Got Hit on my Harley

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one bullet

one bullet

Single-Sixer
Joined
Oct 4, 2007
Messages
452
City & State/Province
North Carolina
Out riding my bike on a beautiful day. Sitting at a red light waiting to turn left awaiting the green light. Green light for the folks coming toward me and turning left in front of me. An SUV proceeds through the intersection towards me and is t-boned by a young girl who ran the red light. This in turned knocked the SUV into me. Fortunately I was able to raise my leg on the side of impact but when the the SUV hit my bike I went flying. I was so blessed and fortunate. When the two cars collided they both careened in my direction. My body was literally in the open V shaped space the two cars created after their collision and I was thrown in roadway. There was no one beside me and no one approaching behind on this very busy city street at 1 in the afternoon. This happened in front of the biggest shopping mall in 4 counties. I'm bruised and scraped but otherwise seem to be OK. Nothing broken according to the x-rays at this point.
I really feel like God was watching and controlled where I went and where the cars went. I don't deserve his help but it is with a grateful heart that I receive it. Thank you God. Thank you for more days.
 
I had a front row seat, believe me. The young lady said she was looking at her radio. Never touched her brakes and speed at impact with the SUV was between 45 and 50. Not a single inch of skid marks.
 
As a long time Harley rider ..... these stories always make me shudder a bit. Glad to hear you're okay.

Now; on a related note.

How's the bike. Can it be saved? Pics?

What do you ride?
 
On the fence about the bike being saved. Maybe totaled. It is a 2004 Road King Classic. It makes me sick because it has a good bit of chrome. It was an absolute creme puff. Even the hard leather bags looked new. I have never dropped it and it didn't have a mark on it until yesterday. Crash bars front and rear really helped me. I think I got my leg up in time but the bar bought me time. The left front crash bar was folded back into primary but didn't hit it. Other dents and scrapes as well. I can't tell if my shifters are bent. Only 15,000 miles. I had it scheduled for the 15,000 mile service on Wednesday. I had been riding in the country and it was so nice. Unless it can be as good or better I don't want it back. They can tell me the frame is OK but I will always wonder.
It was wild watching those cars come at me like they did. It was so fast. After 30 years in law enforcement I knew tunnel vision and hearing were real and I was reminded of it again.
 
THANK GOD you escaped with only minor injuries and I do hope your bike is only suffering from mild scrapes and bumps too.
There are times when you would SWEAR that some Imp with a bucket of invisible paint and a brush has drawn a BIG target circle on you and your vehicle. I know I feel that way; My auto has been hit in the rear Three times sine 2005; The first time bent the rear frame and trunk floor so badly they totaled it (96 Volvo 850) the last two times in my 98 Volvo S-70, but NOT hard enough to do any major damage except to me and my neck.
I HAVE closely inspected the rear end of it and then had it thoroughly scrubbed and Still see no Target.
Oh well, I have my fingers crossed and will cross the fingers on the other hand for you.
 
I've got a very good friend who owns a cycle shop. I've seen a bunch of crash jobs and it seems very rare the frame has problems.

One never knows how much the insurance company is willing to shell out. Some seem anxious to total them out ..... others are always ready for new tin and chrome. We're very luck with quality after-market shops around here so we can avoid the dreaded Harley dealership song-and-dance and their $100.00 an hour labor rates. At only 15k on the clock it may be fixable but it's always your call.

I recently traded an 03 Road Glide with 50k on it, got $10.5k on trade and they sold it in a week for $11.5k.
 
Well, if you were going to be involved in the accident, it seems you were actually in the best place. Glad you didn't get badly hurt. I ride quite a bit myself. Not much you could have done about this one.

I had a really smart aleck reply about your not mentioning the condition of the bike , but hittman spoiled it for me. :) Seriously, they can make them like new. I hope you didn't have Allstate or Progressive.

My friend bought a wrecked '06 Road King 2 years ago and fixed it himself with help from his cousin. It looks brand new. I hope they make it right and again, I'm glad you're okay, relatively speaking.
 
I know Cholo :D I was just wanted to acknowledge God for what he did. I wanted to talk about my bike but didn't want to make seem like that was the most important thing. It ticks me off. That empty spot in garage should have a Harley in it. I ride safe and never show my butt on it. I respect it and know what can happen.
There really was nothing I could do. It happened so fast it didn't even scare me.
I already miss riding and its only been 24 hours or so!!!!
 
one bullet said:
It happened so fast it didn't even scare me.
Click to expand...
That's a fact! In '75 I had a guy in Nashville pull a gun and said he was going to shoot me. I didn't have time to be scared. I still have an '80 Shovelhead that I bought new. In '81 I was flying down Hwy 157 in GA with a friend, the one who repaired the Road King, riding behind me on his '81 Shovelhead. I was doing about 100 mph in a curve and the rear end started pogoing on me. It's where the older bikes had the rear wheel start hopping up and down out of the blue when the limits were pushed. I got it under control and pulled over. I was laughing when my friend pulled in behind me as white as a ghost. He asked me what I was laughing at as he couldn't believe I didn't get killed. My answer? "But, I didn't." I didn't have time to be scared. I understand the feeling.

When you feel up to it, some of us would like to see the extent of the bike's damage. I know it really sucks, but there may be, if ever so slight, a silver lining.
 
When on my bike, I hate to be first in line at a redlight at a busy intersection for this very reason.......no where to go or cars to block for you.

Glad you are OK, my bike too is older, 2000 wide glide. I really don't want a new one and would have mine fixed if at all possible
 
Hi,

Glad to hear there was an unseen hand on your shoulder thru all this. The bike? Well, they made the last one for you, maybe they'll have to make another. Some years back, a client was hit something like what you describe, about 100 yds from the driveway to the yard at work, so a few of his coworkers saw the accident. He had that same hand holding him, but nobody thought the bike would be anything but totaled. Ins. co. took it over and it came out as good as new, so there's hope!

Rick C
 
Glad you weren't hurt bad. This is why I don't ride. Nothing against those that do but this is the type of stuff that scares me. You can be a perfect rider and doing nothing wrong (as in this case) and get smeared all over the road because of the actions of others (which, fortunately wasn't the case in this case but it very well could have been if things went a few feet or inches different).
 
For an 04,I would hope they opt to repair it.
Even with only 15k on it,The book value would probably not be enough to get you onto a comparable ride.
 
My wife and daughter have already decided I shouldn't ride anymore. The part of my brain that makes rational decisions is saying you have had enough fun in this particular area. Just last Friday I was riding and again the first vehicle at a red light at a t-intersection. I got the green and started to go but I always make sure vehicles approaching are going to stop. Well, the vehicle approaching did not and continued on through the red. I was paying attention and it paid off.
Throughout my career I always counted on my training, confidence, and control of situations. The most unsettling thing about being hit was the complete helplessness I felt afterward. There just wasn't anything I could do to avoid it. The speed at which it happened still shocks me. I didn't contribute to it and wasn't doing anything wrong. The girl that caused it all was not trying to hurt anybody. She just made a mistake that, frankly, we all have made in being distracted while driving.
I just hate to give up riding. I am also too old to be hitting the pavement.......again!! :)
 
My friend, you recently retired & this has to happen. BUT,,,,,,,,,, you are physically safe. That's NO. 1!!!!!
Now, as much as it hurts to have that bike down, it can be replaced or fixed. Insurance companies & all don't like to shell out $$ but when put against the wall, they will. You've been in LE long enough to know a good bit on how to deal with them. Be stubborn & get it RIGHT!
 
You must have had loud pipes...they saved your life!

And don't make your insurance pay, make THEIRS. You did get checked out by a doctor, right? If mot, do so NOW. There may be problems you cant feel...yet. get a lawyer, too. At minimum have one ready.
Glad you came out okay as bikes can be replaced.
 
Bull Barrel said:
You must have had loud pipes...they saved your life!
Click to expand...

I don't see how loud pipes had anything to do with him avoiding serious injury. Sounds like he got very unlucky and then very lucky in a matter of seconds.
 
Sorry to hear about the "ride" BUT as long as YOU are OK, thank the Lord, good timing, luck ,whatever, and I too went through this and a reminder that there is far more out there that we cannot control, we put 'em down 3 times ,two out of our control (loose gravel in the turn), and one that the auto driver tried to nail me "in between" him and the car in front of me that he slammed into, waiting for stopped traffic, I gunned it ( first and ONLY wheelie I ever did) and laid it down in the medium.picked up the bike,, lit a cigarette, took one deep puff, looked to the sky and my Lord, took it home, sold it the week after..................never again....the folks who drive cars seem like they are NOT prepared for two wheels, coming or going, at posted speed limits.............and pull out right in front of you..................or turn across in front of you..............nuff said :roll:
 
jeffmb said:
Bull Barrel said:
You must have had loud pipes...they saved your life!
Click to expand...

I don't see how loud pipes had anything to do with him avoiding serious injury. Sounds like he got very unlucky and then very lucky in a matter of seconds.
Click to expand...

It's obvious you don't ride.
To explain, many who have straight pipes use the justification that the noise helps announce their presence to unwitting cager (car drivers). Hence the saying, "loud pipes save lives".
Try asking them why horns usually face forward....
 
Glad you weren't seriously hurt. When you look at the size and weight of vehicles on the roads today, riding a bike is a calculated risk at best. Cars and trucks have been made much safer over the last 30 years but Bikes ...not so much.
 
Glad you were able to come away uninjured. Sorry also the "King" is in bad shape. My 97 Classic is my baby and we do get attached.
 
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