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[ak]

Thanks to all for well wishes and condolances.  I'm fine, little sore, dislocated finger snaped back  no problem.   The young man that died  didn't have the seat time splitting traffic and should not have been expected to run with more experienced riders. He was wearing novelity helmet backwards...don't think a dot would have made much difference with this accident.

As JC mentioned I had to retire my novelity helmet witch I used alot.  On multi state rides I also would bring my full face for cold wheather or long hours on bike to reduce fatigue factor.On saturday I wore the full face cause of the cold (glad for that) I was last bike in pack because I wanted to get used to riding with full face (I"m used to seeing more to the left and right)
 and made my mind up that I wasn't going to split traffic at 90 on this ride, knew where everyone was headed so why push.  

For whatever reason 3 of us did realize that the car on the freeway were completely stoped I went from 75 to 0 in about 1/2 a block hard breakes front, rear 125ft skid mark, upright everything fine no panic going for soft shoulder to left of fast lane someone else zeroed in on same spot figured out he was going to stop before i could so i force the bike sideways for a while a when I got within 10 feet of him grabed the front break to put her down, let the bike go out from underneath me.  Landed on right hip and shoulder back of helmit hit  asphalt. Crash bar worked great the seeg handled great all the way down. Damage inner/outer faring ,front fender,right glove box and lower,right bag gone,both floor boards.  Frame,forks,motor,are fine. I feel this site is my second home and enjoy each and everone of you,

Thanks-AK

P/S  I,m on my spare till the seeg gets fixed let's ride.

[Twolanerider]

Just glad to know you're ok.  Thanks for the heads up Andy.

[ak]

I don,t take lightly about my friend and his son not ready to go into to much detail there. I can say he didn,t have an exit strategy and ran out of time to come up with one.-AK

[GC_Super]

AK, certainly glad you'r going to be OK.  Bikes can be fixed or sold. Sounds like your experience was a big factor in your ability to avoid a worse situation. We can all learn from others mistakes. I crashed over 25 years ago, and I'll never forget how hard my head hit the pavement. The fact that I was wearing a helmet I'm sure saved me from serious injury. To this day, I always keep my head covered, just something I am used to and plan to keep it that way. My condolences for your friend and his family. Must be especially tough to go through something like that. Best of luck.   [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]

Later, Robert

[MYCVO]

AK,
Never a good thing to hear about a rider going down. But, when it does happen and riding experience plays into the downing, more often the results are a much better turn out, Thank god!
 It's sucks to hear of the young guy that didn’t make it. I wont debate the helmet issue, I believe that his lack of experience would be the largest factor that he's not here now. And it's a shame.My sympathies go out to his family and friends and all concerned
 We spend a great deal of time, and money, and whatever else on these machines that we think are such a big part of our lives. ( just a machine) Fix it, don't fix it, replace it, or don't. It's just a machine, we make it more than it is.
Big thing is you came through!! cause you S.E.E. (Saw what’s coming. Evaluated the situation, and Executed the maneuvers)
Glad to hear that your up and riding and getting the SEEG repaired to roll again. You did good.
MYCVO    

[110tHunDer]

AK, thanks for the post and glad you (and the bike) are gonna be alright.  You did the right thing to back off or not to follow even though the others were pushing it.  That can be REALLY tough to do sometimes when you're in a group like that.

One thing about a situation like this, it's certainly tragic with the death of the young man, but the good thing is, you can see this has already caused a bunch of the folks here at your "second home" to think twice about the safety aspect of riding.

[spydglide]

Andy, thanks for sharing those details of the accident.  I'm always eager to learn from those situations. You know what they say: you're never too old to learn!  Har!  I'm also very pleased to hear that you're up and at 'em, ready to ride. I too, have been trying to get used to wearing a full face helmet lately....having trouble w/ the lack of side vision also.  Get the SEEG fixed, let us hear how that goes and I'm looking forward to meeting you, in person, next summer.   [smiley=2vrolijk_21.gif]  spyder

[JCZ]

Andy, thanks for sharing those details of the accident.  I'm always eager to learn from those situations. You know what they say: you're never too old to learn!  Har!  I'm also very pleased to hear that you're up and at 'em, ready to ride. I too, have been trying to get used to wearing a full face helmet lately....having trouble w/ the lack of side vision also.  Get the SEEG fixed, let us hear how that goes and I'm looking forward to meeting you, in person, next summer.   [smiley=2vrolijk_21.gif]  spyder

No Spyder..........this summer......six months from now! [smiley=huepfenlol2.gif]

Andy, I'll be down Sat.  You already know how I feel.........I shared that with you on our calls......and I'll say it again, right here.  I would really, really miss you a lot if anything ever happened to you and I want you to know that I truely value you as a friend and a mentor!  I love you brother.


As for the full face helmet thing........it was damn hard for me to get used to.  I too, am one of those that has a wide range of perrephreal vision (side to side while looking straight ahead) and that was something.  I can tell you that I just kept thinking about my jaw (was still wired when I first got back on the bike, after my accident and left side is still all numb like I just came from the dentist and I'll live with that the rest of my life, according to the Dr.).  Two weeks after wearing that helmet, I was totally used to it.  Four weeks into it, I could not ride without a full face helmet without feeling vulnerable as hell.  This coming from a guy that's been riding since the early 70's and most of that with no helmet.  For that grace period, I thank God!  JMHO

[spydglide]

No Spyder..........this summer......six months from now! [smiley=huepfenlol2.gif]

Two weeks after wearing that helmet, I was totally used to it.  Four weeks into it, I could not ride without a full face helmet without feeling vulnerable as hell.  

JK, the NEXT summer....THIS summer is long gone!...it's COLD here on the East Coast!  Har!  I have a question for those of you that have gotten use to the full face helmet......I'm talking about the kind you've got w/ the chin bar........how do you wear glasses?  The helmet I've got fits so tight on the temples and around the eyes that none of my glasses/sun-glasses can be left on when putting on or taking off the helmet w/o mashing the temples of the glasses, etc., and no way can you slide 'um on after that bad boy is on your head.  Right now, that along w/ the loss of side vision are my biggest probs w/ making the transition.  Any thoughts?  :-/   spyder

[SEUC-OCD]

P/S  I,m on my spare till the seeg gets fixed let's ride.

Excellent!   [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]

JK, the NEXT summer....THIS summer is long gone!...it's COLD here on the East Coast!  Har!  I have a question for those of you that have gotten use to the full face helmet......I'm talking about the kind you've got w/ the chin bar........how do you wear glasses?  The helmet I've got fits so tight on the temples and around the eyes that none of my glasses/sun-glasses can be left on when putting on or taking off the helmet w/o mashing the temples of the glasses, etc., and no way can you slide 'um on after that bad boy is on your head.  Right now, that along w/ the loss of side vision are my biggest probs w/ making the transition.  Any thoughts?  :-/   spyder

Sypder,  I found 2 things that worked:  
 
- I found (after looking long and hard and many tries) that there are glasses that are completely flat from front to back.  Amazingly enough, the most comfortable pair I found was at a harware store as protective work glasses, but they look sporty enough, block the sun and fit under the full face.  They are hard to find, but they work and slide right in.
 
- I now buy helmets a size bigger, and wear a leather do-rag (untied) under the helmet.  It helps protect the lining, covers helmet head, and allows for a little more room for glasses (just enough it seems), while still allowing for a snug fit.  It is not as tight on my cheeks (that's why the glasses fit) but it is still tight from top down, and no bobble.
 
Oddly enough, I have switched to a half-helmet since I moved to TX because it is just too damed hot for a full face in summer.  I may be able to live with a 3/4, which I am seriously contemplating so I can take advantage of the intercom/cb/bluetooth.

[Twolanerider]

Oddly enough, I have switched to a half-helmet since I moved to TX because it is just too damed hot for a full face in summer.  I may be able to live with a 3/4, which I am seriously contemplating so I can take advantage of the intercom/cb/bluetooth.

SEUC, if you're considering a 3/4 one to at least look at is a model called a Classic/M from Arai.  When I went to a 3/4 a year and a half or so ago it's what I settled on.  One of the reasons why was some really effective and adustable venting through the helmet to keep it from being so darned hot.  

[JCZ]

JK, the NEXT summer....THIS summer is long gone!...it's COLD here on the East Coast!  Har!  I have a question for those of you that have gotten use to the full face helmet......I'm talking about the kind you've got w/ the chin bar........how do you wear glasses?  The helmet I've got fits so tight on the temples and around the eyes that none of my glasses/sun-glasses can be left on when putting on or taking off the helmet w/o mashing the temples of the glasses, etc., and no way can you slide 'um on after that bad boy is on your head.  Right now, that along w/ the loss of side vision are my biggest probs w/ making the transition.  Any thoughts?  :-/   spyder

Hijacking this thread for just another moment.  Spyder I subscribe to Motorcycle Consumer News....it's the Consumer Reports Magazine of the motorcycle industry and they do not accept advertising of any sort from anybody.....so they are not beholding to anybody and can stay objective.  They did a test of all the flip face (full face, where the entire front end opens up to talk or whatever, when you stop, without having to take the helmet off) helmets and the Nolan N-100, while below average in cost of all the helmets they tested, came in #1 for two years in a row, now.

That's the one that I bought and I wear sun glasses with it every time I ride.  I put the helmet on first, then the glasses.  I remove the glasses first, then the helmet.   I have tried other helmets on at the store and have experienced what you referred to......the tightness of the pads around the temples.  So, I think it's all in the design of the particular helmet.  I'm very happy with my Nolan N-100 (black, of course!)

Now, back to Andy's thread........................

[erniezap]

Andy,

Like I said on the phone, I'm 10 minutes and a phone call away if you need anything.  Let's get together this weekend.

[ak]

I,ll give you a call planning on seeing Jim at cow palace-AK

[erniezap]

I,ll give you a call planning on seeing Jim at cow palace-AK

Same here.  I think that JC will down and I'm checking on the group that I ride with...

[porthole]

didn't have the seat time splitting traffic ....... that I wasn't going to split traffic at 90 on this ride, knew where everyone was headed so why push.

And this means what?

[110tHunDer]

And this means what?

AK, correct me if I'm wrong, but I read it as the guys in front of him didn't have an enormous amount of experience lane-splitting (legal in CA), were riding at a high rate of speed, and AK's experience told him not to follow.

[mr_magoo]

Its things like this that get a man to thinkin,  Maybe it is time to get a better helmet than the 1/2 helmet I always wear.  JCZ thanks for the info on the nolan now if they just make one big enough.  

[JCZ]

AK, correct me if I'm wrong, but I read it as the guys in front of him didn't have an enormous amount of experience lane-splitting (legal in CA), were riding at a high rate of speed, and AK's experience told him not to follow.

I'll help out here...........lane splitting is a way of life for motorcyclists in the bay area and around L.A. due to the amount of traffic on the freeways and it going very, very slow or stopped most of the time.  

Yes, it is legal out here and most of us do it.  It's a little smarter to do it at about 10 mph over what ever the traffic is moving, so that you can still stop in time if there's an emergency.  However, as Andy explained to me........when they approached the stopped traffic they were still moving at a very high rate of speed and just went down the middle.  First couple of guys made it and the third (the 24 yr. old who died) and fifth (Andy) went down.  The kid went down due to lack of experience and panicked in the moment.  Andy went down trying to avoid the bike that cut in front of him and was stopping faster than he.

[spydglide]

JC, I'm sure that running 90mph splitting traffic is a 'rush', but this ole biker has had to forego that level of excitement.  I get nervous  [smiley=nervous.gif] running 80mph on I-95 and I-40 with all the yo-yo's out there rapid lane changing in everything from Yugos to DumpTrucks.  Everyone follows way to close to have any chance of surviving if something happens out there and it invariably does........if you fall back from the vehicle in from a safe distance someone just fills the hole in front.  And w/ traffic running on both sides of you at those speeds what are you gonna do if something malefunctions on the scooter?  Like a belt breaks and runs out the back.  You are gonna be 'dog-meat' in a instant.  No way to get over to safely slow down in those situations.  If you stop and think about it, you'd never run the interstates again just to make the trip faster.  I know.  We all do it, but TwoLaneRider has the right handle in my estimation, I'm all for two-lanes or the 4-lanes that haven't become bumper to bumper demolition derby deals.  Guess I'm just getting older, but everytime I do it, I say no more!  So, if you and Andy are gonna run that way when you come out here this summer, you'll have to get Hubbard and Otis and the other rough riders to hang with you and I'll catch up later.  I usually get to the next beer stop just in time anyway.  [smiley=drink.gif] Har!  spyder   [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]

[grc]

I get nervous  [smiley=nervous.gif] running 80mph on I-95 and I-40 with all the yo-yo's out there rapid lane changing in everything from Yugos to DumpTrucks.  Everyone follows way to close to have any chance of surviving if something happens out there and it invariably does........if you fall back from the vehicle in from a safe distance someone just fills the hole in front.   Har!  spyder   [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that a large number of folks seem to think they are Formula 1 or NASCAR drivers now days?  I get the distinct impression watching some of these idiots run up to someones bumper and then jump out to pass that they watched a little too much drafting at Daytona on TV. It seems to have gotten exponentially worse in the past ten years.

Spyder - I'm with you on this one.  Let the idiots run over each other while I bide my time and get there in one piece.  In fact, I'd rather run regular roads and leave the interstates to someone else when traffic gets heavy.

Jerry

[erniezap]

I'll tell you, with the amount of traffic in the Bay Area of CA, if you're in a car or don't split lanes on a bike it takes forever to get to where you are going.  That being said, it beats not getting there.  I'll split lanes up to about 30 MPH.  Anything faster I don't feel that I can react fast enough to save my butt.  Too many inattentive and/or unpredictable drivers...

[RedFXR2]

Everything Spyder and grc said.

Lane splitting may be legal but is it smart?   Down here folks juke and dive from lane to lane on I-95 no matter if they're doing 80 or 5 mph.  In fact, sometimes they themselves are traveling at a much higher speed than the rest of the flow while they're doing all this rapid lane changing.  Exceeding their speed and cruising up between two sets of door handles seems to me to be just asking for tragedy.  Spyder and I talked about intentially dodging I-40 on the way to Maggie last Spring--it's the same think on that road.

I ride to relax.  The trip is what's supposed to be fun, IMO.  As has already been said, put me down for the scenic country roads.  If it takes me longer to get somewhere, well, I've had a good ride along the way.

[JCZ]

Spyder.......I didn't say that I or Andy do it that fast (and that's why he dropped to the back of the pack).  I'm with you on this one......I do it but I try to keep it down to no more than 10 mph faster than they're moving.  So if they're doing 10 mph (not exagerated) then I may do it at 15 or 20 and if they're doing 20 mph then I may lane split at 30 mph.  But some do it much, much faster.

If you remember, from the recap of my accident, as busted up as I got, I was only doing 25 mph.  Now mine wasn't from lane splitting (although I was just a block earlier), it was still the same kind of impact......running into somebody at that speed.

I am probably a more agressive rider than Andy, by nature, but I've really slowed down in the past couple years and I do keep a large gap between me and the guy in front.  If a car wants to fill it, then I just slow down a little more.  But when all four lanes are moving pretty much the same speed, people usually keep there spot and there's not a lot of lane hopping.

In the bay area, I'd leave Milpitas and drive 24 miles to the job site in Palo Alto and it would take two hours and fifteen minutes.

[ak]

Spyder-Not looking to run hard when were are back your way.Just looking forward to meeting folks,site-seeing,stc. . We will ride all day to get to next location . I value the time we have off and want to enjoy new area-AK Will attach before and after photos of 04 seeg. Dealer said may be able to upgrade my raido to new HK as part of the repair Ihpoe that works

[CVOJOE]

Sounds like a 'local' plan, please post the meet time over that Bovine Palace and let's see how many can make it  [smiley=nixweiss.gif] ?

[naitram]

Spyder-Not looking to run hard when were are back your way.Just looking forward to meeting folks,site-seeing,stc. . We will ride all day to get to next location . I value the time we have off and want to enjoy new area-AK Will attach before and after photos of 04 seeg. Dealer said may be able to upgrade my raido to new HK as part of the repair Ihpoe that works

looks like you are one lucky guy AK

[porthole]

Down here folks juke and dive from lane to lane on I-95 no matter if they're doing 80 or 5 mph.

Red,

"Down there" your roads have an immense number of hazards, and most of them should also retire from driving [smiley=dead.gif]

Even driving a cage can be downright scary at times!

[porthole]

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that a large number of folks seem to think they are Formula 1 or NASCAR drivers now days?  I get the distinct impression watching some of these idiots run up to someones bumper and then jump out to pass that they watched a little too much drafting at Daytona on TV.

Garden State Parkway: On a weekday morning I merge onto the highway from the rest stop in the center island. It is not unusual to have to accelerate to 85 - 90 just to merge into traffic, and at that it is bumper to bumper, draft style!. Typically the fast lane travels north (toward NYC) at 80-90, bumper to bumper.

Actually, with the speed limit on pit road I think it is safer to get onto the track then the Parkway.

[erniezap]

Andy, who's doing the work?

[ak]

Andy, who's doing the work?

warren HD,salinas,ca