Back when I lived in Los Angeles I spent 20 years on motorcycles splitting traffic on the freeways. I always told people who were concerned about me that “they couldn’t hit me if they tried!” Trouble was, one day some idiot wasn’t trying to hit me, and managed to do it anyway. I had “the big one” and through the grace of God I walked away from it. I was riding a GSXR1100 that day, though it wouldn’t likely have mattered what I was riding.
Helmet, heavy gloves, leather jacket, and high top shoes did their jobs and saved lots of skin, though my blue jeans failed miserably and my knees looked like I lost a fight with an angry cheese grater.
Long story short, I moved to the country and occasionally ride a little red 50cc scooter around my quiet neighborhood. The joy of riding was gone after “the big one.” ... BUT (and that’s a heavy BUT), if I had to live in Los Angeles and get around to my clients in West LA all over again, I’d still be on a bike and it would be a high performance sport bike.
Aerostitch. Or at least Draggin’ Jeans. (If not leathers.) Seriously - your story is the type my hubby tells when he says that the Road Rash is worse than the bone breaks.
You didn’t mention how fast you were going between lanes.
I ride my Magna daily,I don’t have a car,and I split lanes.
I anticipate that every vehicle ahead of me is going to change lanes,suddenly.I’ve had to lock em up a few times but I haven’t hit anyone, unless you count the dent my knee put in a woman’s right rear panel.
If I’m going 10 mph the sport bikes pass me at 30.
If I’m going 30 they pass me at 60.
Sometimes I see them again, up ahead.