10 Common Motorcycle Accidents And How To Avoid Them

Used with the gracious and explicit permission of Wes Siler at www.rideapart.com.

10 Common Motorcycle Accidents And How To Avoid Them
August 12, 2013 by Wes Siler


Riding a motorcycle is dangerous. Luckily, bikes also give you the best possible tools to avoid crashing — incredibly powerful brakes, obstruction-free vision, excellent handling and very gripy tires. Here’s how to use those tools, and your very own brain, to avoid an accident.


10. A Car Turns Left In Front Of You
9. You Hit Gravel In A Blind Corner
8. You Entered A Corner Too Fast
7. A Car Changes Lane Into You
6. A Car Hits You From Behind
5. Your Riding Buddies Are Idiots
4..You Locked The Front Brake
3. A Car Opened Its Door
2. It’s Slippery!
1. The Most Common Bike Accident Don’t drink and ride.


See the complete article here: http://rideapart.com/2013/08/10-common-motorcycle-accidents-and-how-to-avoid-them/) or this LINK

KLR on the Anderson Truck Trail (and the dreaded Wall of Bofus).

This is a short ride report about how things can go wrong, and fast.



Go easy on me, folks...




I took the Big Girl out for a little exploring today. I "meant" to stay mostly on road or hard pack and take the Viejas Grade and Pine Creek Trail....but I got sidetracked and that didn't happen.


I started riding on the Anderson Truck Trail east of San Diego. It looked great at first. Wonderful views of El Capitan Reservoir. As many of you know--and if you don't, I'm here to tell you--the road quickly goes from passenger car to 4-wheel drive to mountain bike to a walking trail. Then it just peters out to a deer path. With some impressive drop-offs (sheer cliffs, really).




Did I mention the nice views of El Cap?


Fast forward 2 hours later:

(I called a fellow rider who knows the area.)

Me: Hey, Bob, it's Dan. Riding today?


Him: Nah. Doing the work thing.


Me: Oh, OK. Hey, got a second to chat?


Him: Uh, sure. What's up?


Me: Hey, let's say a rider gets to the bottom of the Anderson Truck Trail and meets up with the dreaded Wall of BOFUS. What are his options?


Him: Oh, boy.


Me: Yeah...


Him: There's a hill about 100 yards back that goes around. It's tricky, though.


Me: Yeah, I tried that. I'm on my ass as we speak. The KLR's tires are pointing upwards.


Him: Yeah, that'll happen. Well, get on the gas. Get a running start and hit it hard.


Me: OK, thanks.


(15minutes later)


Him: Just calling to make sure you made it out OK.


Me: Nope, second try. On my ass again; the KLR is, too. Gonna take a break and consider my options. It's friggin' really hot right now.


Him: You could turn around and ride back up.


Me: Yeah, I'm not feeling that. I'll give the hill another try.


Him (and I quote): It's all about commitment... or heat stroke.


OK, time to get out of here before I end up like the last guy who died right in this spot in 2011. A quick but heartfelt prayer and off I went.


Long story short, 3rd time was a charm.


I tore up my brand new Ortlieb saddlebags. And my Wolfman tank bags. Let's see....tore off the left footpeg and left a turn signal on the trail. Added some beauty marks to the bike.


I tell ya, solo riding ain't always what's it's cracked up to be.


Lessons learned: None. I'm a knucklehead in every sense of the word.


I'm going back, though. And this time it's personal.


I'm coming for you, BOFUS!



In retrospect: I'm sore as heck from picking up that Big Pig "a few" times. Looking back, I wish I'd taken more photos of the bike on it's side and bars/wheels up, as well as the hill I finally conquered to get out of that situation. I was too hot and feeling exhausted at the time and didn't have the energy to even snap a photo. I'm just glad I was able to take a photo of the Wall of Bofus before I went wheels up!

(Feel free to research the Anderson Truck Trail or the Wall of Bofus for more info on a very devious ride.)