ACID on my bike..... *update*

[AngelGrinder]

Ok, I work on an industrial estate, this morning as I drove in it was misty at the yard, and the floor was wet.

I didn't think anything of it, and parked the bike at work and then left in the van for the day.

A few hours later I am informed the substance is a 'chemical' and we need to wash the vans wheel areas. We are not allowed to return to the yard, so I can't get to my bike to wash it or anything.

I got the bike back at 4pm, came straight home and have washed it. Luckily it's not too bad, tyres seem absolutely fine, but it has marked the -

Downpipes
Gold parts of rear shock
Front of fairing, at the bottom of the 'V' piece (It has stripped laquer and some of the paint)

Not the end of the world...the downpipes may polish out.

Apparently the acid was from a company nearby that 'dip metals' so I'm not sure what kind of acid it was.

As said, it's not the end of the world, the marks aren't that big or noticeable....but at the end of they day they are marks caused by someone else...

Is it worth claiming? Would I loose any NCB? How would I go about claiming from the company? Also, I only recently started this job, and using the bike to commute....my insurance policy was started when I didn't commute on the bike...so I'm am only insured for 'Social, Domestic and Pleasure'....

Would this cause problems?

I will try and get some pictures...
____________________
Currently Riding - 2002 Aprilia RSV1000 Mille

[stinkwheel]

Ask said company nicely.

There is every chance they are trying to keep it quiet. They have had a major spill of a highly caustic chemical. That is what is know in the trade as a "dangerous occurrance" the HSE tends to take a very keen interest in these, they are required by law to inform the HSE and I'm willing to be they haven't on account of it being likely to lead to a huge fine.

So a polite enquiry asking what they are going to do about it followed by a less polite enquiry mentioning the words "Dangerous occurrance" and "Health and Safety Executive" if nothing is forthcoming would seem to be on the cards.

EDIT: You're probably not insured because you were commuting. This would not prevent you trying to claim directly off the company in question through the small claims court system if it came to that as I presume the incident occurred on private land.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Pete.]

You don't need to go through your insurance company - you can make a claim for damages personally. You might even get-away with submitting a claim directly for reasonable damages and get a quick payout.

Check your wording on the policy - idoes it specifically say 'not commuting'? You could possibly still claim if perhaps you have another vehicle insured for commuting by stating a reason that vehicle could not be used on that day (i.e. flat tyre). It wouldn't be reasonable for the insurance company to deny you cover for a one-off journey to work if you had a good reason.
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[AngelGrinder]

[AngelGrinder]

Ok, here's some pictures -


https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y209/angelgrinder187/DSCF1636.jpg

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y209/angelgrinder187/DSCF1634.jpg

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y209/angelgrinder187/DSCF1635.jpg

As said, it's mostly minor, downpipes will probably just polish out.

It's the suspesion part that's to worst, as it's quite obvious. I could ignore the marks at the bottom of the fairing, as 1.It's hardly noticeable and 2.It will cost a fortune for 2 new fairings.

Also, debating wether or not to claim for new tyres aswell.....do I really want to find out if they have been damaged when I'm travelling along at speed?
____________________
Currently Riding - 2002 Aprilia RSV1000 Mille

[CRF_Rider]

where there is blame, there is a claim!
____________________
Why is it everything i race, seems to be going backwards?
Current: Honda CRF 450 R Supermotard
Previous: Yam TY250 x2, Gas Gas TXT 200, Sherco 290, Suzuki TS 50,Honda CG 125, Yam SR250, Suzuki DR-Z400E, Yamaha YZF R6 112rwbhp

[neatbik]

I'd go with what Stinkwheel says.
And yeah, i'd want new tyres too - if that stuff has eaten through your fairing chances are its not gonna be too clever on your tyres.

[stinkwheel]

Aye, it's obviously highly caustic to have taken the header back to shiny metal like that. Can't have done the tyres any good at all.

EDIT: I'd hazard a guess that it's phosphoric acid from the appearance of the header pipes. Iron phosphate is black and it looks like they've gone black round the outside of the splashes.

They probably black phosphate coat steel parts to protecft them from corrosion. You do this by dipping them in boiling phosphoric acid. I've worked with it before, there isn't much it wont dissolve/react with.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[AngelGrinder]

I will be going to work tomorrow in the car. I will find the name and adress of the offending compnany.

Tomorrow afternoon I will send them a e-mail/letter with the above pictures attached, asking them what they plan to do about this.

Does that sound fair?
____________________
Currently Riding - 2002 Aprilia RSV1000 Mille

[Itchy]

[AngelGrinder]

[MaybeGuy]

look up ''control of substances hazardous to health'' regulations, and the ''reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations''.

oh, and the usual HASAWA ones.

sounds like all of them were breached, so if you're really bothered about it, you could go down that route.
____________________
Blue_SV650S wrote: it was a sh1te wheelie, but it proves that he can get it up in 3rd and can do angles. In summery, mattsprattuk is a gobby little sh1tebag, dopehead tw4t, but sadly for all of us, he probably isn't THAT full of sh1te!!
Kickstart wrote: Hi I tend to agree with Matt. All the best Keith

[Flip]

The fire brigade should have attended this to clear the acid at some point, if you have trouble proving it happened (people keeping it quiet etc) it could be worth speaking to them. They'll have it logged etc if they'll give you any info.

Also claiming through work can take a f*ckin' long time. It's worth speaking to your insurance if only to ask them questions especially if you have free legal cover as this'll speed things up a lot.

[the grim reaper]

Sorry to go off topic but the design of that bike is crap. The reg/rec and exhaust, both of which get hot, are right next to the shock. That'll thin the oil out nicely!

On topic, I'd go and speak to them and ask for money towards getting it put right, obviously a lot of people know it happened, hence the need to wash the wheels etc, mention HSE and see how quickly they dip their hand in their pocket.

Cheers

Grim
____________________
Adverts don't always work: Remember that advert, where the army are running across the desert and they have a wounded man on a stretcher. They get to a ravine, the bridge is down and a caption pops up that says, 'What are you thinking?'. I don't know about you but I was thinking, 'Christ, I'm glad I'm not in the f***ing army'.

[AngelGrinder]

^^Never had any problems with the overheating.....surely all underseat exhaust bikes use the same thing?

Back on topic -

This is the company responsible -

https://www.explomould.co.uk/

I wasn't allowed to go in there today, and no-ones giving us any information on how to claim. There will be alot of claims though, alot of business had to shut early, Honda/Mazda couldn't deliver any new cars, and apparently alot of their staff cars have damage.

Should I wait until I can go over there? Or shall I e-mail them tonight...

The problem is I don't want to use the bike now....I don't trust the tyres.....
____________________
Currently Riding - 2002 Aprilia RSV1000 Mille

[Flip]

Replace the tryes yourself, keep the reciept and then claim the money back.

[cyberglass]

Get a claim in to the company they have caused the damage they should pay for it.

I would be defo be claiming for your tyres you cant trust them whatever the chemical was it could of seeped into the rubber and the tyres are now perrishing from the inside and you just dont know it .

Remember your tyres are the only thing seperating you from the tarmac And tarmac hurts like hell
____________________
DL650 Vstrom 2004
DRZ400S 2003
Yamaha R1 2005

[AngelGrinder]

Just an update on this, the companys insurance sent me a cheque which arrived yesterday, for the sum of just over £1,000.

Obviously this has taken a while to sort, and a few letters threatening small claims, but it's been worth it. Manged to get the tyres in the repair bill, so £200+ of the claim was tyres, which has basically meant free tyres for the year as the old ones needed changing anyway.

Exhaust polished out by hand by me with autosol and elbow grease. Will be leaving the shock as it is, as due to finacial situation this year, the money will be paying off a credit card!

Also, it went through their insurance, they did orginally try and make me go through my own bike insurance, but I told them kindly that it was nothing to do with my insurers and sent them the repair quotes.

They told me they were going to pay quite a while ago, but kept mucking me about for the cheque, so I wrote a letter last week saying if I hadn't recieved it by this Friday, I will take them to small claims. Suprise, suprise, it has now arrived!

So, the lesson is, keep hassling them until they give in!
____________________
Currently Riding - 2002 Aprilia RSV1000 Mille

[JAMSXR]

Well done!
____________________
Honda SFX50 > Aprilia SR125 > Aprilia RS125 > Honda RFV400 > K4 GSXR600 > KTM Duke > C1H 636 > K3 GSXR1000 > Aprilia RSV-R > Triumph Street Triple R > Ducati 899 Panigale > Aprilia Tuono 1100 > Triumph Daytona 675R > KTM SuperDuke 1290 2.0

[Pete.]

Nicely done
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[MattEMulsion]

Good result.
____________________
Yamaha YZF-R6

[Acemastr]

Well done mate, goes to show perseverance gets things done.
____________________
2017 KTM 350 XC-F - 2014 Yamaha R6 - 2005 Yamaha YZ125
2016 Toyota Tacoma Limited

[jack_zxr400]

Result
____________________
Previous Bike: ZXR 400
Current Bike: R6
Test Date: 8/8/2008-PASSED

[Pussy Magnet]

Hell very good result