monkeyp - MemberHad i not braked hard, i'd have hit the car.
True. But had you remained in control, you'd have stopped faster- quickest way to stop a bike is always on 2 wheels (or a wall)
That's not a criticism though- some people might be perfect. Me, I know sometimes stuff gets thrown at you and with the best will in the world you might not quite pull it off, and that just because you might have been able to avoid it, doesn't make it your fault.
I think almost every crash I had could have been avoided, if I'd just reacted that bit better or planned that bit better. But then every one of them would have been worse, if I'd reacted worse, and there were tons of incidents escaped or avoided.
So it's kinda a balance of knowing you could do better, and knowing that there's always something to learn from it... But at the same time, not beating yourself up for being a mere mortal human. Rossi falls off sometimes.
Anyway- main thing is you are alive to get in a pointless conversation with strangers on the interwebs.
OP - same thing happened to me last year, just because you didn't hit the other vehicle doesn't mean insurance won't pay up, although driver in my instance admitted responsibility straight away & there were independent witnesses. Good luck with it all.
Glad your ok , Ive only been riding a motorbike since the new year and being lucky so far with no offs !!
Had a few close calls on the way to work this week, with it been dark and wet and cars not seeing you , think i`ll use the car today 🙂
Stay safe
I rode motorcycles for 12 years and although I had a few frights, mostly caused by my own speed on empty roads, I never fell off and never crashed with another vehicle involved. Best advice I can give anyone on two wheels is always to move out twowards the crown of the road, which presents you as a sideways moving object in the emerging driver's field of vision. The human eye is good at spotting movement in the peripheral area but poor at spotting an apparently stationary but expanding object. Cover horn, headlight flasher and brakes, slow down and watch the car's wheels for movement, which is easier than trying to spot movement of the car from a changing perspective.
[i]Best advice I can give anyone on two wheels is always to move out twowards the crown of the road, which presents you as a sideways moving object in the emerging driver's field of vision[/i]
No, this is incorrect as you may be moving into a greater risk area. What you should do is move/slow/speed/stop or all of those things at all times. You can't say 'always'.
And as for falling off while going too fast, which in reality is what the OP has done. He needs to observe better, be in the right place on the road at all times and ride within yours (and the bike's) capabilities. Its a low speed/low cost tumble.
One thing also, don't underestimate the tyres contributing factor in you crashing (or not). Small, cheap m/c's usually come with small/cheap tyres. I'm old enough to remember how bad the first Far East tyres were, we immediately swapped them for Dunlops/Avons. They've got better, but no where near the quality of the 'big boys'.
Monkeyp - just seen this thread, I have a spare, unused (replaced with large one from new) pcx screen. Yours for free as its cluttering up my office if its any use to you
Cheers Stoner - I also have the original as the cracked one was an extended Givi screen.
So here is the update.
I had a cheque from the third party insurer today stating that the bike is a cat d write off. The cheque is for the market value minus £300 salvage. As the damage is cosmetic only i am very surprised that they have arrived at this decision, but i am confused. Does this mean i get to keep the bike and the cheque?
If it is cat d does this mean i need to anything to get it back on the road - an MoT for example?
Will call my insurer in the morning, but any advice is appreciated 🙂
I'd call that a result tbh.
Basically - it's cosmetic damage that's not worth repairing (to the insurance company). If you're happy to ride it scratched (and replace mot stuff like indicators / mirrors) then as I understand it - you're quids in.
BTW - did you actually hit the car? Or "slide" into it?
Get a Trailbike and ride some byways. You'll learn loads of safety and bike control skills all at under 25mph. skills I've developed on the trails have saved me many times.
Didn't hit it at all. Braked a bit too hard on a wet slippery section of the ring road and hit the deck.
Does this mean i get to keep the bike and the cheque?
Possibly - but probably not. But ring them and ask.
I'll confess to not having read the whole thread before my reply above but now I have I'd still come to the end answer: probably not.
As I suggest - ring them. But what ever happens - I'd still say you've come out of this insurance wise pretty ok. I had a 'mare once in a similar situation and as we'd never actually hit - I was deemed to have "lost control" and it wasnt the cars fault.
Anyway: do YOU feel the result is fair?
You need to ring them, and keep hold of the bike...
And if you do keep it, you'll need to inform your insurance company that its been a 'write-off'. This may increase your premiums, even if only 3rd party.
Well it seems i can keep the bike and the cheque! I have to say, i really did not expect that result. Just need to get the bike MoT'd and i can carry on using it. The insurance company will keep my cover and didn't seem to care that it was a cat d.
😀
