2000 miles in, first motorcycle crash

[OVerLoRDI]

Highway 24 merge into the I-580/80 interchange before the bay bridge. Those of you in the area I'm sure are aware of the cluster F that that area is on a typical afternoon.

While lane splitting with solid slow traffic, roughly 10-15 mph faster than the slow moving traffic (yeah break out the pitchforks and burning effigies) a gap opened up on the lane to my left and a car to my right decided to go for it. I should have saw it coming, but the timing of it was such that the driver saw the gap and just went for it.

I ran into the side of his now protruding car, went down and slid a bit. Thankfully I was wearing all my gear and the bike has frame sliders. I walked away completely unscathed, just a bruise on my knee. Bike it self came out pretty good to, only the rear brake pedal/peg assembly was knackered. We exchanged all our info and went on our way. I was able to ride the bike to a nearby recommended shop (thanks yelp) and dropped it off for an estimate.

Thankfully, I'm not at fault legally, as I wasn't speeding and had right of way. I'll definitely be more aware of gaps drivers may try to seize, but I'm just glad I had all my gear or I'd have a pretty jacked up knee and ankle based on the damage done to my gear. I'm one lucky SOB.

 

[Greenman]

That's a tough place to be splitting lanes, lots of traffic and a lot of lane changing in general. It's also phase one of the advanced road rage institute, be careful out there.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Glad you're okay. How did it turn out with insurance?

 

[Zodiark1593]

Ugh, when I get a motorcycle, I'm never gonna be splitting lanes. People in my area seem to not like motorcycles enough as it is. I'd take slow traffic if it increases the odds of actually getting to my destination.

Anyway, glad to see there was no injuries, and on a motorcycle no less.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Ugh, when I get a motorcycle, I'm never gonna be splitting lanes. People in my area seem to not like motorcycles enough as it is. I'd take slow traffic if it increases the odds of actually getting to my destination.

Anyway, glad to see there was no injuries, and on a motorcycle no less.

Meh, you get used to it. Whenever a gap opens up I kind of expect a car to try to rush into it without checking their mirrors or blind spot so I will move into it myself just to give myself more room if/when they move over.

 

[ViviTheMage]

pics of gear?

glad you are OK!

That looks like An SV650??

 

[sgrinavi]

Ugh, when I get a motorcycle, I'm never gonna be splitting lanes. People in my area seem to not like motorcycles enough as it is. I'd take slow traffic if it increases the odds of actually getting to my destination.

Anyway, glad to see there was no injuries, and on a motorcycle no less.

That's like saying that after you get married you're not going to look at hot women. Lane splitting rocks and is one of the few advantages to commuting on a bike.

 

[smackababy]

Meh, you get used to it. Whenever a gap opens up I kind of expect a car to try to rush into it without checking their mirrors or blind spot so I will move into it myself just to give myself more room if/when they move over.

I don't have to be on a bike to expect people to dart stupidly around without looking. >_>

 

[JulesMaximus]

I don't have to be on a bike to expect people to dart stupidly around without looking. >_>

No, but being on a bike makes you so much more personally vested in what is going on around you. Someone changes lanes and side swipes my car... eh, no big deal, get out and exchange information, let insurance companies handle the rest. Someone changes lanes and side swipes me and I am probably looking at a ride in the amberlamps at the very least.

 

[T2urtle]

pics of gear?

glad you are OK!

That looks like An SV650??

+1 on pics of gear and the fact that your here posting this.


it is a 03-04 SV650.

Next to no major damage. Take the insurance check and buy some new rearsets and a slip-on exhaust (the cut on the pipe for the slip-on should be where that dent is)

 

[WilliamM2]

Bike it self came out pretty good to, only the rear brake pedal/peg assembly was knackered. We exchanged all our info and went on our way. I was able to ride the bike to a nearby recommended shop (thanks yelp) and dropped it off for an estimate.

So the exhaust and body work were damaged before this incident?

 

[Wuzup101]

Just curious - is lane splitting legal anywhere else in the US with the exception of CA? I rarely see anyone on a bike doing it in PA. I've been thinking about getting a bike but haven't made the plunge yet. As a fairly alert driver, I'm always looking for bikes (giving them a wide birth and allowing extra stopping distance when they are in front of me). That being said, I would be hard pressed to say that I would always see a bike in that situation, especially as I can't even remember ever seeing a rider do it.

OP - glad you are okay and had your gear on!

 

[Greenman]

Just curious - is lane splitting legal anywhere else in the US with the exception of CA? I rarely see anyone on a bike doing it in PA. I've been thinking about getting a bike but haven't made the plunge yet. As a fairly alert driver, I'm always looking for bikes (giving them a wide birth and allowing extra stopping distance when they are in front of me). That being said, I would be hard pressed to say that I would always see a bike in that situation, especially as I can't even remember ever seeing a rider do it.

OP - glad you are okay and had your gear on!

I think California is the only state that allows lane splitting. It's a god send when traffic is heavy, and pretty tense when you're doing it.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Just curious - is lane splitting legal anywhere else in the US with the exception of CA? I rarely see anyone on a bike doing it in PA. I've been thinking about getting a bike but haven't made the plunge yet. As a fairly alert driver, I'm always looking for bikes (giving them a wide birth and allowing extra stopping distance when they are in front of me). That being said, I would be hard pressed to say that I would always see a bike in that situation, especially as I can't even remember ever seeing a rider do it.

OP - glad you are okay and had your gear on!

It is not legal anywhere else in the US but it is in most of the rest of the world and as long as it is done prudently it is actually safer than riding along in stop and go traffic like a car. It seems that the rest of the US is behind the rest of the world and California... as usual.

Some other states have been talking about making it legal but it has been met with rejection for the most part.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I think California is the only state that allows lane splitting. It's a god send when traffic is heavy, and pretty tense when you're doing it.

It can be but when you feel pretty tense doing anything on a motorcycle you should probably not do it. Most of the time I feel perfectly safe lane splitting but there have been times when I've felt uncomfortable too and it is learning to recognize those warning signals and reacting to them that is up to the rider. I've spent a fair number of years commuting in SoCal traffic and tens of thousands of miles and I've seen quite a few riders who won't do it. Hell, there are situations where I won't do it. Personally, I think it is best left up to the judgement of the motorcyclist.

My .02

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

I had my first wreck about the same distance, congrats! Posted about it a while back, was going too fast around a corner and didn't have the experience to know what to do. Bike slid a bit as did I. Was wearing gear and both me and the bike were fine (less than $2 in damage to the bike, just needed a bolt to attach the blinker back).

 

[Wuzup101]

It is not legal anywhere else in the US but it is in most of the rest of the world and as long as it is done prudently it is actually safer than riding along in stop and go traffic like a car. It seems that the rest of the US is behind the rest of the world and California... as usual.

Some other states have been talking about making it legal but it has been met with rejection for the most part.

So I have read the same thing about other countries before while doing research on possibly getting a bike. My biggest question would be how similar are the traffic patterns in other countries to ours? From what I've seen while visiting Europe and talking to friends who grew up in India and other areas where there are all kinds of things on the road... It seems like it would be a bit different... In a major city with relatively slow traffic speeds I could see it working really well... Not so much on a highway during rush hour traffic when cars are dropping randomly to we'll under half of the posted speed. Again just an outside perspective from a driver with no motorcycle experience. In a contested city it seems like it would be more similar to riding a road bicycle in traffic... Which I know can be tense... But certainly doable.

 

[Railgun]

It's vastly different in London, but here, it's expected and common. The biggest thing in central London are watching for idiot pedestrians who cut through stopped traffic and don't look in the right direction. They just literally walk in front of you.

There are some jack hole drivers too. And most riders are actually worse as they are all over the place, including the oncoming lane.

 

[Tweak155]

It's vastly different in London, but here, it's expected and common. The biggest thing in central London are watching for idiot pedestrians who cut through stopped traffic and don't look in the right direction. They just literally walk in front of you.

There are some jack hole drivers too. And most riders are actually worse as they are all over the place, including the oncoming lane.

Dang tourists! I plan on doing that some day btw (visiting London), don't run me over.

 

[JulesMaximus]

So I have read the same thing about other countries before while doing research on possibly getting a bike. My biggest question would be how similar are the traffic patterns in other countries to ours? From what I've seen while visiting Europe and talking to friends who grew up in India and other areas where there are all kinds of things on the road... It seems like it would be a bit different... In a major city with relatively slow traffic speeds I could see it working really well... Not so much on a highway during rush hour traffic when cars are dropping randomly to we'll under half of the posted speed. Again just an outside perspective from a driver with no motorcycle experience. In a contested city it seems like it would be more similar to riding a road bicycle in traffic... Which I know can be tense... But certainly doable.

I don't think it makes any difference. There are areas where I don't feel comfortable splitting like in and around exit ramps where cars are merging and trying to move across lanes but freeways, generally speaking, are no less safe to split than city streets. Studies have shown it is actually safer to split than it is to sit in stop and go traffic.

By the way, I am not advocating flying through traffic that is moving at 75-80mph or even traffic that is moving at 40-50mph. I've seen guys do this when I'm driving my car and it annoys me. And it is not legal.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

So the exhaust and body work were damaged before this incident?

Correct. Bike had been dropped before (not by me). It is my first bike, so I'm not stressing keeping it beautiful.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

pics of gear?

glad you are OK!

That looks like An SV650??

I'll upload some pics when I get home. Gear survived pretty well, minus my boots. Looking at them I am stoked that I walked away without any foot/ankle issues. +1 for riding boots, they took a beating so my feet/ankles didn't have to.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

Glad you're okay. How did it turn out with insurance?

Insurance is still hashing it out. Mercury Insurance is the other company and they are dragging their feet on everything. Geico (my company) has been really responsive, attentive, and fast.

 

[TallBill]

At least you were wearing gear. Shit happens, you're in one piece.

 

[z1ggy]

I'm probably close to 4k miles on my bike and still haven't been down. Not that I WANT to go down, but... Eventually everybody does. I'd want mine to be a small minor thing like this and not getting plowwed by a semi or something...

And kudos for wearing everything. I wear 100% leather on my body, except leather pants. I have them, but they are just too damn hot for summer time. I will skimp for jeans most of the time or my textile pants if it's not super hot either. ... :-/