"That was close!"

[c_dug]

I was just recounting a near miss of mine in another thread and it's made me curious - we all have a number of near misses, but I suspect the majority would end with a trip to A&E at worst, possibly a few broken bones, a lifetime of limping around, but a alive at least.

I'm quite curious to hear your "that would have killed me" moments though, the ones that if it weren't for a good dollop of luck or judgement either on your behalf or that of other road users, would have almost certainly ended up in the morgue.

I can only think of one in my 10 years of riding that would have killed me for sure, and it was actually quite recent.

On a rainy evening at the tail end of October just gone I was at the end of a cold and soggy but otherwise uneventful 22 miles commute home. I had two miles along one slightly twisty main residential road remaining and I'd be home, warm and dry. I suspect my mind was on my cold fingers and leaking trousers more than the ride!

Anyway, as I approached a corner pootling along, actually within the speed limit for once, a prat in a hatchback decided to overtake somebody in the opposite direction, and came flying around the corner on my side of the road.

Without any exaggeration he flew past in my lane at around 50-60mph. That makes a closing speed in the region of 80 odd!

Incredibly luckily there is a bus waiting zone at the side of the road, exactly where we crossed paths. Without even thinking about it I had moved the bike over enough to allow him past. Had there been no waiting zone I'd have had nowhere at all to go! You can see the road here if you're curious.

I made no conscious decision to move over, as I said my mind was elsewhere, but without a doubt my inbuilt reactions saved my life. More luck than judgement but I'm here to tell the tale!

I'm curious to here your similar tales!
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Snod Blatter]

One of my first rides after my CBT had a car overtake a cyclist on a 90 degree blind bend with a dry stone wall blocking the view. He was right in the middle of the road doing at least 40MPH, I was thankfully over to the left doing 40-50. I wobbled my way round on the outside, not as in control of the machine as I would've liked because I was so new, but thankfully managed to keep myself out of the trees on the outside of the bend and out of the car on the inside!

Over 8 years later it's still the most dangerous overtake I've ever seen. If I'd been in a car it would've been head on, no question about it.
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1994 CB250, 1984 CBX250RS-E, 1989 K100RS, 1995 TRX850, 2016 Z250SL

[definitelyinc...]

In London a massive amount of times its red light runners in my case, nothing specific but generally it goes like this, a driver gets a red, but since its only been red for 2 seconds it's basically a green, I pull of fairly quickly (twin power) and the driver is just pulling out on me, sadly you also get 'professional drivers' do this very often.

It's the fact that London is so congested that causes this, no excuses for them though, a dangerous and stupid thing to do, more often than not causing near collisions and more congestion for other cars.

Actually I'm used to it by now thinking about it, but this happens to other bikers fairly often, especially commuting to work or back during peak hours....

[arry]

Following Matt and Pigeon out of Fishguard and plucked for an overtake of a car that they'd just scythed past, when suddenly a right hand indicator pinged on and I noticed a very small farm track to the right. Slid past at fairly big speed with the rear wheel locked up and snaking around the place.

Stupid. Stupid stupid.

[andyscooter]

Pulling onto a motorway when car in middle lane desides to pull into the lane im in when joining

Ended up booting the passenger side wing and getting in front on the hard shoulder
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[SuperMike]

[Enduro Numpty]

The year was 1985, the venue was the Le Mans circuit, the bike was a GPZ900R. Leaving the circuit on the Monday morning after the racing I was going down the slip road to enter a dual carriageway. The road was heaving with slow moving, heavy lorries. I managed to nip in between 2 of them from the slip road. After a minute or so sandwiched between two trucks I decided to overtake. I had a look in the mirror, dropped some gears, cranked the throttle and pulled out to overtake.

BAD DECISION!!!!!

As soon as I pulled out I was faced with the grill of a monstrous truck coming towards me!!!! I pulled back in with absolutely zero time to spare.

I completely mis-read the situation. The road was not a dual carriageway at all - it was 2 normal (2 way) roads separated by a low wall. Had I pulled out a tenth of a second later there would have been no way back.

The lesson is if you can't see then don't go there. It very nearly killed me and my girl friend (later wife).

I've had many close ones over the years but that is the one that can still send shivers down my spine

[pepperami]

I`ve had all the usual shite (smidsy and so on) but I have never had what I thought was going to be a real killer incident on a bike .

However, a long time back when I was a pedestrian, a lorry went past me so close that one of the hooks that drivers use to tie their ropes to caught my coat.
this resulted in me being dragged down the road and in line with the wheels .
luckily for me he stopped at the junction at the end of the road and I was able to untangle myself before he pulled away.
I was unable to shout at the driver through shock and the fact it knocked the stuffing out of me.

And to this day, I still consider each new day as a bonus
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I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

[M.C]

The definite would have been dead/seriously injured is when I was waiting to turn right and a van flashed me to go, stupidly I didn't check if the bus lane was clear (I hadn't been riding long), I heard a beep which I think was the van and a split second after I'd gone through a cabbie came speeding past.

That could have been it ... I edge out now.

[Kentol750]

Going to work on a Sunday morning around 8am, came to traffic lights on red. Normally would've gone around to front of car waiting, but recognised it as a work colleague in her new car....gave the car a once over and waited. She realised it was me behind her and waved as the lights changed. Green for over a second, as she went to move forward a land rover came through the red on our right about 40mph. Got to work 1/2 mile further on, she came to me and said 'I'm glad I waved at you...he'd have hit me!' I pointed out, if it hadn't been her in the new car which I was looking at, I'd have gone to the front and gone on green. Both of us were.. 'holy fuck, if you weren't there, I'd have been hit!'
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Some bikes.

[M.C]

That's why I don't have a problem with red light cameras, I just don't like the ones that measure speed whilst on green

Also not saying you could of, but I always (try to) look when pulling away at the lights, as you would at a junction. As mentioned above (in London at least) cars don't stop on red.

Also just as baffling is drivers (buses seem to really like doing it) pulling away whilst the lights still red, trying to (and failing to) anticipate the lights changing.

[thx1138]

On a group ride on a Fazer thousand, about 2008

Trying too hard to keep up with some of the group ahead, mis-read the road, a Landrover appeared over a hidden dip and he swerved to miss me.

Basically, Landrover driver stopped me being squished through my own stupidity.

Oct 2015, whilst technically "not my fault" I could have avoided it.

On a road legal dirt bike, no mirrors, working indicators, tired, and muddy slogging up a long hill, dual carriageway and I need to get in the right hand lane at the top for the roundabout, looked over my shoulder saw the cars behind me, waited for them to pass, checked again, little hatchback way in the distance, indicated right pulled across, and he clipped me.

Just clipped my elbow with his mirror, and then I think the "Blakey" on my mx boot just caught his door.

He must have been doing triple figures and distracted, and braked hard last minute, however - I should have avoided it with a glance to my right which I didn't do.

I didn't holler and shout at him, just shook his hand and said don't worry about it, his pride and joy had a broken mirror and a scratch, and I had a sore arm.

Still hurts from time to time, but that might be a co-incidence. My right thumb has been hurting me since Sept when I held onto my Beta when I nearly crashed off road, but didn't - I get that many little bumps and knocks I can't remember where they all come from.

[mentalboy]

Early 90's, morning rural commute on my scabby old Z400, overtaking the good law abiding 30mph cagers whilst on a very bald rear tyre (that's mentalboy speak for lots of canvas showing).
Slightly damp roads and a Shell artic tanker comes up round the hidden bend towards me. Ordinarily not a problem and plenty of time to tuck in out of harms way but trying to tuck in and brake on bald tyres on damp tarmac was not happening.

End result: Beloved motorcycle gets jammed sideways under front bumper of big-ass petrol tanker and mid-20's hooligan goes body surfing down the white line in his one piece waterproof suit ending up beside the rear wheels. After a bit of tugging said hooligan managed to extricate his ride from under the beast, throw it in the hedge, treat tanker driver for shock, then grab a ride to work from a bemused motorist who'd witnessed the debacle (luckily my Motad caught the angle iron acting as a footstep, so new can and bars and we were off again, with only a small dink in the tank)...

...plenty more tales in the memory banks, both motorbikes and other stuff like getting banged up in Spain for suspected drug running after making a pigs ear of rounding Cape Trafalgar (where he of the 'column' bought it and muggins came the closest to it that he ever has) in a 40' ketch, getting trapped whilst digging in a mine by a boulder the size of a 'proper' mini, taking a 60' lob on the crux of a climb far too hard for ones capabilities (known for 'long runouts', climbers know what I mean), driving a cage head first into oncoming traffic, forced bivvy at the site where 'Jean's hut' used to be (Cairngorm, google it for 'fun' facts!!!) after tent was shredded by the winds - bit of a chilly night in -12C snowstorm, etc, etc.

Hence use of 90's nickname as my BCF username, I'm not just wrong in the head I also do stupid stuff!
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Make mine a Corona.

[barrkel]

About 6 months after I did my CBT, I pulled out onto a traffic light controlled roundabout (Bow roundabout before the cycle lanes) when my light turned green, without looking right - white van man ran the red but I managed to cut in front of him, first I knew about it was the horn.

On one of my trips to Spain during the summer months (rather than spring that I prefer), I went around a tight blind right hand corner (rock wall) and found myself face to face with an overtaking biker oncoming. He pulled back in just about quick enough, but if I had been going faster it would have been very bad news.

There have been bends in the mountains that if I hadn't kept my nerve, I wouldn't be here today. In reality, those were probably the closest calls. I tend not to push that hard any more, focus more on smoothness and leaving enough in reserve to cope with bend tightening. From old videos on the same roads, I'm a little bit slower, but I have way more control.
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Bikes: S1000R, SH350; Exes: Vity 125, PS125, YBR125, ER6f, VFR800, Brutale 920, CB600F, SH300x4
Best road ever ridden: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MhNxUEYtQ

[howfastdoesit...]

I've had quite a few off's but...

I went round a bend (Mk2 honda fireblade), leaving a residential area for the county back roads, into a nation speed limit...

left then a right, nice set of corners.... blind exit. I had built up my speed, and was going to carry it though, wound it on for the exit before a reasonable length straight.

As the exit appeared > a car parked on what it is a grass verge, with no kerb... almost a ditch/hedge row scenario (not a place anyone in their right mind would park). He pulled out at walking pace, because he had to bump down off the verge...

I was still leaning at a good angle when I noticed him, nothing I could do, but instinct, by the time I had reacted the bike was upright, thank goodness...

I could see a car coming the otherway, I was on the brakes.. and the rear end lifted so high, the handles bars started wobbbling side to side and I felt the bike go weightless, too high with the rear wheel in the air... I remember looking at the back of the car, rear window.

This is all in probably less than 1 sec or so it felt...

I had to let off the brakes, and just swerved round the car, not knowing if I was going to quick to avoid it / change direct or if the on coming car would hit me... I am sure to this day.... I made a slight contact with the rear corner of the car... and I got round it...

It was a miracle, all luck... I am glad I had an intermediate race tyre on the front, and I had practiced stunts in the past...

Could have so easily been killed or badly hurt and it was my fault, but I can't think why anyone would park there intentionally, but it could have been a broken down car, so no excuse on my part...

Just why would someone park on a blind bend, a country road, fast speed limit....

Wierd because when I crash I don't seem to remember much but that was like slow motion but happened so fast.

I stopped riding bikes not long after, my mrs did not like me riding them and we moved to house with no garage... I then did a trackday in car and started car racing.

Back on bikes now, and getting my confidence back... I think I will have to get on the track before something bad happens again. I'm best suited to slow vehicles on the road.

[wr6133]

Riding toward low lying sun so having issues seeing, thought I knew the road better than I did, cocked up a corner to find this thing

https://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh504/wr6133/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz_zpsgtaoezn5.png

If the driver hadn't reacted incredibley quickly and pulled it right over it could have been a touch messy.

[UrbanRacer]

Locked the front wheel good and proper into a tight left turn which resulted in me being on the wrong side of the road for a good few seconds, as luck would have it no oncoming cars. That particular section of road has claimed a few bikers.

[tom_e]

23rd Dec 2015.

On my usual morning commute, conditions were good popped out from behind a car on a long chunk of NSL A road wound the throttle up to something giving me a closing speed of 150ish to anything coming the other way and fucked off, only I'd somehow totally missed the car appearing on the side of the road I was now on

Let's just say I've never been more thankful for a solid 6 inches because that's about all I had between squeezing back over into my lane and becoming a passenger in their car.

I was shaking like a shitting dog for a good ten minutes afterwards once it had actually sunk in.

[chickenstrip]

No, no near misses that I particularly remember.
I usually finish the job
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Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[Alpineandy]

[bikertomm]

Remember it well.

Day of getting my hornet de-restricted from 33bhp, as soon as I get the bike back, the heavens obviously opened..

Bear in mind I ride for pleasure 99% in the sun haha, never really get caught in the rain, and now I have, with 3 times the power

Anyway, took it real sensible all the way home slowly getting used to it and laughing to myself, it was sort of sunny one second then a nice heavy shower the next..

I remember going down a relatively small country road (still 2 lane), oncoming was a concrete lorry, no problem, I thought..

As we got closer to each other I hit a dip in the road that I didn't spot, and to hold on properly I effectively 'blipped' the throttle by accident, my rear wheel span up and did a snake left to right as I was a passenger to the bike I panicked and instinctively pulled the clutch, the bike sat up. Phew..

It could have gone very badly if I got thrown off into the oncoming concrete lorry. I must have only been going 20-25 mph.

I can remember thinking as soon as it happened, what are the chances of that, as soon as my rear was all over the place the lorry must have been about 25ft in front of me approaching with speed


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07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!

[Suntan Sid]

Mid 80's, me and a mate had gone for a blast, on our 250LC's, taking in the delights of Bells Lane, a local hoon, anyone who knows Maghull/Lydiate will know where it is.

It was a nice sunny, weekday, afternoon, (the joys of flexi-time), anyway we set off to the twisties.
All was going well until we came to a long, blind, rigthander, we were both already committed to the bend, just before we get to the apex a car appears, from the opposite direction, on the wrong side of the road, FFS!
On the outside of the bend there is/was an entrance to a farm yard. My mate peeled of into the farmyard one way and I went the other way onto the wrong side of the road, at the apex, fortunately there wasn't another vehicle approaching!
It all sounds quite calm now, but at the time it was spur of the moment decisions, by both of us, that ensured we avoided ending up as, extraneous, bonnet ornaments!

The good ol' days!
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"Everybody needs money, that's why they call it money!"

[Vandervecken]

Only have had one which I have thought afterwards, I would have been 'Hovis'.
About 4 am on an unlit A21 wet and drizzling approached a left hand corner which I had taken hundreds of times before, went to corner and leaned in to the bend, slightly quickly but not overly so, hit something leaves or mud I think and skidded the front for a second enough to take in to the oncoming lane though killed the revs and leant the bike as much as I could continued to move further in to the oncoming (quite a sharp corner).
Because of the wet dirty road surface not a good idea to brake, as I tried to pull it back saw an HGV coming the other way closing quickly I have leaned the bike to the full ( we're talking extreme chicken strips here ) and as I've straightened up I have brushed the front offside of the HGV with the my right jacket sleeve.

I have continued my journey at the next services I was quite shaken. Another 6 inches or foot then game over.

Did learn from it though which is probably a good thing
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CB600F Hornet.
Previously many a Fazer

[Hawkeye1250FA]

When I was 18 and hooning about on a 125, I was overtaking (dangerously) about 7 cars approaching a right hand bend.

Got level with the front car and started leaning, just as a car came around said bend...

Bike and me squeezed between the gap, I effectively did a dukes of hazard across the oncoming cars bonnet bouncing off at the end and continuing on my way.