First Crash

[Mrski1]

Well, it has taken three years, but I was involved in my first crash at the weekend on my 2014 Tiger 800 SE.

Negotiating a large 'roundabout', I entered the lane marked for straight on or turn right, a Mini Cooper S entered behind and went into the lane marked right turn only. I intended on taking the second exit, and as I approached the first exit checked over my shoulder and saw the Mini on the inside lane, I then started leaning the bike into the corner to miss the first exit, when, in my side vision I spotted the front of the Mini heading directly towards me, and into my lane. I picked up the bike a little, before taking the impact from the car on my leg and HEED crash bars, it shoved the bike to the left down the first exit, and I somehow managed to stay on, grabbing the clutch as my right hand pulled the throttle on impact. I then aimed the bike away from the pedestrian crossing barriers in the middle of the road and safely came to a stop.

The driver of the Mini eventually owned up to just following his sat-nav, hence the drastic maneuver from the right turn only lane, to make the first exit from the roundabout, despite knowing I was there.

Thankfully I am OK, with some bruising to my lower right leg. Initially, the bike appeared to have come away relatively unscathed with the HEED bars taking the majority of the impact, but looking over the bike once home I noticed the pillion pegs have bent, with hairline cracks the full circumference at the weld.

I now have a wait for the insurers to collect the bike and assess the damage. I am extremely disappointed and annoyed that not only did one stupid decision put me at risk, but the bike I spent a long time looking for, which was in like-new condition, and I have only owned since July 2021, is now damaged.

I can highly recommend the HEED bars though, they did a great job taking the worst of the impact, and actually, the bumper, wing, and bonnet of the mini came off much worse.

[BikerDan]

Glad you're ok man. Could have been a lot worse by the sounds of it. You find so many drivers now a days paying more attention to their sat nav than the road. Can be scary in a car never mind being on a bike.

[T800XC]

Originally Posted by Mrski1

...but looking over the bike once home I noticed the pillion pegs have bent, with hairline cracks the full circumference at the weld.

I now have a wait for the insurers to collect the bike and assess the damage.

I really hope the following isn't the case for you, but I'm sure we've seen other instances on here where a damaged pillion peg hanger has lead to the bike being written off. Probably why later models have bolted on peg hangers. Keeping things crossed for you.

[Mrski1]

Originally Posted by BikerDan

Glad you're ok man. Could have been a lot worse by the sounds of it. You find so many drivers now a days paying more attention to their sat nav than the road. Can be scary in a car never mind being on a bike.

Absolutely, just find it really odd that despite knowing I was there, as he followed me onto the roundabout, he still chose to turn towards me in a blind panic of missing a turn-off, when he could have just gone around again. 

[Mrski1]

Originally Posted by T800XC

I really hope the following isn't the case for you, but I'm sure we've seen other instances on here where a damaged pillion peg hanger has lead to the bike being written off. Probably why later models have bolted on peg hangers. Keeping things crossed for you.

I'd heard that too, the red powder coating on the frame is cracked also, so I imagine any repair would require a full strip down to powder coat the frame again? Possibly why it's so costly to repair 

[BikerDan]

Originally Posted by Mrski1

Absolutely, just find it really odd that despite knowing I was there, as he followed me onto the roundabout, he still chose to turn towards me in a blind panic of missing a turn-off, when he could have just gone around again. 

Ah now you see, that's where you have gone wrong. Not everyone on the road has common sense when it comes to driving!! 

[PapaTom]

Don't forget...Common sense is a flower that doesn't grow in everyones garden...

Seriously though, I am often appalled at the standard of some driving on roads today.
So many modern driving AIDS have impacted on peoples quality of driving.

Glad you are ok Mrski1. Chalk that one on your headboard.

Ride safe everyone.

 

[Rustydog]

Yep, I concur with all this. I find that sloppy lane positioning/discipline of cars on roundabouts are the biggest danger points on any ride. It seems like people just learn enough for the test day then it all goes out the window thereafter as not being particularly important. 

[Shergar]

I've lost count of the number of times I've been heading towards the M40 from Northampton and had some muppet decide to go straight on in the very clearly marked left only lane at the roundabout on the BRackley by pass. The right lane is left or straight on, or if you are a motorcyclist it's the short cut to an early exit.

[ENGLISHBANDIT]

Any crash you can walk away from is a good one, if there is such a thing that is. Been hit twice by car drivers not looking. Sadly it’s life for us bikers. But I walked away from both of mine , Un like two of my good friends many years ago. Both did not make it sadly. And my wife’s friend lost a leg when he was knocked off. So if you walk away from one go buy a lottery ticket. If your frame is scratched they will write it off. So just see if you can buy it back cheap