Fighting Chilli for the crown

[AndyDRZ]

Well then,

As we haven't heard any antics from Chilli recently, last tuesday I was forced into taking action.

Riding to work on the DRZ, did the classic mistake of approaching a small roundabout too fast.

It's one of those roundabouts that you can straight line at 40 mph (speed limit restriction, you could do it at 60) but you really should slow down to 20.

Anyway, didn't engage brain, didn't slow down. So when some monkey pulled out onto the roundabout (My right of way)

I aimed to go in front of him and grabbed the front brake. I either grabbed too much front brake or hit the kerb of the roundabout. either way, bike and I went spinning down the road as his car skids to a halt.

So, all in all a bit sh*t

It's annoying for a few reasons

• I should have been going slower
• He should have given way
• He stopped which suggests if I'd ignored him, I would have been fine! (Can't go taking those bets though because if he hadn't stopped, I'd have hit him at 40 and be very messy)
• Because I crashed in avoiding him, there is no claim to make against him (Advised it would go 50-50 at best)
• Not sure if I'd want to claim anyway as I think a lot of the issue was my riding.

Still, the only damage is some panel work and a brake lever (Crash bungs and hand guards took the brunt)

Stuff I learnt

• Drivers still can't be trusted
• I ride like a tw@ despite knowing all the "correct" things to do
• HG hiprotic Trousers are rubbish (ripped apart at 40 - I've done 150leptons in them!)
• Toshiba T60p laptops make good back potectors (Smashed it as I bounced back first into a kerb)
• DRZ's are much better at surviving crashes then sports bikes
• Standing up when still doing 20mph sideways hurts your ankles

Ho Hum... decisions decisions... Got everyone nagging me to stop biking again now

[SplatSpeed]

AndyDRZ said:

Well then,

As we haven't heard any antics from Chilli recently, last tuesday I was forced into taking action.

Riding to work on the DRZ, did the classic mistake of approaching a small roundabout too fast.

It's one of those roundabouts that you can straight line at 40 mph (speed limit restriction, you could do it at 60) but you really should slow down to 20.

Anyway, didn't engage brain, didn't slow down. So when some monkey pulled out onto the roundabout (My right of way)

I aimed to go in front of him and grabbed the front brake. I either grabbed too much front brake or hit the kerb of the roundabout. either way, bike and I went spinning down the road as his car skids to a halt.

So, all in all a bit sh*t

It's annoying for a few reasons

• I should have been going slower
• He should have given way
• He stopped which suggests if I'd ignored him, I would have been fine! (Can't go taking those bets though because if he hadn't stopped, I'd have hit him at 40 and be very messy)
• Because I crashed in avoiding him, there is no claim to make against him (Advised it would go 50-50 at best)
• Not sure if I'd want to claim anyway as I think a lot of the issue was my riding.

Still, the only damage is some panel work and a brake lever (Crash bungs and hand guards took the brunt)

Stuff I learnt

• Drivers still can't be trusted
• I ride like a tw@ despite knowing all the "correct" things to do
• HG hiprotic Trousers are rubbish (ripped apart at 40 - I've done 150leptons in them!)
• Toshiba T60p laptops make good back potectors (Smashed it as I bounced back first into a kerb)
• DRZ's are much better at surviving crashes then sports bikes
• Standing up when still doing 20mph sideways hurts your ankles

Ho Hum... decisions decisions... Got everyone nagging me to stop biking again now

sorry andy

hope you had words

[gsfrontera]

no matter what speed you were going it was the car drivers fault, as you are taught on your test, you should never make another vehicle stop slow down or change direction. he did all 3. how was it left with the driver?

[Chilli]

Ah, sh!te...sorry to hear that mate. However, C'mon...you don't want to give up biking or give in to pressure from others, do you? Really? An incident like this gets put down to experience...and they say all experience is good experience (as long as it doesn't keep happening, I guess).
Insurance job?



ps - As for the crown...Take it mate, it's about time we had a new whipping boy!!

[IsMad]

Mate, I am sorry to hear about your woes . I am glad you are otherwise ok! Difficult to ignore the calls for more restraint now, but in time they will fade!.


I had a similar thing with a car in the left lane deciding that they wanted the next exit from the roundabout and turning right accross the front of me, luckily they saw me and just stopped as there was no way I would have been able to stop intime.

I too recognise the occassional tt like nature of my riding. It happens to all humans.

[AndyDRZ]

gsfrontera said:

no matter what speed you were going it was the car drivers fault, as you are taught on your test, you should never make another vehicle stop slow down or change direction. he did all 3. how was it left with the driver?

I've got his details. I haven't been in touch though.

I was going to let him know what the repairs come to and ask him for a contribution - I'd prefer not to claim as the total is going to be less than £200...

Even if they decide it is all his fault, it still counts as a claim so my bike insurance will go up (Despite keeping NCD) and my Car insurance will go up... It will end up costing me more to claim then to just right it off to experience.

[y2blade]

sorry to read that....yeah DRZ's take the knocks withough any drama

is the driver going to cough up a few quid for your "trouble"

[AndyDRZ]

Cheers Guys,

Chilli, I know I won't be giving up (I'd just end up buying another bike in a few months anyway!)
Just thinking of changing - the commute on the bike in more fun than in the car but the journey isn't any quicker by the time I've put the gear on and got the bike out of the garage....

So may change my bikes for something more suitable.

DRZ = Great but unless I'm going too fast and/or on one wheel, I get bored
ZX7R = Only fun at illegal speeds with my knee on the ground

So, not sure what to do. Might just track day the ZX7R and ignore the roads for a while. Or chop them both in and get a 2stroke dirt bike and start doing enduro's/hare and hounds.


Unless someone know's of a pill that can give me some sort of self control... the guys at work think I have adhd and have suggested ritalin (Cheeky fooks)

[randlemarcus]

I'd really try and avoid going anywhere near the insurance parasites on this one. If the driver willingly coughs up a few quid then fine, but by now he has retrospectively justified his entire drive and come up with the fact that you didnt hit him, therefore its not his fault. I wouldnt expect much. Sorry.

On the bright side, you've stacked it after me, so you retain the Chilli crown. Yay.

[TOPTON]

AndyDRZ said:

gsfrontera said:

no matter what speed you were going it was the car drivers fault, as you are taught on your test, you should never make another vehicle stop slow down or change direction. he did all 3. how was it left with the driver?

I've got his details. I haven't been in touch though.

I was going to let him know what the repairs come to and ask him for a contribution - I'd prefer not to claim as the total is going to be less than £200...

Even if they decide it is all his fault, it still counts as a claim so my bike insurance will go up (Despite keeping NCD) and my Car insurance will go up... It will end up costing me more to claim then to just right it off to experience.

I would suggest taking it on the chin and put it down to experience. It was only your right of way when you were at the roundabout, I will guess the car driver looked and decided you were to far enough away and he could get onto the roundabout before you, therefor it becomes his roundabout. The fact that you said you were going double the speed that it was safe too says it all.
I see this happening lots, bikes and cars not slowing for the roundabout because they are on the straight run, so to speak.

[AndyDRZ]

TOPTON said:

I would suggest taking it on the chin and put it down to experience. It was only your right of way when you were at the roundabout, I will guess the car driver looked and decided you were to far enough away and he could get onto the roundabout before you, therefor it becomes his roundabout. The fact that you said you were going double the speed that it was safe too says it all.
I see this happening lots, bikes and cars not slowing for the roundabout because they are on the straight run, so to speak.

My thoughts exactly.

[fergus]

AndyDRZ said:

• Because I crashed in avoiding him, there is no claim to make against him (Advised it would go 50-50 at best)
• Not sure if I'd want to claim anyway as I think a lot of the issue was my riding.

It's wroth trying it on, because if you were riding within the law (albeit a bit of a tw@t, then if your crash was as a result of trying to avoid him, you have a claim. Did you get his number plate/details.

It's either your policy or his, and I know which I'd rather claim off....

[Hobo]

Sorry about the accident. I suspect its a case of both being in the wrong though.

As mentioned above, isn't it only the right of way to the person to your right if neither are on the roundabout ? Assuming he was on it, or nearly on it going slowly & you were approaching at speed (40-ish) then legally I'd say you're at fault, although I may be wrong.

Anyway, as long as everyones alrights then it ain't an issue. As for quiting biking, well to hope you'd get through your life biking without an accident is very 'hopeful', so I'd say to think of it as a learning curve, one which may help any prevent further accidents in the future.

Edited by Hobo on Wednesday 2nd April 13:26

[slim_boy_fat]

gsfrontera said:

no matter what speed you were going it was the car drivers fault, as you are taught on your test, you should never make another vehicle stop slow down or change direction. he did all 3. how was it left with the driver?

Sorry but thats bull5hit

As soonas you start going over the speed limit you start accepting some of th erisk, the faster you go the more the risk until you are going so fast then 100% fault will be yours.

So i assum if the boot was on the othr foot, ans you entered a roundabout and a car straight lined it at 140mph you would be happy that yo were 100% at fault. Of course not!!! Get real.

[randlemarcus]

slim_boy_fat said:

gsfrontera said:

no matter what speed you were going it was the car drivers fault, as you are taught on your test, you should never make another vehicle stop slow down or change direction. he did all 3. how was it left with the driver?

Sorry but thats bull5hit

As soonas you start going over the speed limit you start accepting some of th erisk, the faster you go the more the risk until you are going so fast then 100% fault will be yours.

So i assum if the boot was on the othr foot, ans you entered a roundabout and a car straight lined it at 140mph you would be happy that yo were 100% at fault. Of course not!!! Get real.

Gosh, its quite lucky that the OP said he was within the 40 limit on that road, though above the optimal 20mph judged by him after using the road over a long period in all weathers and conditions. I guess you've swallowed the "Speed Kills" thing hook,line and sinker then.

And where did anyone bring up 140mph? Reductio ab absurdam all round, eh?

[slim_boy_fat]

randlemarcus said:

slim_boy_fat said:

gsfrontera said:

no matter what speed you were going it was the car drivers fault, as you are taught on your test, you should never make another vehicle stop slow down or change direction. he did all 3. how was it left with the driver?

Sorry but thats bull5hit

As soonas you start going over the speed limit you start accepting some of th erisk, the faster you go the more the risk until you are going so fast then 100% fault will be yours.

So i assum if the boot was on the othr foot, ans you entered a roundabout and a car straight lined it at 140mph you would be happy that yo were 100% at fault. Of course not!!! Get real.

Gosh, its quite lucky that the OP said he was within the 40 limit on that road, though above the optimal 20mph judged by him after using the road over a long period in all weathers and conditions. I guess you've swallowed the "Speed Kills" thing hook,line and sinker then.

And where did anyone bring up 140mph? Reductio ab absurdam all round, eh?

Take a read at what was said and you might understand, 'might' that is!!

[randlemarcus]

Once more from the top for the hard of thinking then...

AndyDRZ said:

Well then,

As we haven't heard any antics from Chilli recently, last tuesday I was forced into taking action.

Riding to work on the DRZ, did the classic mistake of approaching a small roundabout too fast.

It's one of those roundabouts that you can straight line at 40 mph (speed limit restriction, you could do it at 60) but you really should slow down to 20.

Anyway, didn't engage brain, didn't slow down. So when some monkey pulled out onto the roundabout (My right of way)

I aimed to go in front of him and grabbed the front brake. I either grabbed too much front brake or hit the kerb of the roundabout. either way, bike and I went spinning down the road as his car skids to a halt.

So, all in all a bit sh*t

It's annoying for a few reasons

• I should have been going slower
• He should have given way
• He stopped which suggests if I'd ignored him, I would have been fine! (Can't go taking those bets though because if he hadn't stopped, I'd have hit him at 40 and be very messy)
• Because I crashed in avoiding him, there is no claim to make against him (Advised it would go 50-50 at best)
• Not sure if I'd want to claim anyway as I think a lot of the issue was my riding.

Still, the only damage is some panel work and a brake lever (Crash bungs and hand guards took the brunt)

Stuff I learnt

• Drivers still can't be trusted
• I ride like a tw@ despite knowing all the "correct" things to do
• HG hiprotic Trousers are rubbish (ripped apart at 40 - I've done 150leptons in them!)
• Toshiba T60p laptops make good back potectors (Smashed it as I bounced back first into a kerb)
• DRZ's are much better at surviving crashes then sports bikes
• Standing up when still doing 20mph sideways hurts your ankles

Ho Hum... decisions decisions... Got everyone nagging me to stop biking again now

slim_boy_fat said:

randlemarcus said:

slim_boy_fat said:

gsfrontera said:

no matter what speed you were going it was the car drivers fault, as you are taught on your test, you should never make another vehicle stop slow down or change direction. he did all 3. how was it left with the driver?

Sorry but thats bull5hit

As soonas you start going over the speed limit you start accepting some of th erisk, the faster you go the more the risk until you are going so fast then 100% fault will be yours.

So i assum if the boot was on the othr foot, ans you entered a roundabout and a car straight lined it at 140mph you would be happy that yo were 100% at fault. Of course not!!! Get real.

Gosh, its quite lucky that the OP said he was within the 40 limit on that road, though above the optimal 20mph judged by him after using the road over a long period in all weathers and conditions. I guess you've swallowed the "Speed Kills" thing hook,line and sinker then.

And where did anyone bring up 140mph? Reductio ab absurdam all round, eh?

Take a read at what was said and you might understand, 'might' that is!!

Now, if you could return the favour, and point out the parts where the OP said he was speeding, or that the car driver was speeding please?
You've taken a reasonable, and thoughtful post about why the accident probably would not have happened had he been riding to a speed appropriate to the conditions, rather than an arbitrary limit, and turned it around to suit your own agenda about speed. Of course, you're correct in that I'm unlikely to understand your personal point of view, but then I dont speak Klingon either.

[slim_boy_fat]

randlemarcus said:

Now, if you could return the favour, and point out the parts where the OP said he was speeding, or that the car driver was speeding please?
You've taken a reasonable, and thoughtful post about why the accident probably would not have happened had he been riding to a speed appropriate to the conditions, rather than an arbitrary limit, and turned it around to suit your own agenda about speed. Of course, you're correct in that I'm unlikely to understand your personal point of view, but then I dont speak Klingon either.

Now you are just taking the pi55 cause no one is that thick.

[SVS]

Hi Andy,

Really sorry to hear about your accident.

AndyDRZ said:

DRZ = Great but unless I'm going too fast and/or on one wheel, I get bored
ZX7R = Only fun at illegal speeds with my knee on the ground

So, not sure what to do …

… one option you might consider is to do a day’s fast road riding with the likes or RapidTraining or RideDrive: www.rapidtraining.co.uk/press.shtml
In my personal experience, these boys have amazing expertise to pass on about how to ride quickly but safely. I found my riding a lot more rewarding as a result (And I’d already done some track days, dirt biking, etc.)

Rapid instructors are world-class (e.g. www.rapidtraining.co.uk/instructor.php?idd=7 ) and I can’t recommend ’em highly enough In my experience of both, they are even better than California Superbike School! You could be surprised how differently you feel about your riding after only a day on the road with Rapid

AndyDRZ said:

Even if they decide it is all his fault, it still counts as a claim so my bike insurance will go up (Despite keeping NCD) and my Car insurance will go up...

RideDrive’s accredited courses give you a 25% insurance reduction: www.ridedrive.co.uk/adrianflux.htm

Whatever you decide, good luck and all the best

Edited by SVS on Thursday 3rd April 20:31

[gsfrontera]

slim_boy_fat said:

randlemarcus said:

slim_boy_fat said:

gsfrontera said:

no matter what speed you were going it was the car drivers fault, as you are taught on your test, you should never make another vehicle stop slow down or change direction. he did all 3. how was it left with the driver?

Sorry but thats bull5hit

As soonas you start going over the speed limit you start accepting some of th erisk, the faster you go the more the risk until you are going so fast then 100% fault will be yours.

So i assum if the boot was on the othr foot, ans you entered a roundabout and a car straight lined it at 140mph you would be happy that yo were 100% at fault. Of course not!!! Get real.

Gosh, its quite lucky that the OP said he was within the 40 limit on that road, though above the optimal 20mph judged by him after using the road over a long period in all weathers and conditions. I guess you've swallowed the "Speed Kills" thing hook,line and sinker then.

And where did anyone bring up 140mph? Reductio ab absurdam all round, eh?

Take a read at what was said and you might understand, 'might' that is!!

well mr slimf boy fat... he said he had right of way, and the car pulled out. if you dont know who has got right of way at a roundabout i suggest re-arming youself with a book of the highway code. that way you can read and familiarise yourself with other rules of the road as well. maybe its people like YOU that cause accidents because they havent got a f-ing clue. give up your licence mate... your a joke