View Full Version : Got knocked off the bike this morning
thedonal
06-01-07, 11:39 AM
Yep- only a week of riding my lovely Suzi and an accident already!
I was coming of a roundabout, went a little wide on the slip road for the A3 and a car going around the outside of me hit the back of the bike sending it, and me down the road.
Luckily, I only took a knock to my right leg and well shaken up and I have to say hats off to Suzuki for making a bullet proof bike- aside from damage to the back brake peg, end can and fairing, she rode home fine.
So- dents to the bike and my confidence, the insurance hassle and being off the road- it could have been a lot worse- even my clothing didn't suffer much- only a big scrape on the lid.
I feel like I'm dealing with this quite well, but still a bit freaked out...
It sucks when it happens but you are ok, thats the main thing!
Don't worry, you might be a little nervous for a bit but then you'll be fine, but probably won't go wide again :wink:
Ceri JC
06-01-07, 11:54 AM
Sorry to hear about this, glad to hear you're okay.
Might be worth taking the bike to a garage (definatly do if the other party is at fault- not sure from your description if this is the case) and getting them to check it out. Even if the bike is 100% fine bar the things you mentioned, it will helpl you get your confidence back quicker (no "Is this handling a bit odd from the crash?" feeling as you have it leant over on a bend!)
Hope the bike is fixed up soon.
thedonal
06-01-07, 11:58 AM
Cheers folks- the insurance co is getting the bike sorted- gonna have to cough up the £400 excess to get it back, but there you go- best get it checked out properly as you say.
Hopefully I can get it swung to 50/50 as the guy hit the back of the bike- I'm sure drifting wide will go against me, but he was coming around the outside of me and should have assesed the situation as well... Oh well- we'll see.
You're not having much luck at the moment are you? :(
At least you're ok though thats the main thing.
Get that helmet replaced on the insurance aswell, since it took a bang its now as good as useless :!:
socommk23
06-01-07, 12:15 PM
sorry to hear it.
but it does happen
just hope you ok to get back on and enjoy the bike!
in my experience the sv is the best bike to drop....they take it well...lol
plus its a good reason to replace the broken bits with bling bits! mmmmmm
Cheers folks- the insurance co is getting the bike sorted- gonna have to cough up the £400 excess to get it back, but there you go- best get it checked out properly as you say.
Hopefully I can get it swung to 50/50 as the guy hit the back of the bike- I'm sure drifting wide will go against me, but he was coming around the outside of me and should have assesed the situation as well... Oh well- we'll see.
soory to hear you bad news, althought it sounds as if you are not badly hurt & the bike is not to bad which is good
if you were indecating left when he hit you i would think that he would be more to blame IMO
Really sorry to hear about this. But you are OK which has already been stated is the main thing.
Depending on exactly how it panned out, the driver that hit you may be at fault, if there was no lane change, it is the responsibility of the other driver to leave enough space to stop. With a lane change, well that would be more difficult to prove the other party at fault.
Good luck on geting it sorted. Maybe this is one to put down to experience.
Hope you get back on the road soon.
Well Oiled
06-01-07, 01:32 PM
Sorry to hear about your off. Hope you get things sorted without too much hassle & expense. Priority is a new lid - don't ride around in a damaged one if you value your head.
Sorry to hear about your off, At least your ok, I you have to pay the exess it would be better to fix it your self and not go through the insurance co. From what damage you mentioned you could fix it for less!
Sorry to hear about your off, At least your ok, I you have to pay the exess it would be better to fix it your self and not go through the insurance co. From what damage you mentioned you could fix it for less!
This is probably true. But there is still the "who was at fault to sort out". Should the blame be given to thedonal, then he also has to consider the damage caused to the car.
DarrenSV650S
06-01-07, 02:46 PM
Thats really unlucky just a few weeks after you got it :(
But at least it was a minor spill and not a major. You will learn a lot from this relatively small accident and it will make you a better and safer rider. And will hopefully prevent you from having a major accident in the future :)
DoubleD
06-01-07, 03:32 PM
unlucky, main thing is your ok, the bike will get fixed!
make sure you get that helmet checked out or replaced. insurance should cover it.
DoubleD
thedonal
06-01-07, 03:34 PM
Definitely won't be riding with the old lid- I am considering calling the insurance co and cancelling the repairer- I can probably get a decent fairing panel from SV Spares and also the gear lever- otherwise, just straighten the bars and get her back on the road. The exhaust is no worse than when I got her really, after inspecting again.
Agreed about sorting out the rest of it- it was 3 lanes at the red light, to a wide slip road with no road markings- so in effect 1 lane. It's worth arguing. If anyone know's Tolworth roundabout, it's on the exit that joins the A3 towards the M25 (away from London...). Always a dicey one anyway as people do overtake on the outside before it closes down to 1 lane.
I also believe that I will become a better, and strangely, more confident rider.
I don't think walking will be too much fun tomorrow!
Cheers for all your words-you're right about my luck Carlos- there's a pattern here! There's nothing like racking up life experiences, is there?! :roll: At least it was the same panel as got damaged in the gales the other day...
But I'm determined to get back on her and enjoying the bike life again. Damn- wanted to scoot to Boxhill with my bro tomorrow... ! :?
PsychoCannon
08-01-07, 09:55 AM
Sorry to hear about your off mate but glad it wasn't too serious ;)
Thats an interesting one about the lane markings as I don't think it matters how wide the road is if there are no markings and someone ran into your rear end going round a corner I'm not sure how they can say it was your fault short of you weaving all over the place like a loon (even then they should stay back not try to overtake ^_^)
If you were going in a steady (even if wide) corner then its the fault of the guy behind trying to overtake and hitting you as you didnt cross any lane markings =p
I think as they hit you from behind means they where to close, and didn't allow you time to make any sort of emergency maneuver. Did you get all there details?
northwind
08-01-07, 10:11 AM
I think as they hit you from behind means they where to close
Not if you were effectievly in a different lane, though... Tricky one. Certainly worth trying your luck though ;)
I think as they hit you from behind means they where to close
Not if you were effectievly in a different lane, though... Tricky one. Certainly worth trying your luck though ;)
But there where no road markings so it was only one lane, and I imagine the weather was wet so really people should be allowing more room...
I'd give White Dalton a ring and see what they say, a specialist motorcycle solicitor's that I'm even using at the moment. So far been very good.
northwind
08-01-07, 10:32 AM
But there where no road markings so it was only one lane
Doesn't follow though... Absense of road marking doesn't mean there's only one lane. Makes it complicated, that. Hey, if it should only be one but it's unclear because of the size of the road, could be you'd have some recourse against hte road planners/council too, if things go badly with the insurers...
I agree with Grinch, speak to a specialist, internet people know nothing :)
thedonal
08-01-07, 11:51 AM
All fair points- yeh, the road is pretty wide where it comes off the roundabout and there's normally 2 cars aside queuing here until it gets too narrow where it's about to join the A3. It's a tricky one- i was drifting wide and if there were lane markings, would have crossed into his lane or not far into it.
I guess an argument would be if it had been a car there and not me, would he have been so close? Mind you, it's common that people overtake around the outside of that corner- not that it is a particularly safe or sensible thing to do...
Aaaanyway- I've cancelled the insurance claim on repairs and will be putting the parts on meself- just need a new rear brake lever and need to put a new gear selector rod on too (is quite bent).
The fairling is a little bust but not disastrous- I'm in two minds about replacing it immediately (even if the stock is available at SV Spares)- still pretty new to riding, even if a hell of a lot more experienced!!! Then I just need to get someone to straighten the bars out for me- got a number, shouldn't be too much cash... I'll be getting a new lid today or tomorrow and I should be riding again by Thursday- my birthday too!
More importantly, the leg's not too bad- some nasty bruising coming out, but it hasn't gotten worse or stiffer the last couple of days... Maybe I can show it to girls in the pub to get a few gasps etc- MY LEG THAT IS!!! :)
Oh well- I have this built in ability to do things the hard way... :? :roll:
The insurer's solicitors are going to be in touch over the next couple of days....
With hindsight, I feel like I had to have this accident to realise how potentially dangerous biking is- maybe it's just opened my eyes in the right way and made me pay attention- not that I was riding like an idiot before, but just not confidently or tightly enough...
Still phone White Dalton (http://www.whitedalton.co.uk/index.php).... 0800 783 6191 it costs nothing to call and it will keep you informed if they car driver tries to get sneaky and claim off you.
thedonal
12-01-07, 04:52 PM
I've now found the reason behind my going wide and wiping out on a car incident on the weekend. Tyre pressure. It was 15psi at the front and 50 at the back! :shock:
Now, I realise that it's my responsibility to check this and weekly, but how could the dealer have let the bike off the forecourt with such a way out setting? I've done 100 miles on her and yes, they'll go down, but who every heard of tyres inflating themselves?!!!
The good thing is that the ride home from the mechanic (Twickenham to Surbiton) was lovely- really restored my confidence (and cornering skills!)- the bike will now happy go round any bend (I went around the bend several years ago)
Plus, the clutch is on the way out- gonna try and get this done on the warranty. If they cop out on the clutch on account of the bike being spilled, hopefully the issue with the tyres will be some comeback.
Lessons learned all round methinks!! :o
kwak zzr
12-01-07, 05:09 PM
15 in the front and 50 in the back :shock: who put air in that rear?
thedonal
12-01-07, 08:49 PM
Basically, the dealer I got it from let me ride the bike with shocking tyre pressures. I accept the front pressure may have gone down since I got her, but from 33 to 15 since 23rd Dec is a hell of a lot. It was MOT'd the day before- even though they may not check the pressure on that, someone should have spotted it...
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