View Full Version : Well, the crash bungs seem to work...
Came off the Bike this morning.
Heading out of Bristol on the A420 and got to the Cold Ashton roundabout where it crosses the A46. There was a car coming the opposite way to me on the roundabout obviously going straight ahead , so I was about to go straight over. Then realised that despite the road position and lack of indicator, she was actually turning right, across my path so I braked. Not very sharply, as there was plenty of room, but too much front for the rather slippy conditions. The front just went in an instant and I went down on my left side.
Jumped up, picked the bike up, and tried to push it off the roundabout. Stopped for a brief think, pulled the clutch in and tried again to push it off the road, this time successfully. By the time I got to the curb, my visor was totally obscured with mist & water and it took my ages to get my foot on the sidestand.
She'd pulled over to see if I was OK, but almost the first words out of her mouth were ' It's not my fault!' . I was actually being really reasonable, I never said it was her fault, but it took me about 10 minutes of asking and explaining that I just wanted to get all the details before she'd give me her name. All I kept getting was ' It's not my fault, I don't want you claiming against me'
Left crash bung seems to have done a hero's job , it looks totally mangled considering I was probably only doing about 20 when I first hit the brakes. Gear lever is very bent but still just about usable, and the R&G engine case cover was just knocked off completely. Fairing and mirror scuffed.
I went down mainly on my left elbow/forearm , with some left knee & hip. Nothing too serious, just be limping a bit for a few days.
So what did we learn ?
Don't make assumptions about what other people are doing. - Thought I already knew that.
Leave something like triple your usual safety margins when it's slippy. - Well I saw the danger and reacted in plenty of time ...
Locking the front is very very easy on slippy roundabouts.LEAVE THE FRONT BRAKE ALONE. Thought I already knew that too.
Basically, it's my own stupid fault, and it's annoying having to get this reminder of stuff I really should have been doing.
SoulKiss
22-11-06, 01:02 PM
Actually mate, I would say it WAS her fault - at least partialy.
If she did enter the round about in the left hand lane and she wasn't indicating then she does have some blame.
Before you forget, write it all down on a piece of paper - complete with diagrams, and then seek advice (ie not just some bloke on an internet forum) about this.
David
Luckypants
22-11-06, 01:12 PM
Yeah incorrect lane and not indicating could be construed as without due care and attention.
However, we are all obliged to drive according conditions and be able to stop in good time. Sounds like the OP was driving correctly, but just made a bit of a hash of the stopping bit.
To be fair, it's a small roundabout, it doesn't have lanes. So it was just the lack of indicator and general attitude of the car. Hardly cut and dried in my favour.
I really don't think I'll be mentioning it to the insurance.
the white rabbit
22-11-06, 01:34 PM
Nasty one Mac. I guess you know it'll be very hard to get an claim other than 50 50 for that. They way of things. I reckon it takes a lot of presence of mind / loads of luck to not go for too much front when something like that happens.
Sorry to hear of your off. Chalk another one up to "Don't trust the signal" :?
squirrel_hunter
22-11-06, 01:46 PM
Sorry to here that mate. Glad you ok though.
For something like that Its probably not worth the insurance. Just sort any replacement parts and they'll be plenty of us round to help fit them.
Take it steady.
Oh crap! not another one down. Sorry to hear about this mac, more importantly it's good that your OK and the damage is not too much.
In situations like yours it's something that you cannot practice, instinct tells you to stop ASAP, locking the front and then your just a passenger.
As for a claim. in these circumstances without a witness it can be hard to prove guilt, given the claim regardless of fault can affect insurance for some time I'd not bother. Sort of agree with you, keep this one to yourself.
Take it easy for a few days, the aches will linger a while.
Once again, good to hear your OK.
i was told that if sombody cuts you up,pulls out in front of you etc, and you come off but dont go into them ,then you cant claim against them?? :smt102 anybody ??
the white rabbit
22-11-06, 02:20 PM
i was told that if sombody cuts you up,pulls out in front of you etc, and you come off but dont go into them ,then you cant claim against them?? :smt102 anybody ??
In practical terms you would probably have to have a shed load of witnesses and a report to the police if not the fact that they had been charged to even consider getting anywhere. Otherwsie everything would be the fault of unknown other driver, woudlnt it :wink:
Sorry about the off Mac, have to put it down to another lesson learned in life unfortunately :(
Hope you get the bike fixed and back on the road pretty soon, it sure was a nice looking machine.
Sorry too hear about tjis mac...glad your ok though :thumbsup:
valleyboy
22-11-06, 04:55 PM
do'h :(
Sorry to hear about your spill.
You are one of the few guys i have met of this forum so just thought i would say bad luck.
Hope everything gets sorted soon and you are not hurt.
ohhhhhhhhhh nooooooooo
glad to hear that the crash bungs did their job though and you are relatively okay.. take it easy and look after yourself over the next few days to let the bruising come out.
oh and :grouphug:
Sorry to about this :grouphug:
Baldyman
22-11-06, 07:21 PM
Ouch! sorry to hear your news Mac :roll:
Glad you are in one piece. Another bit to put in the experience bank, I appreciate you sharing it, we all need reminding of just how easily it can happen :(
Cheers everyone,
Like you said, it could have been a lot worse, in fact apart from the hole in my textile jacket which is a bit of a bugger, I'd say this is about as well as anyone could expect to do after any sort of off. Other people have done more harm dropping it from a standstill.
And it is a wake up call that I was maybe getting a bit too cocky in the wet, especially for someone who doesn't use his back brake properly.
One thing that does occur to me - when was the last time anybody practiced doing an emergency stop? On their training ??
I practice 'emergency steering' quite a lot, which is to say if I'm bored in a 30 or 40 I'll ride at manhole covers and hard swerve round them at the last instant, using lots of active counter steer. Hopefully it re-programs your brain so that your instincts know how to steer properly, and you don't just lean a bit in an emergency. Or maybe it does nothing of the sort.
But locking the front in a panic does seem to be taken for granted as just something can't be avoided. Even years of experience won't help if you haven't tried to retrain your instincts, but maybe specific practice will .
RingDing
22-11-06, 10:34 PM
:(
Sorry to hear about your off. Glad it's 'just' bruising and that the bike got away relatively unscathed.
GWS.
I practice 'emergency steering' quite a lot, which is to say if I'm bored in a 30 or 40 I'll ride at manhole covers and hard swerve round them at the last instant, using lots of active counter steer. Hopefully it re-programs your brain so that your instincts know how to steer properly, and you don't just lean a bit in an emergency. Or maybe it does nothing of the sort.
But locking the front in a panic does seem to be taken for granted as just something can't be avoided. Even years of experience won't help if you haven't tried to retrain your instincts, but maybe specific practice will .
Very well put mac, this is exactly the kind of thing that we shouild all practice from time to time, when we have a spare/bored moment and theres no other vehicles around (don't want to get hit from behind).
It's also true about riding in the wet weather as well. So many ride predominantly in the dry that when the first clouds spilling rain turn up the bike goes back under cover. like most here I still go out on my bike in the rain from time to time not only cos I want to but so that I can hone my wet weather riding as well.
One other thing, the textile jacket might have a hole, better that than hurting yourself even more. The jacket did the job I guess.
Just goes to show that we never stop learning.
Sorry to hear Mac, GWS!
I wouldn't say you can't use the front brake at all - just be careful.
Scary manhole maneuvers - but could be an a idea
tinpants
23-11-06, 10:36 AM
I practice 'emergency steering' quite a lot, which is to say if I'm bored in a 30 or 40 I'll ride at manhole covers and hard swerve round them at the last instant, using lots of active counter steer. Hopefully it re-programs your brain so that your instincts know how to steer properly, and you don't just lean a bit in an emergency. Or maybe it does nothing of the sort.
But locking the front in a panic does seem to be taken for granted as just something can't be avoided. Even years of experience won't help if you haven't tried to retrain your instincts, but maybe specific practice will .
Very well put mac, this is exactly the kind of thing that we shouild all practice from time to time, when we have a spare/bored moment and theres no other vehicles around (want to get it from behind).
It's also true about riding in the wet weather as well. So many ride predominantly in the dry that when the first clouds spilling rain turn up the bike goes back under cover. like most here I still go out on my bike in the rain from time to time not only cos I want to but so that I can hone my wet weather riding as well.
One other thing, the textile jacket might have a hole, better that than hurting yourself even more. The jacket did the job I guess.
Just goes to show that we never stop learning.
Something you want to tell us Beenz???? :shock: :lol:
Seriously though. Everyone take care out there.
i believe the law says something about owing to your presence on the road...in other words because of what she did and how she did it it sounds like she could be at least partially to blame...never mind...as you say live and learn, presume all cagers are trying to kill you!
andy
I spoke too soon about the crash bungs, it seems to have done a bit of mischief as it bent backwards.
As you can hopefully see below, some sort of connector has been snapped off.
http://upload4.postimage.org/1754343/DSCN0470.jpg (http://upload4.postimage.org/1754343/photo_hosting.html)
http://upload4.postimage.org/1754358/DSCN0471.jpg (http://upload4.postimage.org/1754358/photo_hosting.html)
The bike rode OK after I came off, but these wires were hanging by a thread. It snapped when I was taking off the bent crash bung.
So, any guesses what it is? I haven't started the bike since, in case it's some vital part of the managment system. There's no Haynes manual for my bike, though there is a workshop manual I believe. Was hoping to avoid going to the dealer to get this fixed, not so sure now.
valleyboy
26-11-06, 06:07 PM
from the position of it, that looks like the cam position sensor... and they are about £70 ... important part of your ignition / Fuel Injection... and will need replacing sooner rather than later, yoiur bike MAY run if that things broken off, but wont be running at 100%.. or it may not run at all.. now, if your display is the same as mine, the FI light should come on, and if you put the bike into dealer mode, it will give you a code saying whats what.. except it wont show you the code.. the damned lights flash on the display a number of times indicating a code.. :roll:
But, yes.. its important.... and its expensive for what it is as well....
valleyboy
26-11-06, 06:13 PM
Is the bike a Z1000 A2 ? same as the 2004 model ? also known in the USA as a ZR1000 ?
As Im looking at the microfiche for that now...
that parts down as $50...
so may cost around the £50 mark over here due to tax blah blah...
Aaah cr@p, that doesn't look too good. :(
Cheers VB.
I've just downloaded the workshop manual and parts diagrams from the US Z1000 forum. And it does indeed seem to be the camshaft position sensor. Now I've just got to decide what to do about it.
Oh and to add to the fun my PC has started playing up.
Think I'll just watch TV instead. :lol:
squirrel_hunter
26-11-06, 11:34 PM
That's a bit of a downer.
Is this going to be another engine out jobbie a-la-strechie?
Well that's the bike status update, how about a rider status update?
squirrel_hunter
26-11-06, 11:46 PM
BTW your tax is almost up :lol:
This is a setback. Hope its not too expensive to fix, is there enough left of the wires to solder a joint? I might be able to help if there is.
not good .. another :grouphug: obviously required
valleyboy
27-11-06, 09:17 AM
Squirrel, Engine doesnt have to come out to get that sensor replaced, but it is awkward to get out with the radiator in the way... I pulled mine out earlier in the year to check it was working on my bike.. bit fiddly to get your hands at properly... cant remember if it unscrews or just pulls out... you unclip the cables first, I woulsdnt risk attempting to solder it back together... its part of the FI that tells the ECU when its safe to fire the spark plugs...
Ben, you may have to read the workshop manual, as the bike does have fail safe modes if various bits break on it... so at least it may be useable if it needs to be transported etc...
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