. I'll post an update when I know anything.
Thanks again. |
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Tourer
Posts: 466
Grand Cane, LA | Glad to hear you and your son are okay. Tires screeching from behind is never a good sound! The decision whether to ride again or not is going to weigh heavy on your mind. I know. I had to make the same decision sometime back when I had an old lady turn left in front of me and I had my first crash about 5 years ago. I still had a young daughter at home and thought about what would be like to leave my wife and her alone due to wreck. But my wife (God rest her soul) encouraged me to keep riding and that as long as you do everything right and stay pro-active like wearing all the proper gear that it would turn out for the best. You've got to get the mentality that everyone out on the road with you is "NOT" watching out for you and that you have got to be extra alert of your surroundings. Good luck on your decision and hopefully we will see back out on the road! |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 44
Middleburg, Fl. | Glad you are ok. I am in the habit of "flashing" my brake lights several times every time I slow or stop.
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Took a slight hit tonight...