Now I know how Chilli feels.......

[Fats25]

So after yesterdays mornings incident, I am travelling home last night at the front of the queue joining a roundabout. Is a 3 lane roundabout and I am in the middle lane (admittedly as far to the left hand side of middle lane as possible) going straight across.

There is another bike to my left in the left hand lane (but on the far right side) and it is obvious that he is going straight across the roundabout as well.

I let bike to my left pull off first as he has to get across the lane in front of me, a split second after biker moved, I moved. As soon as I started to move I feel a whack to the back of the bike, felt like the back wheel had been run over. Luckily managed to keep the bike up and turned to see it was a transit size van that had hit me, and there was plastic all over the road. I pull into the petrol station on the roundabout, and van pulls in as well.

He is very apologetic, whilst I am looking over the bike. Cannot see any damage, but I go back to the road and pick up the plastic. It is all from his van! Swapped details, checked bike over this morning and cannot see any damage to my bike.

That is the third time now I have been hit by cars/vans on a bike and not come off yet! Long may it continue.

Then this morning, sitting in the traffic on Tower Bridge some pr*ck decided to nudge his bumper into the back of my leg. I wanted to kill him, but stuck with the two finger salute.

All of this has happened since I have been riding the bandit to work rather that the Gixxer. The only thing I can think of is the Bandit has the original can on it - the Gixxer is loud. I think it is time for a new can!

[RemaL]

lucky about not coming off but do contact your insureance about the van. just in case he says you hit him and they wonder why you have not contacted them

just to be on the safe side

hope all goes well, sounds like a fun commute you have

[m3psm]

Sounds like you've either been really unlucky or need to position yourself a bit more aggressively.

A loud exhaust will always help you get noticed, but it sounds like they're hitting you from the rear and side meaning they've already seen you, but miss-judged where (or when) you were going.

I have a quiet exhaust, filter very fast and can't remember the last time I got a nudge from a car or van. I do position myself very aggressively (positively) though leaving absolutely no doubt as to what my intentions are. They know where I want to go and that I won't be waiting for them to decide if it's OK. That way there is no miss-understandings

Edited by m3psm on Wednesday 14th November 10:15

Edited by m3psm on Wednesday 14th November 10:16

[sjtscott]

You've not had much luck recently have you. Well at least you stayed on, I still can't believe how dozy some drivers are. Haven't been tapped or knocked recently but certainly had this before, generally its the exhaust can that seems to attact attention or footpegs in my experience.
I had some guy drive into my lane coming up to a set of lights (in south london unsuprisingly) he crunched the wing of his car along my left hand footpeg and foot/leg - luckily the footpeg took most of the energy and remodelled his wing. Lets just say the car and driver were about as legal as the one you came across yesterday. The guy stared at me motionless as I asked him strongly what he was doing. The light went green and he drove off, having noticed no damage other than to his car and me having 3rd part F+T insurance at the time I just let it go as a narrow escape.

[Fats25]

sjtscott said:

You've not had much luck recently have you. Well at least you stayed on, I still can't believe how dozy some drivers are. Haven't been tapped or knocked recently but certainly had this before, generally its the exhaust can that seems to attact attention or footpegs in my experience.
I had some guy drive into my lane coming up to a set of lights (in south london unsuprisingly) he crunched the wing of his car along my left hand footpeg and foot/leg - luckily the footpeg took most of the energy and remodelled his wing. Lets just say the car and driver were about as legal as the one you came across yesterday. The guy stared at me motionless as I asked him strongly what he was doing. The light went green and he drove off, having noticed no damage other than to his car and me having 3rd part F+T insurance at the time I just let it go as a narrow escape.

Where do you come in from? Do you have the same Lewisham, Deptford, Bermondsey, Tower Bridge route that I have?

[sjtscott]

Fats25 said:

sjtscott said:

You've not had much luck recently have you. Well at least you stayed on, I still can't believe how dozy some drivers are. Haven't been tapped or knocked recently but certainly had this before, generally its the exhaust can that seems to attact attention or footpegs in my experience.
I had some guy drive into my lane coming up to a set of lights (in south london unsuprisingly) he crunched the wing of his car along my left hand footpeg and foot/leg - luckily the footpeg took most of the energy and remodelled his wing. Lets just say the car and driver were about as legal as the one you came across yesterday. The guy stared at me motionless as I asked him strongly what he was doing. The light went green and he drove off, having noticed no damage other than to his car and me having 3rd part F+T insurance at the time I just let it go as a narrow escape.

Where do you come in from? Do you have the same Lewisham, Deptford, Bermondsey, Tower Bridge route that I have?

Some similar parts but kinda in reverse.
I live near Canary Wharf (technically Isle of Dogs) and cross the river to Bermondsey using the Rotherhythe tunnel and since April now work on the Southbank near Waterloo Bridge. Used to have to go to Putney everyday.. hence I now have less incidents as my mileage per day is halved.

I just know the Blackwall tunnel area well due to being on the northern side and using it to travel outside of London regularly, also spend a bit of time in the Greenwich/Blackheath area too.

Edited by sjtscott on Wednesday 14th November 14:31

[Steve_T]

Chris,

Get your bike checked. I had a silly bint in a golf hit me while I was stationary at a red light. It looked like nothing serious, but I had my bike checked anyway. The upshot was the bike needed a new swing arm at a cost to her of £1k.

Steve.

[Steve_T]

sjtscott said:

You've not had much luck recently have you. Well at least you stayed on, I still can't believe how dozy some drivers are. Haven't been tapped or knocked recently but certainly had this before, generally its the exhaust can that seems to attact attention or footpegs in my experience.
I had some guy drive into my lane coming up to a set of lights (in south london unsuprisingly) he crunched the wing of his car along my left hand footpeg and foot/leg - luckily the footpeg took most of the energy and remodelled his wing. Lets just say the car and driver were about as legal as the one you came across yesterday. The guy stared at me motionless as I asked him strongly what he was doing. The light went green and he drove off, having noticed no damage other than to his car and me having 3rd part F+T insurance at the time I just let it go as a narrow escape.

Been there too. I stopped for a police car with blues and twos on, that wanted to turn right from a side street across my path. Matey undertakes me and knocks my footpeg off, I feel his bumper brush past my leg. Damage less than the excess cost, so I went after him through legal protection - it was still £130 to repair the bike. Once again an old knacker of a vehicle. I was definitely lucky that day.

I agree about the loud cans too - anything that might make someone pay attention to your presence on the road is worth it. It's certainly effective at stopping pedestrians from running into the road.

Steve.

[Chilli]

Man, that's harsh!!

Glad you kept it upright though....and lucky for him you were in a good mood....cause we all know what could've happened!!