This just sort of weirded me out... Recently, one of my friends here at the office started commuting on a motorcycle. We take the same highway home, but he has another 15 miles past my exit. He got tired of my bragging about how much a motorcycle cuts down the commute time... his is unbearable in a car.
I've been coaching him a bit, and with some suggestions, he picked up a used SV650 - good first bike that can stand up to L.A. freeway speeds.
He's been riding and gaining skills, but started commuting a little sooner than I thought he would. I cautioned him on it, but he said he was ready. He's a race car driver, so he's cautious by nature when it comes to confidence level and isn't a risky guy.
Unfortunately, he went down on the way home last night. Not bad, got sideswiped by a cab going about 35 in traffic. He wasn't banged up (he's adopted the ATGATT mantra). I left about 30 minutes behind him, and going over a freeway bridge that gave me a good view up the highway (in gridlock traffic), I saw flashing lights on the center divider shoulder a few miles up.
By the time I got to that point, everything was cleaned up and gone, but I found out this morning that it was my friend. He's a bit bruised but otherwise OK - he came to work in his truck like nothing was wrong, and told me about the accident.
Bike should be ok with a few bits here and there, he got a mouthful from his girlfriend, who wants him to sell the bike.
Ride carefully, friends!
I've been coaching him a bit, and with some suggestions, he picked up a used SV650 - good first bike that can stand up to L.A. freeway speeds.
He's been riding and gaining skills, but started commuting a little sooner than I thought he would. I cautioned him on it, but he said he was ready. He's a race car driver, so he's cautious by nature when it comes to confidence level and isn't a risky guy.
Unfortunately, he went down on the way home last night. Not bad, got sideswiped by a cab going about 35 in traffic. He wasn't banged up (he's adopted the ATGATT mantra). I left about 30 minutes behind him, and going over a freeway bridge that gave me a good view up the highway (in gridlock traffic), I saw flashing lights on the center divider shoulder a few miles up.
By the time I got to that point, everything was cleaned up and gone, but I found out this morning that it was my friend. He's a bit bruised but otherwise OK - he came to work in his truck like nothing was wrong, and told me about the accident.
Bike should be ok with a few bits here and there, he got a mouthful from his girlfriend, who wants him to sell the bike.
Ride carefully, friends!