Almost... almost... got SMIDSY'd

[Xdwardo500]

So this morning it's a little foggy but bright, and generally good clear vision for several hundred meters. I'm riding along a road in Lincoln which is single carriage way, 30MPH, fairly busy, the kind where all the car dealerships stick themselves along.

Anywho, this Clio has pulled onto the kerb up ahead, and begins to indicate back into traffic - just as I'm approaching him. Normally you'd assume (and thats my mistake) that he'll check before pulling out.

Oh no! Just as I'm 2/3rds level he swings right out causing me to swerve and put the power on to avoid him. No collision. Everything fine.

I was a little shaken, and called the driver lots of lovely names and did a "WTF?" gesture with my hand as I rode ahead. He stayed well back after that.

Lesson learnt here is to never assume anything. Normally I'm quite good at this, but just for a second I assumed he'd seen me. Maybe I could do more to be visible? Wear one of those reflective arm-bands? I'm getting Vespa in for it's first service next Saturday and I've got a nice Italian exhaust going on which will make it slightly louder, so hopefully I'll have a bit more road presence.

But yeah... part of me feels it was his fault, part of me feels it was mine for "switching off".
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Lincoln, England
2011 Vespa GTS 300 Super
Riding Since 2011

[P.addy]

I treat cars like knobs, if I see an indicator I hang back.

They do a quick flick of the mirror and thats it off they go

Personally wouldn't have done a swerve.. I remember back on the 125 some woman had left her left indicator on for ages... coming up to a massive parking space on the road I thought..she will tun in here.

She turned the car left... instantly assumed she was parking there, went to overtake and saw her right indicator come on just as I went past her rear light.. Had to swerve then.. but if I didnt overtake I wouldnt have to.

If your clio driver did a really stupid but often done U turn... you wouldn't be typing what you did

[Xdwardo500]

[richrock]

[Rogerborg]

Well, you lived and learned.

It's going to happen frequently, and there's not an awful lot that you can do about the cause. Lights on, visible clothing, white or silver helmet, they still won't see you.

I've even (mostly) managed to get over my angry reactions to it now, since it doesn't achieve a damn thing except to make you more likely to miss the next SMIDSY opportunity.

At some point you do have to commit to a manoeuvre or else you'll never make progress. It sounds like you reacted well. The only thing I'd suggest is riding well out into the lane, as it makes you more visible and usually gives you more time to react - unless they U turn in which case you're pretty much nobbed whatever you do.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Xdwardo500]

[P.addy]

[Xdwardo500]

[P.addy]

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[P.addy]

Oh Big_Ham, I have disappointed?

Whats wrong with it? aside from the awful belly pan?

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[Xdwardo500]

It looks a bit... mish-mashey. And the exhaust has something weird going on!
____________________
Lincoln, England
2011 Vespa GTS 300 Super
Riding Since 2011

[P.addy]

I linked it purely due to the newer VTEC crammed in there.

Back to normality?

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/IMG_0428.jpg

[leonski]

https://www.spiralspinner.com/JAPANA/Coerce/HONDA/Photo/CB400SFSPEC3-2-H,VTEC/Top.jpg

PHWOARRRR[/quote]

Yes please.....
____________________
there is nothing like the smell of 2stroke in the morning
current beasts..lol de-restricted ludix classic 50 fastest ped ive ever ridden
yamaha ybr 125 working progress .......

[chris-red]

[richrock]

[Germ]

Why all the black bits and then a blue tank?It makes it look like they ran out of black tanks or blue plasticky bits.

[Ingah]

[P.addy]

CB400 Super Four VTEC