I Almost Crashed My Rocket 3 Motorcycle!!

YES, i almost crashed my motorcycle, my beloved Rocket III Roadster. i have had quite a few close calls since i have been riding but this is the first one i managed to capture on video... and it was a butt clenching situation.
i cover everything in the video and it is a short one so just watch the whole thing and let me know what you think. the only real lesson here is to ALWAYS look ahead and be prepared for the worse. while you can never know what someone else is thinking, you can anticipate the worse case scenario and SLOW DOWN!!!
Excessive speed would have made the outcome to this situatuion MUCH more undesirable!
the Rocket 3 is a very powerful motorcycle with just as impressive brakes, as i found out that day.... With great power comes great responsibility so slow down, lol.
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[@michaeljkasnter]

You did excellent- you were scanning ahead and saw the truck- you knew he was going to pull -out- i expect every car to pull out- i ride like iam invisible- love the R3

[@RayMAKES]

yeah, thats how you have to ride, even on such a big bike, no one sees you

[@danthemakerman]

Good thing you paid attention to your instincts and let off the throttle. Glad you are safe dude.

[@RayMAKES]

thanks Dan... im glad i slowed it down too.... might have turned out differently!!

[@MichaelZurcher]

I've had a few close calls myself....mostly just like this....people just blowing through intersections, people pulling out last second...always gotta be on the defense!!! One time I had a guy pull out in a truck and just stop in the middle of the intersection when he realized he goofed, I was literally less than 50 ft away when he did, slammed on my breaks and slid the bike sideways, was able to regain control and managed to maneuver around him...just barely....I almost soiled my shorts on that one. Glad you were able to avoid it...it's scary stuff.

[@RayMAKES]

oh boy that does sound like a butt clencher... i get these from time to time which is why i decided to start recording.... just in case i dont make it there will be a record.

[@PaulDesmondimakewoodthings]

Glad you avoided the crash Ray. Stay safe dude!

[@RayMAKES]

thanks Paul, im glad i avoided it too!

[@JK-hi3ir]

Quick thinking by the truck driver! The root of the problem may be being visibility. Wear BRIGHT COLORS... No shame! bike still looks cool regardless of outfit.

[@RayMAKES]

yeah i was glad he corrected into the left lane... i actually wear either a fluorescent green or florescent orange long sleeve shirt whenever i ride and a solid white helmet... which is why i think he saw me as soon as he pulled out... but he had to commit to get out of the way.

[@ManBearPig1968]

Happy to see you in one piece, you're right about one thing, when riding, never take anything for granted....ever. After 26 years of riding, expect the unexpected....constantly. Ride with the assumption that none of the other drivers on the road have seen you, because most haven't. Keep the rubber side down 😎

[@RayMAKES]

+ManBearPig 1968 All true, thanks@

[@ESCAGEDOWOODWORKING]

Wow dude! very good explaining what happened. Don't take crazy chances with speed please..

[@RayMAKES]

yeah, it was a doozy!! i wasnt even going that fast but the fast that i let off the throttle bought me enough time to evaluate and make a decision.

[@kilpel2]

You should have slowed down when you spotted him, and ride like you are invisible.

[@RayMAKES]

I did

[@AwesomeFunThings]

Oh my. Glad you're safe!

[@RayMAKES]

thanks, I was clenching tight on this one!

[@robertevans6481]

Glad you had your head on straight, if you would not have slowed down, we mite not be watching this video. Stay safe Ray...

[@RayMAKES]

+Robert Evans yeah, as a matter of practice, I always let off when I see a car that can pull out ington of me.... but this was the first time someone actually did.

[@donnymcarter]

Close calls are always so scary! I was once clipped by someone turning in front of me. Glad you're ok Ray!

[@RayMAKES]

thanks Donny, i have been lucky so far but people drive without being aware of any bike in the road!

[@BigPete7407]

Glad you are safe Ray. That was almost not so good as you put it. The fact that the driver realized he messed up and his reaction could have in and of itself made it worse if you didn't anticipate what he was doing. Anyway, glad you're. Ok! Now get back to work on the boat!

[@RayMAKES]

thanks Peter, the cameras wide angle lens makes it seem as though there was ALOT of space, but there really wasn't. As for the boat, i am still working on it, getting the video ready for next week!!

[@ManCrafting]

That is why I sold my bike. I love riding. Nothing quite like it. Just not willing to accept the risk. Stay safe.

[@RayMAKES]

I know how you feel Chad... it seems like its getting worse and worse, not the first close call but the first one i managed to capture... hope it is the last!

[@michaeljkasnter]

Live life- don’t hide from it

[@bumstudios8817]

Thank god you are safe!

[@RayMAKES]

thanks Chris

[@RedfishInc]

Been there, ended up with a lifetime of pain and disability. Sell the bike. IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.

[@RayMAKES]

yeah this kind of thing happens regularly, but then again, no one lives forever, lol

[@josephbrowne3533]

I see that this is 8 months old, but, constructive criticism can be useful no matter how old. I'm Irish so conditions here are completely different, our lanes are narrower, our roads are often higher speed limits in comparason too. The only time I've been hit by a car is when I was stopped. First off, your helmet will just change your life, not save it, get a full face lid. If the most common close call you have is people pulling out then you know its your face that going to get the hit. Second, never mind high visibility clothing, the rocket 3 is massive, its the headlights they see not the rider, always ride with the headlights on, not on full, just dipped, if you have a flash button, use it in those situations, a flash or two and changing lane position will draw a drivers eye better then all the hi vis in the world. And the sideways movement will give them a better understanding of your speed. But if their not looking they can't see you. Did you completely close the throttle and then brake? I see no dip in the footage, and I've never ridden a triple so I dunno how much engine breaking their is, but all the same you were going too fast, for the time of day, people are lax between 3 to 7 or 8, their not expecting trouble like they are early or late, they make silly mistakes because their hungry or they just ate, or tired, its the time when most accidents happen. So your going too quick, and haven't picked the best line to be able to break the hardest safely. You have the biggest production cruiser in the world so I assume your not very intrested in racing, but learning a bit from road racers or motogp will make anyone a better rider regardless. You have this lovely bike, and lively looking place to ride it, but looking at the footage it seems like you had no opinions, because you left yourself none. It doesn't matter who's in the wrong if your dead. Hope some of my criticism helps man, I ride like a total arsehole, so I'm really not trying to be preachy, I just see a sketchy situation that you have the power to lessen the chances of or impact of in future, and your saying that you'll have proof if anything happens sounds a bit too much like acceptance of your fate being in the hands of gobshites making mistakes like the pickup driver.

[@RayMAKES]

all good points, i was definitely going to fast, as i mentioned in the video.

[@josephbrowne3533]

Ray MAKES Perhaps, but here in Ireland the road safety message is speed kills, its not true tho. I never do the speed limit, I ride to the conditions at the time all the time, wearing minimal protection. Most accidents can be avoided, but you need options, so changing road position may give you more breaking power and distance, or allow you to give it more throttle if need be. Sorry man, I just love riding and people making mistakes like pulling out in front of us is inevitable but how to deal with it is always diffrent and fascinating, and all the tiny things you might do seldom even shows up on camera cos times slows down for us. I had a woman in a mini van thing do a u turn right in front of me as I'd just passed out a big jeep, on camera it looks like I just hit the breaks and was lucky, really I knew the person in the jeep didn't like that I'd passed him and was hard on my arse, so I was looking at the woman do the U turn not knowing if she was going to realise her mistake and hit the breaks half way through or not, I was breaking to let the guy behind me know, while scaning the car to see if their was kids in it so if I have to hit it I can pick the safest place. She never saw anything, till I'd just managed to countersteer past her back bumper, thankfully she didn't try to reverse quickly, the car following me only just managed to break in time to not hit her, and to make it worse, she was going to have a 3 point u turn, on a series of blind bends. I couldn't even get off my bike I was so angry I'd have hit whoever it was, regradless of age or gender. It had the potential to be a massive horrific accident.

[@leksey7870]

Powerful motorcycle! Ride it it is necessary very carefully. I also had, but I decided to get rid of it. It is very risky to drive.

[@RayMAKES]

yes it is Aleskey... i hope that i can continue to ride without any more close calls

[@leksey7870]

Good luck! Let all be good!

[@RayMAKES]

+Аleksey Bek thanks!

[@Thom4123]

Hung my biking days up. There's so many more cars and trucks than when I was riding and to many idiots on the road that don't look twice half the time they see us thinking oh it's a motorcycle it's smaller and will be able to stop and it takes twice as long to stop. Hey main thing is your ok STAY SAFE OUT THERE!!!

[@RayMAKES]

yeah it seems that every year there are more vehicles on the road... i hope there wont be any more close calls like this!!

[@Thom4123]

Ray Pena Stay safe out there great idea with the camera.

[@RayMAKES]

thanks, you too!

[@kc0gmf]

Do you think the driver saw your headlight and then pulled out onto the opposing lane? Does the Rocket automatically switch on the headlight?

[@RayMAKES]

Yes the rocket has headlights that are always on. i think he saw me but it didn't register until he was in the intersection...

[@pat_link_]

glad your save

[@johnbrown2163]

Glad you're safe. Close call... Upload to Moto Madness on KZbin. If you had a Turbo you wouldn't have had this problem... You simply would have been farther in time and space and never would have seen truck, would have been 2 minutes behind you... 😜 Can you lean on bike or not curve friendly?

[@RayMAKES]

+John Brown thanks, I guess a turbo may have helped, lol

[@mo_viking7075]

Yeah, cage drivers have heard bikes handle better than cars, sometimes they make you prove it.

[@RayMAKES]

yeah, it happens more than i would prefer... even on these rural roads, this particular incident was confusing since there was so much visibility.

[@MrMpalmer33]

I wish I could say this kind of thing was an uncommon occurrence for me. It seems to happen to me all the damned time. I often hear people from other states (of Australia) comment on 'Adelaide drivers'.

[@RayMAKES]

It happens too much

[@whiterabbitt2002]

Should have, could have, and would have ...

[@RayMAKES]

mayhaps

[@bwrd1976]

That will make you shake in your pants and really want to have a smoke even though you don't. I've had those myself and I know exactly how you felt....wowsers. .lol

[@RayMAKES]

i was definitely wide awake after that one.... for quite a while!

[@Berry_ave-4d6]

What i think ,,,,, If you define that episode as very very very close call ,, Then my advice ,,, become pedestrian ,,, !! What i think ,,,,, If you define that episode as very very very close call ,, Then my advice ,,, become pedestrian ,,, !! Your video is a good example of rule number 1 for those driving motorcycle .. Rule 1 ,, positions and drive with the thought , that all other road users have not seen you .. Your example when you get to a junction means you can never expect other road user have seen you ,so positions and react from rule 1. Quite hypothetically, "can we speculate," had you driven at correct speed, would the driver had seen you !!. With correct speed could let go of the gas and there had been no situation.!! The juntion was clear you see a big red car ... hello ,, Again, we can wonder if your helmet was yellow / white or your clothes bright the driver would see you !!.... or if you had mounted fog lights and used them ..

[@Berry_ave-4d6]

KTM Freeride 250 F

[@stuart6756]

I'm sorry mate but this happens daily, if that little incident upset you then I advise that you get a bus or buy a big SUV.

[@RayMAKES]

Thanks for sharing

[@pat_link_]

glad your save

[@RayMAKES]

thanks Pat!! i wasn't sure i was getting through that one at the time!!!