Bandit down

Thankfully not too much damage.

On my way out just before 11am to fill Mr. Bandit up, buy fags and
some car shampoo to give the bike + car a wash.

Got down my road, turned left, went along a bit until I got to the
village exit and was confronted with a ROAD CLOSED sign. Slowed down
as the four way junction emerged to see a few cars stationary in all
directions.

Although the model name escapes me, there were two identical cars, but
in different colours which I noticed. The one coming out of the left
junction edged forward over the now closed road so I put my rear brake
on as the road is quite slimy there and it's on a hill. Can't
remember if I did anything with the front brake but do remember some
odd sensation of involuntary movement.

I remember front turning right as the rear skidded around to the left
and then falling to the left and hitting the floor hard before my head
whacked the road.

Memories for a few seconds after are a bit fragmented, but I remember
hearing the engine still running, my left leg being stuck under the
tank and straining to reach the engine kill switch and then having a
hacking coughing fit... A selection of random people from the cars at
the junction asking if I was okay and not getting a reply as the
'mouth speak' process hadn't kicked back in and staring blankly at
some woman who kept saying "would you like me to call someone?"

I got up as some random gentleman helped yank the bike into an upright
position who pointed at my exhaust, and then picked the left foot
rest/gear selector up off the road. We shuffled the bike to the side
of the road around a corner out of the way.

After everyone pissed off I sent SeanH a text message and had some
obscure conversation, which I don't remember much about and then
called the police as the whole junction had spilt fuel (not from my
bike) over it as well as mud and general slushy shit. The locals said
the road beyond was closed because they had two or three accidents due
to the road slippery surface. The police put me through to some
highways department who logged my observation of the road surface and
my request to get someone out to do something about it. I assume
either something or nothing will happen about it within the fullness
of time.

<http://www.bgn.me.uk/b6/1.jpg> Clean snapped off

<http://www.bgn.me.uk/b6/2.jpg> Connects with the metal bit in the top
right of the photo.

<http://www.bgn.me.uk/b6/3.jpg> Came undone in sympathy with the other
side

My beloved 2 year old £300 Shoe X-Spirit now has a load of chips out
of it towards the back when it whacked the road.

 

Better that than your head. Glad it wasn't worse. Metal's only metal.

--
Rich
==============================

2001 Disco II ES auto
1971 S2a 88" petrol
2005 XT660R

Take out the obvious to email me.

 

hm. I'd be inclined to have a moan at the Highways department of the
appropriate council. Or Highways Agency, depending on the road class.

Ali

 

Give up smoking. They are obviously bad for your health.

Clumsy ****.

 

*something* seem to have it in for him.

--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 75 TS 156 TS S2
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

<SNIP>

Good lad, stick at it. Glad to see you're not a quitter.

 

BGN coughed up:

FFS Nick, can't I even bask in the glory of my own first bin without
you upstaging it.

--
Dan L

http://thebikeshed.spaces.live.com/
1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr

BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005/6)
X-FOT#000
DIAABTCOD #26
BOMB#18 (slow)
OMF#11

 

I was going to say something like "Pillock" or "Stupid bugger", but it
doesn't really apply here as it appears not to be your fault. I'd get
on to the highways agency IIWY and try to take some photos of the area
in the event that you wish to sue. I'm not sure how far you'd get
though.

Any witnesses (that left you their details)?

Glad you're okay. Get the bike fixed asp, for the French run.

 

You seemed perfectly coherent, though the conversation wasn't made
easy by the poor reception you seem to be graced with in Kent.

Just get a replacement metal section that hold the footrest. There are
millions of Bandits about that won't miss one...

Oh, and get another sexo-loco lid. Shoei, natch.

 

You seemed perfectly coherent, though the conversation wasn't made
easy by the poor reception you seem to be graced with in Kent.

======

Aha. A letter to Sir Sandy Bruce Lockhart, leader of Kent CC, might be a
thought.

Ali

 

You need some nice ABS you do.

Bad luck mate.

 

<Snip crash tale>

See that oil you locked up on? Try smearing some on your back disk - that
should stop it from happening again.

 

Bowel or bladder?

Glad you're OK though.

 

I wasn't going at all fast when it 'fell over sideways' after the 110
degree clockwise ballet trick but will have a closer look over the
next few days.

The old one had a worn socket anyway which caused the 'pole' to fall
out. Bodged together with a piece of wire and elastic band and it was
fine. Plus the rubber grip was on the wrong side of 'a bit worn.'

It needed a new one anyway.

Yes, it was resting on the engine bars and handlebar (the left bar-end
mirror doesn't look too bad either, folded all the way in) but the
rear indicator is slightly bent, but not broken. Bars look fine.

While I was on the phone I flicked the kill switch back on and the
engine turned over but didn't fire until beans were applied where it
started up, but having the end can pretty much disconnected from the
exhaust system really won't help with running lean or whatever. The
exhaust looks undamaged and I slipped the can back where it should be.
Just needs tightening up.

I'm a little aching thing today. Was fine yesterday but now my neck
hurts when I move it, my left arm has seen better days, my ankle is
letting me know it's there and I've got a headache and feel a bit
dizzy. I'm otherwise undamaged. I can't see any bruising anywhere.

Due to some obscure coincidence before I went out yesterday I put my
back protector on. I don't know why I put it on, but I haven't worn
it for nearly two months. Make of that what you will.

I'm going to work today as I find it's more profitable to be miserable
and get paid for it than do it at home and don't get paid for it.

 

It's always the day after the day after (iyswim) that hurts the most.
You should know this by now, and you should also know to keep taking
the ibuprofen and you'll be fine in a week.

Makes the day go a bit more quickly, too. Don't sit in one position
for too long and look at how you sit - this always makes a big
difference to my physical comfort. Beware the crossed ankles shoved
under your chair, for example. Comfortable at the time, damn painful
an hour later.

 

Well done you. If there's one thing at work that *does* irritate me it's
people who skive on the sick.

 

BGN wrote

It is about this time that those seduced by the dark side start shopping
around for basket cases to pillage for spares and thus become the owner
of a modest but ever growing scrap yard with but the one solitary
customer.

Worth the money then?

 

It had crossed my mind.

I've had it for about two years and it's performed well. I was going
to purchase a new visor for it shortly as it's got a few stone chips
and scratches on it. I might get the same model in the OTC again.

 

It still turns over but is now stuck in second gear. It's difficult
to change gear using just the 'hanging pole' so I hit it with a hammer
instead but without joy. It was in neutral after it had a lay down
and when I scraped the pole along the kerb taking it home it managed
to find it's way into 1st or 2nd, which didn't help my cause. After
pulling a cable tie on to the clutch level it made my uhill struggle a
bit better.

I didn't bother to go to hospital. I did 'self-diagnose' mild
concussion by slight 'double vision' (although it was more 1.1 vision
than double) when I went out in the sunlight yesterday to push the
bike home, which was about 1 mile from home.

I know that I should have gone if I wanted to make a stronger case
against the Highways Agency but will probably just take this one on
the chin and put it down to experience.

The road has now been re-opened after the HA sent three people down to
look at it. It's got a thick covering of sand and grit (not that
slippery stuff, but the proper old style stuff) and I counted no less
than five 'slippery surface' signs on my way up it so they've at least
listened and done something.

Evidently there were three car accidents before they closed it, and I
was the motorcycle accident after they closed the rest of it. Quite
efficient for the Kent.

 

On Mon, 5 Feb 2007 07:48:40 +0000,

In the last four years I've had a total of 1.5 days off sick in total.
They always seem to give me an extra days holiday as a token gesture
of recognition if I've attended every day which is better than
nothing.