Motorcycle accident

[Hlop]

Hi everyone,

It's not photography related, just want to share with you, especially with motorcyclists.

I had a motorcycle accident yesterday - the guy on Toyota Hilux made a right turn from opposite lane and he didn't see me as I've been obscured by truck. So, going on my green light (not even amber!) I went stright to his left door on the speed about 60km/h.

I'm OK - just whiplash, slight concussion and few bruises. Bike is completely trashed (just got a call from mechanics and they told that cost of damages is more than bike's value)

Riders, please watch carefully around you. Always presume that driver doesn't see you!

[birddog114]

Hilop,
Sorry to hear your bad news and misfortune!

Glad news is you're safe and unhurt.

So you have to walk to work now.

Driving in a car is more safer as I told ya! go get a driver license and earn your merit.
Hope things will be settled with you.

[Alpha_7]

Sorry to hear about your accident I guess the good news is your all in once piece, bad news is the bike isn't. But better to have it that way then the other way around.

Glad your ok, I hope you were throughly checked out by a doctor, as sometimes the worst injuries don't show immediately.

[Glen]

Mikhail, very pleased to hear you are in one piece, sorry to hear about your bike

[Geoff]

Hlop - so glad you're ok. Pity about the bike, were you insured, more importantly I would hope that the driver's 3rd party insurance will cover the cost of your bike (and physio bills!).

[Raskill]

Glad you didn't get to badly hurt!

For some god forsaken reason my wife wants a bike (presumably after she gives birth) and I always try to tell her that car drivers don't see you.
I've seen to many bike riders killed to let her own one anyway.

Sorry your bike is screwed!

[the foto fanatic]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

All drivers need to be more aware of motor bikes. I reckon Australian drivers are fairly ordinary when it comes to sharing the road with them.

I used to ride motor bikes when I was a kid, but I'm not game these days.

[wendellt]

Mikhail
that is terrible
what the hell is going on around here with all these misfortunes?
Glad to hear your allright besides the slight concussion and the loss of your bike

i wish you aspeedy recovery and a big insurance claim to get a new shinny bike

[MCWB]

Glad to hear you're ok Mikhail! Pity about your bike, but better it than you I suppose. Get well soon mate!

[birddog114]

Mikhail
that is terrible
what the hell is going on around here with all these misfortunes?

What're other misfortunes?

[wendellt]

stubbsy getting sick

not to be little everyone elses misfortunes but my broken flash

[Hlop]

Thanks guys!!!

I'm back at work today and just slightly limping. Years of martial arts made me a tough guy Sometimes I felt worse after a good full contact sparring

Already thinking about new bike but this time it must be bigger, more shiny and (that's very important) much louder to make me visible and noticeable

[birddog114]

(that's very important) much louder to make me visible and noticeable

Get a Sukhoi!!!!!!!!!!

[Mal]

Glad to hear you are still in one piece.
I too am I rider, or was (still hold the licence)
A couple of years ago as I was leaving for work I had an accident. It was 100m from my home! The first intersection that I come to. As I come up to this intersection I can see a "P" plater coming up to the give way sign, they don't even slow down, straight through. I have to drop the bike so that I don't collide with them. Them being five year twelve students.
Anyway after much debate with the insurance company I got my money for repairs, sold my bike and have not ridden since.
I always considered myself a safe rider, for 15 years I rode the streets of Sydney without incident. But this one accident was enough to stop me riding. It showed me just how vunerable we are on a bike, and just how little some car drivers pay attention to bikes.
I want to endorse what Hlop says DRIVERS KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN FOR BIKES.
And biker's, slow down, and keep your lights on and wear a reflective jacket.

[Killakoala]

Sorry to hear about your incident Mikhail, but at least you could walk away from it, that's a very good thing.

I still think you are brave to be riding a bike in Sydney as motorcycle riders have so many natural predators to look out for. The high percentage of 4WDs, BMW's and Volvo's make life difficult for safe riding MB riders. (MattK excluded)

Sydney seems to have more than it's fair share of poor drivers, perhaps second only to SE QLD, where the worst drivers are. (Speaking from experience having driven everywhere in Aust.)

[ozczecho]

Hlop, good news that you are OK and that you were able to walk away from it. If there are any positives to come out of it sounds like you are getting a new bike...

When the emphasis is executing a perfect 3point turn and watching the speedo every second when going for a driving test, should we be surprised that these things happen...

[losfp]

Sorry to hear about the accident.. But I always think that any accident you can walk away from is a good accident, if such a beast exists!

I'm definitely not game to ride a bike in sydney. I'm originally from Malaysia (family moved here when I was 12), and it's just amazing the amount of bikes on the road there compared to Australia. And going back for a holiday in Jan just reconfirmed that I'm never riding one! You can be as careful as possible, but you CANNOT account for everyone on the road. It just takes one instance of another driver losing concentration for a moment, and you might be dead.

[CraigVTR]

Mikhail
Nice to hear you a generally ok.

Don't let this put you off riding, think about what happened, how it happened, and what you could do in future so it doesn't happen again. A major rule when riding on the road is, see and be seen. If other drivers see you, you do at least stand a chance of them giving you some room. Position yourself and take some type of action, such as setting up the brakes, in case they don't see you.

I have been riding for 28 years and have had a few crashes, none serious and have seen a couple of friends killed. Over the years I have done several rider training courses and am now a casual instructor doing Qride in Brisbane. Motorcycles are a much bigger passion for me than my camera and nowadys I get to ride and get paid for it.

Don't let anyone talk you out of doing something you enjoy, get the body mended and get back out there and enjoy life. Don't get caught in the cage mentality, cars have their place, like carrying all the camera gear, shopping and the family. But the bike is there to enjoy.

Life is for living.

For those who worry about motorcyclists, remember that we are the only road user who undergo extensive training before getting on the road. If we want to do something about road deaths we should lobby for training for all road users, not deny the motorcyclist their passion for freedom.

Get well Mikhail.

Best wishes
Craig

[stubbsy]

Mikhail

Good to hear you came off reasonably lightly. Shame about the bike since it really was a beautiful beast (all that shiny black & chrome) and I know you cared for it well. I think the fact you are a sensible cyclist and wear all the appropriate gear (leathers etc) probably helped you too.

For me though this is another example of why I don't think riding motorbikes on urban roads is safe. The best rider with the best gear doing everything right will always come off second best when some looney in a car has an accident with them. It's simple physics. Sad that it's the case since riding a bike is a better experience than a car.

[Hlop]

Many thanks, folks!

Craig,

I'm not going to put myself off riding. Actually, it was a 3rd time when I had an accident and was on the ground. I have to settle everything down with the insurance company, then setlle everything down in the minds of close relatives (Lara and Taya) and then I'm on the market, looking for new bike, again

[birddog114]

Hilop,

I'm in the market for this new baby, driving around the Bay at the weekend:

http://www.vespausa.com/products/lxa.cfm

[CraigVTR]

Hilop,

I'm in the market for this new baby, driving around the Bay at the weekend:

http://www.vespausa.com/products/lxa.cfm

Nice one Birddog, scooters are just as much fun as a larger machine.

Craig

[birddog114]

Hilop,

I'm in the market for this new baby, driving around the Bay at the weekend:

http://www.vespausa.com/products/lxa.cfm

Nice one Birddog, scooters are just as much fun as a larger machine.

Craig

Yes, The Vespa LX150 or the Vespa Granturismo 200, just for me to zip around the Coastal town at the weekend or running to get pickup paper or some groceries.

[Hlop]

Hilop,

I'm in the market for this new baby, driving around the Bay at the weekend:

http://www.vespausa.com/products/lxa.cfm

Little nice thing but it isn't my part of the market

I'll be looking for something like this one:




From Wikipedia:

Valkyrie
In Norse mythology the valkyries are dísir, minor female deities, who serve Odin. The valkyries' purpose was to choose the most heroic of those who had died in battle and to carry them off to Valhalla where they became einherjar. This was necessary because Odin needed warriors to fight at his side at the preordained battle at the end of the world, Ragnarök.

[birddog114]

Hilop,
I don't need those monsters!
Just for weekender and fun to zoom it around small town, especially along the esplanade.

[BBJ]

Mikhail, sorry to here that mate and well it is comon for this to happen and have had many friends come to grief like this and as driving trucks
i always watch cars like a hawk but it is so easy to not see some clown in a car, so hope that machine was insured.
Cheers
John

[Yedrup]

Mikhail,

Very glad that you are ok, sorry for the loss of your bike. As a bike rider myself I am always saddened by the news of another rider who has a severe interaction with a car driver. Sometimes I believe that the level of comfort a person feels is directly related to the amount of concentration they have to bring to bear on any activity they are involved in.

I ask all car drivers to be motorcycle aware........... and I ask all motorcycle riders to be car aware.

Cheers,
Terry

[petal666]

I spend a lot of time riding in traffic on my tredly. I'm not your average 'dawdle along in traffic and piss everybody off' kinda rider, I race A grade road races and hurtle around the place. I have had very few accidents be it from sheer luck or keeping a watchful eye out for the unexpected. Mostly this involves thinking that motorists don't see you and will turn in front of you or pull in from a side street, and generally they will, even if they do see you.
You also have to be ride aggressively. It is a bit different on a motorbike as you have a bit more bulk and presence, but on a pushy cars, busses and trucks don't seem to have a problem riding over the top of you. If I see a pothole in the way I'll move out well before I get to it. I'm by no means the safest cyclist out there. I ride in places where most of my mates think I'm crazy but they are usually the best places to train (no red lights on freeways ) and as long as you think a bit, I think they are safe enough. If you are riding in heavy traffic on urban roads at 50kph the cars aren't going that much faster, if at all.
I have only ever had one major accident and it was pretty much the same as this one but I wasn't obscured by a truck, the stupid lady was too busy giving the bird to the car next to her to bother looking for on coming traffic. Luckily I managed to wash off a lot of speed and just bounced off the car and landed on my feet.
I have often thought about putting a sharp metal stud in the back of one of my gloves and using it to put some nice scratches down the side of cars that do stupid enough maneuvers to come within reach. I've never done it though, the opportunity just doesn't present itself often enough

[Matt. K]

Mikhail
Sorry to hear about your accident. Glad to hear you are OK. Get a Vesper step through. Easy to jump off!

[leek]

Could have been a lot worse, but make sure that you don't ignore any symptoms - they can get worse over time... Sorry to hear about your bike - it was a beautiful specimen.

A good friend of mine was killed on a motorcycle in a very similar accident... His son was on the pillion but had a softer landing... He still has to live with the vision of what happened though...

Drive extremely defensively... There are a lot of crap drivers and even more idiots on Sydney's roads...

[christiand]

Hi Mikhail,

I'm also glad that you walked away from it.
I hope there are no lasting effects.

Chers,
CD

[joet]

Hlop,

Chryssine and I were concerned to hear about your accident, but relieved to discover that you're OK

Sad about the bike, but if it's any consolation, our No. 2 son seems to do this to his motorcycles and always comes back with something even better than the last one

Ignore all the suggestions about 'scooters and get a really mean machine as a replacement

Stay well

[spada]

Hi Mikhail
Sorry to hear about your bike accident and glad that you are OK, as a rider mysellf I all the time alert whem riding , today there are lot of idiots drivers on the road, they can't even turn there head to see before they do a lane change , time to upgrade .

Regards
Spada

[Alex]

Sorry to hear about this, Mikhail. Glad to hear you are OK. Hope you get a new bike soon.

Alex

[gstark]

(that's very important) much louder to make me visible and noticeable

Get a Sukhoi!!!!!!!!!!

Get a Vespa!



Mihail,

I'm sorry to hear of the accident, but relieved that you're ok. That is what matters, after all.

[ABG]

Sorry to hear your misfortune Mikhail. I hope you make a full recovery soon.

For those who worry about motorcyclists, remember that we are the only road user who undergo extensive training before getting on the road. If we want to do something about road deaths we should lobby for training for all road users, not deny the motorcyclist their passion for freedom.

Couldn't agree more Craig. The standard of driver training in Australia is deplorable. Even the advanced driver training courses here aren't a patch on the training motorcyclists receive. The vast majority of people who currently hold a licence are quite simply an accident waiting to happen. This is an issue that I am very passionate about and I hope that one day the company I work for may be able to begin redressing this situation. <gets off high horse>

[Hlop]

thanks a lot for your sympathy, guys!

This tread confirmed again that this forum isn't just another internet forum but very friendly community closer to the big family

I really appreciate all your support!

[xerubus]

Sorry to hear about this... very glad you are okay.....

cheers