K11 Owners Group

Ernie-NH · Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 12:29 pm Post subject: Odds and Ends while riding ???

Hi guys...

I was away on a short ride to MD and back last week, but while away I was talking with a non-rider and I mentioned the 'odd' things that come up off the roadway, or fly through the air, to strike the rider and/or his/her bike while riding. They seemed to be amazed that anything at all hits you while underway, and I related to them the strangest 'strike' I have ever experienced !

A few years back I was on my big 'V-Twin Kawasaki' riding on I-95 through Bridgewater Conn., on my way to the Tapanzee Bridge and into NY. While I was still in CT, riding in the middle lane of the 5 southbound lanes available, travelling at appx. 70/75 mph, I suddenly noticed a bright flash just in front of my visor. I instinctively raised my left hand to shield my face from the 'explosion', but there was no impact ! Instead, I found my left hand grasping the stem of my right hand mirror, glass, frame and all !... and I quickly tucked it between my legs and the tank so has not to loose it. It seems that SOMETHING had come up from the highway, or perhaps blown off a flatbed carrier that was to the right and a car length or so in front of me. Nothing ever struck me, nor did I ever see what hit the mirror, or broke it off so cleanly at the base of the stem where it attaches to the perch, but very glad that I had unwittingly been able to save the mirror, broken stem, but otherwise in tact !

It seems that, first realizing what must have occurred, recovering from the "sudden-ness", then getting over to the farthest right lane, and finally to a stopping place, was the hardest portion of the incident. After a quieting smoke and damage assessment, I did manage to get the mirror function back by wiring it to the perch and securing it with duct tape, and later ( somewhere in VA I think ) I found a truck body welder that welded the stem and the perch-nut back together for the remainder of the ride !

I know other riders have experienced 'oddball' incidents similar to this, and I am just curious to know what some of them might have been..

Best regards all and please ride safe !!........// Ernie in NH [/list]
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AMA,, American Deaf Bikers
Airhead Beemers Club
'11 G650gs
'95 K1100LT
'76 R100/7

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 6:48 pm Post subject:

Interesting Ernie.

Made me think back, waaaay back to the mid-70's. At the time I was living in Newtown, CT where I had bought my first motorcycle (Yamaha XS500D- a parallel twin)

I was on my very first highway ride. I-684 south in southeastern N.Y. to visit friends and family on Long Island. I was at least a couple hundred feet behind a tractor-trailer that was in the right lane- I was in the left lane. BOOM. One of the left outer rear tires on the truck exploded. Startled me, big time. Then I rode through a downpour of various size rubber pieces and dodged a couple hunks of tread lying in my lane.

Will never forget that one.
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

Ernie-NH · Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 8:44 pm Post subject:

Hi John..

Yes.... trailer trucks ! I do not like following too close or even passing for just that reason, BUT I know a Ninja rider that tucks right in behind whenever he can. To me thats a prescription for disaster since one never knows what will emerge from under that truck at 80 mph or more..

On a ride from Auburn Alabama north on I-85 toward Atlanta at night, I dont believe I've ever seen or dodged as many tire re-tread leftovers as on that road. Cant even imagine what it would be like hitting one of those at 80 mph or so after being unable to avoid it ! I'll bet one of us K11 folks has however at one time or another ..

Best regards all...........// Ernie in NH
_________________
AMA,, American Deaf Bikers
Airhead Beemers Club
'11 G650gs
'95 K1100LT
'76 R100/7

Phil Marvin · Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 10:09 pm Post subject:

Back in 1971 while in the US Navy in Hawaii, I was riding my Norton when a piece of metal was thrown up by the truck ahead of me. It shattered my headlight and ricocheted off my helmet. The Norton dealer, of course, had no headlight lenses, so I found one at an independent which, a few years earlier, had sold Matchless bikes. Lucas made them (the same) for most all the British marques at that time.
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Ride Safe,
Phil Marvin in El Paso, TX
'94 K75A/3
'95 K75RTP

RAL88 · Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 10:42 pm Post subject:

When I lived in Colorado I was driving south on I-25 on my way home from work and I was about 10 car lengths back behind a semi. There were no other cars between me and him. The semi kicked up a piece of loose asphalt about the size of my fist. I couldn't swerve because it was coming so fast by the time I noticed it all I could do was turn my head. It hit me right in the visor and bounced off. The only way I knew that it was a piece of asphalt was because it left a little piece behind in the visor. I still have the visor.

That is why I always wear a helmet.
_________________
Rich

"If it ain't broke, take it apart and make it work better"
*************
'96' K1100LT-SE
'97' R850GS-R

drikko · Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 11:14 pm Post subject:

A few months ago one of the outback road trains carrying cattle like the one in the photo below wooshed past in the other direction. After it had passed I was covered in bullshit....literally... It's days like those when you are glad you were wearing a full face helmet!!!

_________________
K1100RS '97
Laverda RGS 1000 '84
Jim Young Trailer Sailer 5.7M WB

DISCLAIMER:- Anything I say may have been when I was drunk so please don't take it personally.

'Bigamy is having one wife/husband too many. Monogamy is the same.'
Oscar Wilde

Ernie-NH · Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 8:29 am Post subject:

Hi drikko...

Hey...now thats a truck !! They dont back-up those things do they ?? Ive seen much smaller 'triples' here on US highways ( but not many ) and they seem to 'waggle' as they go. Really looking dangerous for others, especially bikes, that have to share the same roadway.. I have to admit to never having been the victim of a 'bull shit' shower, but suppose there's always a first time...eh?

Best regards........// Ernie in NH
_________________
AMA,, American Deaf Bikers
Airhead Beemers Club
'11 G650gs
'95 K1100LT
'76 R100/7

drikko · Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 7:10 pm Post subject:

Haha, no they don't back them up very far, but they do go at 130kph fully loaded. Difficult to pass on bitumen, impossible on the dirt roads of course.
_________________
K1100RS '97
Laverda RGS 1000 '84
Jim Young Trailer Sailer 5.7M WB

DISCLAIMER:- Anything I say may have been when I was drunk so please don't take it personally.

'Bigamy is having one wife/husband too many. Monogamy is the same.'
Oscar Wilde

miKeinWIs · Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 8:09 am Post subject:

Blimey, can't top that Drikko!
Last year on a 2 lane in South Dakota headed for the Badlands there was 50 miles I couldn't figure out why the front wheel was kicking up so many stones. My toes and shins were getting hit constantly, sometimes very noticeably. Got to "civilization" only to see my boots and lower part of bike covered with yellow spooge and grasshopper bodies. Truck pulled in behind me with the front so plastered you couldn't see the head lights. Was still finding embedded bodies weeks later. Fork gaiters earned their keep.
Mike
_________________
'97 K1100LT
Bought 6/30/09 w/26,750 miles

old guy old bike · Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 12:33 pm Post subject:

Like Mike, I had an encounter with little critters. Mine was with a swarm of bees. None got through the jacket, gloves or helmet but both legs were covered with stings. Guess jeans just are not thick enough.

Another encounter was with a robin at about 70 MPH. Hit me square in the chest and about ripped me off the bike.
Jeff
_________________
1993 K1100LT
2003 K1200GT Gone but not forgotten
2014 Victory Crossraods

Ernie-NH · Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 1:34 pm Post subject:

Hi guys...

Like the "bugs and bees",, a rider friend of mine living in Tucson AZ, told me of an incident where a south west predator wasp called the "Tarantula Vampire" ( or something like that ) either flew or was forced in through the neck of his jacket and stung him severely many times across his chest. His wife riding with him, and knowing how allergic he is to 'bees/wasps/spiders" etc,, called 911 and got him carted off in a ambulance..The encounter required shots and other meds to keep him conscious and alive. I've never seen one of these critters, and based on what I know, I dont want to !!

Regards...........// Ernie in NH
_________________
AMA,, American Deaf Bikers
Airhead Beemers Club
'11 G650gs
'95 K1100LT
'76 R100/7

RAL88 · Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 5:23 pm Post subject:

robleyd · Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 12:25 am Post subject:

Pah, a mere three trailers on that road train. They do it bigger in Queensland Smile

Just under a mile long with 112 trailers, this rig grabbed the world record for the longest road train (multiple loaded trailers) ever pulled with a single prime mover in 2006.

For them as cares, the story is at http://www.thedieselgypsy.com/Roadtrain_Record-2006.htm
_________________
David, owner of:
1996 K1100 LT

ol-Levi · Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 1:35 pm Post subject:

I was in a poker-run in Independance MO this spring on some back road and had something hit the bottom of my right foot. Thought that somebody ahead of me had dropped something. Didn't stop but noted the place where it happened.

Drove by the same spot on the way home, found it.

It was the rear half of my own front fender.

It's a good thing that the hardware stores supply metric bolts these days. Replaced the top screw.
(Reminder to check those fasteners from time to time.)
_________________
97 K1100LT le (Kaw lady) with 119,000 miles.

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 5:04 pm Post subject:

robleyd,

Thanks for the link. One hell of a road train. Very Happy

John
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

Shoganai · Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 1:10 am Post subject:

Years ago I found myself behind a cattle truck. Suddenly it seemed to be raining...it took me a few seconds to realized I was infact being pissed on.

Shocked

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1993 K1100RS aka The Shop Whore
1994 K1100RS aka Blue Streak

The long road is a rainbow and the pot of gold lies there.
So slip the chain and I'm off again,
You'll find me everywhere. I'm a Rover. - JT

Nana korobi ya oki

Ernie-NH · Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 8:07 am Post subject:

Hi Shogs....

RE: ""it took me a few seconds to realized I was infact being pissed on. ""

..... love it !!

Something about those livestock carriers we seem to forget everytime eh? I was behind a 'hog hauler' a while back just outside Albert Lee MN, and though I cant recall being pissed on, the smell was so rank I had to pull over and let that truck get on to wherever he was going! Funny thing is, when you relate these incidents to 'non-riders' they are simply oblivious about the variety of things that can and do, come at us who ride in the open environment.

If I havent done so as yet, a thousand HaaZaas to your most recent and awe inspiring accomplishment !!

Best regards........// Ernie in NH
_________________
AMA,, American Deaf Bikers
Airhead Beemers Club
'11 G650gs
'95 K1100LT
'76 R100/7