| Author | Message | ||
     Rogue_biker |
But I didn't! Whew! I had the day off on Monday and it was too damn warm and sunny to just sit around at home. So I went for a long ride on my 1125R. I did about 300+ miles. Perfect day. Clear blue skies. I just rode, and rode, and barely stopped for fuel and snacks. At the last minute as I approached a junction on Hwy 78/79 near the town of Julian, CA, I made a last minute decision to ride through town and hit more twisty roads on my way to Hwy 76 back to Oceanside. As I was rolling along the main drag in Julian, which was a circus full of tourists BTW, lots of cars and pedestrians, some azzwipe pulled out to make a left turn in front of me! I was doing 25. I swore I was going to go T-Bone that Toyota Corolla and go over the bars! I hit BOTH brakes hard and the 1125R dove nose first trying to stop as quickly as possible. Guess what the Corolla did? The SOB kept on going to complete the left turn! When the driver realized we were going to make contact, they finally stopped! I swerved as my rear wheel was skipping along at full braking power (I didn't want to lock up the front wheel), and I missed the Corolla's front bumper by a hair. I mean by a hair! I swear I felt the bumper skim along my right leg! Whew! I stopped to cuss out the Corolla but they immediately left the scene! Of course! Pedestrians and motorists all around were shocked at the close call. It would have been ironic if I crashed at 25 after flying around the surrounding backroads at much higher speeds!  So I got out ok and my beloved 1125R lives for another year with the rubber side down. Here she is on top of Palomar Mountain. I'm crazy about this bike:   | ||
| Sir_wadsalot |
Always good to have a happy ending! | ||
| Nuts4mc |
Julian is a tourist trap during the holidays...try heading down to Borrego Springs...Montezuma Grade (S22) is great fun and the road thru town is wide and long. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I hate corollas.  Glad to hear you escaped.  | ||
| Rogue_biker |
I try to avoid Julian. I was only passing through town after I rode down Montezuma Grade (S22), then came up Hwy 78 from the Anza-Borrego Desert. I had to ride through the town to get to Wynola, which I should have picked up sooner. Yeah it's a zoo alright. | ||
| Albert666 |
that is one clean bike  | ||
| Rogue_biker |
Thanks! She's closing in on 33k miles. I really can't afford to buy a new bike for a few more years. So I take good care of what I have. It's my only hobby. It's either this or ride bicycles and the 1125R is way more fun! | ||
| Sparky |
On our SCAB ride last month which was basically how yours started out, the return trip option from Ocotillo was to take 78 thru Julian or, for us more northerly folk, jog right to take San Felipe Valley Rd towards 79 and go north. I decided to go the twisty route and follow the guys on 78 up Banner Grade but, knowing the area, took Wynola Rd to bypass Julian and take in a few more twisties. I think we all know how irritating it can become when you're trying to make time but have to stop-n-go & stop-n-go for the sideshow. Glad you made it out unscathed. Hope to see you on future rides. | ||
| Rogue_biker |
Sparky, yeah I need to get with the next SCAB ride. I tried to last December but was hampered by an injury (not bike related) so I missed it. I rarely see other Buells around. | ||
| Dhays1775 |
Rogue, glad to see you back on that shiny beast! Myself and B2 (Tom) and possibly McElhaney14 (Bill) are planning a ride on Palomar sometime. You're more than welcome to join us. I'll keep you posted on the time frame if you'd like. | ||
| Rogue_biker |
Dhays, let me know when and I will once again try to make it. The weather has been fantastic! |
