How to do a stoppie

[SoulKiss]

Not because I am particularly good at them or even do them a lot - only once so far and I wish I hadn't.

1) Be driving along a road towards a pedestrian crossing that has just turned to green.

2) B e filtering as it a pretty wide bit of road (1.5 to 2 cars wide each lane, one lane each direction), but looking for your entry into the now starting to flow traffic.

3) With the aid of a tw@ minibus driver that barely speaks english, rapidly apply front brake to avoid hitting said tw@ who has decided to do a dash from the side road before traffic stops him in.

4) Pick up bike from the ground while swearing at minibus driver, questioning the marital status of his parents at the time of his birth and various other choice use of English vernacular, most of which he doesn't understand.

5) Get drivers details and a couple of witnesses just in case.

6) Check bike over and once again thank the lord for R&G.

7) Proceed to work.

So now that both sides of my SV have been introduced to Mr Tarmacadam, I am looking for a volunteer, probably from the Soho Massive, probably from West London, to come out with me and see how I ride and let me know if its ME that drives like a **** (and I am not ruling this out - 2 offs in 3 days kinda says something), or if I have just been unlucky.

Again, while I would apportion 100% of the blame to the other guy in this one, I still regard it as my fault, I should have anticipated his stupidity.

Also, should the police be involved? I have details of witnesses and driver, but no-one was hurt (tho my left shin may hate me in a bit), and no damage was done, so is there any point/need?

David

Every vehicle in a side street is going to pull out without notice (until proven otherwise), and every pedestrian on the sidewalk is going to change direction and step out right in front of you (also, until proven otherwise).

[jambo]

Doh, sorry to hear this mate. Riding in traffic is something you get a feel for over time. In the mean time maybe just add an extra 10 minutes to your journey times and make sure that you take your time and try to observe everything that could go wrong, you get better the more you do this. Also worth doing is learning how to stop quickley and smoothly and feel for when the front tyre is running out of grip. When I feel I'm getting worse at this I find a bit of road where no one else is (a deserted car park might be best I guess) and practice stopping until you're confident you can stop quickley without locking the front.

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by jambo

Doh, sorry to hear this mate. Riding in traffic is something you get a feel for over time. In the mean time maybe just add an extra 10 minutes to your journey times and make sure that you take your time and try to observe everything that could go wrong, you get better the more you do this. Also worth doing is learning how to stop quickley and smoothly and feel for when the front tyre is running out of grip. When I feel I'm getting worse at this I find a bit of road where no one else is (a deserted car park might be best I guess) and practice stopping until you're confident you can stop quickley without locking the front.

Journey time is not an issue - I get to work when I get to work, no real fixed start time (tho I aim for 9 to get away early).

This was a full on need to stop the bike NOW incident, only way it wouldn't have been was if I had been following the words of the venerable ancient Miyagi "Best defence is no be there".

Yep observation would have been the key, but again, another lesson learned - and I now know there is NOTHING wrong with the brakes on an SV.

If you're free this evening Jambo - fancy a bit of a ride?

David

Read the topic & thought, "Oh no!".

Sorry to hear. Sometimes you just get bad things happen to you - I had it 2 days running near the Elephatn & Castle - car drivers pullnig out - exactly the same circumstance both times.

On the road, as in life: Expect nothing, that way you won't be disappointed.

Don't be afraid to use your horn.

Do you wear that lumiscent clothing - started wearing my idiot strap thing in the morning now.

Lights on? etc.

My evening of debauchery has been rescheduled so tentatively, um, "I'm free"

Originally Posted by SoulKiss

If you're free this evening Jambo - fancy a bit of a ride?

There is always Selkent tonight....

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by Kate

There is always Selkent tonight....

Already arranged with Jambo , but thanks for the heads-up.

David

I have to say, I slow right down when filtering. Probably the best way to increase safety...

Allow me to hearten you slightly. My SV was written off in a very similar incident (except that the idiot to blame did a u-turn in front of me rather than turning out from a side road). I got a witness at the time - gold dust they are! The third party's insurance company have now admitted full liability and coughed up for the bike (£3,100 for a March 04 registered pointy - not bad!).

So even though you blame yourself (as I did) for not avoiding them, it's still their fault so worth pursuing the claim. And just because you were filtering means nothing - it's legal. I was filtering too.

Good luck!

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by mastiffmat

So even though you blame yourself (as I did) for not avoiding them, it's still their fault so worth pursuing the claim. And just because you were filtering means nothing - it's legal. I was filtering too.Good luck!

Good to hear about your insurance win

I don't blame myself - it was all the other guys fault (he and the idiot woman who slowed/stopped to let him out tried to tell me I shouldn't have been filtering - I corrected them on it - pointed out all I was doing was overtaking stopped/slow traffic)

But while I dont BLAME myself, I do take responsibility for it happening

Thanks again though

David