Damage Check!

Sv people out there that have knowledge of the bike.... I was riding to work yesterday being thoroughly sensible, filtering in first gear and doing about 5-10mph. As i was just about to move out of the line of traffic the traffic started slowing and for some reason the car in front jumped on his brake pedal. I did my best to stop but ended up hitting the rear light quarter of a rover 214. I have a K3 model and the sharp nose pretty much shattered the guys rear light but made no other damage. As for the bike, it suffered a couple of deepish scratches on the left side of the fairing and a couple on the left light lens. There is a very small scuff on the left fork leg and top of the fender where it looks like it caught the bumper. Unfortunately it fell onto its side despite my best mid crash attempts to hold it up which caused a slight ding in the exhaust and snapped the brake lever about an inch from the end. There is a minimal scuff on the bar end. Everything else seems to be ok and i was still on my feet despite what i think was my left knee slider putting a black smear up the back of the tank.

It seems to ride fine and it was a slow collision but i just want to know if there is anything that i should be checking apart from the obvious. If the forks were in any way twisted it wouldn't ride in a straight line would it? I've only had it about two weeks being a complete newbie to biking and i'm more annoyed than anything because i don't think i was doing anything wrong as far as filtering goes but i reckon a more experienced rider would have managed to avoid the hassle. Obviously if anyone has any tips bar the obvious of not hitting cars they would be well received!

It just doesn't look right having scrapes on the front!

On the plus side my R&G crash bungs arrived at the shop and were fitted yesterday lunchtime!

Cheers

Sorry to hear about your collision.

My only advice is UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES mention it to your insurance company if you intend to settle privately. Otherwise, it will be on your records for about 5 years. It shouldn't affect your insurance premium if you do settle privately, therefore they don't need to know, but believe me they will.

I had a similar incident on my Honda CB500S when I was filtering and my exhaust caught the underside of a door panel on a Mondeo ... absolutely minor scratch ... anyway I admitted fault and paid £75. I made the error of making an inquiry with my insurannce company at the time ... Carole Nash ... and they went into total over-the-top mode. Spotty geek on phone (I'm guessing obviously) says "So when was the crime (yes, I kid you not) committed". Me, "Crime?", Him "Erm, sorry not crime erm accident" Me "Accident?" Him "Is your vehicle a write off?" Me "What .. a write-off? My exhaust scratched his door panel" etc etc. I sold my CB500S about two weeks later and got the SV650S (in BLACK ) and Carole Nash informed me that I might not be able to be insured as the insurance company (Lloyds of London or someone) and I quote "didn't like people who had accidents."

I was totally p*ssed off by this whole experience 1) Admitting fault 2) Being honest with insurance company i.e keeping them informed 3) Carole Nash being supposedly so brilliant (Yeah right!)

Anyway I got it sorted in the end. Suffice to say I would NEVER use Carole Nash again, nor would I ever "keep my insurance company informed".

You live and learn I guess.

Cheers

Tony from foggy then Sunny Burnley

Originally Posted by steveo

snapped the brake lever about an inch from the end

Don't quote me, but I think it's illegal to ride without that "ball" on the end of the brake lever.

I think you're right Ceri but I rode around for a few weeks until I got a replacement and had no bother.
There's no less lever to grab, I assume that's why there's a weakness cast in at that position.

Yes i agree, dont tell ur insurance company its more hastle than itsworth!!

Long story but thats my thoughts,

Might be worth handing it to a competant dealer for 10 mins to check it over, give u piece of mind.

Alex

Ok, cheers for your help guys. On the brake lever note does anyone know where i can get one quickly, busters say there is a 7-10 day wait as they don't have any in stock?

Where do you live?

Just by Clapham South tube

I live in Bromley, so might be able to sort you with a lever. Albeit its a tad bent, but it works.

That would be great if you could, for some reason its a little unnerving braking with only two thirds of the lever. Do you work up in london or round bromley?