Ford Escort Vs. Peugeot Speedfight = Big crash - read this!

[superchoward]

Ok, so on way to college this morning, took the usual route. Got to the park i normally cut through, went through park, came to the exit, BANG!. Upon aproaching the exit and a small road that nobody ever goes down a ford escort had come from the road and driven straight across the exit, blocking the exit and me incidentally crashing straight into the front left side of it. So i basically slammed the brakes on (probably not the best thing to do on a smooth pavement) out of sheer panic, slammed into the side of the car and flew into the bars of my bike which sent me spinning, flailing over the bonnet of the car and onto the road rather dazed. I got up miraculously unharmed and then realised i couldnt breathe, winded i tried to tell the driver of the car i was ok and i was sorry. Im so calm so then she asked if i was ok and i came round. The car she was driving - Ford Escort, was reasonably ok - smashed headlight lense. My bike however was considerably worse, smashed almost every panel on the left side and on the front, smashed my helmet and also, if that wasnt enough, it seems the steering column or something to do with steering, suspension etc is completely knackered. Therefore the bike is going to cost a ridiculous amount of money to fix, or a write off. Let this be a lesson, Ford Escort Vs. Peugeot Speedfight = Lots of smashed pieces of plastic, and a moped worth less than a packet of crisps.
Anyone got any ideas of what could be the problem with steering or suspension? Here are some points might be worth considering.
1. Wheel hit car first at about 10/20mph
2. Steering was completely locked and will not budge since accident.
3. When looking underneath, the rear of the wheel seems as if it has been pushed backwards towards the underpanel and is millimetres off touching it, this is when steering is turned slightly, as it is locked i cannot see whether it would be touching when straight.
4. The ignition key bit has come right out of its place towards the rear of the bike, don't know whether this is a problem with the panel or the the place where ignition is attatched has been forced backwards.
I dont know if i could claim on their insurance for it being their fault as they were on the road and i was going through a park, which i think is illegal. Therefore insurance is useless. Unless i am wrong.

Please if anyone has any ideas on what i should do now, i would be grateful.

Chris[/list]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Sounds like the forks are bent, at least. Possibly the frame is bent instead / as well.

From what you describe I would suspect that the accident would be deemed to be your fault. As such the chances are that you will not be able to claim from the driver of the Escort, but they can probably claim from you.

All the best

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

[stinkwheel]

You should sit and cross your fingers that the driver of the car doesn't suddenly decide she has a sore back or wants to claim for damage to her car. Because then you are up shit creek without a paddle my son and a bent bike will be the least of your worries. This is assuming that I read your initial post correctly and you were riding along footpath then crashed into a car that was on a road.

Sounds like you have bent the forks of the bike. Depending on what setup you have, it may be possible to have them straightened or you may well have to replace them. Either way, it is a job probably best left to an expert as it sounds like you have little in the way of mechanical experience and I would call a full front-end overhaul/replacement a 'moderatley hard' on a scale of "my granny could do it" to "Call in geordie laforge".
____________________
“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.

[superchoward]

Well surely she cant claim for back ache when there is fuck all wrong with her car! That shows that the car didnt take much of an impact or anything, it isnt as if i sent it skidding across the road. She seemed quite reasonable and didnt want to claim on the insurance if it was just the light. Do you think i should phone up and check if she is ok. I know i was at fault, and i will leave it to the professional people. Just seems so annoying and expensive.

Cheers
Chris

[stinkwheel]

As long as you stopped and reported, I would keep my head down for now. What I was saying was that often people see a minor bash as a good way of making money from an insurance claim through faking injuries.

You might want to change your signature. Did you have a premonition or what?

[superchoward]

I know, i should be mind reader, 2nd fall off this week actually aswell, maybe im better off without it :S

[binge]

I had a brand new speedfight 2. It was a VERY nice moped... I loved it to bits...

I took it in, Got it derestricted and I thaught I was the bees knees on it. I went to the local skate park on it, Decided I was going to show off and race with my mate (he had a 70cc Suzuki estelette)... We were racing and he was way ahead. His lights went off and I couldnt see him (It was really dark). He had decided to do a U turn, next minute... BANG!!!

I hit the side of his moped...

My speedfight was an absolout mess! Bearing in mind I was doing a good 35 - 40mph...

My front wheel was in the foot well, it was a mess...

Any way, I got it home.. Dad was mad as shit!
The next day I decided to strip it down (at this time I had no idea about mopeds so it was all new to me)
I had my forks off etc...
Got my dad to look at the frame and it was not bent. It was just the forks... Luckily the weakest part of the swing arm had collapsed and taken about 80% of the impact...
The next day I got on ebay. got new forks for £40. Had them fitted and back on the road with in a week...

I have added a "Shitty" drawing explaining the forks...

Hope Its of some help mate...

<|Binge|>

[Fortuna]

You spelt "Axle" wrong. Axel was in Beverly Hills cop.

[binge]

Shhhh!

<|Binge|>

[Edit]... Wont take 2 mins to change and the laugh will be on you fortuna! Muhahaha!

[binge]

If you are online and you are QUICK then this might be of some help to you



Ebay - Speedfight forks

<|Binge|>

Edit: Sorry. DONT bid on them they are fucked... I dint see the tear in the joint at the top!
Sorry mate...

[camcam]

you got off lucky i crashed my speedfight 2 in january the day after i brought it (£1000) then crashed into a car broke my leg now i got a steel rod going through my leg and spent 5 days in hospital bone went through skin plus had a messed up ped costing £430 to fix

[superchoward]

[mchaggis]

[binge]

but Mchaggis.... He told his mom a lie

The woman he hit rang up and told his mom the truth!


I think thats why she wants it sold...

<|Binge|>

[superchoward]

Binge is unfortunately correct. She said that she doesnt want me riding it again because i was stupid enough to be riding through a park. I promised that if i dont do anything illegal on it again will she let me keep it and she said she will tell me in the next few weeks. Ben, how you put restrictor back in Lol. Oh well, slow bike's better than no bike.

Chris

[binge]

erm, i only know how remove it mate

[superchoward]

Hahaha im sure ill get it back on ok, Should just be a case of reverse of taking it off right?