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Post by rockynv on Oct 31, 2013 21:46:09 GMT -5
Wednesday morning just before sunrise I was hit by a Buick Rainier SUV trying to cut in to take a right on red. He caught me at the muffler shield and pushed me around 3 feet into the oncoming lane of traffic. Thankfully I was able to ride it out, stay upright and avoid the oncoming vehicles. I caught up with the SUV at the next traffic light and convinced him to pull over to exchange info. He accepted full responsibility and is paying for all the repairs.
I am glad my MSF coach drilled it in to us to not panic, stay with the bike, keep it upright and not panic brake until after you have regained control. If I had hit the brakes I would have ended up under the SUV instead of sliding sideways ahead of it as I would not have been able to win the fight to stay upright.
The bike only has about $53 of damage needing a replacement exhaust shield.
That Aprilia is built like a tank. Me I am still a bit shaken up.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2013 21:50:39 GMT -5
Close call. I like to take the fall myself. Its usually worth around 20k in pain and suffering.
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Post by rockynv on Oct 31, 2013 22:00:32 GMT -5
Close call. I like to take the fall myself. Its usually worth around 20k in pain and suffering. That is not worth it. Please not even in jest. It is one thing when you loose the battle to prevent it despite your best efforts but never something that you should look forward to or contemplate as beneficial. You live in Florida and should understand that most bikers that fall on a congested road can most times at best hope for a fairly nice funeral. I think I need better armor now. Trust me this was not a fun something to contemplate getting involved in with any level of choice. Definately not something to allow to escalate in the hopes of making money off of it. |
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Commuting is the best part of my day!
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Post by trailheadmike on Oct 31, 2013 23:00:33 GMT -5
Glad you're ok!
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Post by JerryScript on Nov 1, 2013 0:15:56 GMT -5
Glad to hear you are OK, and you scooter isn't too damaged. I've had too many close calls, and only a couple were my fault. You definitely have to be pro-active when riding!
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Post by oldchopperguy on Nov 1, 2013 1:06:01 GMT -5
Mighty glad you're OK!
It could have been much different.
Best wishes for sure!
Leo in Texas
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Post by spandi on Nov 1, 2013 1:23:05 GMT -5
He hit you and you had to catch him at the traffic light ? As in hit and run? I would have let the police "convince" him. (at least you weren't injured.)
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Post by millsc on Nov 1, 2013 8:49:01 GMT -5
You going to take it up with the insurance or he pay on the spot? Wonder why he kept going that's very cowardly hope the police gave him some hefty tickets.
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Post by novaraptor on Nov 1, 2013 9:25:15 GMT -5
Good work keeping the shiny side up..  |
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Post by prodigit on Nov 1, 2013 11:51:13 GMT -5
I would have checked the bike for more damage. Never know if something got out of alignment, or the muffler cracked in a hard to see space.
However, if it was me, I'd charge $150, for a new exhaust, and just keep riding with the old one.
A new exhaust is $120, and labor is about $20 (though most stores have a minimum of $40 for 30 minutes work; changing exhaust should take 15mins tops).
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Post by sailracer on Nov 1, 2013 13:01:48 GMT -5
Glad to hear you're unscathed(physically anyway). Apalled to hear that someone actually made contact with you while riding, and did'nt immediately stop to see if you were ok and to offer assistance.Were the local police involved, or are you just settling this between yourselves?
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Post by scootnwinn on Nov 1, 2013 18:24:20 GMT -5
Glad to hear you're alright and the bike too. Also glad you aren't trying to milk the insurance company for all you can.
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Post by rockynv on Nov 2, 2013 2:03:25 GMT -5
He agreed to abide by whatever the service adviser at the local Aprilia dealer said was required to put the bike back in order along with any fee for the inspection and estimate.
Bottom line is that since I road it out accelerating slightly the damage was minimal and to just the muffler cover so they saw no need to tear down the bike as not even the sheet metal tangs that support the muffler shield were even sightly deformed.
Total cost of repairing everything including the inspection was less than $55.
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Post by rockynv on Nov 2, 2013 2:21:11 GMT -5
Since he appologised, pulled over, admitted fault and waited paitiently while I photographed the damage to both vehicles along with the point that lacking personal injury or damages in excess of the required dollar it was not mandatory to call the police therefore the police were not called.
Yes he kept going to the next light but he did not flee. It was a dark area so he may have been too fearfull to pull over there since it was before sunrise. The matter is now closed as far as the driver is concerned and I am satisfied with the end results.
Now do I put flashing lights on the bike or get an Electric Horseman type suit to be more visible at night? Is it possible that along with the damp morning roads, my highly reflective gear and Osram lights that I was just part of the road glare and invisible? The Osrams are three times brighter, project twice as far and have triple the beam width of a standard H7 so were they potentially a contributing factor?
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Post by SylvreKat on Nov 2, 2013 7:08:22 GMT -5
As posted elsewhere, I'm sorry you were hit, rocky. And SO glad you wear gear, in case you'd gone down instead!
I'd guess the SUV driver didn't even realize he'd hit you. In a hurry, switching lanes like that, huge vehicle so might not've felt any impact at all. Or might've thought it was a pothole. And in a hurry, so might not've been looking around to see you afterwards. Esp since when you caught up he was amenable rather than hostile. Still doesn't excuse his bad driving.
Now go take that hot bath-soak. Best book is something light, like a historical romance or fantasy or something.
>'Kat
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