First Street Triple Down?

[bigskynyc]

Man, that isn't a distinction I anticipated -- or wanted, obviously. But, all things considered, it could have been so much worse.

After a great day of riding, I was heading north on the West Side Highway in Manhattan (the highway where the 50mph posted speed limit is, as someone once said, "a suggestion"). I took the exit in the 50s where the road splits; the right side goes onto 12th Avenue.

A car to my left apparently realized that they were missing their exit (the driver's words), so -- without seeing me -- they cut me off at a very slow rate of speed -- suddenly they were right in front of me. I was able to brake, but couldn't avoid hitting them, and low-sided.

Luckily, I wasn't hurt (except for a slightly sore ankle where I believe the bike landed on me), and no cars ran over me, which was my big fear as I was going down. I was also wearing full gear, so there are no abrasions, etc. from hitting the road.

The bike doesn't seem to have a great deal of damage -- the clutch lever end has snapped off, the left handlebar grip is a bit damaged on the end, the left turn signal prism is broken, and the engine is a scuffed where it protrudes the most. It seems strange, but the right handbrake is also messed up -- I may have caught it and pulled as I was going down.

What concerns me most is it seems that the handlebar is turned very slightly to the left when I'm going straight -- or at least I think it is. It's not severe, so it's kind of hard to tell, particularly with the clutch lever half the normal length. Obviously I'll be taking it in to be examined and repaired (since I already have an appointment for the 500-mile check), but if anybody has any suggestions as to what I should be paying attention to, I'd sure appreciate them.

Please excuse the length of this post; as I was typing, I realized that I'm more upset than I realized, but not as upset as I thought I'd be, if you know what I mean. Yes, it SUCKS that the bike is a week old but, you know, a woman this summer on her brand new Ducati died on that highway, so I'm very, very fortunate. (And we all have insurance, and the drivers of the car know they were in the wrong.)

Thanks, all.

____

Don

[Will]

I wouldn't worry too much about the slightly twisted front end. The old dirt bike trick of loosening the axle, bouncing the front end, then tightening the axle will probably put everything back straight. Or, you might have bent bars. Not a big deal either.

Glad to hear that you and the bike survived well enough. I think the factory should reserve a place of honor for the first to go down under normal circumstances on a new model. It has a perverse historic quality that ought to be recognized.

[Diego]

Wow. Close call, Don. Glad you're OK and will be getting the bike checked out. I expect Will is right, though, and there shouldn't be too much to do to it. Hope you're back on the road soon.

[Jon.sb]

I suspect that after a few minor tweeks at the dealer you will have everything pointing in the right direction!

[vega 0]

Really sorry to hear this, but you're OK, and that is the most important thing! Your bike will be sorted no problems

However, I'm not sure you're the first.

This guy took delivery, and a Blue Sedan pulled in front of him. He flew over the car, and ended in hospital with a slight fractured hip. I believe he is OK other than (the mangled front end of his bike).

[Jamie]

Bigskynyc: Am terribly sorry for you. All our best wishes
.

[spiki-spikester]

OH NO

That's really bad news. It can be heartbreaking to dump a bike like that. Better make sure the insurance covers it & has it reinstated to showroom condition.

Hope you mend a lot quicker that the bike.

[bigskynyc]

Thanks, all. The ankle is now nothing more than a very slight pain, thanks to several well-placed bags of frozen peas.

I've now contacted both insurances companies (mine and the "perps"); they're all very helpful. I just hope that the couple that cut me off doesn't change their story.

I'll bet everyone does this, but I've been Monday-morning quarterbacking the whole incident, trying to think if there's anything I could have done differently and what should I look out for in the future. Maybe being on a new bike and not being as familiar with the controls and braking as I would have been on the last bike could have played a part. Maybe. But I was able to brake well enough to keep from sliding or going over the handlebars.

What might be more to the point is a warning that I've read in several books; don't let your guard down in familiar places. That off-ramp is one that I take all the time on the way home -- I know it really well. I'm going to try to bring a little more awareness to remaining alert in areas that I "could drive blindfolded."

But right now... all I want is I WANT MY BIKE TO LOOK LIKE IT DID YESTERDAY MORNING!!!:



Don

[Jon.sb]

Came out of work last night and because of the impending cold weather the council had gritted the roundabout. As I went sideways (but fortunatley upright) across it.... I was parying not to add another similar post to this message board.

I was lucky because I'd seen the grit and was being extra careful but the surrounding numpties in their cars were not and I was praying not to have someone swipe the bike out from under me.

Fingers crossed... The weather is getting worse and the car drivers are dozing at the wheel.

[manxstreettriple]

Sorry your bike is poorly, but at least you're ok which is the main thing.

I had fun today-dropped off my bike for its 600mile service, first time i had taken it out in the rain-they gave me a hornet to come home on and the darned thing died on me 4 miles from home! Luckily my local copper saw me walking with my gear on, thought I had come off, and stopped to give me help-so I got a lift home and the hornet is abandoned at the roadside, and my Streetie is down the other end of the island at the shop! I phoned them and they said they will drop off my bike when they pick up the dead hornet. I should have expected it-it is the 13th after all!