Modern Buddy

Making my final turn into a parking lot and out of nowhere pops this woman using up the entire enter/exit area. I had to brake and was already in my lean.

DOWN GOES FRAZIER!!

I was only doing like 10MPH, and it was mainly like wrecking your bike as a kid, but I got a little road rash, a painful and slightly swollen knew and Buddy took a few more new badges of courage.

What can be learned? I wish I knew. I'd like to say my first wreck was extremely avoidable. This one however was destined to happen I guess.

I do drive like a bat out of hell. Maybe patience is the lesson learned.

Sorry to hear about #2!

As my MSF instructors kept saying this weekend, you NEVER KNOW when someone's going to cross your path/right of way! The majority of accidents 1 person(the rider) or 2 (rider and car) mix ups are from someone ELSE coming into and interfering with your path/right of way!!!

I don't have the stat's in front of me. They are alarming but sounds like not much you could have done to avoid it.

In motorcycle school they taught us to straighten up before braking - but I know, easier said than done in an emergency.

Parking lots are a real source of consternation for me since it seems all standard road-rules dissapear.
For work I park in a high rise garage and don't trust scooting into work because of limited space (someone I am sure will pull in and smakko) sharp turns with people speeding.
Surface lots are equally dangerous, people always on their fariggin cell phones, and not looking where they are going. Posted limits rarely are followed. Sorry about your crash, keep your chin up and eyes peeled.

Yeah, I think I'm ready to take the MSC. The only reason I haven't so far is that they make you ride thier vehicles and won't let me bring my scoot. I think it's bull. I should be riding what I'll be riding.

KidDynomite wrote:Yeah, I think I'm ready to take the MSC. The only reason I haven't so far is that they make you ride thier vehicles and won't let me bring my scoot. I think it's bull. I should be riding what I'll be riding.

Which course are you looking into? The one at KCK Community or the one in Olathe?

Fueldrum wrote:

KidDynomite wrote:Yeah, I think I'm ready to take the MSC. The only reason I haven't so far is that they make you ride thier vehicles and won't let me bring my scoot. I think it's bull. I should be riding what I'll be riding.

Which course are you looking into? The one at KCK Community or the one in Olathe?

It's offered at Maple Woods Community. I live in Missouri, North of the river.

Do you know of one that allows you to bring your scoot?

I JUST did and completed the MSF's Basic Rider Course yesterday. I used their manual transmission bike. It was...80 pounds or so heavier than my Vespa (Probably close to 100lbs for a Buddy). I had to deal with the shifting and letting go of the clutch. Reminded me FAR too much of learning that in a car. I constantly had to think of the differences.

But I did it with their bike, why?

A. I pay the same price. I was offered to bring my scooter if I wanted (Not an option due to my spill)
B. If I'm gonna dump a bike, I'd rather it be theirs not mine especially since I pay the same $$$.
C. I might need to or want to get a manual transmission (Scooter or motorcycle) Left hand clutch instead of brake. It's a valuable skill to have JUST like knowing how to drive a stick shift for a car. You might not choose to have that but might need to someday.

The Experienced Rider Course, you can bring your own ride.

One of the instructors asked if I knew of this manual:
http://msf-usa.org/downloads/Scooter_tips-screen.pdf

I KNOW I post it far too often but it's basically the BRC for scooters. As soon as I get my bike back, I'm gonna practice the exercises in the link above. WHY? Do get the feel/difference from the manual shift course I took. Is it extra time practicing? Yes, but...minus the ink and paper it's free.

In CA, you can take the MSF's BRC and waive the skills test from the DMV to get your M1 classification. My spill the day before the BRC started just illustrated to me that I'm GLAD I signed up for it and MAD that I didn't pull the trigger sooner and had to wait so long before taking it! Not sure MO laws work the same. If they do, just spend the $$$ take the course on their bike. Transfer the skills onto your bike using the link above.

I'm not trying to bag on you and believe me I understand the desire to learn on your machine, but if MO is set up similar to CA in that you can take the BRC as an option instead of being tested by the DMV...do it! Kill 2 birds with one stone! Get and practice the skills they work you on, and kill off 1/2 your M classifications!

Tbone wrote:I'm not trying to bag on you and believe me I understand the desire to learn on your machine, but if MO is set up similar to CA in that you can take the BRC as an option instead of being tested by the DMV...do it! Kill 2 birds with one stone! Get and practice the skills they work you on, and kill off 1/2 your M classifications!

Oh, I got my M class LONG ago. I've put nearly 7,000 miles on my scoot. It's more about is it worth the money and why can't I ride my own vehicle. Thanks for the link though. I'm gonna do more reading.

wow that blows, especially when at such low speed, too. people just don't pay attention when they're in a parking lot because they think it's technically not really "the road" yet.

this incident reminds me of something i've been meaning to ask everyone here... i typically have my legs hanging on the sides when i'm going really slow, such as in a parking lot.

i started doing that because the other scooters i tried out before getting the buddy were heavier/larger, so did that as a way to prevent dropping it, and also because two-wheeled things are generally less stable at lower speed anyway.

does anyone else do this?

un_designer wrote: i typically have my legs hanging on the sides when i'm going really slow, such as in a parking lot.

i started doing that because the other scooters i tried out before getting the buddy were heavier/larger, so did that as a way to prevent dropping it, and also because two-wheeled things are generally less stable at lower speed anyway.

does anyone else do this?

I used to do this often when I had my first scoot, which was a Vespa GT. Someone told me it was a bad habit, and I should try to keep the balance with my feet on the scooter's footrest. I think I didn't do so much of that on the BV500, maybe because the scoot felt more balanced. With the Blur, I feel like it's light (and balanced) enough that I don't need to have my feet ready to catch me It might just be a learning process, trying different things to reach a comfort level. I think nowadays I might stick my feet out briefly, but not for long stretches. I guess it might be a bad habit if you find yourself doing it absent-mindedly. So I'd try practicing some at balancing at low speeds. You may find that you don't need to stick out your feet so much after all.

I have been riding motorcycles, scooters, dirt bikes, etc.. for 15 years now and i can tell it is a bad habit to get in. But every new bike/scooter that i ride still to this day i put my feet down now and then for the first few minutes of the ride until i get used to the balance of the bike/scooter. It is something you should really try and kick the habit imho, others may disagree though.

mikalius wrote:I have been riding motorcycles, scooters, dirt bikes, etc.. for 15 years now and i can tell it is a bad habit to get in. But every new bike/scooter that i ride still to this day i put my feet down now and then for the first few minutes of the ride until i get used to the balance of the bike/scooter. It is something you should really try and kick the habit imho, others may disagree though.

I don't disagree, in fact, quite the contrary. However, I don't like giving advice from a distance that might take riders out of their comfort zone. It's good practice to keep your feet up on the pegs or foot-board until the last possible instant. As you get more and more comfortable on a new bike this will become 2nd nature and you'll even start trying to avoid putting your feet down at short stops.

Let's put it this way: when you're riding a bicycle, do you ride with your legs out and feet off the pedals? If so, keep doing it on the scooter.

I'm in KC and I was able to take the MSF on my scooter.....check out Rolling Wheels Training Center. Wonderful course, they say you have to drive in your scoot both days (although they allowed me to park mine overnight, electrical issues but that's another story), so may be a problem if you're north of the river.

Sorry it had to happen, but at least now I'm not the only double.

ECS

KidDynomite wrote:Yeah, I think I'm ready to take the MSC. The only reason I haven't so far is that they make you ride thier vehicles and won't let me bring my scoot. I think it's bull. I should be riding what I'll be riding.

Hey B-

Its Denise. You know you can take the Advanced Rider's Course instead. I dont recall if Maple Woods offers it, but Rolling Wheels does. You have to show proof of insurance, proper tags and an M endorsement, AND RIDE YOUR OWN BIKE. Hell yeah!
Actually, a few of us have talked about it. If we can all coordinate, we should all book a class together.

GirlWho wrote:

KidDynomite wrote:Yeah, I think I'm ready to take the MSC. The only reason I haven't so far is that they make you ride thier vehicles and won't let me bring my scoot. I think it's bull. I should be riding what I'll be riding.

Hey B-

Its Denise. You know you can take the Advanced Rider's Course instead. I dont recall if Maple Woods offers it, but Rolling Wheels does. You have to show proof of insurance, proper tags and an M endorsement, AND RIDE YOUR OWN BIKE. Hell yeah!
Actually, a few of us have talked about it. If we can all coordinate, we should all book a class together.

That might be cool. How was the Breakfast Mafia yesterday? I wish I was able to go. I certainly would have been there and not where I had my crash.

I mentioned buried deep in a long response on another thread that the ERC (as they call it here in CA) the Experienced Rider Course is taken with your own bike.

ALSO here, for no additional cost you can do the ERC 2 up!!! For me this is HUGE. I don't plan on doing it all that often, since I mainly commute into work and back home but definitely would LOVE to practice/work on quick stopping and other things 2 up! MAN that's awesome! I think my wife would feel safer too and I'd be more comfortable/confident knowing we practiced together. Her as a 2 up rider and me as the operator.

KidDynomite wrote:Making my final turn into a parking lot........

DOWN GOES FRAZIER!!

I was only doing like 10MPH, ...............

LOL..... Foreman strikes again!!!

MrNatural wrote:

KidDynomite wrote: DOWN GOES FRAZIER!!

LOL..... Foreman strikes again!!!

Yeah, feel free to laugh. I wasn't really hurt--and NOTHING like my previous wreck. I posted that part because I'm kindof laughing myself. It sucked no doubt, but I came out of it with minimal damage points.

The more I think about it though the more I think I understand what happened. I was seing the danger--pot-hole--but instead of seeing the danger and focusing on the safe path. I focused on the danger to the point that when I found the path I wanted--maybe 2 seconds--I then see that car come out of nowhere.

I've noticed on my rides since I'm focusing on the danger too long instead of spoting the danger and focusing on the safe route through it.

KidDynomite wrote:The more I think about it though the more I think I understand what happened. I was seing the danger--pot-hole--but instead of seeing the danger and focusing on the safe path. I focused on the danger to the point that when I found the path I wanted--maybe 2 seconds--I then see that car come out of nowhere.

I've noticed on my rides since I'm focusing on the danger too long instead of spoting the danger and focusing on the safe route through it.

I did the same thing a couple of weeks ago when I panicked going up my own driveway, which is moderately steep (but seems incredibly steep to me). I lost control of the scoot, and instead of looking for a safe way to turn it, just watched the rear bumper of my own car approaching me. I was able to turn off the Buddy engine before I hit the car, but ended up taking a spill when I tried to get the scoot up the rest of the hill.

Thanks for the reminder about focusing on the safe path.

I've noticed on my rides since I'm focusing on the danger too long instead of spoting the danger and focusing on the safe route through it.

Target fixation. It's human and all too common. You crest a hill and there's a sofa in the middle of the road. Your eyes bug out like Roger Rabbit's because you simply cannot believe there's a sofa in the road. A red sofa. The next thing you know, you're in the sofa and your scooter is flipping down the road.

It takes experience and concentration to avoid fixating on a hazard. I still catch myself (after too many years) doing this with certain hazards, like animals on the side of the road. You always want to see the hazard. Once you do, concentrate on looking at the safe route through.

You faced the added whammy of dealing with another driver. You also mentioned that you ride "like a bat out of hell". You can't control the other guys but you can control what you do. Only you know if you're not riding conservatively enough. Take a hard look at how you ride and adjust if necessary. There was some really good advice in the "lean harder" thread, especially the part about entering turns too slowly. It's always better to go in too slow and throttle out hard than go in too hot and have a problem.