wave of baja executions continues

[revmaaatin]

Two KLRista have been killed recently. I was (nearly) #3 last night, except-- I am alive. And surprised to be alive. 107 GPS miles--52 gravel, rest on Highway 14 in central SD....41F, clear dry roads, zero moon illumination. I was 1.5-2 sec (maybe less) from being runover/head-on last night on my way home on a flat, stretch of road with greater than 2 miles of sighting distance. Some pickup truck decided to pass a car without regard to my position; I managed to slow significantly and move to the shoulder as the two vehicles fully filled both lanes--neither making attempt to slow or move further right. It actually took me several seconds to recognize my position of 'in extremis'; I could not interpret that both lanes were 'full' for several precious seconds due to the traffic following the two vehicles that were running abeam each other, etc. I remember thinking, why are there 4 lights wide on the highway. YIKES! My lane is occupied. Thankfully, (using MSF logic/training) as the traffic approached, I had started from the left half of my lane, with an offset to the right 1/2 lane as the traffic approaches. It was an easy shift to the right shoulder to avoid impact during those last 1.5-2 sec. In retrospect, I wonder if these two vehicles were NASCAR style road- racing--as their closure speed was much faster than speed-limit, and in the time I observed them, they still passed me neck-and-neck. Forgive me, my oral reaction/response was less than Christian. The 41F had some effect on my early recognition of the the vehicle in my lane (I was thoroughly chilled). 41F--It had no effect on my oral capacities. MSF training and the grace of God--I am alive. maaatin. who occasionally is more Peter the Sailor than Peter the Saint.

[Horton Oliphant]

Glad to hear that your still with us. I don't know what else to say that would have any meaning. Glad your still alive and uninjured, physically that is. Alan revmaaatin wrote:

> Two KLRista have been killed recently. I was (nearly) #3 last night, > except-- > > I am alive. And surprised to be alive. 107 GPS miles--52 gravel, > rest on Highway 14 in central SD....41F, clear dry roads, zero moon > illumination.

[jokerloco9@aol.com]

Glad to hear you are OK. Reminds me of this last weekend: I was drag racing at Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield. I was waiting to make my run, and a drag bike in front of me went down at the finish line. He was doing 140-150 mph. I think he broke one arm, both legs, and broke every bone in his left foot. Always need to keep in mind how dangerous motorcycling is. Jeff In a message dated 10/21/2008 9:47:44 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, hortonhearsawho@... writes: Glad to hear that your still with us. I don't know what else to say that would have any meaning. Glad your still alive and uninjured, physically that is. Alan revmaaatin wrote:

> Two KLRista have been killed recently. I was (nearly) #3 last night, > except-- > > I am alive. And surprised to be alive. 107 GPS miles--52 gravel, > rest on Highway 14 in central SD....41F, clear dry roads, zero moon > illumination.

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[Kevin Powers]

When I opened this message I expected to hear of an adventure with a homicidal deer or suicidal pheasant, but two tons of steel rocketing at you is another beast altogether. It's interesting how the brain processes things in situations like this. First there is a recognition that there is a pattern that doesn't fit, then there is the processing of what the anomalous pattern means, then there is the OH @#$% moment were training and instinct take over. That recognition and processing time is where speed kills. The older I get, the more conscious I am that prudent riding increases the opportunity to respond when things go awry. Glad to hear you responded well and lived to ride another day! Kevin

On Tue, Oct 21, 2008 at 9:04 PM, revmaaatin wrote: > Two KLRista have been killed recently. I was (nearly) #3 last night, > except-- > > I am alive. And surprised to be alive. 107 GPS miles--52 gravel, > rest on Highway 14 in central SD....41F, clear dry roads, zero moon > illumination. > > I was 1.5-2 sec (maybe less) from being runover/head-on last night on > my way home on a flat, stretch of road with greater than 2 miles of > sighting distance. Some pickup truck decided to pass a car without > regard to my position; I managed to slow significantly and move to > the shoulder as the two vehicles fully filled both lanes--neither > making attempt to slow or move further right. > > It actually took me several seconds to recognize my position of 'in > extremis'; I could not interpret that both lanes were 'full' for > several precious seconds due to the traffic following the two > vehicles that were running abeam each other, etc. I remember > thinking, why are there 4 lights wide on the highway. YIKES! My lane > is occupied. Thankfully, (using MSF logic/training) as the traffic > approached, I had started from the left half of my lane, with an > offset to the right 1/2 lane as the traffic approaches. It was an > easy shift to the right shoulder to avoid impact during those last > 1.5-2 sec. > > In retrospect, I wonder if these two vehicles were NASCAR style road- > racing--as their closure speed was much faster than speed-limit, and > in the time I observed them, they still passed me neck-and-neck. > > Forgive me, my oral reaction/response was less than Christian. The > 41F had some effect on my early recognition of the the vehicle in my > lane (I was thoroughly chilled). 41F--It had no effect on my oral > capacities. > > MSF training and the grace of God--I am alive. > > maaatin. who occasionally is more Peter the Sailor than Peter the > Saint. > > > -- Kevin Powers White Bear Lake, MN [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[fasteddiecopeman]

Martin, GREAT luck - and God bless you! I'm sure He recognized your "oral response" for the prayer it was. Cheers, Ed

[Reverend]

Or how dangerous it *can* be. We have the advantage of chosing our battlefield, so to speak. Also, how well-trained we are for the battlefield we elect to take our skills to. That we all ride grossly underpowered machines mean that we need a larger buffer of safety as we can't power out of a problem.

> -----Original Message----- > Behalf Of jokerloco9@... > > Always need to keep in mind how dangerous motorcycling is.

[Stephen Grisanti]

But consider the advantages of being on a KLR when it come time to dive off the pavement in order to save your bacon. Stephen

--- On Wed, 10/22/08, Reverend wrote: From: Reverend Subject: RE: [DSN_KLR650] 2 secs from eternity To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com Date: Wednesday, October 22, 2008, 2:43 PM Or how dangerous it *can* be. We have the advantage of chosing our battlefield, so to speak. Also, how well-trained we are for the battlefield we elect to take our skills to. That we all ride grossly underpowered machines mean that we need a larger buffer of safety as we can't power out of a problem. > -----Original Message----- > Behalf Of jokerloco9@... > > Always need to keep in mind how dangerous motorcycling is. ------------------------------------ List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Bill Watson]

Rev, Glad you are OK. Wow, quite disturbing, primarily after it's all over and past you. Congrats on some quick thinking! Bill [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Reverend]

With the KLR I prefer the ditch to the smooth pavement (as those in my town are well aware hehe), so I guess it's far safer in that regard. Someone would have to toss their '85 Toyota Corolla in the ditch far faster than its rated top speed of 55 for it to bounce far enough to put ME into harms way. From: Stephen Grisanti [mailto:bike2vcu@...] But consider the advantages of being on a KLR when it come time to dive off the pavement in order to save your bacon. Stephen

--- On Wed, 10/22/08, Reverend wrote: Or how dangerous it *can* be. We have the advantage of chosing our battlefield, so to speak. Also, how well-trained we are for the battlefield we elect to take our skills to. That we all ride grossly underpowered machines mean that we need a larger buffer of safety as we can't power out of a problem. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Kevin Powers]

Indeed, you've got to love the KLRs capabilities for diving off the pavement. While traveling in Mexico I had a bus pull into my lane, with no room to get back into its lane due to other traffic. The bus never slowed down - I found myself wondering why this bus driver wanted to kill me before I dived onto the shoulder. Back on the road, my heart rate had barely started to return to normal when a truck pulled into my lane! That's when I realized I was in the wrong lane of a divided highway! Thank goodness for the KLRs ability to cross medians. Kevin

On Wed, Oct 22, 2008 at 1:54 PM, Stephen Grisanti wrote: > But consider the advantages of being on a KLR when it come time to dive > off the pavement in order to save your bacon. > > Stephen > > --- On Wed, 10/22/08, Reverend > > wrote: > > From: Reverend > > Subject: RE: [DSN_KLR650] 2 secs from eternity > To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com > Date: Wednesday, October 22, 2008, 2:43 PM > > > Or how dangerous it *can* be. > > We have the advantage of chosing our battlefield, so to speak. Also, how > well-trained we are for the battlefield we elect to take our skills to. > That we all ride grossly underpowered machines mean that we need a larger > buffer of safety as we can't power out of a problem. > > > -----Original Message----- > > Behalf Of jokerloco9@... > > > > Always need to keep in mind how dangerous motorcycling is. > > ------------------------------------ > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650Yahoo! Groups Links > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > -- Kevin Powers White Bear Lake, MN [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]