Rear end collision on I-5 avoided in the rain

[Carter Turk]

So yesturday, I felt like riding my TL because I've been neglecting it lately, preferring to ride the Kat. I wanted to ride it in the rain and see if the electrical components could handle it. Apparently the front cylinder spark plug hole gets filled with water shorting it out. The weep hole is clear. The bike did fine on an 80 mile loop in the rain and I was 3 miles from home entering the freeway on ramp, beginning to merge with traffic. A Rav 4 with a woman driver ahead of me merging just in front. I do a head check over the shoulder and start accelerating to 60 mph. The gal in front is doing the same, then I hear heavy skidding and cars are bearing down from behind. Its raining lightly, the roads are wet, I clamp down on the front brake, glance at the rearview mirrors and decide to pull over on the shoulder to avoid getting rear ended at freeway speeds and hitting the SUV in front of me.

The gal in front of me is the one who is skidding, due to high volumes of holiday traffic slowing in front of her. Then I notice her wheels, they're fully cocked over to the right, right where I'm heading. Once the SUV stops skidding she's directly in front of me stopped completely. I'm fully upright wheel pointed straight ahead and continue clamping harder on the front brake. I'm braking surprisingly hard and come to a complete stop, upright enough, I didn't put my foot on the ground. The gal in front merges back on immediately, but I could sort of tell she was slightly rattled. I pulled in the fast lane, didn't even look at her and continued on my way.

 

[earlfor]

I'm glad it worked out for you. Potential pile ups are bad enough when its dry, but in the rain, it only takes one idiot to send everything instantly to hell in a handbasket. 8 lives left. heh heh

Earl

 

[bonanzadave]

I'm braking surprisingly hard and come to a complete stop

Very nice. I takes some nerve and good rider sense to grab that much front brake on a wet surface. What kinda tires ya got ?

 

[Carter Turk]

Dave, I honestly thought the front wheel might lock, but since I was upright I thought I could catch it with my feet if I had to. The front brake on this bike is stock and quite mushy, even though it's far better stopping power than my old gs's. If you give it a good squeeze it stops quickly. I've got Bridgestone sport touring tires BT-021's.

Earl, I've used all those lives 3 times over. With regards to U-turns, I've had two Canadians do that to me in less than a year. One was on a pull out, the other going the same direction I was.

 

[earlfor]

Earl, I've used all those lives 3 times over. With regards to U-turns, I've had two Canadians do that to me in less than a year. One was on a pull out, the other going the same direction I was.

Yeah, those U turners although not the most numerous hazard on the road, are perhaps the most dangerous. I've had a few almost get me because there is no indication that they are about to stomp on the brake and whip their vehicle abruptly across the road in front of you.

Earl