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Cruiser
Posts: 152
Bonita Springs, FL | Last Thursday when leading a group of 14 bikes, I had a pick up truck pull in front of me and intentionally hit his brakes as hard as he could. We were in the passing lane on I75 doing about 70mph when he came up in the slow lane that had some space doing about 90mph. I knew he was going to pull in front of me as there was a semi in the slow lane just ahead of me. He did indeed pull in front and me and then as mentioned above slam on the brakes. A total of 4 bikes went down and incredibly we all walked away. The worst injury was a broken wrist, my injuries were some road rash, hurt ribs, etc. I had on Cortech padded jeans and jacket and 3/4 helmet. I can tell you they saved me as I rolled almost 50 yards on the freeway, jumped up and headed for the guard rail as I didn't know what was coming behind me. The bikes behind me said the Vision went down on the left side, hit the tipovers then went to the right side and eventually flipped over. The scene looked like a dream, bikes and bike parts all over the place and traffic stopped totally. I am still waiting for the insurance company to let me know if the bike is totaled or not. I have seen the bike and do not want it back, so hopefully they will total it. Does anyone know of a 10th Anniversary bike for sale anywhere as I will continue to ride and will have nothing but another Vision. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 623
| did you find/kill the driver of the pickup? |
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Tourer
Posts: 301
Buffalo Grove,Ill | Was there anyone that got his license plate? and is there any indication as why he did this?
Im glad everyone is alright. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Bill, you just lived through my worst nightmare. I'm glad you are okay, and okay enough to brush yourself off and get back in the saddle. I'm glad to hear all of you guys survived as that is a sign of knowing your moves if something like that happens. People like the guy in the truck should be shot on sight for attempted murder, I see it as nothing less. I know I have contended a time or two with folks who would just as soon see me go down, and they don't even know me. So riders beware always, always, always. I ride everytime like no one sees me ever, it's hard, but it keeps your mind attentive to what is going on around. I know I've thwarted stupid people like that as well when they tried their little trick and I was no where to be found, and most likely down the road in front of them, or way behind where it would have no affect. But all in all, it is still about the ride and I hope you find you Annie soon, I know she's out there... One more note; the way you described how the vision went down is how I picture it my mind all the time. Sliding on one side, catching and flipping to the other side, over and over and over. I think the vision would be hard to ride out since it won't just lay on its side like most cruisers might.
Edited by varyder 2009-04-15 10:06 PM
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Fountain Inn, SC United States | Thanks God you and everyone were able to walk away. I hope the driver gets his due. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | FRS Powersports in Memphis has a !0th Anniversary on the showroom floor. These are my guys. Ask for Brantley Gaither, tell him Tom sent you from this forum. He keeps tabs on these threads. Small shop, great guys. 901-385-9366. 9-5 Central time. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 152
Bonita Springs, FL | The pickup never stopped, several riders in the middle of the group were going to go after him, but thought rendering aid was more vital to those of us down. I am pretty sure it was road rage as he had to pass us on the right as most cars were in the left lane which left him a huge opening in the right lane to gain the high speed to pass us. As I said before he had no where to go after passing us and cutting in as there were many vehicles in front of me. This is pretty normal no matter where you drive today, even if they can get past one car, they still pass on the right. I only pass someone on the right when they have no one in front of them and just driving like they own that lane. When leading our group as I have been for 10 years and 100,000 miles together, here is the reason we were in the passing lane. First, traffic was barely doing the speed limit (70) in the passing lane as there was a lot of traffic. Second, we were coming up on an exit and I have found exits to be very dangerous, not the exit itself but the on ramp after the exit. Drivers in Florida do not understand the word "YIELD" and when coming on to the freeway they will just break right into our string of riders without even looking or trying to maintain the correct speed. I always feel better having the group stay together and avoiding the right lane when coming up to these on ramps. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | Bill,
Thank goodness that you are doing well after that ordeal. I hope the driver is tried in a honest court of law, found guilty and hung by the neck from the nearest tree until dead.
We have lost three riders, that I know about, in the last two weeks in this area. Two to a drunk that hit a car then three bikes. One was rear ended.
Take care |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Hey RT, did you know about the rider near Ferris that was shot? May have been gang related but when they found him they thought it was just control. During the autopsy they found a bullet in him. Anyway, not that I would be trigger happy or anything, but why can't we shoot these jerks on the spot. I mean it is self-defense, he's coming at me with a 3,000 lb projectile, I just return with a 3oz projectile.
Edited by varyder 2009-04-15 11:26 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 152
Bonita Springs, FL | Song Fan:
Thanks for the lead, I will call him tomorrow. I have to wait until next week for the insurance company to make the decision. I am very reluctant to own a bike that has as many repairs as this one needs. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1350
| Glad to hear you aren't in too bad of shape.
Just a side note, whenever I lead a group I tell them to let in any merging vehicles. Most times the people we let move in wave thank you. We all ride our own style and each area has it's own rules.
What most drivers don't realize is that all of us are doing the same thing, trying to get where we are going safely. If everyone just left 10 minutes earlier. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1290
Ruskin, Fl | Glad to hear you are not hurt worse. When we get our bikes fixed (or replaced in your case) we'll have to meet for a ride. You only about an hour south of me. As far as I75 goes, people are out of their minds. I take it to work in Sarasota and if you are not doing 90+ in the left lane people will bounce from lane to lane to get around you. They do it to me when I'm driving the rescue with lights and siren on. |
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Tourer
Posts: 367
Cottage Grove, Mn | alberts46 - 2009-04-15 10:07 PM
The pickup never stopped, several riders in the middle of the group were going to go after him, but thought rendering aid was more vital to those of us down. I am pretty sure it was road rage as he had to pass us on the right as most cars were in the left lane which left him a huge opening in the right lane to gain the high speed to pass us. As I said before he had no where to go after passing us and cutting in as there were many vehicles in front of me. This is pretty normal no matter where you drive today, even if they can get past one car, they still pass on the right. I only pass someone on the right when they have no one in front of them and just driving like they own that lane. When leading our group as I have been for 10 years and 100,000 miles together, here is the reason we were in the passing lane. First, traffic was barely doing the speed limit (70) in the passing lane as there was a lot of traffic. Second, we were coming up on an exit and I have found exits to be very dangerous, not the exit itself but the on ramp after the exit. Drivers in Florida do not understand the word "YIELD" and when coming on to the freeway they will just break right into our string of riders without even looking or trying to maintain the correct speed. I always feel better having the group stay together and avoiding the right lane when coming up to these on ramps.
Bill
First I'm glad everybody walked away with only minor injuries and you will all be OK.
I had went down two years ago under similar circumstance the idiot claimed he simply forgot where he was going and slammed on the brakes to make his turn (the turn was still over one hundred yard away). The officer said he would give him a carless except he knew he would get out of it. I hit him so he couldn't leave the scene but between witnesses and the guy I was riding he was lucky he could drive away. Now I know anytime you rear end someone the law says it's always your fault but damn sometimes that's just not right. I loved your comment about Florida drivers not knowing how to yield but just to let you know a local TV station did an on the street survey asking people the definition of yield right of way and how to do it, they reported that of the 100 people they surveyed 87 did not know the proper procedure. Again I'm glad you're all ok.
Blackjack
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Vision Crash at 70mph