Bike vs Firetruck...who ya got?

[NPDCPA]

Hold on to your seat. This one made me cringe.

Dramatic GoPro video captures motorcycle crash with Los Angeles County firetruck | abc13.com

[ZX-12R]

Jesus! If there was ever a demonstration of target fixation, that was it.

[SteveM]

He entered the corner at 51ish and slowed to 47ish by the time we could see the firetruck. I hope he heals up.

This is as good an example as I've ever seen of target fixation. Speed was not excessive, corner not too tight, plenty of road on the right, it appears he just couldn't look away from the truck and drove right into it.

It is a miracle he was not killed instantly.

edit: (ZX12R beat me to the punch!)

[Tricky Mike]

Looked like he stabbed the front brake and almost ended up under the truck.
Edit: just watched it again. Big, giant handful of front brake and loss of control. I think that had as much to do with it as target fixation.

[SteveM]

I consider panic braking and target fixation first cousins.

The skilled response is to see far ahead, look where you want to go and push that right grip.

The unskilled response is to look at what you want to avoid and grab the brakes hard in the belief that not only do the brakes stop you, they also make you disappear.

I'm not anywhere close to a perfect rider, but I think this was somewhere in the middle of day 1 of the BRC 17 years ago.

[The Snowman]

Might have been a different outcome if he hadn't been riding in the center of the road.

[sedanman]

I take firetruck for the win, Pat.

[tsorfas]

What the fuck just happened?

[AVI8_636]

Holy shiiiitttttt!!


edit: Watched the whole thing. I know the guy holding the camera was probably in shock but I thought it was a bit funny that he kept analyzing if the bike was totaled, and where it could be towed, while his friend is laying on the ground with broken bones.

[Garandman]

I'm in a rehab hospital after knee replacement, so my mind went to, "I bet that hurt. A lot."

[e30addict]

Ow.

[sedanman]

"You lowsided at a trackday? Pussy, l hit a firetruck!"

[butcher bergs]

Might have been a different outcome if he stayed within his limits.

I agree.



The instant that brake scrub took place around 2:40 the rider was done.

[e30addict]

I know the guy holding the camera was probably in shock but I thought it was a bit funny that he kept analyzing if the bike was totaled, and where it could be towed, while his friend is laying on the ground with broken bones.

Weird things go through your mind when you see someone you know crash and get hurt. It's pretty surreal sometimes.

[breakdirt916]

This was posted on local socal forum...road is glendora ridge road, rider was new and rode above his limits...some say the ride leader should've set the pace...others say that's a bad canyon road for noobs...rider lived though...think broken leg

[e30addict]

, rider was new and rode above his limits...some say the ride leader should've set the pace..

No, no, no and fuck no. You, and only you, are responsible for the pace YOU ride at. WTF is wrong with people sometimes. It's not always someone elses fault.

[MoXzilla]

Well I mean if im going to him something like that I hope it s firetruck they got some med help. I had to re watch it because it came out of no where. OMG :/

No, no, no and fuck no. You, and only you, are responsible for the pace YOU ride at. WTF is wrong with people sometimes. It's not always someone elses fault.

And I 100000000% agree with this. If I find my self pushing too hard ill back off there is no shame in slowing down

[jwm2k3]

Rode above his limits? 47 mils per hour, on a fairly straight road? Turn in your fucking MC license if these are your limits....


Also, that road with the drop off to the right side is some scary shit man....

[Studio X]

Notice the absolutely straight arms. No suppleness there. When fear grabs hold and stiffens the already rigid arms (along with target fixation), no way he's going to be able to do a quick countersteer to dodge the truck.

Also, he's riding like this is a closed course - using both sides of the road with no obvious recognition or concern for oncoming traffic.

Sigh.

x

[Spooler]

I was watching this and my wife (who is a new rider) walked in and was like, "Cool road, where is that?" And right after I said, "California, we should move there and ride year-round," she screamed because the fire truck hit... I used it as a teaching moment and I think she's ready to ride again...

[Chippertheripper]

I pity the fool.

Dear chief,
While on a routine area familiarization drill at approximately xxxx hours the apparatus was struck by an out of control motorcycle...

[breakdirt916]

edit: just saw the kid on Fox news at 11...lived...broken arm/legs, doesn't remember much of it all. His advice "don't make the mistake I made. Take a turn too fast...target fixate..."

[nhbubba]

For those that hate clicking through as much as I do.



Fucking shame. Poor bastid.

[SRTie4k]

No, no, no and fuck no. You, and only you, are responsible for the pace YOU ride at. WTF is wrong with people sometimes. It's not always someone elses fault.

Normally I agree, but I think we've all been in the situation where you've got a few experienced riders and one newbie, we all know damn well he doesn't want to be left behind and is going to try his hardest to keep up with the pack. It's in the best interest of the group to have at least one experienced rider set a decent pace for the new guy so that he 1. feels included and 2. doesn't ride so far above his ability that he becomes a liability.

[nhbubba]

Nope. All in the riders hands. All. That's the beauty of riding. You have control over the vehicle. That control comes with responsibility. Own it.

If your friends take off and leave you, they aren't very good friends.