1st Near miss

[Kamikaze Bob]

Coming into work this morning, taking the back road as I usually do, and come up to a staggered junction which I'm going straight through, give ways on my right then left joining my road. The road is a NSL, but I always slow down as you come over a crest towards it and there are always cars coming in/out of both junctions at that time in the morning, especially as the prison is down the road and it's shift change time.

There were a few cars in front of me, all with brake lights on 100 yards before the junction, and I noticed a couple of indicators either way, so I know at least 2 of them are taking turn offs. So I slow down and keep well back. After the car directly in front of me turns left on the second junction, I start to accelerate gently, mainly because I had seen a black Peugeot waiting to turn right towards me and a big council sweeper truck turning left going my way.

I'm pretty sure the council guy saw me, as he didn't move after the car in front turned off, but the Peugeot started creeping out. And creeping out. And still creeping out as I'm swerving over to the other side of the road (thankfully no traffic coming the other way) to get out of his way.

Managed to get past him, slow down to steady myself, glance back to shake my head at him, then get going again and get to work. Got me a little shaken and I stalled the bike at a set of lights a wee bit later, but just still can't get over how he could keep coming without seeing me right in front of him! All I can guess he was looking down the other way to make sure nothing was coming.

Anyways, obligatory paint diagram - I'm the red arrow, he's the black:
https://i1370.photobucket.com/albums/ag257/kamikazebob/Shottsjunctionnearmiss_zps86b56ece.jpg

Riding just shy of 5 months with my full licence, plus most of last summer for lessons and tests, this is the closest I've came on a bike to having a proper accident. Hopefully it's a damn sight longer before I have to post one of these again.

TL;DR - some twat didn't look who was coming along the road, pulled out on me, swerved with no damage and rode away
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2001 Honda VFR800fi

[andyscooter]

fair dos


you kept your cool and saved yourself
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[blueglue]

Its amazing how little your life is to a small percentage of cagers.

'Think bike'....or we will kick your bleeding mirror off!

[Skudd]

Well done for paying attention to your training, thinking ahead and being a proper member of the road.
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Famous last words of Humpty Dumpty. " Stop pushing me "
Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

[Snowdonia Rider]

You anticipated the junction and had a good idea what to expect and you rode defensively, well done

Sadly this type of scenario is too common.
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I want your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle.
Suzuki GP125 Suzuki GSX600F Suzuki SV650S KTM EXC250F SkyTeam Bongo 125
My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/SnowdoniaRider

[Pete.]

Shakes you up the first time doesn't it? This time of year you have to be very vigilant with the low light making everything blend in, especially on rural roads. Do you always ride with your lights on? It can increase your visibility/notice-ability to others a lot.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[DrSnoosnoo]

[Rogerborg]

Pugman will be off telling the missus about some lunatic who came out of nowhere, must have been doing a hundred miles an hour, had no chance to see him, only managed to save his life by a whisker, won't be as lucky next time.
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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

[monkeybiker]

If you saw the car creeping out then you should have beeped your horn a few times to let them know you are there.

[BigShow]

[dandelion]

As said, use your horn, politely if this were possible. It may set some drivers in rage mode but it's better than you in the ditch.

There's a junction between job and home I tend to use it, 1 out of 20 times I'd say they hadn't actually noticed me, 19/20 give weird looks.

Kudos to you for keeping it cool.

[lihp]

You could also have turned left into that junction as a much safer escape.
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covent.gardens: lihp is my most favourite member ever

[el_oso]

Whenever I get a creeper, I always make very delibaerate swerves, into the opposing lane if I have to to make sure I'm seen. It's much easier to pick out a moveing target. By moving into the opposite lane you can also give idiot a wider view if you are hiding behind the vehicle in front of you. please see attached diagram below.
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Duke 390
Previous: '05 XR125L | '96 XJ600S Diversion |'05 Suzuki GSXR1000 | '05 Honda CBR125-R | '97 YZF 600R Thundercat | '11 Honda CBR250
Car: Jeep Wrangler 4.0L

[Codezombie]

Lorries at roundabouts are a proper sod for doing this.
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2015 Zero-SR; Yamaha Diversion 900

[CaNsA]

[Pigeon]

Congrats for doing good stuff to survive to ride another day.

I tend to cover the horn when approaching vehicles sticking out form drives / junctions. It's not a magic laser device, but usually works when required. Also change road position to get furthest from them so if having to brake, it's done with the bike in a straight line and already out the way, not having to swerve and brake. This should also help make it easier to see me as the angle from the junction isn't so acute.
Occasionally, you can gas & go round the back of them, but this requires your path ahead to be free and no-one coming from behind, so I try to pre-empt and stop a situation rather than deal with one, hence the horn.

[Commuter_Tim]

Kamikaze eh? I think you need a name change to "Swervy Bob"
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The above post is most likely nonsensical.

I ride a Bandit 600... badly.

[M-C]

+1 for the horn. If a car creeps at a junction they get the horn.

[f0ul]

Well done on still being alive!

A trick I learnt a few years ago is, assuming your headlight is on, to do some light weaving when you wonder if the car at the junction has seen you.

The idea is that even with your light on, people can't work out how far away a bike is if all they can see is a light coming towards them. If you weave, the light starts to move, and it gives them a better idea of where you are, and how fast you are coming towards them.

The weave isn't anything big, just a few degrees movement, but it also makes it easier for you to feel able to make a quick dart assuming they don't see you!

Hope that helps!
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Your opinion is worth just as much as mine, and mine's worthless!

[Kamikaze Bob]

Cheers for the tips guys. For the record, the light's always on, and the sun was around my 2 o'clock as I was facing, so to the front right of me, so that wouldn't have been it.

I honestly didn't even think of the horn, was busy making the rookie mistake of staring at the front of the pug coming towards me. Realised what I was doing partway through and straightened up to get out of it.

Was more pissed off as the day went on rather than shaken. Dumb fuck nearly hit me, and the missus would have been really pissed if anything happened.
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2001 Honda VFR800fi

[talkToTheHat]

[Chuffin Nora]

[defblade]

Lots of good advice on this thread.

I would say approaching that junction (in fact, most junctions), rather than have to think about beeping someone, get in the habit of automatically having your thumb ready above the horn, then you don't have to remember to use it, it's just naturally there already.

And get in the habit of using a SMIDSY wobble/weave. I find I don't have to move around the lane much, just wobbling the bike with my hips adds enough sideways movement to the headlight to catch the eye. But that does assume they're looking your way at all... back to covering the horn
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Honda Varadero 125cc => Suzuki Bandit 650 33bhp => 77bhp =>
BMW K1200R Sport 163bhp => Aprilia Shiver GT 750 95bhp

[pdg]

[Pete.]

So a bike in the distance face-on with a grey road, grey sky and grey backdrop is no more visible with the headlight on than off, and having a low sun on the horizon makes no difference at all?

I'd agree with you, if only you were right.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good