[greenmonster]

...just got back from getting a haircut....the woman who cuts my hair...I've known her several years. Anyhoo-she tells me an ex-BF of hers was struck from behind while on his bike last weekend. Result: he's 28 y.o., and is now paralyzed from the waist down. She didnt have all the details yet....she thinks it happened in the Needham or Natick area. The irony of it is...his parents had been pleading with him not to ride, to the point where his own brother once punctured his tires to keep him off the bike. It wasnt the right thing to do, and hes a grown man, etc., but you can see the hell they all must be going through to see their worst fears now realized, not to mention what this guy is going through and will have to deal with the rest of his life. No info yet as to whether he was stopped or rolling along. The point is: ALWAYS watch yer back, whether at speed, or stopped at lights, signs, etc. You can be doing 70 on 128 and still be rearended/clipped by some moron/drunk, etc. fucker. Better chance to be hit at a light, tho. I ALWAYS give myself a cars length and angled stance, with bike in first, clutch in, and watch for the approach of the next vehicle coming up behind me when I am stopped for whatever reason. If he/she gets within 20 feet of me, and aint slowin down, Im ready to exit stage right or left! PLEASE be vigilant and keep yer head on a swivel at all times. Never entrust to others your wellbeing and possibly your life. The season is still young, and already the stats are piling up. Be safe!

[slingblade]

Dang

My brother was tapped from behind a few years ago. The jolt made him dump the clutch and the bike kinda took off and dumped at the same time, 1/2 landed on him. He had bruised kidneys and some broken ribs. The fuggers took off It was another friends new gsxr600,

When I'm stopped I always watch who is behind me and I'll tap the brakes like crazy to make sure they see me. Its hard when riding though, whenever I let off the gas the bike slows so quickly because of the Vtwin... I have to constantly remember to at least get my foot on the rear instead of just letting off the gas.

[Kham]

Originally posted by greenmonster
PLEASE be vigilant and keep yer head on a swivel at all times. Never entrust to others your wellbeing and possibly your life. The season is still young, and already the stats are piling up. Be safe!

should we start carrying weapons?

[Aaron]

Man that sucks, i'm getting in the habbit of flashing my brakes whenever i'm stopped.

[greenmonster]

Originally posted by Kham
should we start carrying weapons?

Cant hurt!! That, or the time honored use of ball bearings....

The tapping of the brake lights....that's a good one....hafta put that one on file. Ya see? Never too old to learn!

[chr|s sedition]

tapping breaklights is esp usefull at night when stopped at lights / intersection. It's also a good idea to stop to the far side (left or right) of a lane when at intersection. this way if a) you can tell someone is going to hit you,t you have an esape route and b) if you do get hit you wont get crushed between cages.

there is also something to be said for lane splitting...as this would prevent you from taking a direct hit from behind should someone rear-end another car....but lane splitting can be, well, you know

-sedition

[MnM]

man that is horrible...people in cars just dont give a shit...

I had this kid pull up aside of me in traffic like i was not even part of traffic. Needless to say i wanted to rip him out of the car.....i always try to watch my back and when stopped flash the brake lights to get the persons attention to stop....

It is also a good idea not to stay in the middleof the car your behind when stopped like sedition said .
I usually stay towards the drivers side where i could pull up beside the car in front and get out of the way of the car behind me if need be.

[mikeb]

Originally posted by Aaron
Man that sucks, i'm getting in the habbit of flashing my brakes whenever i'm stopped.

i started doing the same this season. i know it works to. i was lookin in the mirror at a minivan coming up fast as soon as i started flashing my brake light i saw the van dive as they jacked the brakes on.

[taylor]

that is one thing i've always been paranoid about.....i definitely tap the brakes and keep an eye on the mirrors - especially if there isn't already a car directly behind me...

[MissTwisties]

Heck, I've been taping brake lights even when I'm driving. Got rear ended when fully stop at a red light last year, she never slowed down. Went into physical rehab for months. I kept thinking it would have been worse if I was on my bike. I still tap my lights when driving, and I do it also when riding.

Originally posted by taylor
that is one thing i've always been paranoid about.....i definitely tap the brakes and keep an eye on the mirrors - especially if there isn't already a car directly behind me...

[SVRACER01]

i got rearended once on my bike, at a red light. the light turned green and the guy behind me just went. i didnt even have the clutch out yet