I just had a crash

[Dot_Comm]

I don't know why I'm posting this. I have to say something though, get it out of my system.

First off, it was all my fault. I fully accept that. Wasn't watching the road properly, I look up and whoops there's a Micra waiting to turn right. I try to stop but there's not enough room, and bam I'm in the back of it.

I got flung off the bike and landed on my arse, my head hit the deck too but there's hardly any marks on my lid so it really did the job. I got up straight away. Because of the bruising it hurts to stand up / sit down / walk but a couple of days and it'll be fine.

The bike however, is a completely different story. Front forks have been bent inwards about 15 degrees or so. Front light and console is totalled. Clutch lever has bent as if it was made of plasticine. Left mirror is now hanging under the bars instead of sticking out on top of them. I couldn't change gear so there's something wrong with the gearbox. I think the engine got pushed backwards as well because the exhaust pipe was coming away from the engine block. The left foot peg is now in my pocket. I have a photo of some of the damage on my phone, but I can't work out how to get it off. I'll post it if I can.

I think it's going to be a write-off, and it's not even insured fully comp so I'm not going to be able to repair it if it's possible. I loved that bike. It was the best thing I'd ever bought. And now it's a very expensive paperweight. I had so many great ideas, I was going to ride it to my bf's this weekend, I was going to ride it home to Cornwall in a couple of weeks, I was going to ride it everywhere. And now it's not going anywhere.

I'm really going to miss her.

Anyway, feel free to tell me what an idiot I was and how unsafe I am on the road. Or send me your sympathies and repair money.

Rach.

EDIT: Figure 1: Showing damage to front forks
____________________
My bike: Suzuki Bandit 600 (33bhp)
Previous bike: Peugeot Speedfight 2 100

[Ork12]

Atleast your ok , bikes can be replaced people can't!
Alex

[Dragonfly]

well it teahes you a lesson dont it!

did you go to the hospital ? and every muscle will hurt in your bod now for ages! i crashed but no other cars involved it was raining heavy and i wasnt taking care very well. that taught me a lesson also.

not asking about car driver cause they all snug in there metal protectors.

poor bike
____________________
All the breast.
Muzza on Binge:
He's too busy beating the everloving shit out of Lizzie to notice this thread has taken a turn down Drama Avenue and stopped off at the popcorn shop.

[killa]

Hey Rach, that’s an easy mistake TBH, I’m sure many people have been caught out by the sudden halt of a car infront. Lol

Go grab some Dairy Milk and watch some films, bike comes later…..


____________________
Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[Dot_Comm]

No I didn't go to hospital. The ambulance lady asked if I wanted to go but I said no. Still don't think there's anything I need to go to hospital for. It just hurts but there's no blood anywhere and everything still works. I'll go if it gets worse though.

Yes it does teach me a lesson. I'm sitting here now thinking why didn't I take more care. But everyone has 20-20 hindsight. I'll just learn from the experience and move on. Anyone got a bike they want to sell?
____________________
My bike: Suzuki Bandit 600 (33bhp)
Previous bike: Peugeot Speedfight 2 100

[FreshAL]

take it easy for the next few days, once you've relaxed and the bruises start to comeout you're going to feel sore.

Glad you're not hurt worse

[killa]

[dainesefreak]

Glad to hear you're ok. Might be worth a try to the GP just to get checked out. It's easier and quicker than the hospital and they can perscribe nice pain killers, you might need them over the next couple of days. The bruising and strains will generally start to show more the following day.

Hope it all works out ok.

[Dot_Comm]

I don't have a GP right now, never registered in Birmingham, fell out with them when they wanted a medical and all I wanted was some The Pills!

First post is edited with a pic of some of the damage now. It doesn't look good.

Killa - I'm not really after a 400cc crotch rocket. I guess I'll wait until I graduate then get another bike, can't afford another one any time soon. Was fun while it lasted though.
____________________
My bike: Suzuki Bandit 600 (33bhp)
Previous bike: Peugeot Speedfight 2 100

[stinkwheel]

On the plus side, people are crashing bandits all the time because they are poular with stunt riders. As a result there are a couple of specialist bandit shops which do a lot of business selling aftermarket 'crash spares'.

The forks might even straighten as long as the metal hasn't creased.

[akaDAVE]

Try and feel lucky if you can. It's a shame about the bike but luckily there's nothing worse to worry about. We hear of a lot of people with broken bones - legs, arms and pelvises so glad you're ok.

Have a swift recovery and good luck with the salvage operation on the bike.
____________________
GSXR600

[Dragonfly]

i refused to get into the ambulance and tried to drive my wreaked bike home. i had delayed shock and a head injury, not to mention the knee injury i am still suffering with 5 months down the line. took me about an hour till i started throwing up and my head was mashed i could not remeber where i was or anything. be careful withhead injuries anyway.
____________________
All the breast.
Muzza on Binge:
He's too busy beating the everloving shit out of Lizzie to notice this thread has taken a turn down Drama Avenue and stopped off at the popcorn shop.

[dainesefreak]

You can always go to a GP as a visitor, say you were staying with a friend, no hassles.

[Gazdaman]

Bandit parts are a piece of piss.

Look how badly damaged mine was! (Link in my sig) and how cheaply isn't been/being repaired for.

Gaz

[Slickfish]

Oh well at least your ok!!!

Time to get buying parts of ebay!!!

[jonboy22]

Everything happens for a reason m'dear, fate in a way.

Maybe, just maybe, it's a sign telling you that you need to move on from the bandit,..............,onto a baby Gixxer !!

Maybe you loved your bike so much that you became over comfortable with it and got a weeny bit lax? So a new more challenging bike would keep you on your toes, keep you sharp, and prevent hickups like this...

anyway you now have an excuse to get your BF to come and see you and give you lots of TLC, untill you get a new bike that is....

get back in the saddle soon soon...

[McGee]

Really sorry to hear, like people have said bikes can be replaced people can.

Good luck on finding a new bike, although yours could most prob be repaired if the frame is straight
____________________
◙◙► K6 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 1000 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► 96 RF600r ◄◙◙
◄◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙►◄◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙►◄◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙►
Its pronounced Jixxer!

[THCi]

Atleast you didnt break the biggest bone in your body, like I did!

Hope you can get the bike sorted, I'm sure that if you ask nicely someone on here that is local could come and help!
____________________
Past: GZ 125 K4 Marauder, VL 125 LC Intruder, FZS 600 Fazer. Present: GSF 600 N K3 Bandit, GSX-R 600 X(soon)
"We're not gonna die. We can't die, Bendis. You know why? Because we are so...very...pretty. We are just too pretty for God to let us die."

[Tarmacsurfer]

Get the bike checked over. If the yokes/frame/wheel etc are OK then it's just a case of fititng a new set of fork stanchions, possible complete forks. Personally I wouldn't try straightening anything that's been pushed that far out of true. The chance of the engine being pushed "back" as such is so slim as to not be worth worrying about, it'll be a problem with the exhaust hangers or along those lines. How did the bike fall? From the picture it looks like you were leant slightly left and went into the back of the car nearly head on.

If you can get hold of the parts, to swap a full front end is maybe a few hours work, if that. I'm based in Birmingham and have a reasonable set of facilities here if you're really stuck. Given the number of other bikes in the garage I can't offer to store the bike for you, but if needs be we can sort out some time for you to use the tools here and get the job done.
____________________
I'm immortal. Well, so far.

[murphyD]

Sorry to hear of your accident
Glad you're not badly hurt. You never know what Santa will bring
____________________
May your helmets glisten in the sun !!!!

[Whosthedaddy]

[Kara]

I and a few other mates have lots of bandit parts and experience of fixing these bikes. If theres anything you need you could try fishing on www.eabikers.co.uk or advice or anything. All of my parts are up for postage only.
____________________
NC30 + Bandit 6
www.eabikers.co.uk

[Ichy]

New fork tubes will cost £70ish quid each from most places. It take a hell of a lot to damage a gear box so the changing problem is likely to be lever or clutch. Total for all the stuff you mentioned should be less than £200 but thats without looking. Your profile says Bath but you mentioned Birmingham? If you are at Uni then the price of a few beers should find enough blokes to fit the new bits and sort out the rest.
____________________
https://www.metacafe.com/watch/1972097/how_to_behave_on_a_forum/

[Lawnie]

It happens to the best of us

At least you can learn something from this

[Dot_Comm]

Wow, you guys are fantastic, you've all given me a lot to think about.

jonboy: nah not overcomfortable. Just there's never been a micra sitting there in the road before.... momentary lapse of concentration, happens to the best of us, most of the time you can get away with it, sometimes you just can't though.

Tarmacsurfer: spot on. I'd just come round a left hand bend, car in the road, was pretty much a straight shunt into the back of it. Thanks for the offer of tools, but I'm not going to be in Birmingham much longer (see below).

marki: wow that's a lot less than I was first thinking. The damage just looked so bad, but hopefully it'll be around that figure then I'll fix her up. As for the bath - birmingham thing, I'm at university at Bath studying engineering, but for the past year I've been working on placement in Brum. I have one week left before I go home to Cornwall, then back to Bath in October.

The rest of you: thanks for your kind words, it's great to be a biker, knowing that other bikers are there for you when you need them.

The plan right now is to get the bike home to Cornwall next weekend. I was going to ride it but no chance now! However dad's got a mate with a bike trailer so that's not a problem. Then I'll get it assessed to see exactly what the damage is. Then I'll check ebay for bits. Dad's a mechanic and has tools coming out of his ears (well not literally, that would just be weird), so tools and labour won't be a problem.

If it costs too much to fix the bike, then I'll see what I can get for it from a scrappy or break it myself and sell the bits on ebay. Then start looking for a new one

Thanks once more guys. Now, anyone know if bandit 1200 bits will fit a 600?

Rach
____________________
My bike: Suzuki Bandit 600 (33bhp)
Previous bike: Peugeot Speedfight 2 100