You never know when it will happen...

Discussion in 'General VFR Discussions' started by Allyance, Jun 10, 2019.

  1. Allyance

    Allyance Insider

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2013
    Messages:
    3,522
    Likes Received:
    391
    Trophy Points:
    128
    Location:
    East Bay, California
    Map
  2. bk94si

    bk94si Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2018
    Messages:
    297
    Likes Received:
    72
    Trophy Points:
    58
    I saw that article. Got my head spinning a bit because I was just riding under some lightning last week and it never even occurred to me that it could be dangerous.
     
  3. Gator

    Gator Insider

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2012
    Messages:
    5,201
    Likes Received:
    811
    Trophy Points:
    143
    Location:
    Boynton Beach, FL
    Map
    That happened north of where I live. Saturday and Sunday both were heavy lightning storms. I was fishing both mornings knowing to stay close to the jetty, I do not want to be caught in the ocean with these very fast building storms. That happened to me a long time ago way off shore and it was terrifying. Yesterday I had just left the dock when the Lightning started ahead of the rain. A friend was out on his boat fishing south of me, I had called him when I was heading in, said I think its going to blow up soon. He hauled ass back to the cut and had just loaded the boat onto the trailer when a bolt hit very close..... said that all he remembers was flash bang all at the same time and his ears were ringing and he could feel all the hair on his arms standing up. Too close for comfort.
     
  4. Big_Jim59

    Big_Jim59 Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2009
    Messages:
    1,957
    Likes Received:
    72
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Dallas, TX
    Map
    Rex and I were riding to Colorado. We were in the panhandle of Oklahoma and a small storm rolled in. A bolt of lightning struck the ground no more than ten feet on the opposite side of the fence row. It looked like it was as big around as a small oil drum. It was bright white and it kicked big dirt clods up in the air. The resulting BOOM made us both swerve. Rex and I pulled off at an abandoned gas station. We were shaking. I said "Rex did you ever hear of someone getting struck by lightning on a motorcycle?" "No" he said. "We were on rubber tires" I ventured. All he said was "They were wet."
     
  5. Allyance

    Allyance Insider

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2013
    Messages:
    3,522
    Likes Received:
    391
    Trophy Points:
    128
    Location:
    East Bay, California
    Map
    A typical cloud-to-ground lightning bolt begins when a step-like series of negative charges, called a stepped leader, races downward from the bottom of a storm cloud toward the Earth along a channel at about 200,000 mph (300,000 kph). Each of these segments is about 150 feet (46 meters) long. When the lowermost step comes within 150 feet (46 meters) of a positively charged object, it is met by a climbing surge of positive electricity, called a streamer, which can rise up through a building, a tree, or even a person. When the two connect, an electrical current flows as negative charges fly down the channel towards earth and a visible flash of lightning streaks upward at some 200,000,000 mph (300,000,000 kph), transferring electricity as lightning in the process.
    Obviously the rider/bike caused an imbalance!

    Courtesy of the National Geographic
     
  6. James Bond

    James Bond Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2006
    Messages:
    1,313
    Likes Received:
    155
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Dixie
    Map
    As soon as AOC finds out about this, she will call for lightening rods on all helmets.
     
    Samuel likes this.
  7. Allyance

    Allyance Insider

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2013
    Messages:
    3,522
    Likes Received:
    391
    Trophy Points:
    128
    Location:
    East Bay, California
    Map
    You not even safe riding in a group
    index.html
    Screen Shot 2019-06-22 at 9.29.24 AM.png
    Seven killed, 2 more injured Friday night crash in Randolph involved members of Marine JarHeads MC, a motorcycle club in New England that includes Marines and their spouses.
     
    Last edited: Jun 22, 2019
  8. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

    Country:
    Canada
    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2007
    Messages:
    13,741
    Likes Received:
    1,557
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Location:
    Chilliwack, BC Canada
    Map
    No one should ever consider themselves safe riding in an electrical storm just because they are so called "insulated" from the ground by a little air and a small amount of rubber. When riding in a storm, you are exposed. If you are in a vehicle, you are the beneficiary of some protection in that you are totally surrounded by a metal cage which will take the hit for you.

    Even if the lightning strikes something nearby while you are riding on a motorcycle, you may take a hit that you have never experienced before.

    In August 2006, I was camping in a valley in Winthrop Wa. An electrical storm was rolling in. I went outside the RV and was tying down the canopy. Then everything in my vision lit up blue white, I felt like I was hit by a sledge hammer from all sides and on every miniscule inch of my body all at once. Other than pain, is seemed all my senses shut down. The next thing I remember doing was picking myself up off the ground a few feet from where I was kneeling as my wife came out of the RV asking what happened. A tree a few feet away took a hit from lightning and I took a significant piece of that strike. I did not hear that tremendous crash of thunder that everyone else heard. It really hurts! Fortunately the paramedics said there was no injury to me. Well, nothing that required further medical treatment after them monitoring me for about 1/2 hour.

    If you find yourself in an electrical storm, for chrissake, seek shelter.

    BTW. My wife gave me shit.
     
    Last edited: Jun 22, 2019
    Riding a 2000 likes this.
  9. Allyance

    Allyance Insider

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2013
    Messages:
    3,522
    Likes Received:
    391
    Trophy Points:
    128
    Location:
    East Bay, California
    Map
    Airplanes get hit all the time, while they are flying! Must static build up from air going over metal.
     
  10. highway star

    highway star New Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2011
    Messages:
    317
    Likes Received:
    16
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    North Mississippi
    Map
    YES all the time! As an AC mechanic with the purple fleet we had a lightning strike on one of our planes recently and it welded the
    avionics door shut. That's just under the nose of the airplane. It started there and ran under the belly about 20 ft. burning
    the paint off.
     
  11. Riding a 2000

    Riding a 2000 Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2016
    Messages:
    517
    Likes Received:
    73
    Trophy Points:
    58
    Location:
    Rochester Hills, Michigan
    Map
    My wife just read a short note about that from today's Detroit paper. 2-lane road, pickup truck apparently crossed the center and took out all of the bikes. Unbelievable.
     
  12. Allyance

    Allyance Insider

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2013
    Messages:
    3,522
    Likes Received:
    391
    Trophy Points:
    128
    Location:
    East Bay, California
    Map
    No mandatory helmet law in New Hampshire, no info on how many were wearing a helmet.
     
  13. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

    Country:
    Canada
    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2007
    Messages:
    13,741
    Likes Received:
    1,557
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Location:
    Chilliwack, BC Canada
    Map
    In our present RV touring in Washington, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming and Montana, (of course BC too) seems most states I have encountered do not have helmet laws as most I have seen on bikes have been topless. I mean helmet wise. But looking at the damage and debris field in photos I have seen of that senseless collision, I doubt wearing of a helmet made a huge difference. If we were to assume that they were travelling at each other doing 50 mph each, and no braking (again an assumption for the sake of an explanation) that is like riding your motorcycle into a concrete wall at 100 mph. If the head damage did not get you, I would bet the internal trauma would.

    It is a shame for any biker to succumb to injuries from a collision. It is exceptionally sad that our (your in this case) vets, who have served their fellow citizens with diligence and bravery, are among those who suffer the ultimate in a motor vehicle collision.
     
    Last edited: Jun 24, 2019
    Riding a 2000, Samuel and Bubba Utah like this.
  14. James Bond

    James Bond Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2006
    Messages:
    1,313
    Likes Received:
    155
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Dixie
    Map
    Not to change the subject but there are almost no requirements to get a driver's license. No intelligence testing, no skills testing to amount to much, and no education requirements. So, take solace in that an idiot is probably driving next to you and on a fucking cell phone at that. Other countries have actual requirements needed to drive a vehicle. In the US, it's a right. Rant over...
     
    Riding a 2000 likes this.
  15. Gator

    Gator Insider

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2012
    Messages:
    5,201
    Likes Received:
    811
    Trophy Points:
    143
    Location:
    Boynton Beach, FL
    Map
    Or better yet, here in Fl the old folks get their license renewed and they can't even see the eye test machine that is right next to them. lol
     
  16. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

    Country:
    Canada
    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2007
    Messages:
    13,741
    Likes Received:
    1,557
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Location:
    Chilliwack, BC Canada
    Map
    Stop picking on us old fukkers will ya?
     
  17. JIMLARCH

    JIMLARCH New Member

    Country:
    Canada
    Joined:
    May 22, 2006
    Messages:
    287
    Likes Received:
    48
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Ontario, Canada
    Map
    I have no idea what group formation these riders had, but too many cruiser groups I have seen ride far to close together. Because of this they go down like ten pins. A few years back exactly the same thing happened in Ontario. It was a car that struck them and around 10 went down. Fortunately only a few were killed. It’s the type of collision that can occur at any time, whether you’re riding a bike or driving a car.

    I’ve even seen the Ontario Provincial Police riding in group formation, literally feet behind each other on the 401 highway. Impressive looking, but a shit poor example to others, especially when you take into account it’s a traffic offence to follow another vehicle too closely.

    I’ve also been at Deals Gap and seen police riding alongside each other through the turns. Pretty stupid when you consider how many cars and bikes cross the double yellows on a regular basis.
     
    James Bond likes this.
  18. Allyance

    Allyance Insider

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2013
    Messages:
    3,522
    Likes Received:
    391
    Trophy Points:
    128
    Location:
    East Bay, California
    Map
    I have seen the CHP riding side by side coming toward me on twisty back road. These guys are very well trained on their bikes, but still a scary to see 2 HD’s hoofing it through the twisties!
     
  19. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

    Country:
    Belgium
    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2009
    Messages:
    4,019
    Likes Received:
    137
    Trophy Points:
    78
    Location:
    South FL
    Map
    I saw the article, made national news. Poor guy drew the "shi* card in life huh, what were the odds of getting zapped while riding? Actually I remember reading an article saying that a state trooper from somewhere said that your motorcycle tyres don't insulate you from a lighting strike. Moral of the story? Maybe don't ride the storm out? Don't know, there were some serious thunder/lightening strikes yesterday, couple of trees down the road got hit, I do not remember it being so "scary" in recent memory.

    I knew a woman who was a widow, her husband got hit while fishing on the ocean. :rip: I remember her as the hot widow.
     
  20. James Bond

    James Bond Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2006
    Messages:
    1,313
    Likes Received:
    155
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Dixie
    Map
    With inadequate riding protective gear. We should not allow cops to be on motorcycles. What's the point of it anyway?
     
    ridervfr likes this.
Related Topics

Share This Page