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One close call, one not so close with exploding truck tires.

  1. #1
    I like my cool old bike. Ericthejet's Avatar
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    Unhappy One close call, one not so close with exploding truck tires.

    Event #1

    Bopping down the interstate 91 in VT, heading home to see my wife after four days away working.
    Clear and cool and the bike is running like a charm holding steady at 130kph. (I had a "tail" wind).

    A tractor trailer with an empty flatbed is merging onto the road and is ahead of me by about 300 yards.
    I have just passed a slow moving Volvo and stay in the fast lane as I expect to be passing the truck.

    I have closed the gap to about 100 yards as I gain on the truck and notice that the truck's trailer is hopping.
    Seconds later I can see that one or two of the rear left wheels/tires are starting to "let go"???????
    I let off the throttle as I'm only about 25 yards from the back of the truck still in the fast lane and check my mirrors. All clear behind.
    As I look back up at the truck one of the wheels/tires explodes into a pile of flying rubber. Not good, not good at all.
    I grab a handful of front brake and cuss a bit as all this unfolds in front of me hoping to avoid the larger pieces heading in my direction.

    I am lucky today as the largest pieces of tire pass me by but a few smaller "bits" hit me and the bike with limited drama. I collect my wits and drop a gear to get by this truck with bad tires in case another one does the same trick.

    I stop a short distance up the road to cast an eye on the Ninja and discover a new scratch on the right side of the front fender. Minimal damage and feel relieved as it could have been much worse.

    Event#2

    Hit the bank for some cash and ride off to a town to do some errands about 20m away.
    This is a two lane road, somewhat busy and smooth as glass as it cuts through the lower elevations.

    I am about 5 minutes from my first stop when up ahead I can see the pieces of a large tire are scattered across the lane I'm in. Lots of room to adjust the bike's line and this looks as routine as avoiding roadkill.

    The pick up ahead of me had a "sleepy" driver and he managed to hit most of the pieces.
    As a result a few were kicked up and headed in my direction.
    A bagel-sized chunk was homing in on me and the Ninja and had no choice but to "duck" despite being about 20 meters away from the truck ahead of me. This happens so quickly.

    My Arai hit the tank as I tried to make myself as small as possible and then I heard it....whack!
    I pull over onto a side road to examine the damage from tire debris for the second time in less than 2 hours.
    I was less lucky this time as the projectile struck the fairing directly above the headlight.
    Damage is however concealed by the "kawasaki" sticker in that location and from what I can see no denting has resulted from the impact.

    Kawasaki built a "mighty" Ninja.

    PS Years ago my mother gave me a "St-Christopher" in hopes of protecting me, blah blah blah.
    It is tucked under my seat in a zip lock next to the tool kit.
    I think I'll shine it up tonight as it seems to be working just fine.

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  2. #2
    Lifer richw's Avatar
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    Re: One close call, one not so close with exploding truck tires.

    my best was at night on 95 a truck had dropped an entire load of black oil drums

    while slaloming through I also had to dodge a VW bug flipped on its roof

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    Glen Beck is John the Baptist

  3. #3
    Back marker... jwm2k3's Avatar
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    Re: One close call, one not so close with exploding truck tires.

    Quote Originally Posted by richw View Post
    my best was at night on 95 a truck had dropped an entire load of black oil drums

    while slaloming through I also had to dodge a VW bug flipped on its roof
    This one time, in band camp....

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  4. #4
    I'm Sorry, What? Jank's Avatar
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    Re: One close call, one not so close with exploding truck tires.

    Damn truckers...

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    Chris J.
    "You're going the wrong way!!!"
    "How does he know where we're going?"
    03 Aprilia Tuono, 06 Yamaha R6, 16 Yamaha XSR900, 13 VW Touareg

  5. #5
    Lifer ThisBitch's Avatar
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    Re: One close call, one not so close with exploding truck tires.

    Quote Originally Posted by jwm2k3 View Post
    This one time, in band camp....
    I was wondering where my flute went...

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    Original

  6. #6
    Bikeless in Blackstone The Snowman's Avatar
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    Re: One close call, one not so close with exploding truck tires.

    Quote Originally Posted by jnm988 View Post
    I was wondering where my flute went...
    was this before or after, um, nevermind.

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    CCS/LRRS Expert#39, retired | Tony's Track Days, Instructor #11, retired
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  7. #7
    Rider. Just a rider... DucDave's Avatar
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    Re: One close call, one not so close with exploding truck tires.


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    "A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.”
    Muhammad Ali.

  8. #8
    Lifer JohnnyV's Avatar
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    Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9630/4.7.1.40 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

    Damn, glad you're ok man

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  9. #9
    Just Registered brendanp's Avatar
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    Re: One close call, one not so close with exploding truck tires.

    Holy shit! Glad you made it out alive!

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    If all else fails, Lean more....http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/brendanp/brendanp_sig.jpg

  10. #10
    Bikeless in Blackstone The Snowman's Avatar
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    Re: One close call, one not so close with exploding truck tires.

    Good thing you're not a statistic that Mythbusters tried to prove.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vqw4ZooBzLw

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    CCS/LRRS Expert#39, retired | Tony's Track Days, Instructor #11, retired
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  11. #11
    Just Registered Mondo's Avatar
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    Re: One close call, one not so close with exploding truck tires.

    dam, glad your ok shit like that is nuts

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    Quote Originally Posted by DBConz View Post
    crouching tiger, hidden mondos

  12. #12
    Senior Member Pestilence's Avatar
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    Re: One close call, one not so close with exploding truck tires.

    Wow man.. you got very lucky. Exloding truck tires are no joke!

    I was in an F450 work truck doing about 80 when I had a truck carrying concrete drainage pipe blow a tire in front of me in Florida long time ago, it took out the passenger side of the windshield and ripped the mirror right off the side of the truck.

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    -John

    "It's more fun to ride a slow bike fast,.. than to ride a fast bike slow."

    07 Husky SM510R

  13. #13
    Lifer Evil_Weasel's Avatar
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    Re: One close call, one not so close with exploding truck tires.

    damn dude, glad you are ok.

    i to have had a close call with an exploding truck tire on the highway. that shit is no joke.

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    -------------------------------------------
    Quote Originally Posted by Honclfibr View Post
    As usual, your post displays a complete lacking in any fucking idea what you're talking about.

    Hey, at least you're consistent.

  14. #14
    Common sense spoken here. toocrazy2yoo's Avatar
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    Re: One close call, one not so close with exploding truck tires.

    The re-tread tires suck, I've had all this stuff happen on the bike too AND drop driveshafts and fuel, but overall, I'd rather run with a herd of truckers than ignorant, no-brainer blonde twinks texting in their Toyotas. But the trucks, ya show em a little bright lights, blast by and at least they're situationally aware. It's all we can ask.

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