First crash

by TheWizardofOdds Thu 15 Sep 2016, 3:49 pm

A while back I got a suzuki sv650s somewhat fortuitously as my CB was forlorn, still is, with coolant issues.

A couple of days ago on a rospa tuition ride I was riding around the countryside in the hills around Dumfries and Galloway. The day started well and I was on it, just felt like I was finally getting comfortable with the sv. The roads were damp with very light drizzle, I came up to one of many s bends, I went to the very right to come back in left and was on the paint I think. For some stupid reason, and I didn't panic, I touched the front brake lightly, next thing I'm down sliding and on to the other side on a blind bend for the oncoming traffic. The bike rebounded off the embankment and hit me, I've got a broken collarbone. I got up quickly and my instructor stopped and picked up my bike for me. Got it towed eventually and I've been given an insurance quote of £1600 to repair, the mechanic will give me a real world price soon as it's barely worth that.

Indicators, plastics, handlebar, mirror, gear selector, etc. I might take it back and just slowly do an ebay job of replacing parts,

Thank god for good gear, my helmets only lightly grazed although I might get a new one. I don't recall any impact with my head at all? Boots done a great job, rev it textiles, f $/^ing brilliant, got a tear in the trousers though as I think the clutch lever pierced them.

I'm annoyed as I always use engine braking in this situation but I was pushing it and am less good on right handers so I think in anticipation of this I touched the brake as I'm reluctant to get in left and lean to the right on a right turn.

I'll try and attach some pics,

By the way, I miss my CB like mad First crash Img_2011

.

by ratatooie Thu 15 Sep 2016, 5:12 pm

Bloomin' eck that sounds a bit nasty. Main thing is you are OK and can write this post and possibly even learn from the experience.

One thing I would say is that you should seriously consider turning the helmet into a plant pot rather than wear it again. They are only designed to take one good bang and heaven forbid it lets you down if you need it again at the wrong moment. I would say the same about the worn textiles - particularly if they are pierced, but that it up to you, and a decent patch may very well work (but I'm no expert).

Glad you are OK!

by sullivj Thu 15 Sep 2016, 5:19 pm

That does sound nasty. Glad you're OK enough to write about it.

As a guess, how fast do you think you were going? It doesn't look like a particularly sharp bend in the pics.

by Jameshambleton Thu 15 Sep 2016, 6:25 pm

I threw my helmet out of an upstairs window onto some rockery stones out of boredom, not a mark on it apart from the ones when I crashed on mine. Get it replaced not really worth the risk is it?

by ashcroc Thu 15 Sep 2016, 6:35 pm

Glad you managed to walk away. Those painted lines can be nasty in the wet & it looks from your first pic that there may be some oil/diesel on the road too which won't help any.

Your local fire station might be interested in your old lid for training purposes.

by TheWizardofOdds Thu 15 Sep 2016, 6:54 pm

ratatooie wrote:Bloomin' eck that sounds a bit nasty. Main thing is you are OK and can write this post and possibly even learn from the experience.

One thing I would say is that you should seriously consider turning the helmet into a plant pot rather than wear it again. They are only designed to take one good bang and heaven forbid it lets you down if you need it again at the wrong moment. I would say the same about the worn textiles - particularly if they are pierced, but that it up to you, and a decent patch may very well work (but I'm no expert).

Glad you are OK!

Thanks. I agree, I got an Arai and spent money on it and it's useless. Bits at side broke off and other plastics on it too.

The helmet I had in fall was a £40 job. It got 5 stars on government sharp site though.

by TheWizardofOdds Thu 15 Sep 2016, 7:02 pm

sullivj wrote:That does sound nasty. Glad you're OK enough to write about it.

As a guess, how fast do you think you were going? It doesn't look like a particularly sharp bend in the pics.

Thanks, yeah I'm ok, just a bit embarrassed!

I think I was at around 40 mph no more. However I was carrying momentum from previous corners and I was a bit out of sorts as I hadn't taken them well. I had ridden well until then but I struggle to turn the sv in comparison to the CB. I could take that corner at 60 on the CB! But never would.

It doesn't look much but that right hander is 90 degrees or less and although it looks wide from my angle standing on the other side of the road, it's different on the bike, it's a tricky corner. Plus, I'd never been there but that's a poor excuse.

by TheWizardofOdds Thu 15 Sep 2016, 7:05 pm

Jameshambleton wrote:I threw my helmet out of an upstairs window onto some rockery stones out of boredom, not a mark on it apart from the ones when I crashed on mine. Get it replaced not really worth the risk is it?

You're right, I will. Deffo not worth it. Good gear saved me, I intend keeping it that way.

by TheWizardofOdds Thu 15 Sep 2016, 7:09 pm

ashcroc wrote:Glad you managed to walk away. Those painted lines can be nasty in the wet & it looks from your first pic that there may be some oil/diesel on the road too which won't help any.

Your local fire station might be interested in your old lid for training purposes.

Thank you. There was a patch of what looked like petrol or diesel just at the white line that didn't come from my bike. It probably didn't help matters and I'm sure my touch on the front brake while changing direction and leaning didn't either!

That's an interesting suggestion regarding the lid and fire station. I'll ask them, it's just down the road.

by **eternally_troubled** Thu 15 Sep 2016, 9:29 pm

Glad to hear you aren't too badly damaged.

In my experience it is sometimes difficult to stop yourself braking at unfortunate moments - even if you *know* it is the wrong thing to do - I know that I occasionally do it, thankfully without any harm (yet!).

Hope the collar bone is on the mend.

Jameshambleton wrote:I threw my helmet out of an upstairs window onto some rockery stones out of boredom, not a mark on it apart from the ones when I crashed on mine. Get it replaced not really worth the risk is it?

As I'm sure you (and everyone else) know the damage is on the inside to the expanded polystyrene which once crushed does not return to its original shape.

by TheWizardofOdds Thu 15 Sep 2016, 11:40 pm

eternally_troubled wrote:Glad to hear you aren't too badly damaged.

In my experience it is sometimes difficult to stop yourself braking at unfortunate moments - even if you *know* it is the wrong thing to do - I know that I occasionally do it, thankfully without any harm (yet!).

Hope the collar bone is on the mend.

Jameshambleton wrote:I threw my helmet out of an upstairs window onto some rockery stones out of boredom, not a mark on it apart from the ones when I crashed on mine. Get it replaced not really worth the risk is it?

As I'm sure you (and everyone else) know the damage is on the inside to the expanded polystyrene which once crushed does not return to its original shape.

Thanks, yes I know you shouldn't but when you've gotten away with it, you think it's ok to use. As I said, I very rarely do, only when I know I'm too hot coming in. It's 'wrong' to shut off the throttle, 'wrong' to front brake, rear brake, whatever, you can see why I'm trying to learn.

Actually, I think it's nick ianatsch that says it's ok to use the front or trail brake. I always try to use throttle control but I knew I couldn't down shift either.

Whatever happened, I went down. Icantchange that, just don't want it to affect my riding detrimentally when I get back.

I won't risk the helmet, as yes, i'm aware damage can be done internally.

Not sure about my suit though. There are abrasion marks on the shoulder, and the hole in the trousers. It's a bloody shame as this suit is goretex and has withstood the worst Scottish weather and I continually arrive at my destination (work) dry. As mentioned, I could patch it but I bet it has been compromised now and will be difficult to attain the same quality as before the accident. It wasn't cheap, but very worth it.

As a side note, in a remote area, the only passerby who didn't stop to see if I/we were ok was a biker.

by Beresford Fri 16 Sep 2016, 12:21 pm

TheWizardofOdds wrote:As a side note, in a remote area, the only passerby who didn't stop to see if I/we were ok was a biker.

He/she was probably on a stolen bike Mad

by TheWizardofOdds Fri 16 Sep 2016, 7:22 pm

Beresford wrote:

TheWizardofOdds wrote:As a side note, in a remote area, the only passerby who didn't stop to see if I/we were ok was a biker.

He/she was probably on a stolen bike

Heheh. Never thought of that. That's ok then.

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