Head out for a nice little morning cruise, trying to get out of the engine break-in period so I can turn this baby out.
Headed East on highway 3, still in town tho, so it is 3 lanes in each direction. I'm in the center lane, and I'm coming up to pass a SUV in the right lane.
Lucky for me I like to be a very aware rider, so before I pass this SUV I check my mirrors and over my shoulder to see if the left lane is empty, because that's my escape route in this situation should something go wrong. It is clear.
I continue to pass, and sure as shit, no turn signal, no head check of the driver, he aggressively pulls into my lane, right into me.
In the first split second, I tried to mash my horn...except I used the wrong hand...my right thumb pressed absolutely nothing. What a noob!
In the next split second, the MSF training apparently took over. I swerved into the left lane while giving him the business with a steady horn blast (this time with the left thumb) and gave it a little juice at the same time to come out ahead so he'd for sure see me, and ensure that anything in the left lane (should my head check prior had not been correct) wasn't about to crawl up my tailpipe.
Danger averted...barely.
The driver immediately shat himself and down came his window, and he started gesturing very apologetically to me. I just shook my head a little, and I was surprised my heart wasn't in my throat...I actually was very calm.
We rapidly approached a red light, and when he came up on me he was apologizing left and right. I just immediately waved to him and nodded that it was OK. I figured this guy knew he fucked up big time, so rather than read him the riot act I'd be an ambassador for bikers and give him a good impression of us. I'm sure wherever he went on his vacation today he made a good visual check first.
Chalk one up for the MSF course...good chance it saved my ass today.
Headed East on highway 3, still in town tho, so it is 3 lanes in each direction. I'm in the center lane, and I'm coming up to pass a SUV in the right lane.
Lucky for me I like to be a very aware rider, so before I pass this SUV I check my mirrors and over my shoulder to see if the left lane is empty, because that's my escape route in this situation should something go wrong. It is clear.
I continue to pass, and sure as shit, no turn signal, no head check of the driver, he aggressively pulls into my lane, right into me.
In the first split second, I tried to mash my horn...except I used the wrong hand...my right thumb pressed absolutely nothing. What a noob!
In the next split second, the MSF training apparently took over. I swerved into the left lane while giving him the business with a steady horn blast (this time with the left thumb) and gave it a little juice at the same time to come out ahead so he'd for sure see me, and ensure that anything in the left lane (should my head check prior had not been correct) wasn't about to crawl up my tailpipe.
Danger averted...barely.
The driver immediately shat himself and down came his window, and he started gesturing very apologetically to me. I just shook my head a little, and I was surprised my heart wasn't in my throat...I actually was very calm.
We rapidly approached a red light, and when he came up on me he was apologizing left and right. I just immediately waved to him and nodded that it was OK. I figured this guy knew he fucked up big time, so rather than read him the riot act I'd be an ambassador for bikers and give him a good impression of us. I'm sure wherever he went on his vacation today he made a good visual check first.
Chalk one up for the MSF course...good chance it saved my ass today.
