Even If it’s Backing Up!
No, this is not an article about Target Fixation.
So far I have helped teach four of my teenagers how to drive an automobile, and only have two more to go. I do have some hair left, but it is rapidly graying. One of the first things I try to drill in their impenetrable, all knowing heads, is to always look where you are going, especially when backing up. They always seem to have a problem with watching where they are going when backing up.
The main problem is not that they don’t initially look behind them before backing, its continuing to look while they are backing. They tend to turn back around while they are still moving backwards, instead of waiting until the vehicle has come to complete stop. And, as you know, all kinds of things can pop up behind you when backing up.
What does all of this have to do with motorcycling? Well, the same principle applies with motorcycles. You need to look in the direction you are traveling at all times, even if it is while backing up. Too bad I don’t always follow my own advice…
After commuting home from work one day I found my ’98 Ford Explorer parked fairly close to the garage door. We try to keep it parked back down the driveway so I can ride around the left side on the grass to get the bike around it and into the garage. I’m sure one of my kids did it. Anyway, I decided to be lazy and get the bike inside anyway.
I pulled around the left side into the yard and this time I pulled passed the explorer and further to the left. I was going to back into the space in front of the Explorer and down into the space in front of my ’01 Windstar, which was parked further down the driveway, and then pull into the garage. I turned the front wheel to the right, glanced behind me and started backing the V-Star 1100 back and to the right. Unfortunately, I was not looking behind me as I was rolling backwards.
In my own defense there is also a small tree to the left of the driveway I had to watch out for. Well, I was slowly rolling backwards, I thought, into the driveway when I heard and felt the crunch. I think I even heard my Mistress, (my 2003 V-Star 1100), yell, “Ouch, you moron, watch where you are going!” The bike had stopped moving and I turned around to see the left rear turn signal stalk had ran into the Explorer’s bumper and had bent the stalk forwards slightly.
After dismounting and inspecting closer the turn signal had bent at an assembly joint and the Star Turn Signal Visor was dented down. I loosened the bolt and straightened the turn signal stalk. Then I just used pliers to bend the visor back into shape as best I could. I was thankful that was all my carelessness caused. Mistress said, “Be more careful and never let it happen again”. I sighed, “Yes, Ma’am!”
What is the moral of the story? Practice what you preach, and look in the direction you are traveling at all times.
Ride on,
Torch
No, this is not an article about Target Fixation.
So far I have helped teach four of my teenagers how to drive an automobile, and only have two more to go. I do have some hair left, but it is rapidly graying. One of the first things I try to drill in their impenetrable, all knowing heads, is to always look where you are going, especially when backing up. They always seem to have a problem with watching where they are going when backing up.
The main problem is not that they don’t initially look behind them before backing, its continuing to look while they are backing. They tend to turn back around while they are still moving backwards, instead of waiting until the vehicle has come to complete stop. And, as you know, all kinds of things can pop up behind you when backing up.
What does all of this have to do with motorcycling? Well, the same principle applies with motorcycles. You need to look in the direction you are traveling at all times, even if it is while backing up. Too bad I don’t always follow my own advice…
After commuting home from work one day I found my ’98 Ford Explorer parked fairly close to the garage door. We try to keep it parked back down the driveway so I can ride around the left side on the grass to get the bike around it and into the garage. I’m sure one of my kids did it. Anyway, I decided to be lazy and get the bike inside anyway.
I pulled around the left side into the yard and this time I pulled passed the explorer and further to the left. I was going to back into the space in front of the Explorer and down into the space in front of my ’01 Windstar, which was parked further down the driveway, and then pull into the garage. I turned the front wheel to the right, glanced behind me and started backing the V-Star 1100 back and to the right. Unfortunately, I was not looking behind me as I was rolling backwards.
In my own defense there is also a small tree to the left of the driveway I had to watch out for. Well, I was slowly rolling backwards, I thought, into the driveway when I heard and felt the crunch. I think I even heard my Mistress, (my 2003 V-Star 1100), yell, “Ouch, you moron, watch where you are going!” The bike had stopped moving and I turned around to see the left rear turn signal stalk had ran into the Explorer’s bumper and had bent the stalk forwards slightly.
After dismounting and inspecting closer the turn signal had bent at an assembly joint and the Star Turn Signal Visor was dented down. I loosened the bolt and straightened the turn signal stalk. Then I just used pliers to bend the visor back into shape as best I could. I was thankful that was all my carelessness caused. Mistress said, “Be more careful and never let it happen again”. I sighed, “Yes, Ma’am!”What is the moral of the story? Practice what you preach, and look in the direction you are traveling at all times.
Ride on,
Torch
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Hey Torch..and I kid you not man..God knows you have enough with 6 kids..I only have 2, the very same thing...or quite similar anyway...happened to me and now I have a damaged Scooter.., which I only ride occasionally to pick up beer and chips and an Astro Van back ligth... The rest of the fleet is Okay...thanks God. Kids...knowing it all ... you can't live wth them and most importantly...you can't live without themmm carry on brother for we have a mission of raising them.
ReplyDeleteYour mistress said if you dont watchout she want a new owner. lol.
ReplyDeleteI will be more than glad to give her the care and attention that she needs. LOL
Yes, we all do stupid things once in a while. You gain experience from mistakes and when you try to tell someone else to do it the right way, they don't always listen. Everyone thinks that they know better. It's not an easy thing to teach an Old dog, new tricks
ReplyDeletebobskoot: wet coast scootin
Dear Torch:
ReplyDeleteI took a few seconds to sweep leaves and dust out of the motorcycle bay last week. I put the boom down and suited up, when I saw one tiny little leaf that missed.
That was the one I slipped on going out the door, backwards, nearly dropping the bike against the the Kendon trailer.
One leaf, the size of a gum wrapper. It doesn't take much.
Fondest regards,
Jack Riepe
Twisted Roads
Thank you all.
ReplyDeleteBaron, The rewards are well worth the effort & sacrifices.
Thomas, Not a chance.
bobskoot, How true.
Jack, Leaves are a major hazard. When dry, I too, have almost slipped several times while walking in & out of the garage on leaves. When wet they are also extremely slippery. They should have laws about people blowing them from their lawns out into the street.
Ride on,
Torch
Hey Torch...
ReplyDeleteI'm amazed at the things I catch myself doing (not doing?) when I know better...complancey...yeow....a small mishap...easily repaired...brought attention to one more slipping detail...excellent reminder...not to "slouch".
Chessie