KymcoForum.com
General => Roadcraft => Topic started by: CROSSBOLT on December 10, 2014, 10:06:36 PM
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Stopped at a traffic light or stop sign I think the only defense is to keep at least part of one eye on the closing traffic behind. And then what? Well, if the vehicle behind seems to be intent to run into your rear end take evasive action. When do you decide? Before you get hit seems to be the best advice. This is a toughie as well as what to do, which way to go without making things worse. I don't like being totally defensive or totally passive. The number of rear-end impacts on this forum is alarming and significant. What do you all think about this?
Karl
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Be prepared to let go of the bike!!!!!!!!!!!
I can not say that enough times. LET IT GO. The little side step that bull fighters use comes in handy.
Most people have the instinct of grabbing on for dear life. That's what gets them hurt. That bike will at best rip your arms out. At worst... break your spine. You're better off on the cars hood watching your bike bounce down the road.
Now lets just say the driver does stop just as you let the bike fall over, and you are mid Pirouette.
Not an issue... You will end up facing them dead on, and your next step is directly at them.
They are stuck behind your road block, and are prime candidates for a zombie snack.
Maybe you get a few buck for repairs, and a handful of brain matter. Better than thinking it will be just fine if I sit here holding on.
In my early twenties I saw a car I was drag racing, coming up behind me several blocks after the fact. It was an intersection of GunHill Road in the Bronx. The guy was all over the road, and still doing 60something. I KNEW he was gonna hit my car.
I stepped out the drivers door, and just as I did, he NAILED the rear end. I watched my car/his car come to a stop about 100 feet from where I was standing. I lit a smoke, and asked if everyone just saw that!
I imagine it is the exact same for a scoot.
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At a light, I stop to the right of the car in front and watch the car coming from my rear.
If he hits me - surely he will be going slow, as he is only feet from the car in front of me - and I will get pushed forward, to the right of the car in front of me. Not squashed between 2 cars
On an open 2 lane road, waiting to turn left - I am very aware of the cars coming behind me. If they are following too close or coming too fast I will pull away and go on down the road and find some place safer to turn.
In town, or on country highways, if someone is approaching me at speed or following too close.....I put my R blinker on, slow, pull to the right curb and stop (city) or slow and wave them around with my left hand (country).
(the local Honda mega dealer was telling me his store is just off I-75. Not going to happen, I am not taking my scooter out into 70-80mph traffic in the winter. I'll take the country highways. 55MPH is fast enough when it is 28 degrees F.)
Stig
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I also find the number on tail end smacks on this forum alarming as they are among the statistically least common crashes. In 40 years I've been hit twice but never at a light. Only on close call years ago.
Personaly I keep an eye in the mirror and will let my finely honed skills and decision making kick in if need be. Not much different than any of the other assumed risks of riding.
Be Big,
AMAC
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Be prepared to let go of the bike!!!!!!!!!!!
I can not say that enough times. LET IT GO. The little side step that bull fighters use comes in handy.
Most people have the instinct of grabbing on for dear life. That's what gets them hurt. That bike will at best rip your arms out. At worst... break your spine. You're better off on the cars hood watching your bike bounce down the road.
Now lets just say the driver does stop just as you let the bike fall over, and you are mid Pirouette.
Not an issue... You will end up facing them dead on, and your next step is directly at them.
They are stuck behind your road block, and are prime candidates for a zombie snack.
Maybe you get a few buck for repairs, and a handful of brain matter. Better than thinking it will be just fine if I sit here holding on.
In my early twenties I saw a car I was drag racing, coming up behind me several blocks after the fact. It was an intersection of GunHill Road in the Bronx. The guy was all over the road, and still doing 60something. I KNEW he was gonna hit my car.
I stepped out the drivers door, and just as I did, he NAILED the rear end. I watched my car/his car come to a stop about 100 feet from where I was standing. I lit a smoke, and asked if everyone just saw that!
I imagine it is the exact same for a scoot.
Letting go crosses over ty almost all motorcycle crashes, there's no seatbelts for a reason. Let it fly and roll away. You want to get as far away from your chunk of metal as possible. This also goes for speed wobble and out of control type of situations, if you fight your bike it'll kick your ass but if you let it calm down on its own it should regain control. Idk what to say about getting rear ended at a light, i keep my lazy eye pointed at the mirror but imo by the time you noticed someone coming fast it would be too late to really do much. I usually pull up to lights as far to the right as possible, on the white line. I figure that gives me a slight edge, at lest it would be a graze instead of a dead center hit. I guess this is another reason why filtering might actually be safer than not. Idk i get on my scooter every day with that little thought in the back of my head that I could get hit today. You can accept the risk in life and move on or stay inside and never have any fun. I think the fun of riding scoots and bikes far outweighs the risk. Every one of us has the chance of dying tomorrow, but that's life!! Ha
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Great ideas, some of which I never considered. Maybe some of your collective good sense will rub off on the rest of us! Thanks!
Karl
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I fell, and hurt my ear.
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Now I fell and hurt my other ear.
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First rule, do not stop behind the light of the car in front of you-your tail light then begins to look like it belongs to that car, and, with the lack of depth perception and common sense possessed by the average cager, they mis-judge where they need to stop.
Here in California where it's legal to split traffic, I never stop behind a car at stop lights, always pull between them.
Even if you live where splitting in not allowed, you can still stop between the rear ends of the cars in front-at least you've got an out
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"First rule, do not stop behind the light of the car in front of you-your tail light then begins to look like it belongs to that car, and, with the lack of depth perception and common sense possessed by the average cager, they mis-judge where they need to stop."
That is completely Awesome. I never realized the mechanics behind what you just said but you made it simply clear. It's one of those Head Slap moments...
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at a traffic light this past summer. Had on a flo-orange T shirt. Around $300+ damage to my scoot.
The dumb ass that hit me was driving on a revoked drivers licenses. His insurance contacted me and said they were not paying anything. Their position was that if a driver does not have a valid licenses, he, or she has no insurance.
I don't know how to defend against this but, nowdays I carry KY Jelly and or Vasoline.
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The number of rear-end impacts on this forum is alarming and significant.
Call me naive, but i bet that 80-90% of rear-end collisions can be avoided by doing all of the following:
- Add additional brake / running lights, preferably high up on a top case. The stock lights on scooters are simply too small and low to be visible.
- Flash the brake lights whenever stopping. In other words, squeeze the brake levers, release them completely, and squeeze them again. Flash several times when stopping suddenly, in wet weather, etc.
- Wear a white helmet with reflective tape on it, like 3M's 680 tape. Bonus points for wearing a high-vis jacket.. or adding iron-on reflective tape to your regular jacket.
- Use LED bulbs, since they're far less prone to burning out than incandescents.
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Call me naive, but i bet that 80-90% of rear-end collisions can be avoided by doing all of the following:
- Add additional brake / running lights, preferably high up on a top case. The stock lights on scooters are simply too small and low to be visible.
- Flash the brake lights whenever stopping. In other words, squeeze the brake levers, release them completely, and squeeze them again. Flash several times when stopping suddenly, in wet weather, etc.
- Wear a white helmet with reflective tape on it, like 3M's 680 tape. Bonus points for wearing a high-vis jacket.. or adding iron-on reflective tape to your regular jacket.
- Use LED bulbs, since they're far less prone to burning out than incandescents.
No not naive.
We were thought 35 years ago to "tap" the brakes at and approaching a stop.
The top box is an interesting point. I wear all hivis but when the box is on all you see is the top of a yellow helmet. I rarely use the box but now wonder if this can add too the issue.
Be Big,
AMAC
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I think it is more an issue of distracted drivers, than a true viability issue.
Cell phones/cd/car stereo/dvd players, GPS built into the dash where you HAVE to take your eyes off the road... We are trained to be complacent about our driving.
It's not so much a human nature topic, as it is a discussion about the people selling all this crap for a profit.
Crap that has NO business in a car.
Imagine for just a moment... Our soldiers are equipped with a cd player in their tanks... Their rifles have a built in dvd player that shines thru the optics... Part of their field pack is a cell phone...
sounds counter productive huh! Every bit as dangerous. (IMHO)
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Not to mention you can be half blind and half retard and get your license in an hour and $100.
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You all see me get pissed off at "cup holders" on scooters. Since you now have to worry about your hot/cold/meaningless beverage, I guesstimate that is about 5% of your brain activity.
Since you are narrow minded enough to add a beverage to your "important" list, I guesstimate you had approx <80% capacity anyway (I'm being kind there). So 75% of your attention is on the road.
Next time your life is on the line, call a fella w/ 75% capacity, and kick yourself in the ass for not wanting more.
I'm not wan-tingly offending anyone here. I am just trying to make a point we all understand.
Throw those f'n cup holders away! leave the cell phone in the glove box! NEVER turn on the stereo while driving!
If you think you can drive ANY vehicle with these things... STAY OFF THE ROAD! You will hurt someone!
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Looks like I'll have to stop playing candy crush while drinking my Americano on my scooter from now on.......
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I carry, and I am real close to going Charles Bronson at stop lights. ;)
I've learned to pick my battles, but w/ soooooooooo many to chose from, it gets tougher by the day.
Thank god for herbal sedatives! 8)
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Looks like I'll have to stop playing candy crush while drinking my Americano on my scooter from now on.......
Is that the only reason you go out to ride too? I thought I was the only one...
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Did anyone else hear that sort of "pop" noise? :o
The room is getting dark. We must be having a brown out... What's a stroke feel like? :'(
I'm keeping an eye on you Tries...
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don't worry. i pull over between levels. :P and i use a silly straw for my coffee.
back to topic though, i have taken this subject into consideration. just today there was a rubbernecking motorist that tried to get me while a fleet of emergency vehicles drove by. i had a feeling, while watching in the mirror, and inched forward and to the right of the vehicle stopped ahead of me while the suv behind me closed the gap. i gave a heart felt dirty look and they waved apologetically.
needless to say, i let the go ahead of me. no need to chance it.
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Just one Silly Straw? You can't have soda races w/ just one straw...
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i keep a length of fuel/vacuum line in my underseat compartment for those that forgot their silly straw. It has only been used a few times and i find 93 octane to compliment many foods.
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Are you related to BlueSin?
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I'm not sure. If he/she is a convict, recluse, or degenerate of some sort then possibly.
i was dating a girl that was proud of her geneology, that her family had been guilotine operators for important people. i was afraid to look up mine to find that her ancestors were the ones chopping up mine...
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Look up Johnny Knoxville s family. There are perhaps four leaves on 2 branches.
As far as BlusSin... I'll let her fill in the blanks. ;)
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You all see me get pissed off at "cup holders" on scooters. Since you now have to worry about your hot/cold/meaningless beverage, I guesstimate that is about 5% of your brain activity.
Since you are narrow minded enough to add a beverage to your "important" list, I guesstimate you had approx <80% capacity anyway (I'm being kind there). So 75% of your attention is on the road.
Next time your life is on the line, call a fella w/ 75% capacity, and kick yourself in the ass for not wanting more.
I'm not wan-tingly offending anyone here. I am just trying to make a point we all understand.
Throw those f'n cup holders away! leave the cell phone in the glove box! NEVER turn on the stereo while driving!
If you think you can drive ANY vehicle with these things... STAY OFF THE ROAD! You will hurt someone!
One of the first posts I read after discovering scooter forums was a DIY for installing a cup holder - sourced from a well known Vespa parts house. I was thinking I must be doing something very wrong .... I cannot imagine ever raking a drink of anything while out in traffic on my scooter.
I carry a thermal mug of coffee, frequently - but it is in my top case waiting for me to get to a rest place where I park the scoot take some snaps and have the coffee.
Besdies...the coffee would freeze solid in a cup holder in the temps I ride in. In the top case it is in a thermal cup inside 2 tied plastic bags wrapped in a large towel.
Stig
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Love ya Stiggy! For a moment I thought your post was gonna head the other way.
I used to have a swinging type cup holder on the bars of my bike in St. Augustine. By the time I got home most of the beer had splashed out, and my cigarettes were all wet. I learned the hard way.
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Are you related to BlueSin?
I train them well,Bro, I train them well .
;)
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Look up Johnny Knoxville s family. There are perhaps four leaves on 2 branches.
As far as BlusSin... I'll let her fill in the blanks. ;)
Sorry, Z-man...I keep my phone accessible ( not used unless not riding ) just in case the SHTF .
Ancestry.com tells me my relatives were Roman Emperors and Kings and Queens of Sweden and Denmark ( Fathers' side ) , yet - here I am but a Serf . My Mothers' side only can be tracedback to Guards to the Royalty in England . This wasfound out when my Sister bought the DNA test version of ancestry.com.
I could read stories of my ancestors all day,but- then, I'd have no time to tend to my Herb Garden.
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That's where I believe we are kindred. My family goes as far back as 2652 BC in Ireland, and is believed to be Nordic originally
"The surname is a mix of concepts, and thought to derive from old Norse. The Mac means son of in the higher form of Brennan marriage (Irish law). The Lóchláinn means land of the lakes, which in Norse is the home of the Norse gods."
I too suffer the fate of commoner even tho I am the direct line to "High King". Something to be said about that but I'm not quite sure what!
It makes me feel better to claim Kingship of my home tho. God forbid, anything happens out of line there... Thumbscrews, and hot tar for dissenters! Then they can play w/ the dogs if they still have a complaint. :o
I'll tell ya. I raised the best kid you'll ever meet. ;D
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I'll bet you did, Bro...I'll bet you did ! Kudos to thoseofus who still care about manners and morals . ;D
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It's almost all we have anymore. Unless a Ferrari counts for anything... naw... That just proves your good in the sack.
I'll stick to morals!
A buddy said to me, "Don't you want a woman to live with, and spend your time with?" This was about 2-3 weeks ago.
I told him I'd rather have a steak dinner, and a good bottle of wine.
How that applies here... I don't know. Just crossed my mind.
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It's almost all we have anymore. Unless a Ferrari counts for anything... naw... That just proves your good in the sack.
I'll stick to morals!
A buddy said to me, "Don't you want a woman to live with, and spend your time with?" This was about 2-3 weeks ago.
I told him I'd rather have a steak dinner, and a good bottle of wine.
How that applies here... I don't know. Just crossed my mind.
Got the perfect woman for you. She can hunt your steaks...you'll need the wine just do deal with her idiosyncrasies, though .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blesmzddd38 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blesmzddd38)
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LLLLLLOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!
She doesn't even make a good Parrot. I've had a wife like her before. We're both lucky it's a modern world or her head would still be on a pike in the front yard. :o
Nope... I need a gal that can beat my ass. I'll only say "yes dear" if she is 100% correct or I am in 100% fear for my life. No middle ground. Zombie's don't roll like that. ;)
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Y'all sure know how to HIJACK a thread.......nyuk, nyuk!
Karl
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That's why dying threads are for! Amuck, amuck, amuck.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2PN9tn-NsU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2PN9tn-NsU)
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Yep
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGK8IC-bGnU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGK8IC-bGnU)
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Put a Bestem 929 lighted box back there and you'll worry less about getting rear ended.
Stig
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What's that got to do with running amuck?
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That's one of the features I liked about the like200, huge tail/brake light. At night you can see it a half mile away. The movie150 is the same size even brighter cuzz it's led.
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https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.somegif.com%2Fview%2FJudge-judy-shake-my-head-gif&ei=SKjaVPojiKjJBNztgogO&bvm=bv.85761416,d.aWw&psig=AFQjCNHwOaVle0U_-M5B7Mjl60NQfPqbTg&ust=1423702434977420 (https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.somegif.com%2Fview%2FJudge-judy-shake-my-head-gif&ei=SKjaVPojiKjJBNztgogO&bvm=bv.85761416,d.aWw&psig=AFQjCNHwOaVle0U_-M5B7Mjl60NQfPqbTg&ust=1423702434977420)
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That's one of the features I liked about the like200, huge tail/brake light. At night you can see it a half mile away. The movie150 is the same size even brighter cuzz it's led.
That big rear light on the LIKE was a selling point for me, too!
My LEDs are in the Bestem top box. I like it for these gray winter afternoon commutes home through traffic.
Stig
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I think it is more an issue of distracted drivers, than a true viability issue.
Cell phones/cd/car stereo/dvd players, GPS built into the dash where you HAVE to take your eyes off the road... We are trained to be complacent about our driving.
It's not so much a human nature topic, as it is a discussion about the people selling all this crap for a profit.
Crap that has NO business in a car.
Imagine for just a moment... Our soldiers are equipped with a cd player in their tanks... Their rifles have a built in dvd player that shines thru the optics... Part of their field pack is a cell phone...
sounds counter productive huh! Every bit as dangerous. (IMHO)
And we buy these car with those accessories ....SHAME ON US
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I was rear-ended in November 2014 while waiting to make a left turn into the driveway at my office. I had left a stop light when it turned green about 100 feet before the drive and in my rear view saw that the car behind hadn't even started moving. I had to wait for some oncoming traffic to clear, checked my mirror again and she was still quite a distance behind me. I was waiting for 2 cars to clear when I heard a screech and a very hard impact immediately after that. I was thrown up into the air and landed on my right side hard on the pavement.
I had on my high-viz jacket, helmet, gloves and boots. I also had an extra LED turn signal strip on my top case which was still blinking before I turned the key off.
A witness who was right there said the lady driving didn't even see me until the last second. He also said I looked like a cowboy getting thrown from a bull, so now I guess I know what that feels like. I don't know for sure but I think she was paying more attention to her daughter in the back seat than the road in front of her. She was probably going about 30 mph.
No broken bones but I did have to have shoulder surgery a few months later to repair torn cartilage in that shoulder.
I pay more attention to my mirrors now and if I'm making that same turn and there's traffic behind me I ride further up the road a bit where I can make a right turn into a parking lot and pull back onto the street so I can turn right into the drive.
And my Kymco Grand Vista is one tough scoot.
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AV,
Glad to hear you're okay -- relatively. I was rear-ended once at a toll booth by an SUV after it came to a stop. I paid the toll, went to apply the throttle and bam -- he hit me behind. Nothing serious, but it goes to show you how little people pay attention.
Since them I've also found that the time of day can have an effect on people's focus, or the quality of light -- twilight being the worse. I hope the woman was given a ticket and had charges pressed against her. Two months ago I was in another accident where driver made a left hand turn into my lane. It was around twilight, and he thought (according to his statement) that I was farther and moving slower than I was. His explanation didn't seem credible.
Rush hour -- morning and evening seem to be the worse. Blinking my brakes whether when I'm coming to a stop, or at a stop seems to help a lot.
-Wolf