My first off :-(

CortezTheKill... · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 19 Sep 2006 Karma :

Well, just got home after saying goodbye to my now very bent bike.

Was following a lorry with German plates which indicated left at a roundabout. I went on the inside of him and he just changed his mind and swung out right in front of me. Nothing I could do to avoid it so I grabbed the brake, front wheel went and me and the bike hit the ground. Next thing I remember is jumping up and berating the lorry driver for giving very misleading signals and running over my bike.

When I went to look at the bike it was buried under the wheels of the lorry and a bit mangled. Managed to bring Uttoxeter to a bit of a standstill (which isn't hard, I know).

Thanks to the biker who stopped and made sure I was ok.

Bike is a write off.

I know grabbing a handful of brake isn't always the wisest idea, but in this case it made the bike go down rather than the trailer hitting me at chest height and possible dragging me under the lorry with the bike.

No bike for a bit, but am fully comp so hopefully will be able to get myself a Speed Four when I get my cheque.
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SV650 - TRASHED
ZX636R C6F - SOLD
Current number of wheels: 0 (not including a bicycle).

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

Unlucky mate but it sounds like it could have been a lot worse. It's a hard way to learn about staying clear of foreign lorries Sad

Are you going to try and claim from his insurance? Any witnesses?

TheShaggyDA · Repost Police Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

MattEMulsion · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Aug 2004 Karma :

Sorry to hear about your accident but can I give you some tips for the future? First of all steer well clear of foreign lorries, they often don't know where they are going and most are left hand drive with very limited visibility to the offside and rear. Secondly, never attempt to pull a manoeuvre past a big lorry whilst is about to make a turn or going round an island etc. They take up large amounts of room and often have to swing out the other way to make some turns and the exits from roundabouts.

Other than that I hope you get your claim sorted okay. Smile

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Yamaha YZF-R6

wilbur · Traffic Copper Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Karma :

Bad luck glad you are OK. Sorry about the bike.

It does read like you were asking for trouble if you are in a left hand driving country.

We have covered TIR lorries blind spots before.

If you really cut inside when he was indicating left then you were a bit of a twat. I assume thats not what happened. If it was ,hey we all make mistakes. At least you are OK. Cool

TheShaggyDA · Repost Police Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :

CortezTheKill... · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 19 Sep 2006 Karma :

Yeah...inside as in 'on the inside of him close to the roundabout'. Even I would not be stupid enough to ride inside a lorry turning left.

He was indicating left so I made the mistake of assuming he was going left. Witnesses saw him indicating left then swing out at the last minute 'cos he realised he would have been taking a wrong turning. He still had his indicator on 'left' when he swung out. His first words were 'No police...no police' so he knew he was in the wrong.

Doesn't help my bike though. Still, lesson learned without too much injury (just a scraped knee....glad I invested in high quality gear).
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SV650 - TRASHED
ZX636R C6F - SOLD
Current number of wheels: 0 (not including a bicycle).

colin1 · Captain Safety Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :

it is a quirk of lorries that they need to swing out the other way before doing a tight turn.

I think its mentioned in the highway code.

If I'm paying attention, Id bear this in mind and give an HGV indicating to turn off a wide berth just in case.

Worth knowing about as its not that rare, and not just a qurk of germans.

He still is probably out of line, but its good to be aware of lorry drivers and their ways.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

st3v3 · Super Spammer Joined: 16 Oct 2006 Karma :

CortezTheKill... · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 19 Sep 2006 Karma :

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

Nb · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 May 2005 Karma :

Sorry to hear of your off. We get alot of foreign trucks in milton keynes who dont have a fucking clue what to do on roundabouts and they all seem to indicate left when going round the roundabout Question

Hope your insurance stuff is sorted asap.
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Cbr1100xx blackbird gone, mk4 golf gt tdi chav now
Colin1 wrote 'Im grateful for what i can get, which isnt all that much.'
Columbus travel insurance are crap!! Do not use!

CortezTheKill... · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 19 Sep 2006 Karma :

Of course I won't say that! I was concentrating on what I was doing, but just meant that I should been extra-careful when I realised it was a foreign lorry with a foreign driver. I didn't admit fault in any way whatsoever.

According to the police (who were great) he had insurance provided by his operator but had unfortunately not brought the current insurance certificate with him...he only had his last one which expired in December 2006. So it might become very interesting. The TPO (whoever they are) will do the chasing (hopefully fairly quickly) and establish that he was actually insured.
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SV650 - TRASHED
ZX636R C6F - SOLD
Current number of wheels: 0 (not including a bicycle).

wilbur · Traffic Copper Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Karma :

trevoriv · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Karma :

You should be okay insurance wise, even if he's not insured im guessing you will have some kind of ULR which would cover you.

Im not sure but i think he would have to have valid insurance in place to even get into the country. Hauliers tend to be good with insurance as them 44 tonners cost a lot and can do a lot of damage.

Unlucky mate sounds like it could have been nasty! Time to start sizing up a new ride Thumbs Up

Finglonga · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Karma :

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Where is the bike now? Need a hand getting it home?

Recovery yard will change a fortune for storage.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

CortezTheKill... · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 19 Sep 2006 Karma :

Sadly didn't have the right state of mind to take photos of the bike...I was a mixture of really pissed off and in shock. I wish I had done though.

The lorry driver was going to the JCB place and began to head off up the Stafford road then realised the entrance was off the next exit at the roundabout, hence he pulled sharply back on to the roundabout.

My bike's at a recovery place in Stafford...I'm assuming the insurance will pay for the cost of storage there. I hope so as it's 150 quid a week. I just phone Carole Nash and they're shut, so I'll ring tomorrow. It was Carole Nash's people that organised the recovery, so I'm hoping there's no problem with them paying for that.

If they say there is when I ring tomorrow, I might need to get the bike out of there pretty quickly and might need to take you up on your very kind offer Keith...I'll PM you tomorrow if I need help.
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SV650 - TRASHED
ZX636R C6F - SOLD
Current number of wheels: 0 (not including a bicycle).

Teaman · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Dec 2004 Karma :

some people make a mistake and get a big scare, usually ending up with them being very observant for years to come.

Some people are like you... Bloody unlucky but outcome will be the same.

I back ended a car about 6 or so months after my test on a cx500, bent all the front, Always had enouigh braking space between me and the vehicle infront or a get out way quickly rout.

I hope that you get any problems sorted soon.
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There is no point in ranting about someone stupid because there is nothing u can do about it. There is no cure for stupid.
Someone stupid does not realise they r stupid.stupidity is indistinguishable from malice U just have to accept that some people are thick as p1gsh1t and work around them.

MattEMulsion · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Aug 2004 Karma :

Either which way you are fully comp and your bike is a write off. The recovery bill and storage fees will be picked up by the insurance company, don't worry about that.
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Yamaha YZF-R6

wilbur · Traffic Copper Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Karma :

Hmmm yes could bugger your NCD if he is not insured.