So I royally cocked up - with pictures

[J.M.]

And crashed. In to a van.

No excuses really. My fault. I was a tit and I certainly feel like one now.

I've learnt a valuable lesson from it, it's just unfortunate that it took me so long and with such consequences to learn said lesson.

I wasn't going to post it here because really I don't need the BCF bandwagon echoing to me how much of an idiot I am and sitting on their high horse, yada yada. Keep those comments to yourselves. I already know. On the other hand, I'm sure the rest of you will appreciate some pictures to look at!

As for me, I'm fine. I injured my hip in the accident, which got progressively worse to the stage that by the end of the day I couldn't walk without crutches and even those were painful (painkillers did nothing). A couple of days on though, still hurts a little bit, walking around just fine now though and I'm not on any painkillers any more.

Basically what happened:
Left my braking for a corner too late, corner came up quicker than I expected, panicked and grabbed a handful of brake, locked the wheels up, slid on to the other side of the road. Oncoming van saw me as soon as he possibly could (virtually blind corner) and took as much evasive action as he possibly could. I hit in to the driver side of the van knocking me off the bike and on to the floor. Van stopped shortly up the road with his hazard lights on.

I could not have hit a nicer guy.

His utmost concern was checking that I was okay. He came over before even looking at his van to make sure that I was okay and asked how I was. We moved the bike off the road and had a bit of a talk, exchanged details, looked at vehicles, picked up debris, etc. He agreed that we could settle outside of insurance and that he would get a quote as quickly as possible to let me decide whether I wanted to go through insurance or not.

After all of that was out of the way he asked if I was okay to get home and that I had a mobile so that I could call anyone if I needed to. I said that I would be okay to get home but I didn't know about the bike.

To my unbelief, he offered to put the bike in the back of the van and give me a lift home as I didn't live very far away.

Fast forward a bit. The quote is too much to make it viable really to not go through insurance, so I've been on the phone to my insurance and admitted full liability for the accident and they're going to get in touch with him.

The niceness shows though, when he phoned me about the quote, his first questions were asking how I was and how the bike was. It was only towards the very end of the call that we spoke about his van and decided that it would be best to go through insurance.

Obligatory paint diagram:
https://cdn.bikechatforums.com/files/paint.png

Damage to the bike:
Forks are forked. I'm going to take them off and show them to somewhere to ask if they can be straightened, but I'm thinking that they're going to need replacing.

Handlebars are bent. Usable, no cracks, just an awkward position for the throttle.

Wing mirror needs replacing. Snapped the stalk.

Front wheel needs replacing. It's beyond fubar. The tyre appears to be okay though.

Other than that, I think it's all fine.

I've looked at the frame and all around the headstock and it's all absolutely fine thankfully. I was expecting that to have taken some damage too.

Pictures are attached to the post.

Going to try and fix the bike on the cheap but whilst making it look good still. Getting very tempted to streetfighter it even though the fairings are virtually fine (bit of scraped paint on one); I'm loving the look without them!
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[shereen]

EEEEEEEKKK

Ooops, that could have ended up being a lot worse!!! Glad you seem to be ok, the forks look royally fooked though

How much was the quote on the van out of interest? Might be worth running a few insurance quotes with the accident added on to get an idea of how much the the insurance companies with shaft you over the next 5 years. Could be worth stumping up the cash now if you can.
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"The Internet is the first thing that humanity has built that humanity doesn't understand, the largest experiment in anarchy that we have ever had"

[J.M.]

[Blackwolf]

Haven't seen a wheel that bad in a while. Glad your ok though!
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Current: Ducati Multistrada 1200s

[J.M.]

[Rogerborg]

Eh, you walked / hobbled away, most of us do similar stuff before we got fitted for our pipe and slippers, and you're dealing with it like a proper stand up chap.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Redoko]

This is how both parties in accidents should act.

Top stuff. Hope you're alright.
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"Let's face it, this is not the worst thing you've caught me doing."
Sudika Sportsman SK50QT > Gilera DNA50 > Honda CBR125 RW7 > Kawasaki Zephyr750 > Suzuki GSXR600 > Honda Hornet CB600F '51

[lllN30lll]

Glue that bit of wheel back in, Be o'rate.

I've done this before mate, we all live and learn. I didn't hit anything though
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Turbo R1
CRF450R

[flat eric]

ey up J.M.

Glad you are ok fella.

get your crash photo's on the 'Show us your crashed bikes' thread in the photo section.

Regards.
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There is always someone worse off than you !

[dransy]

Glad your ok pal

If you have any problem finding any parts let me know , ive got 3 gs's in parts in my garage older models mind but most things should be ok i think
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Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles

[moppy]

Live and learn, van driver seems like a decent guy. Makes me think how lucky I've been though, have done the same thing (drift into opposite lane on left handers) twice or 3 times and it was only luck that there was no one coming that way that saved me.

[P.]

That wheels fucked

Nice that he actually got back to you in a reasonable time, let you heal for a bit! Nice work on the insurance, admitting liability and getting it sorted fast!

Shame about the bike, you'll be back in no time

[anthony_r6]

You were really lucky. Lessons learned and all that, what doesn't kill us, gives us knowledge not to repeat the stupid stuff that almost got us killed in the first place. It'll make you a better rider
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Ted : "Maybe he's agoraphobic."
Dougal : "Jack scared of fighting? I don't think so, Ted."

[Villers]

No high horsery here mate, youve obviously learnt a VERY valuable lesson for what is REMARKABLY very little cost to your limbs - given that a couple more MPH might have meant you were head on rather than hitting the nice chap in the side.

I hope it gets sorted smoothly, fair play to you for taking it like a man. Hopefully this can remind some of us how a daft oversight could very easily lead to a sticky end!

All the best!
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RS125 > CBR6 > SV650S > ZX636R > GSX1300RZ Hayabusa > 06 RSVR Mille > SV1000S > Street Triple 765 RS

[MinhDinh]

Crashes are never good, but you are alive and hopefully learn from the mistake. For your own, but also the safety of others, because we can also kill others.
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Hit the G spot.

[EXC-Rider]

oooo bike looks in pain!

good job you didnt end up under the van :/

should be a cheap fix if you buy parts online and make it a street fighter
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owned bikes: DR50, Thumpsta 110 , Honda CR85, Speedfight 100, Yamaha XT125X, Honda CRF450, Honda Hornet '07
current bikes: KTM EXC525 AKA the wheelie machine
A friend in need is a friend indeed but a friend with weed is better!

[J.M.]

Cheers for all of the positive responses guys

I certainly have the van driver to thank because I was headed for head on if he hadn't have reacted how he did I think. I got off extremely lightly both damage wise and injury wise.

I'll try and remember to grab some pictures to post up in the accident thread in the pictures section.

Cheers for the offer dransy, if I need anything that I can't find I'll be sure to drop you a P.M.

lllN30lll, maybe not

CRF-Rider, fairings aren't actually too bad! Just a little bit scuffed up paint wise!
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[Hyaon]

subframe looks twisted.
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Mod2 Passed 30/03/2011!
CBF125>GSF650 Bandit K8>B-King 2008+R1 2002

[T0MMY]

Even as we speak, scumbag lawyers will be badgering this van driver trying to break through his decentness and get him to suddenly realise his neck is a little sore...
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[Ariel Badger]

That wheel will be good to go if you fit it with a tube.
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[T0MMY]

[drzsta]

Crashes like that suck, Most of us have been there before...
Its just part of the game - rebuild & ride
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Current Bikes - BMW S1000RR ‘17 & KTM 690 SMC-R ‘12

[Walloper]

[L4Isoside]

Atleast you walked away, fair play for taking it well and even better, how the van driver reacted!

[janner_10]

You walked away, which is the main thing. Rest is sweep-upable so to speak.
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Yamaha FZS600 (Now gone to heaven) > CBR600F4i (SOLD) > '99 YZF-R1