Inconsiderate bounders in cars!

Hey guys decided to get saddle up and get the SV out of hibernation yesterday it was very sunny where i live, on my way home journey a car decided to pull out on me, worst time its ever happened he was staring directly at me and clearly saw me then as i got within 10metres of his car he pulled out from the left hand side, how i missed him i dont know. My SV ended up sideways through hard braking(maybe slightly more rear than front OOPS), after giving my bike a fistfull of revs in anger and chasing the guy banging on his window when we got to the traffic lights he shot off and i snapped back to reality knowing i would be the one getting in trouble!

Anyway the 2 mile ride home was awful the back end seemed to float from left to right the only thing i could see after examining it was a slight flat spot on the right side of the rear tyre, its not bald but a huge difference from the left side, does anyone know what could be causing this? is it the tyre?

IMO it's probably mind over matter, although the tyre probably won't help. If it is really is that bad i would consider getting the bike checked over.
On the bright side at least you missed the car.

[Fallout]

Yeah definitely +1 well done for avoiding the crash. It could've been a lot worse than a flat spot. As for that flat spot, I think that would make difference mate, especially when you're a bit on edge so noticing it more. How old is the tyre anyway? If its old, it might be worth biting the bullet it and getting a new one.

Can't help with the handling problem but glad you're ok!! Never a nice experience but will only make you a better rider. Just a shame it probably won't make the cager a better driver

Check your tyre pressures, low pressure would give that feeling you're describing.

Originally Posted by todsky426

decided to pull out on me

he was staring directly at me

and clearly saw me

Car drivers on the road were just like you and me before they stepped into the car. Your Mum and Dad are probably car drivers too. The vast majority of them don't have homicidal tendencies towards motorcyclists.

Staring straight at you, doesn't actually mean he saw you. The brain can only process a percentage of the picture the eyes are feeding it with, and therefore the brain subconsciously chooses to ignore things that it is not expecting to see. It's exactly the same phenomenon as looking for your keys; they are not on the hall table where you left them, you look round the kitchen they are not there, you look on all the surfaces that you might have left them around the rest of the house, nothing. You come back to the kitchen, they are slap bang in the middle of the worktop. How did you not see them the first time? Because you didn't think they were in the kitchen, you were sure you had left them on the hall table.

If the driver was looking for cars, trucks and buses, it's very common that he/she can stare straight at a cyclist or motorcyclist and not see it. It's one of the principals behind the THINK! campaign. If whilst sat at that junction, he'd conciously thought, 'must look for bikes too', his brain would not have ignored that part of the picture.

It's just a day to day danger that as motorcyclists we need to be aware of, and almost all car drivers do it from time to time, and they are not trying to kill you, it's just human nature.

Glad you are OK and well done for keeping it rubber side down!

[Fallout]

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

It's exactly the same phenomenon as looking for your keys; they are not on the hall table where you left them, you look round the kitchen they are not there, you look on all the surfaces that you might have left them around the rest of the house, nothing. You come back to the kitchen, they are slap bang in the middle of the worktop. How did you not see them the first time? Because you didn't think they were in the kitchen, you were sure you had left them on the hall table.

I have to disagree here. We all know it's really the key fairy. I refuse to believe my brain could possibly be at error. It's much more likely to be a devious winged imp, waiting for me to turn my back before messing with my stuff.

I agree with Ralph. Not everyone is out to kill you, but some seem to be!

Had a couple of incidents on Saturday. First was a woman pulling out onto the roundabout I was on whilst not looking forwards. She was either looking in the mirror or maybe at the kids in the back. I saw it coming though and just went round again as going for the exit would have ended bad for me, and given that someone pulling out on me was what killed my SV, I wasn't going though that again.

Second incident was a little more nasty. Traffic was heavy in town and stationary on a dual carriage way. I filtered (carefully as I'm not that confident with it yet) and came up between a car and a van at a red light. I could see the chap in the van looking at me and something didn't feel quite right. As the lights were about to chang I heard him pick his revs up a bit more than necessary. I'm not brilliant at fast getaways so don't get involved in racing but I decided to hang back anyway. He floored it a pulled staright across to where I would have been had I gone on green. I may be wrong but I'm pretty sure there was some intent in this case.

Originally Posted by DaveyF

I may be wrong but I'm pretty sure there was some intent in this case.

Again, it's a moment of stupidity and thoughtlessness, rather than actually hating you so much that they actually want to kill you.

That's the kind of incident where I would be opening the drivers door or knocking on the window at the next junction. The conversation would go along the lines of

"Do you want to kill me? Do you actually want to see me lying dead in the road? Do you hate me that much because I ride a motorcycle and I can squeeze through the traffic?"

It's amazing how sheepish they either go, or they get mega defensive and start shouting at you for filtering (you've just scared the s**t out of them by opening the door, Specialone has seen me do this and will testify that the driver filled his trousers), but either way, hopefully they will think about what you said later on and realise how stupid they were.

The thought did cross my mind but I had to turn off 100m up the road. At the time I think I was just grateful that I'd read the situation correctly and not ended up on the deck. I have been known to tap onthe odd window before, alhtough I haven't opened thier door yet.

Opened the boot on the other hand or nipped round and opened the rear passenger side door (as long as no one in the back), both done. Childish I know, but ultimately satisfying.