Pedestrians and consequent damage!

[Gilby104]

Some dozy berk nearly did this to me this morning!

Just ran headlong into the road, only seeing me at the last minute!

Without the ABS, I suspect I'd have been off.

As it was, managed a swerve, full anchors on, with the ABS pulsing, stayed upright and no harm done.

Good advert for ABS on bikes...

Must be something in the water!

I was thanking my lucky starts on Tuesday that I didn't have a chance to touch the brakes.... I'd have definitely ended up on the deck.

Were you impressed with how the ABS dealt with it all?

[Raydial]

That's shite luck, and it certainly makes you nervous when riding afterwards cos it doesn't really matter how carefully you ride, somebody can fuck you up.

A few years ago I hit a pedestrian who was crossing the street against the lights (they were red for him, green for me). A bus travelling in the same direction as me was moving through the junction. I was alongside the bus, overtaking it and out he stepped from in front of the moving bus, head down, reading a fucking map!

I braked, locked up the front tyre, he looked up from his map, did that little 'which way will I go?' dance and didn't pick either direction. Instead, he stopped directly in my path. I collided with him, parted company with my bike, and took a tumble down the road. I was doing about 20mph. He landed in front of the bus, which stopped in time not to run over him.

What followed was four police cars, two ambulances, a helicopter on stand-by, and closing Regent Street in Central London to traffic for four hours on a Friday evening. My bike was a cosmetic write-off. He got carted off to hospital with a head injury because I think we head-butted and then he whacked his head on the road. He was an elderly American tourist. I was just glad he wasn't dead. In fact, I thought he was at first cos when I crawled over to him he was lying on his back, arms by his sides, eyes open and blank, and I saw his complexion drain and he went grey in front of me.

When the investigating Sergeant turned up, he was immediately aggressive towards me. But after speaking to the nine witnesses who were all on my side, his attitude softened. It didn't exactly become friendly but it was no longer a foregone conclusion in his mind that I was to blame.

My no claims bonus was protected so I just claimed on it. I got more in the settlement than I paid for the bike, so that was okay. I didn't hear anything else about the accident from the police, CPS or anybody else after that day.

I still have a slightly numb thigh now, from compressing my sciatic nerve, though. 

As I told the officers that night, when I ride, I expect people to do the stupidest thing imaginable. I didn't expect that. It certainly made me more nervous riding in town since, especially on Regent Street.

[Gilby104]

That's shite luck, and it certainly makes you nervous when riding afterwards cos it doesn't really matter how carefully you ride, somebody can fuck you up.

A few years ago I hit a pedestrian who was crossing the street against the lights (they were red for him, green for me). A bus travelling in the same direction as me was moving through the junction. I was alongside the bus, overtaking it and out he stepped from in front of the moving bus, head down, reading a fucking map!

I braked, locked up the front tyre, he looked up from his map, did that little 'which way will I go?' dance and didn't pick either direction. Instead, he stopped directly in my path. I collided with him, parted company with my bike, and took a tumble down the road. I was doing about 20mph. He landed in front of the bus, which stopped in time not to run over him.

What followed was four police cars, two ambulances, a helicopter on stand-by, and closing Regent Street in Central London to traffic for four hours on a Friday evening. My bike was a cosmetic write-off. He got carted off to hospital with a head injury because I think we head-butted and then he whacked his head on the road. He was an elderly American tourist. I was just glad he wasn't dead. In fact, I thought he was at first cos when I crawled over to him he was lying on his back, arms by his sides, eyes open and blank, and I saw his complexion drain and he went grey in front of me.

When the investigating Sergeant turned up, he was immediately aggressive towards me. But after speaking to the nine witnesses who were all on my side, his attitude softened. It didn't exactly become friendly but it was no longer a foregone conclusion in his mind that I was to blame.

My no claims bonus was protected so I just claimed on it. I got more in the settlement than I paid for the bike, so that was okay. I didn't hear anything else about the accident from the police, CPS or anybody else after that day.

I still have a slightly numb thigh now, from compressing my sciatic nerve, though. 

As I told the officers that night, when I ride, I expect people to do the stupidest thing imaginable. I didn't expect that. It certainly made me more nervous riding in town since, especially on Regent Street.

that sounds horrible mate, it's that attitude from the police that I was really worried about. I feel very lucky with how lightly I escaped.

The front end has now been plastic welded and in a few weeks time I'll take it back off to get it painted. All in all the cost will be around £120 which feels like a win too.

I've text matey to tell him that I am not going to pursue a claim or chase him for the money but if he thinks it's the right thing to do to help out with the cost then I'd be happy to split the cost 50/50 and buy him a beer. See how humanity deals with that as an idea. If it doesn't work out I'll stomach the cost and put it down to experience!

On a side note.... What are those clips on bodywork where it looks like a plastic rivet but the centre pushes through the middle..... I've broken or lost several..... nothing has fallen off on the test ride but I'd like to replace them if I can!

[Gilby104]

Well he's come back happy to pay for half the cost and we're going to meet for a beer for him to pay up.

When people are decent people we really are a good old bunch!

[Lord Danoir the first]

If only governments cottened on to the idea of talking, the world would be a better place........

Well done Gilboir

[Raydial]

On a side note.... What are those clips on bodywork where it looks like a plastic rivet but the centre pushes through the middle..... I've broken or lost several..... nothing has fallen off on the test ride but I'd like to replace them if I can!

Push rivets? E.g.
http://www.vehicleclips.co.uk/8mm-plastic-push-fit-rivet-for-vauxhall-opel-wheel-arch-linings-bumpers.html?gclid=COPG-eiUvssCFRYTGwodeOMN9w#237=7

[Gilby104]

On a side note.... What are those clips on bodywork where it looks like a plastic rivet but the centre pushes through the middle..... I've broken or lost several..... nothing has fallen off on the test ride but I'd like to replace them if I can!

Push rivets? E.g.
http://www.vehicleclips.co.uk/8mm-plastic-push-fit-rivet-for-vauxhall-opel-wheel-arch-linings-bumpers.html?gclid=COPG-eiUvssCFRYTGwodeOMN9w#237=7

Thanks Raydial, after coming up with the name to describe them on here (which I thought was fairly catchy!) I searched under that name and found them. Cheers boss.

[Gilby104]

So, the woman who's car I have bounced off in this incident has come to me asking for compensation for damage to her car. She is looking at £450 to fix the scrape (3 panels) but the car is worth about £1,000. I suggested that I would help her to fix the car and would share the cost with her. She is keener to go through insurance as she thinks it will cost her nothing and she'll get her excess back.

Now I hit her when she was stationary but maintain the incident was not my fault. What would be your guess as to what the insurance companies will determine in this circumstance. Is it the case that she will get her excess back if I deny responsibility.

any advice welcome.

[Tiiimmmaaayyyy]

They're more likely to write the car off if it's only worth a G. Has she got nice bangers?

[Gilby104]

They're more likely to write the car off if it's only worth a G. Has she got nice bangers?

That's what I thought, which is no good to anyone. I couldn't really be being more reasonable in helping her get the best out of a bad situation but I get the feeling she thinks it will all come up roses if she goes to the insurance company.

No sorry boss, she's ropey, weird and a fully paid up member of the god squad.... there is no sweetner to this deal my friend!

[PJ]

They're more likely to write the car off if it's only worth a G. Has she got nice bangers?

That's what I thought, which is no good to anyone. I couldn't really be being more reasonable in helping her get the best out of a bad situation but I get the feeling she thinks it will all come up roses if she goes to the insurance company.

No sorry boss, she's ropey, weird and a fully paid up member of the god squad.... there is no sweetner to this deal my friend!

She could be a virgin? Close your eyes and imagine she's...... Well, you know.

[Gilby104]

They're more likely to write the car off if it's only worth a G. Has she got nice bangers?

That's what I thought, which is no good to anyone. I couldn't really be being more reasonable in helping her get the best out of a bad situation but I get the feeling she thinks it will all come up roses if she goes to the insurance company.

No sorry boss, she's ropey, weird and a fully paid up member of the god squad.... there is no sweetner to this deal my friend!

She could be a virgin? Close your eyes and imagine she's...... Well, you know.

I think it's more the excessive breading kind of religion..... different ball game!

[PJ]

They're more likely to write the car off if it's only worth a G. Has she got nice bangers?

That's what I thought, which is no good to anyone. I couldn't really be being more reasonable in helping her get the best out of a bad situation but I get the feeling she thinks it will all come up roses if she goes to the insurance company.

No sorry boss, she's ropey, weird and a fully paid up member of the god squad.... there is no sweetner to this deal my friend!

She could be a virgin? Close your eyes and imagine she's...... Well, you know.

I think it's more the excessive breading kind of religion..... different ball game!

Eeesh, that's alot of carbs, even for a Christian....

[Gilby104]

They're more likely to write the car off if it's only worth a G. Has she got nice bangers?

That's what I thought, which is no good to anyone. I couldn't really be being more reasonable in helping her get the best out of a bad situation but I get the feeling she thinks it will all come up roses if she goes to the insurance company.

No sorry boss, she's ropey, weird and a fully paid up member of the god squad.... there is no sweetner to this deal my friend!

She could be a virgin? Close your eyes and imagine she's...... Well, you know.

I think it's more the excessive breading kind of religion..... different ball game!

Eeesh, that's alot of carbs, even for a Christian....

That's what I love about you PJ..... you're loaves of fun!!

[PJ]

They're more likely to write the car off if it's only worth a G. Has she got nice bangers?

That's what I thought, which is no good to anyone. I couldn't really be being more reasonable in helping her get the best out of a bad situation but I get the feeling she thinks it will all come up roses if she goes to the insurance company.

No sorry boss, she's ropey, weird and a fully paid up member of the god squad.... there is no sweetner to this deal my friend!

She could be a virgin? Close your eyes and imagine she's...... Well, you know.

I think it's more the excessive breading kind of religion..... different ball game!

Eeesh, that's alot of carbs, even for a Christian....

That's what I love about you PJ..... you're loaves of fun!!

There's no denying that fact! Whatever way you slice it.....