So I was on my way to work this morning, still kinda sleepy and not fully awake. I'm almost there, when suddenly, the car in the lane next to me cuts right in front of the car in front. Both cars then braked really really hard, almost coming to a skid. Apparently, it was because of a pedestrian who thought that moving vehicles could stop on a dime, so she walked right into traffic to cross the street. Granted, it was at a crosswalk, but I doubt she even waited for traffic to thin out.

Anyway, this is the part where I'm kicking myself right now. I was following wayyy too closely to the car in front of me, and I wasn't really aware of what was going on because of the whole half-awake thing. It was after the car already came to stop that I started braking, and it suddenly hit me: I couldn't brake hard enough. I was going to crash into it. Now, I used to skateboard just about everywhere, and when you skate, and are about to crash into something, you bail. So that's exactly what I did: I bailed. I jumped off the bike and onto the pavement, managing to land on my feet. The bike slid on its left side for another few feet, coming to a stop inches before the car bumper.

The car wasn't damaged at all. The gs, however, got a lot of scratches on the fairing, the alternator cover, and best part of all: both rearview mirrors broke off. One side hit the pavement, and the other side hit the car bumper. The lady driving was nice enough to ask if I was okay. She took off like a bat out of hell the instant I said "yeah, no problem here".

Moral of the story: Drink coffee at home, then goto work. Also, leave enough following distance at all times. What a fooking idiot I is.

the main thin is YOU"RE ok !!!!  i think we have all been in that position at one time or another , not compleatly awake or day-dreaming

i am glad you are ok too. you can fix the bike     i have never been half asleep on the bike, something about them wake me right up and my radar is on full rotation the whole time

Coffee and a cigarette = fighter pilot's breakfast = win.

Quote from: 510 on February 13, 2008, 11:48:37 AMI bailed. I jumped off the bike and onto the pavement, managing to land on my feet. The bike slid on its left side for another few feet, coming to a stop inches before the car bumper.

The car wasn't damaged at all. The gs, however, got a lot of scratches on the fairing, the alternator cover, and best part of all: both rearview mirrors broke off. One side hit the pavement, and the other side hit the car bumper. The lady driving was nice enough to ask if I was okay. She took off like a bat out of hell the instant I said "yeah, no problem here".

So did the bike hit the car or not?

Sorry to hear about the accident, and glad you're ok!

Thanks for the lesson/reminder for me too

Glad you're ok!

However, if the bike slid on its side and then either stopped before hitting the car or just barely tapped it enough to break a mirror off, you could've easily braked hard enough to stop before hitting the car.  I'm not saying it would have been easy in the 'oh that was a piece of cake' sense (I know it was kind of a panic situation), but it would not have taken Ben Spies-like skills to get it done. 

I guess what I'm trying to say is:  rubber will stop you better than plastic and aluminum will.  Practice those emergency stops and drink more coffee

Quote from: nightrider on February 13, 2008, 01:09:24 PM
Coffee and a cigarette = fighter pilot's breakfast = win.

i agree fully !!!

I was terrified when I had a similar situation. It was after work, but I was similarly sleep. Being both a novice and an idiot I immediately locked both brakes, the back end swung out and... I stopped two feet short. Brown trouser moment!

Quote from: badguy on February 13, 2008, 01:29:59 PM
Glad you're ok!

However, if the bike slid on its side and then either stopped before hitting the car or just barely tapped it enough to break a mirror off, you could've easily braked hard enough to stop before hitting the car.  I'm not saying it would have been easy in the 'oh that was a piece of cake' sense (I know it was kind of a panic situation), but it would not have taken Ben Spies-like skills to get it done. 

I guess what I'm trying to say is:  rubber will stop you better than plastic and aluminum will.  Practice those emergency stops and drink more coffee

+1 .. Glad you're OK, I bet too if you had hung in there you would have been fine  Sometimes the "target fixation" will get you, try practicing looking for a quick way out to avoid the collision all together 

Man, what's going on out there on the left coast ?  From all the different motorcycle forums i read, it seems like the craziest stuff happens in Cali way more than most other places - cars just suddenly jumping lanes to hell with anybody else... that's the least of it.  Some guy in Concord or Richmond was shot just for looking at some one in another car ( no motorcycles involved) recently.

Not putting Cali down ( I was in my Camry when a 'guy' followed me and threatened me with a 2x4 last spring - took his ass to court)  - happens everywhere but so much over there seems like.

That sucks big time! Least you're all right. I never hop on the bike unless I'm 100% my baby ain't worth that. I would recommend go to a subdivision and practice those kind of stops. We have a ton of sub divisions that are still being built despite a housing slump so I try to get out a least once a month with a friend and practice the slow stuff.

On the bright side though now you can do some customizing! You didn't like those bug antenna rearview mirrors anyhow right

Take it easy man,

mary

Thanks for the support you guys.

I gotta agree with Toogoofy: I never was a fan of those bug antenna mirrors 

i have katana mirrors on mine F model and they were straight bolt on

speaking of "F" rerview mirror what size are those screws in there. When my bike was knocked over the screw may have stripped out and no screw to find. So size please. Also, does anyone know if the GSXR mirrors/ flashers will work on an "04"?

Mary

http://alpha-sports.com/suzuki_parts.htm

cool, just what i was looking for!

i like the skateboarding analogy, i know what you mean. glad youre ok! sounds crazy. i have mirrors from my 01 if you want em.  good luck!

Everybody has his off day,s
I was driving with full attention, to a girl driving on a bike on the side of the road.
when I forced my eyes back on the road there was a car stopping/parked  about one meter in front of me, it all happened in a few seconds I was'nt looking that long really!
bashed the bike on the bumper.
I have the mirrors of my SV 1000 on the GS now...