Near miss - no ABS - Tail out sideways...

[Piet]

Its a short run into work in West Footscray each morning.  Today though, just turned into Somerville Road after the light change, very slight dogleg, straightened up and some clown in a tray top ute coming in the opposite direction turns in front of me to pull into the 7 eleven at the intersection.  The rear wheel locks up and starts its nice progressive slide out to the left trying to pass me.  The front is fairly heavily braked as well, and thankfully slowed me down sufficient to avoid any collision.

Not very happy though, and feeling the adrenalin doing its stuff for a short while.  Still ... so glad to be upright and no scratches.

[Biggles]

Sounds like the ABS paid for itself!   
One of the few defences we have against clowns like that needing to get their ciggies and Coke breakfast.     

[West Aussie Glen]

Sounds like the ABS paid for itself!   
One of the few defences we have against clowns like that needing to get their ciggies and Coke breakfast.     

The title says no ABS?
Glad you are still upright Piet.
I had a similar situation when test riding a Yamaha Royal Star with my wife on the back, certainly puts the wind up you.

[saaz]

I know that intersection, not the best place to have this happen. I think the quality of modern tyres can also get some thanks, as recovering from that sort of situation used to be much harder.  Sure gets the heart pumping.

[Biggles]

The title says no ABS?
Glad you are still upright Piet.
I had a similar situation when test riding a Yamaha Royal Star with my wife on the back, certainly puts the wind up you.

Quite right- saw the ABS and jumped in. 
So saaz' comment is helpful- tyres can be very grippy when needed.
Piet didn't mention pro-active scanning, but he's probably doing that automatically in dense traffic (with even denser drivers).

[Nigel]

Great to hear your ok.....Not that I often do this, but last time that happened to me, I was lucky enough to catch up to the culprit at the next set of lights and peacefully offered the use of my glasses. She declined..............Ah well....Great to see you made it though.....And that is a sh1t of an intersection. Really have to keep your wits about you but then we always have to...............................

[spanner]

peacefully offered the use of my glasses



haha .... nice idea. Maybe I should carry a spare set I get from Vinnies or somewhere so i can pass them through the window and then ride casually away.   

[Brock]

Strangely enough, if you had let up on the rear brake a tad, the bike would have straightened itself up. Its counter intuitive, and needs a very deliberate action to do I know. I have done it a couple of times, and have had to deliberately lift the right toe.

Well done avoiding the idiot by the way.

[Shaun]

I have used the strategy suggested by Brock a number of times and it is effective. It is bloody hard to talk yourself into doing it in the fractions of a second you have in that situation, but it is the right thing to do.

I think i may have learned the strategy from my years riding pushbikes around the place, on dirt and other places with poor traction, and coming to the realisation that the brakes are useless when the wheel is locked. So got used to the idea of slightly releasing the brake when sliding.

[Shiney]

Well done Piet, very impressive work avoiding the moron

[West Aussie Glen]

Strangely enough, if you had let up on the rear brake a tad, the bike would have straightened itself up. Its counter intuitive, and needs a very deliberate action to do I know. I have done it a couple of times, and have had to deliberately lift the right toe.

Well done avoiding the idiot by the way.

The theory is always there but when it is a real instantaneous oh Sh..t all you do is jump on the brakes, if you have enough time to process releasing the brake a little you are either very very quick or it is not quite an oh Sh...t, hence ABS.

[tj189]

Like Shaun and Brock I understand the theory, but unlike them never used it because of how Glen explained it...then I changed to the 1300 with ABS 

[Old Steve]

Piet, that's what is officially termed an STM - Sphincter Testing Moment

[zevk]

peacefully offered the use of my glasses
haha .... nice idea. Maybe I should carry a spare set I get from Vinnies or somewhere so i can pass them through the window and then ride casually away.   

on a serious note, i have been an optometrist for the past 25 years and can tell you that MANY drivers:
A) Do NOT meet the minimum standard for driving in Australia.
Many understand the dangers, and still REFUSE to wear spectacles or contact lenses while driving, for reasons of vanity and stupidity...
B) No requirements in Australia for RE-EXAMING vision after Learner licence, UNLESS the GP informs Vic Roads that they become DIABETIC or have suffered major illness i.e stroke, acquired brain injury, or unless the optometrist reports a driver as a danger to himself and others thinking he will not wear specs when driving

Vision changes during life and many do NOT meet minimum vision requirements for drivers.

I drive and ride ALWAYS with the concept that the vehicle in front of me, does NOT meet minimal vision standards and does NOT SEE ME...

imho, the Australian law is FLAWED and needs to be changed that ALL drivers should be required to pass the minimum standard of vision, EVERY 2 YEARS, or do not get a renewal licence as done in most western countries! 

[Shaun]

My memory may be going, but I think that in NSW we do a vision test every time we renew our license. My one needs renewing every 5 years so its been a while, but I am sure I had to look into a mirror at some letters. :)

Maybe they need to include memory testing too. Actually, better they don't.

[Gadget]

In Qld some clown successfully sued Dep of Transport because they are not optometrists and therefore not qualified to test vision. So now Qld do not require an eye test.
I think it needs a law that you need a fresh (less than 2 month) optometrists report before you can renew your licence.  AND if the optometrist finds problems it MUST be reported to the Dept of Transport including recommendations for glasses.
Daughter's friend is as blind as a bat and even with reversing camera and alarms on her car managed to back into a petrol bouser. :|||

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

[Shaun]

That's exactly why when I am on the bike I rarely worry about my riding, I worry a hell of a lot about the other clown in the car (and sometimes the bike).