My first time down

[birbeck]

So I wanted to go ride today, but I didn't want to do the SC mountain run in Garys honor for a few reasons. First I'm still a newb, just got my first bike 6 weeks ago. Second, the route is pretty aggressive and I didn't want to be in the way or slow others down. Third, still tired from my 120mi ride yesterday, and finally, don't want to be a jerk, but I just started riding and didn't know the guy, though from what I read, he was a legend around these parts. With everything else combined it just didn't seem like I would belong in that group just yet.

So anyhow, I messaged a few people from the forum and organized my own ride to Alice's. Got one taker, and a second joined us later. Had a good mellow run down Hwy 1 and 35. After leaving Alice's and dropping a few layers, I was feeling pretty good on the route back. Then we got to the 92 interchange.

The car two cars ahead stopped fast as well as the truck behind it and the rider in front of me. I was able to come to a easy stop. The truck driver was passed at the car ahead and waving his hands around. My buddy thought it was best to get away from him and split on the right. I followed just after him just as the truck started moving. The truck must not have looked at oncoming traffic or was even more upset about being split on and quickly crossed the line running me into the shoulder.

I probably could have stopped the bike, but I turned back into the street and it's a very abrupt edge so I layed the bike over. I couldn't get it out of the ditch until a car pulled over to help. Once it was finally upright, I was so hot and tired, I dropped it on its other side.

I'm okay. The bike is ok, was able to ride it back home. Just some cosmetic damage. It was an eye opener though on how fast things can go wrong. If I were leading, or riding solo, I would not have split the truck. Once it happened though I realized I should have either waited, or tried to stop in the dirt, not try to ride it out and back onto the street.

 

[DataDan]

...Had a good mellow run down Hwy 1 and 35. After leaving Alice's and dropping a few layers, I was feeling pretty good on the route back. Then we got to the 92 interchange.

The car two cars ahead stopped fast as well as the truck behind it and the rider in front of me. I was able to come to a easy stop. The truck driver was passed at the car ahead and waving his hands around. My buddy thought it was best to get away from him and split on the right. I followed just after him just as the truck started moving. The truck must not have looked at oncoming traffic or was even more upset about being split on and quickly crossed the line running me into the shoulder.

I probably could have stopped the bike, but I turned back into the street and it's a very abrupt edge so I layed the bike over. I couldn't get it out of the ditch until a car pulled over to help. Once it was finally upright, I was so hot and tired, I dropped it on its other side.

I'm okay. The bike is ok, was able to ride it back home. Just some cosmetic damage. It was an eye opener though on how fast things can go wrong. If I were leading, or riding solo, I would not have split the truck. Once it happened though I realized I should have either waited, or tried to stop in the dirt, not try to ride it out and back onto the street.

If I understand the description correctly, it happened right here (Google street view link).

At some point, your intuition told you you shouldn't try to pass there. Can you remember what it was saying? What particular danger did you see in that situation?

But when your buddy pulled over to the right to pass, you followed. What were you thinking then? What made it seem OK?

 

[birbeck]

If I understand the description correctly, it happened right here (Google street view link).

At some point, your intuition told you you shouldn't try to pass there. Can you remember what it was saying? What particular danger did you see in that situation?

But when your buddy pulled over to the right to pass, you followed. What were you thinking then? What made it seem OK?

It was up a few feet on the right shoulder of 92, where 35 merges with 92.

First I wouldn't have been following the truck close enough that I would have needed to quick stop, and thus would avoid getting pissed at the driver. We were behind him for about 2 miles and besides tailgating the slow car in front of him, he didn't show any bad road behavior or strike me as someone I needed to get around.

When we were stopped and not moving for a bit and the truck driver starting to get mad, the other rider looked at me, I gave him the nod and we started off. It's at that time that my instinct should have told me to wait it out, but I was probably thinking get passed these slow people. Although the thought did cross my mind that maybe I didn't want to be in front of the mad tailgating truck, when the other rider went though, I felt obligated. I was the one that told him safe splitting is ok and gave him the nod to go around.

Once the truck swerved over the line quickly, survival habits kicked in and I really didn't think of much or remember exactly how it played. I just remember I needed to get away from the truck, speeding up wasn't an option, so I got over. Next thing the bike is on its left side and I'm standing next to it with my hand still on the throttle.

 

[splat]

Glad to see that you came out okay.
Sounds like the other riders thought you had more experience than you did. At six weeks into riding, you're barely capable of riding in light traffic. Not physically, but mentally. You're thinking about controls, when and where to use them, how to use them, how much or how little, which one first, etc. Though you may think you know, you won't realize just how little you know until you learn.

Do you think passing on the right was a smart choice?(never mind the legalities since we know it's illegal)

Would you agree that your safety trumps anyone else's concern for riding/driving?

How seasoned were the other riders? Did they tell you to keep up? Did they say or imply that they'd wait at the junction for you?

I don't want to sound brash or anything, but it sounds like the majority of your accident was caused by our inexperience. The driver wasn't brake checking you guys, wasn't swerving at you guys, didn't seem to threaten you guys in anyway except time wise. Drivers also assume they're the only one in any lane at any given time. It's up to you to use your discretion when sharing or passing.

 

[birbeck]

Glad to see that you came out okay.
Sounds like the other riders thought you had more experience than you did. At six weeks into riding, you're barely capable of riding in light traffic. Not physically, but mentally. You're thinking about controls, when and where to use them, how to use them, how much or how little, which one first, etc. Though you may think you know, you won't realize just how little you know until you learn.

Do you think passing on the right was a smart choice?(never mind the legalities since we know it's illegal)

Would you agree that your safety trumps anyone else's concern for riding/driving?

How seasoned were the other riders? Did they tell you to keep up? Did they say or imply that they'd wait at the junction for you?

I don't want to sound brash or anything, but it sounds like the majority of your accident was caused by our inexperience. The driver wasn't brake checking you guys, wasn't swerving at you guys, didn't seem to threaten you guys in anyway except time wise. Drivers also assume they're the only one in any lane at any given time. It's up to you to use your discretion when sharing or passing.

Correct. The accident was completely my fault and was a result of my own inexperience. I don't blame either the truck or the other rider for my own actions. I'm glad I came out unscathed and the the bike has only minor cosmetic damage. It will at least make me think twice about doing something like that again.

The other two riders definitely had more experience and were going a bit faster. I stayed back a little ways riding at my own (speed limit, sometimes a little below) pace. Thinking I had to stay with them at the junction was my own stupidity, traffic was congested and I could have caught up later.

Like I said earlier, the truck driver wasn't showing any signs of aggression to us and I wouldn't have had any other reason to pass him than to stay with the group. Lesson learned.

 

[DataDan]

First I wouldn't have been following the truck close enough that I would have needed to quick stop, and thus would avoid getting pissed at the driver. We were behind him for about 2 miles and besides tailgating the slow car in front of him, he didn't show any bad road behavior or strike me as someone I needed to get around.

Good instinct. Patience is a virtue in traffic. As is following distance.

When we were stopped and not moving for a bit and the truck driver starting to get mad, the other rider looked at me, I gave him the nod and we started off. It's at that time that my instinct should have told me to wait it out, but I was probably thinking get passed these slow people. Although the thought did cross my mind that maybe I didn't want to be in front of the mad tailgating truck, when the other rider went though, I felt obligated. I was the one that told him safe splitting is ok and gave him the nod to go around.

That's where you let your better judgment be overridden. As I am sure you now understand: Ride your own ride and make your own decisions.


What you were doing wasn't splitting, it was passing on the right. And if you were to the right of the fog line it wasn't legal. The consensus in the LEO lane-splitting thread seems to be that if you're between the right lane of traffic and the fog line, it's legal. But legal or not, it's more dangerous than splitting.

The relative safety of lane-splitting comes from riding between two lanes of bumper-to-bumper traffic. You don't have to rely on being seen because the presence of other vehicles keeps drivers in their lanes. But to the right of the rightmost lane, that protection is gone and you have to rely on the driver's expectation of a motorcycle passing on the right. Not a good chance to take.

 

[Variable]

It's at that time that my instinct should have told me to wait it out....
....when the other rider went though, I felt obligated. ....

- First off: follow your own instincts. Just because x,y and z does this doesn't mean it's such a a good idea for you to do it also.
- Second: Never feel obligated to follow someone else. Ride your own ride.

Follow your instincts, if you felt that you should have waited, but instead nodded to your fellow riding buddy to go ahead, you still have time to follow your instincts and think. Make sure you are OK with the decision you are about to make.

As you found out, every decision you make on a motorcycle counts. Some can end up like how you did, bike scrapped up, but you're okay. Sometimes it's the worst result ever, one we do not even like to look at.

Glad you're okay and the bike is relatively okay. Chalk this one up to live and learn.

Live to ride another day!

 

[splat]

You seem to have a good head on your shoulder being able to admit to the mistakes you've done. Good on you.

Now heed this warning: In about 6-8 months you're gonna feel confident in your riding position. Your slow speed maneuvers. Your ability to use controls effectively. Your ability to "predict" what drivers are gonna do.----STOP! Your confidence will quickly turn into complacency. That what causes accidents or worse.

Instead, take that confidence and build up on it properly. Track days, Advanced Riders course, braking seminars, parking lot drills, etc. Find something to challenge yourself.

Believe me, many many many great riders have gone before you, and many many great riders will go after you. Nothing on the road is constant except the fact that hitting the pavement at speeds will hurt.