Nasty off *warning general essay*

Hi All,

Last Monday morning 06.30 am heading to work, westbound on the A13. Traffic slows to a stop in front so I set myself up to filter by doing a lifesaver and moving from the middle lane to a position between the middle and outside lanes.

Filtering along nicely at a slow speed (couldn't tell you exactly as I don't think checking your speedo is a very good idea when filtering through traffic). Traffic begins to pick up speed around me so i'm looking out for a route to move back into the main flow. Spot a gap on the left, check the cars on the right aren't gonna make a move for it (indicators, turning wheels, cars moving across a bit etc) and all looks fine. Give the throttle a little squeeze to move in and next thing you know the red Seat Ibiza on the right comes flying across from the outside to try to go for the middle. I get straight on the anchors but its way too late and i go flying into the back-left wheel arch of the car. I had no chance to stop or get out of the way as he was literially on top of me as he began to come across the lane.

I don't really understand what happened next as its all a bit of a blur but somehow the front wheel on my bike got stuck somewhere under his car which in turn lifted the bike up and I went straight over the handlebars, over the left side of his bonnet and down the road. LUCKILY landed in the gap on the left I was aiming for and went for a bit of a slide. Stopped by putting my boot on the bumper of the lorry in front.

My wolf jacket took a beating and my lid is scuffed. Leather trousers also scuffed and my gloves are a bit ripped up. I got straight up with a bit of a sore hip.

I cannot overstate how lucky I think I was in this situation injury wise. I am quite devestated that my beloved SV is a writeoff as per my insurance company. All fairings are smashed and my front forks are bent. Loads of other bits of damage here and there.

The guy in the car has accepted full liability for not checking his mirrors, failing to indicate and whatnot. So I will hopefully get a payout for the bike soon.

The whole incident has really knocked my confidence when it comes to filtering. I currently have a hire bike (bandit 650) which I am using to commute to work every day. I still have to filter as i'll be damned if I sit and wait in stationary traffic on a motrobike.

Has anyone else had any bad experiences with filtering, got any tips, or based on what you have read do you think I was doing anything wrong?

I'm hoping to get around 3k for the bike as its an 08 with 20k miles, but was in really good condition as I looked after it so well and was regularly serviced by Grays Suzuki.

I don't want another SV, silly as it seems but another SV will never be my SV, so I fancy something different. Got an oppertunity for a Trumpet S4 which I really like. We'll see how it goes

[timwilky]

When you get wiped out through no fault of your own, your confidence does get a battering. Accept you did nothing wrong, get back on and face your bogey

Like TW said, get back in the saddle and face your nemisis.
Also ecpect the unexpected
Glad you escaped relatively unscathed and the car driver has exepted liability.

[yorkie_chris]

Rather than asking yourself what you were doing wrong, ask yourself (and us) what you could possibly do different in future to avoid such a thing again.
Positive waves, man

Maybe just a slight pause before moving into the gap would have given seat man time to see you, maybe not. I don't leave a pause for this reason. It does not sound to me like you could have done much different.

Originally Posted by timwilky

When you get wiped out through no fault of your own, your confidence does get a battering. Accept you did nothing wrong, get back on and face your bogey

+1
took me a while to fight my demons ,just rember your riding style will change and you will need some time to get back on form, but it will come

Probably only think you might have been doing wrong is going too fast. Other than that from what you say it sounds like you were looking out etc.

Glad you are alright though!

Oh and I hope you are getting the exhausts back! (Laser?)

6 months ago I got took out by a guy doing a U-turn in near stationary traffic without indicating or looking at all while I was filtering past... sometimes there is absolutely nothing you can do...
(Other than get a more louder and noiser exhaust...)

Only thing I read before it happened was to look out for the wheels turning before he pulled off, that probably gave me an extra 1 second of thinking and enough change to manuver the bike at an angle rather than a head on bang, but it only limited the damage rather than saved it completely.

What Tim said. Sometimes these things happen. Just get back on and take your time and try, I realise easier said than done, not to think about it too much.

Glad you're ok dude, facts are though, we are going to continue to get took out cos car drivers just dont concentrate enough.
I have already posted on another thread but i nearly got took out on monday by a stupid cow in a merc on the motorway and i wasnt even filtering.

I dont like filtering tbh as there are too many incidents for my liking but you have to unfortunately.

Phil

Sounds like a lucky escape. Well done for not target fixating!