One close call, one not so close with exploding truck tires.
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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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Originally Posted by richw
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.
