Triumphrat

FifeTiger · 04-10-2008

Coming home through central Edinburgh Tuesday night, fair enough it was nice weather for Ducks but was a bit surprised to see a cpl walking across the road behind the Botanic Gardens.

If I'm painting an idyllic picture of urban Edinburgh here it is very nice but let's focus !!

Car in front stops, I've got plenty of braking distance, gently pull on the front with a little rear because of the rain. Must've slowed to about 20 when the front just tucked under and bike and I ended up sliding down the road.

Absolutely no reason I can see for it, maybe a patch of standing water. Damage :-

smashed indicator
bent brake pedal
bent rider and pillion footrests
snapped off corner of top fairing
pillion peg hanger bent inwards pushing tail pipe in against frame
huge scrape along the tank

Rode the bike home, and it's not really that badly damaged just all cosmetic but I'd just been thinking how well it was looking for a 6yr old with 36k on it and was going to treat it to a dealer 36k service rather than the local boys.

I suppose I can ride with the scars as a badge of battle.

If it goes to insurance, the guys there are going to have a laugh. Cause of Accident - Duck.

Dusty · 04-10-2008

That's not good, Mark. I presume that you're OK and all damage was to the Tiger.
The Edinburgh roads can be pretty greasy, and there's too much diesel around for my liking.
Anyway, I'm glad damage is minimal. Although I've commuted a few times on the RS, I confess to taking the car if it's wet at 7AM!

graeme · 04-10-2008

Hi Fife,

Sorry to hear about your duck incident !

It's an awful feeling when your pride and joy goes skidding down the road. You feel like sh!t for a few days wondering - What if !!

Not casting aspersions here, but does this sort of thing add fuel to the use your rear brake in urban driving situations debate ?

If you plan to stop just using your rear brake only, it doesn't matter if it locks up because you can steer all day with a locked rear and you've still got your front as a back-up. If you brake using the front and lock that, you go down straight away, unless you are trained in the art of cadence braking.

Just a question, before anyone starts having a go.

Outrunner · 04-10-2008

Sorry to hear about your "off", seems you have done more damage to your bike than I did falling off at about the same speed. Mind you, I did have engine bars on mine so the tank, casings and brake pedal were protected.

Andy.

FifeTiger · 04-10-2008

Yeah my mates played the 'engine bars' card on me already !

Ironic really, last week I managed to drop it far too early in the morning when the sidestand switch was sticking, brain wasn't quite functioning and after kicking the stand up one more time, decided it was ok to get off the bike as it was in gear on a slope.

Only of course the stand wasn't down, doh ! No damage at all then.

The good news is, I can't see anything wrong when I'm on the bike !!

TriumphTengu · 04-10-2008

That sucks. Raining here in Austin as we speak (extreme Tornado conditions) so will take the pick up to work today.
Deer are the main road hazard here in the Hill Country.
Hope you have a garage who'll fix your 'cycle up right.
Good luck.

miker · 04-10-2008

How much? Obviously more than one would think.

Having the front fold up like that is a really basstard, especially when you can see no valid reason for it.

Still, at least you're OK and the bike can be repaired.

Mick

TucsonBill · 04-11-2008

In Arizona if there are ducks on the road - they need water, don't they? - a driver in possession of a hunting license would accellerate. You can keep road-kill if you're licensed! Must have been a city slicker in the cage!
I finally got money from my insurance company fifteen months after the white-van-man smacked me from behind and I'm spending it on the Postie Bike Challenge in Australia! http://www.postiebikechallenge.org/ There can always be an upside!
It sucks that the bike's a bit trashed, but it's great that you'll be around to keep us informed about what's happening in your neck of the woods!

Kiwi Tiger · 04-11-2008

Yes……….. but how’s the Duck?
No seriously that’s a sad tale; there must have been something on the road.
I had a Hawk come off the side of the road, smashed the mirror, then my Collar-Bone, and yes then I went down the road. BATTLE DAMAGE!
At the end of the day you are O.K. which is good. Good luck with the repairs.

McGuiver · 04-11-2008

That really "ducking sucks"!!!!