Can I legally ride my bike now? Its a bit damaged...
Discussion
Basically I crashed my bike on Saturday, and I now need to get it to my dealership to have it checked over. Assuming I can get it started, can I legally ride it with the following bits damaged/missing?:
-missing right front indicator cover (but bulb still works)
-scratched headlight cover (lights will be on!)
-only one wing mirror which is slightly broken (doesn't always stay in the right place, and the other one smasked off in the imapct
-damaged rear brake lever, but brakes still work, and no leaking fluids
-probably missing one body panel, but not sure as yet if it will have to come off...
Hopefully I'll be able to put it in the back of a Mitsubishi truck and have it driven down like that, but if not will I get into trouble for riding it in this condition if I get pulled? It looks alright, but the indicator is really bright without the lens cover, and the brake lever is a bit wobbly but still works fine.
-missing right front indicator cover (but bulb still works)
-scratched headlight cover (lights will be on!)
-only one wing mirror which is slightly broken (doesn't always stay in the right place, and the other one smasked off in the imapct
-damaged rear brake lever, but brakes still work, and no leaking fluids
-probably missing one body panel, but not sure as yet if it will have to come off...
Hopefully I'll be able to put it in the back of a Mitsubishi truck and have it driven down like that, but if not will I get into trouble for riding it in this condition if I get pulled? It looks alright, but the indicator is really bright without the lens cover, and the brake lever is a bit wobbly but still works fine.
If you are going to ride it to a dealer etc....make sure you have pre booked an appointment and make a little effort to make good the damage before you ride it, this will normally keep us traffic cops off your back i.e. paint the indicator bulb yellow and make sure the missing body panel is not dangerous. As for the missing mirror. there is no requirement for a bike to have any mirrors!
As for the brake pedal, as long as you have brakes and a reasonable bit of the pedal/lever remaining there shouldn't be a problem.
Another tip, try not to get your knee down on the way to the repair shop!
Hope this helps.......
As for the brake pedal, as long as you have brakes and a reasonable bit of the pedal/lever remaining there shouldn't be a problem.
Another tip, try not to get your knee down on the way to the repair shop!
Hope this helps.......
Technically the damaged brake lever makes the vehicle unroadworthy on it's own, assuming that the ball at the end has snapped off. The broken indicator lens is another problem.
Having said that, I agree with fuknuts. Strap it all together and make sure the dealer knows you are on your way. Cops'll most likely be fine. (Don't you know this is the one time you'll actually see one, and it won't be fine!)
Having said that, I agree with fuknuts. Strap it all together and make sure the dealer knows you are on your way. Cops'll most likely be fine. (Don't you know this is the one time you'll actually see one, and it won't be fine!)
hanse cronje said:
can't your insurance recover it are you only tpft
TPFT (being only 16) and a £600 excess on any damage...
Repairs should only be £200-300, so no point in buggering up my insurance premiums for the next 5 years!
Thanks for the advice, as for the brake lever, the ball end is quite badly damaged but is just still there. I will be calling my dealer tomorrow to book it in and to get them to check it over/order new parts. The indicator bulb is already orange btw
[quote=fuknuts] this will normally keep us traffic cops off your back /[quote]
Wouldn't worry too much about traffic cops - I drive 40,000 miles a year and barely see one every couple of weeks if I am lucky!.
Just keep below the speed limit and there aint nowt to catch ya anyway
Best of luck and try to keep it shiny side up next time
LS
Wouldn't worry too much about traffic cops - I drive 40,000 miles a year and barely see one every couple of weeks if I am lucky!.
Just keep below the speed limit and there aint nowt to catch ya anyway
Best of luck and try to keep it shiny side up next time
LS
lightstepper said:
Just keep below the speed limit and there aint nowt to catch ya anyway
Best of luck and try to keep it shiny side up next time
LS
Its still restricted to 30mph anyway
and technically it was shiny side up...well, the side that was poking into the air was nice and shiny and undamaged, its the other side that looks a bit worse for wear...If you have to ride it to the dealer, I suggest you call them and make an appointment. Get the name of the person you made the appointment with.
That way, if you're riding and get pulled, you can at least show the policeman that you are indeed taking it to be repaired, and he might not think you're just giving him any old guff.
Personally though if the brake lever is knackered I wouldn't risk it. Have you got 'a mate with an estate'?
That way, if you're riding and get pulled, you can at least show the policeman that you are indeed taking it to be repaired, and he might not think you're just giving him any old guff.
Personally though if the brake lever is knackered I wouldn't risk it. Have you got 'a mate with an estate'?
Parrot of Doom said:
Personally though if the brake lever is knackered I wouldn't risk it. Have you got 'a mate with an estate'?
My mums going to ask the driver at her work if he could drive the bike down to the dealer on Sat in his big Mitsubishi truck. Failing that, its riding it or seeing if my dealer can pick it up, as I don't know anyone else with an estate
These are the ones that need attention:
Yellow bulb, car indicator lens plus gaffer tape, something, to make it yellow.
This one's more tricky since I can't see it or fiddle with it. There is a possibility that something has been strained and it's holding up for now but would break if you needed to brake hard. Which is exactly when you don't want it to happen... so don't risk it!
m1spw said:
-missing right front indicator cover (but bulb still works)
Yellow bulb, car indicator lens plus gaffer tape, something, to make it yellow.
m1spw said:
-damaged rear brake lever, but brakes still work, and no leaking fluids
This one's more tricky since I can't see it or fiddle with it. There is a possibility that something has been strained and it's holding up for now but would break if you needed to brake hard. Which is exactly when you don't want it to happen... so don't risk it!
Pigeon said:
-damaged rear brake lever, but brakes still work, and no leaking fluids
This one's more tricky since I can't see it or fiddle with it. There is a possibility that something has been strained and it's holding up for now but would break if you needed to brake hard. Which is exactly when you don't want it to happen... so don't risk it!
Surely you would want to do any serious braking with the front brake on a bike. Any hard braking with the rear will just lock up the wheel.
Yes, that is true, at least on a good surface, though you use the back brake more if it's slippery. But it's easy to panic and stamp on things when you haven't been riding very long, and having the pedal suddenly disappear from under your foot would be somewhat destabilising, especially on a small bike.
Anyway, one of my rules is "don't
with brakes" 
Anyway, one of my rules is "don't
with brakes" petercam said:
Surely you would want to do any serious braking with the front brake on a bike. Any hard braking with the rear will just lock up the wheel.
Sorry, I should have explained, its technically a scooter so is an automatic - both hand lever brakes and so its the back brake is damaged, no foot brake ot clutch on it!
Having problems with my dealer at the moment, so it won't be going in this weekend anyway...
fuknuts said:
there is no requirement for a bike to have any mirrors!
you do actually need a right hand mirror.
all bike cops know this
its a shame a cop who bikes dont know this .. .. .. ..
>> Edited by DucatiGary on Tuesday 14th February 22:29
>> Edited by DucatiGary on Tuesday 14th February 22:34
no indicators is fine as long as you remove the switches and wiring for them also. you need a right hand mirror, not sure if it is a recent ish thing but I had a cracked mirror on my MV and got pulled by a motorcycle officer who said the left is ok if you dont have it but you need the right and advised I fix it ASAP and if seen riding again without it fixed he will do me for it.
so I got it fixed the day after.
so I got it fixed the day after.
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