PSA: Something Unnerving to Watch for in Traffic

[meghan]

http://www.pickupspecialties.com/Hitch_Balls/hitch_pin_small.jpg

I saw this yesterday and it scared the bejeezus out of me. An SUV driver had left one of those big 5" long hitch pins laying on top of his bumper. (See above.) I guess he'd just forgotten it. (Which tells me that his hitch attachment and trailer ball were just waiting to come flying out of the receiver like an Acme anvil, but I digress.)

Isn't that the trailer-hitch equivalent of leaving your zipper down?

I know those hitch pins are relatively heavy. If a driver were to hit a bump at highway speeds while one of those things were casually lounging on the bumper, it'd bounce right off and into the path the rider/driver behind them. At 60+ mph, getting hit between the air vents with a 1lb hitch pin could be a death sentence to a rider, and a nasty broken windshield (or worse) to a driver.

Add one more thing to the "Crazy Crap to Avoid While Riding" list, right below man-eating killer whales and just above talking potholes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1pNPOZUf10).

[RichHenderson]

Don't forget metal Dumpsters. Jessica had to dodge one last year.

[signguy]

or 4"x 4"'s, ladders, small moon crater sized potholes, metal road plates (especially in the rain), lug nuts, ect...


Just be careful

[Trey]

And Zebras... They leave a hell of a mess..

[SquireSCA]

Do you think it would hurt my left shin as much as one of those heavy ass CBR600F4i OEM bar ends coming loose and falling off the bike in front of me? :-)

[meghan]

Do you think it would hurt my left shin as much as one of those heavy ass CBR600F4i OEM bar ends coming loose and falling off the bike in front of me? :-)

You must've offended her somehow. Although, given her track record, that bike was a man-hater. :lol:

[SquireSCA]

You must've offended her somehow. Although, given her track record, that bike was a man-hater. :lol:

Me? Offend someone?

That's just crazy talk.

[Barton72]

And Zebras... They leave a hell of a mess..
Add buffalo to the list now. Poor guy, I felt sad for him.

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

Do you think it would hurt my left shin as much as one of those heavy ass CBR600F4i OEM bar ends coming loose and falling off the bike in front of me? :-)


Is this the one I'm thinkin' of, the Repsol Replica? I remember that thing WHIZZING past my leg..

[petrel800]

That would probably hurt coming off a car. Reminds me of Felipe Massa's accident in F1 last year when he took a spring to the helmet at 150 mph. Things like that just make me think when its your time, its your time.

[meghan]

Is this the one I'm thinkin' of, the Repsol Replica? I remember that thing WHIZZING past my leg..

Hahaha yep, that was it. I guess the bar end wasn't quite snug and it just vibrated right off. I'd forgotten how many folks were on that ride! Wasn't that also the day Steve was playing moto slip n' slide with his bike leaking oil onto his rear tire? That dude has no shortage of testicular fortitude. :lol:

[Lazarus]

I wouldn't worry too much about hitch pins. Yes it would be bad if it were to fly off and hit something/someone but how often do you see them sitting on the bumper?

[meghan]

I'm worried about anything left sitting on someone's bumper. Even a half-full beer can hitting you would make for a really crappy ride home. :lol:

[Lazarus]

I'm worried about anything left sitting on someone's bumper. Even a half-full beer can hitting you would make for a really crappy ride home. :lol:

yea but in all of my 2 years of riding I've never seen anything left on anyones bumper. Couldnt be an southern thing or it could be that I've never really behind anyone.

[meghan]

I see it all the time, but I'm freakishly over-observant. Not hitch pins, but random crap left sitting on bumpers or in open truck beds.

[Lazarus]

I see it all the time, but I'm freakishly over-observant. Not hitch pins, but random crap left sitting on bumpers or in open truck beds.

Not me. I'm too busy lookin good.

http://filmjournal.net/mjocallaghan/files/2008/11/enter-the-dragon-3.jpg

[meghan]

Hahahahahaha!

[wicked]

And Zebras... They leave a hell of a mess..lol +1

[wicked]

ive been hit by all kinds of road flotsam and jetsam and have been fine...just be vigilant and wear your gear, folks...

[Lazarus]

Hahahahahaha!

Why you laughing? You know its true. :D

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

Hahaha yep, that was it. I guess the bar end wasn't quite snug and it just vibrated right off. I'd forgotten how many folks were on that ride! Wasn't that also the day Steve was playing moto slip n' slide with his bike leaking oil onto his rear tire? That dude has no shortage of testicular fortitude. :lol:


It was indeed that day. That was the day I got totally lost, and somehow made my way back to your place, but couldn't call you, cuz my cell was dead.. sat on your porch for an hour or two hahaha.

And I have been hit by all sorts of crap, from cigarette butts (over the jacket collar, under the helmet, right in the neck.. ouch) to a square of plywood about a foot on each side (someone cut me off and then immediately ran over a rain soaked 4x8 sheet, that chunk caught me in the bars/chest/helmet.. thankfully, being so wet it kinda shattered into a few smaller pieces when it hit me, instead of knocking me off the seat at 80mph... damn thing shattered the brand new dual headlights I'd just finished installing the weekend before.. that's what made me the angriest haha)