stevehaskew down :(

[stevehaskew]

Well, I guess having not dropped the bike at all since I started in July, it was about time. I was riding home through Reading tonight, turning right at a largish roundabout (for those who know the area, I was coming East along Vastern Road and turning right underneath the main railway bridge) with two-lane exit. A bunch of pedestrians were crossing the exit, and they saw me in plenty of time, stopped crossing, leaving me a clear way...
Unfortunately, hidden behind the guys who were just finishing crossing, was a cyclist, with no lights, riding a diagonal line into my path. Bang.

Anyway, so I'm not sure what happened, whether I even had time to brake, but I dropped the bike. Magically I managed to stay on my feet, it seems. Can't really remember the exact details but I have no marks on my leathers, lid or gloves but my ankle hurts :( Hopefully just twisted or bruised. I guess I'll see in the morning.

As regards the bike, the right mirror and front indicator broke, plenty of fairing scuffs, and the bracket for the right footpeg and brake cylinder etc bent enough to shear the lower member. Managed to ride it home, but it felt a bit weird.

The oddest thing of all though... After all the friendly passers-by had helped me to get the bike out of the road, I noticed that the key wasn't in the ignition... Now I remember that when I came off, the dash lights were on.. Neutral, somehow, and oil warning because the engine had stopped. After checking and re-checking all my pockets, searching around etc, I concluded that someone nicked it whilst I was distracted! If I'd been with-it enough to turn the ignition off and take out the key, I would have put it in my pocket!
Thankfully my mate came out and then went and got me my spare key so I could ride home.

By the time the Police turned up, the cyclist had vanished, but some of the passers-by had stayed. Spent a while searching for my key, but nothing.

So overall, I'm annoyed with myself for not seeing the cyclist, the cyclist for not having lights and taking such a stupid shortcut, and whichever thieving scumbag took my key! I'll try and get some pics up tomorrow. I think I should probably get some sleep!

:(/:smt013

[Sideshow#36]

Sorry to hear this mate. I live a couple of miles away from there. I bet they are polish. No before anyone starts i'm not being racist. Hope everything gets sorted. So how come the cyclist rode off? Strange.

[stevehaskew]

That's freaky... How did you know they were Polish? Not even joking, he really was! I think he was dazed... there's quite a possibility that I nutted him with my lid. He wouldn't have any insurance anyway, so there's no huge loss in not catching the guy. Plus the other guys said his front wheel was badly buckled, so not as if he got away undamaged either.

[Sideshow#36]

Come on you know how many of them there is in Readinski. Still he may have no insurance, but.... where there is blame, there is a claim. Dont get me wrong most of them are honsest hard working people but others just do not have a clue!

[Stig]

Well, I guess having not dropped the bike at all since I started in July, it was about time. I was riding home through Reading tonight, turning right at a largish roundabout (for those who know the area, I was coming East along Vastern Road and turning right underneath the main railway bridge) with two-lane exit. A bunch of pedestrians were crossing the exit, and they saw me in plenty of time, stopped crossing, leaving me a clear way...
Unfortunately, hidden behind the guys who were just finishing crossing, was a cyclist, with no lights, riding a diagonal line into my path. Bang.

Anyway, so I'm not sure what happened, whether I even had time to brake, but I dropped the bike. Magically I managed to stay on my feet, it seems. Can't really remember the exact details but I have no marks on my leathers, lid or gloves but my ankle hurts :( Hopefully just twisted or bruised. I guess I'll see in the morning.

As regards the bike, the right mirror and front indicator broke, plenty of fairing scuffs, and the bracket for the right footpeg and brake cylinder etc bent enough to shear the lower member. Managed to ride it home, but it felt a bit weird.

The oddest thing of all though... After all the friendly passers-by had helped me to get the bike out of the road, I noticed that the key wasn't in the ignition... Now I remember that when I came off, the dash lights were on.. Neutral, somehow, and oil warning because the engine had stopped. After checking and re-checking all my pockets, searching around etc, I concluded that someone nicked it whilst I was distracted! If I'd been with-it enough to turn the ignition off and take out the key, I would have put it in my pocket!
Thankfully my mate came out and then went and got me my spare key so I could ride home.

By the time the Police turned up, the cyclist had vanished, but some of the passers-by had stayed. Spent a while searching for my key, but nothing.

So overall, I'm annoyed with myself for not seeing the cyclist, the cyclist for not having lights and taking such a stupid shortcut, and whichever thieving scumbag took my key! I'll try and get some pics up tomorrow. I think I should probably get some sleep!

:(/:smt013

I might be able to sort you out on that one. Will have to go check in the pile of bits and pieces.

[sarah]

Sorry to hear about this, hope your ankle is ok.

[Fizzy Fish]

sorry to hear about that, hope you get it all fixed up again soon!

[Kinvig]

Ow! Sorry to hear fella

[stevehaskew]

Photo time...

Damaged hanger:

http://boaz.org.uk/photos/IMG_2242.jpghttp://boaz.org.uk/photos/IMG_2245.jpg

And the indicator and mirror:

http://boaz.org.uk/photos/IMG_2243.jpghttp://boaz.org.uk/photos/IMG_2244.jpg

Although the mirror itself is still intact. I tried to get photos of the scratches on my fairing, but the sun was in the wrong place so you couldn't see scratches, you could just see reflections of me. Some T-cut did wonders, though, and only the major scuffs are still there. And it's cracked around the indicator (some of which were there when I got it).

[Sideshow#36]

Well it could have been a lot worse. Alteast the bits that are damaged are fairly cheap. Although in my books that is a good excuse to buy some race rearsets.... :smt045

[KnightRider]

At least you're okay buddy! Bit of a shame about the bike damage and I cant believe someone nicked your keys (the cheek of it) but as others have said, it could have been a lot worse!

[philbut]

What a pain in the ar*e, sorry to hear that mate. you are OK though and the biek seems to be fixable without too much cost so not too bad. Stil bloody annoying though! I would be extremely :smt013. Hope you're back on the road soon.

Phil

[Ping]

D'oh... Sorry to hear this. Glad you're ok though.

[Ratty46]

ah bugger...your alright tho..thats the main thing fella!

[stevehaskew]

Good news! Within 24 hours, I've managed to get hold of all the bits I needed! Many thanks to BigApe and to a guy in Orpington who was eBaying stuff. Now I just need to fit it all tomorrow. Do the curvy mirrors adjust? The angles seem a bit different, but they feel too stiff to adjust.

[Warthog]

Hey Steve, sorry to hear about this. I was going to say that when my hanger snapped all I could find were the faired version for cheap but I see you have it all fixed now so that is good! I have done my ankle in a few times trying to hold the ER5 up, its kind of fell over onto my leg. Gets better in a few days, not to worry. Can't beleive someone nicked your keys?! Might they know where you keep you bike? Bit suspicious.

[DanAbnormal]

Argh! Not good mate. Hope you get it sorted.

[stevehaskew]

I dunno, most of the passers-by had obviously been drinking, it was 11:30 on a Friday night, so I suspect that someone drunkenly thought it would be funny, or just didn't know what they were doing. I keep it in a locked garage, and my disc-lock and garage keys are separate, so they'd still have a bit of an effort to nick it. Going to investigate the cost of getting the locks changed, I think. Not sure if it's worth it. I've also been considering getting an alarm, and this makes me even more inclined to get one.

I'm going to the doctor today to get my ankle checked out, just in case. Hopefully he'll say it's just bruised or whatever, and I can go for a ride this afternoon :) (I got it all fixed up yesterday)

[stevehaskew]

And just in case anyone from my work reads this thread and thinks I'm abusing a sick day, I need to test ride this afternoon to see if I can get to work tomorrow!

[thedonal]

Sorry to hear the news- glad you're mainly OK.

[KnightRider]

I've also been considering getting an alarm, and this makes me even more inclined to get one.

The £50 two way alarm has done me proud. Yes it does go off whenever someone walks close to it but that is because I keep putting it onto proximity sensor mode and havent adjusted it properly yet!

Jon

PS - it works particularly well in a garage as it goes off is someone opens the door. The 2-way radio means that the spare key fob (which is positioned next to my bed) goes mental if the alarm is set off!

[ASM-Forever]

Bah....so that was your bike at the pub in Stokenchurch, that kept incessantly going off!

[stevehaskew]

Ah... that kind of alarm sounds like the sort of thing I want! Where'd you get it?

Edit: I spoke to Suzuki dealer today and it's £256 for a new set of locks, excluding fitting. Even the guy there said to just get a chunky chain or an alarm.

[KnightRider]

Ah... that kind of alarm sounds like the sort of thing I want! Where'd you get it?

Edit: I spoke to Suzuki dealer today and it's £256 for a new set of locks, excluding fitting. Even the guy there said to just get a chunky chain or an alarm.


http://www.motorbikealarm.co.uk/advalrm.html

Cheap and cheerful. It certaintly isnt perfect but I suits my needs and was cheap!! I will talk you through it on Tuesday if you are around?

[KnightRider]

ps - check out this thread for details (http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=74798&page=3)

[kwak zzr]

sorry to hear about your incident:( but hey you've just joined the falling off the bike club.

[Stig]

sorry to hear about your incident:( but hey you've just joined the falling off the bike club.

Unfortunately, it's not a very exclusive club at all. :lol:

[stevehaskew]

Anyone know if there's a difference between the rearset brackets on the SV650 and SV650S? Not sure which bike the one I got from BigApe came from, but I keep feeling like I'm not sitting straight! Could be partly my ankle and me not bending it as much, or could it be that the naked bike has a different bracket?

[Shellywoozle]

Sorry to hear about your off, no matter how small off's are bummers and inconvenience.

Hope your ankle is OK and don't cause you too much grieve, and welcom to the off club!

Shell