Van pulled out in front of me

Kidstealth · May 4th, 2012, 07:47 AM

Hello all! I have a Kawa 250 2005 that I have ridden for almost 15K miles now. I got it with only 200 miles on it.

Anyway, this is my main mode of transportation as I currently do not have a stable job nor have money for a car.

Anyway, I was on my way to the gym this morning as usual. There are two lanes each way with a median in the middle. After my turn at the light I am driving past some shops when I see a van come to a stop sign. I swear he looks right at me, but as he approaches the stop sign, he rolls to it, pumps his brakes real quick, then pulls out in front of me.

I had slowed a bit (speed limit is 50) to around 40, but his move still caught me by surprise. I hit the brakes realized I couldn't stop in time, swerve to the right and half hit/half miss the curb and end up on the sidewalk. (I was in the right lane, and there was a car coming up in the left) Unfortunately the sidewalk ends. I hit gravel and then grass and end up tipping over and falling off at around 15 MPH. The van drove away.

I got up after sliding a bit and am fine, thankfully, but my motorcycle is not. The front tire seems to be about 5 degrees off from the handlebars. The right side turn signal is torn up, as is the whole front fairing on that side. The mirror is intact but that side is torn up. I also managed to snap my windshield in half.

After that I didn't feel like working out, so I carefully drove home to inspect the damage further. I'm going to get some pictures and post them. I have a bruise on my leg, some scratches on my arm from the gravel I guess, and a bump on my forehead. I was wearing all my gear so nothing serious thankfully.

I'm hoping I can fix this on the cheap and on my own. I am supposed to have a job interview Monday! :/

csmith12 · May 4th, 2012, 07:55 AM

Oh snap! I would like to Welcome you under better conditions but.... Glad your OK.

Post up some pics so we can see if we can help you get to your interview.

Kidstealth · May 4th, 2012, 08:09 AM

2012-05-04_10-57-05_64.jpg 2012-05-04_10-57-16_561.jpg 2012-05-04_10-57-41_728.jpg 2012-05-04_10-57-31_218.jpg 2012-05-04_10-58-00_902.jpg

250rr · May 4th, 2012, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kidstealth

Here we go...

No pics.

NDspd · May 4th, 2012, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kidstealth

Here we go...

Are you trying to show pics?

Kidstealth · May 4th, 2012, 08:24 AM

Alright figured it out after reading the FAQ on how to attach. Those aren't the ones I wanted. I will try to get the right pictures attached. I doubt that is a helpful angle.

Sorry! Give me a few and I will see if I can get the right ones.

The main issues to me (as a very inexperienced person in fixing things in general) is that the front tire/handle bars are off by 5-10 degrees. Another is a cable snapped out that connects the tripometer and speedometer which I am assuming would be easy to fix. The rest is mostly cosmetic IMO but I am very inexperienced regarding this and wouldn't want something serious happening while driving.

As for the car in the back, that is my friend's dad's as he is on vacation and parked it there.

Short term - Safe to ride? Okay to ride on Monday? (Or do I need to get a ride or take public transport?)
Long term - Cost of repairs? Worth it to repair?

Kidstealth · May 4th, 2012, 08:35 AM

2012-05-04_11-29-09_407.jpg 2012-05-04_11-29-33_392.jpg 2012-05-04_11-29-45_646.jpg

Unfortunately Im not sure these are going to be helpful either :/

Motofool · May 4th, 2012, 09:48 AM

Perform this easy work:

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/I_need_...nd_front_wheel

And ride it Monday.

Best luck with the interview!

Kidstealth · May 4th, 2012, 10:05 AM

Will do, sweet thanks! My friend is coming over this afternoon after he gets off and is bringing tools.

Miles_Prower · May 4th, 2012, 12:16 PM

i straightened my front end out perfectly after my crash.
loosened up four nuts on the triple tree, put the tire against a curb, and pushed against the handlebars. Straightened it out, tightened up the nuts, and test road it around. handled like new, no problems what so ever. seems more complicated than it really is. everything is held on by clips, basic nuts/bolts, or pems, and generally everything is easy to get to.

hopefully nothing is bent/broken beyond plastic stuff. that's easy to fix/replace.
i'm no pro by any means, I just decided to do stuff myself, and found it to be not so complicated. just look things up here, a lot of people post step by step directions, like how to take your fairings off and everything.

Stingray1000 · May 4th, 2012, 12:26 PM

Sucks dude, sorry to here! I'm sure you know if not better now but ATGATT

Jono · May 6th, 2012, 08:58 PM

Check your forks. It is very likely one if not both forks got bent when you crashed. And if the fork is bent, it is very likely your triple trees may be bent.

It happened to me when I crashed. Me and the bike flew off the road at like 40mph.

But hopefully it is not that bad. I would hope the bike could survive a 15mph crash. But you never know.

koenigcitizen · May 7th, 2012, 09:09 AM

Sucks that happened! I cant believe the van just drove off. He must have seen you go down... what a d-bag

psych0hans · May 7th, 2012, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by koenigcitizen

Sucks that happened! I cant believe the van just drove off. He must have seen you go down... what a d-bag

Yeah, what a f**king prick... I'm glad to know you aren't terribly hurry... Good luck with getting the bike fixed...

FrugalNinja250 · May 7th, 2012, 10:26 AM

Forks are probably ok, they typically don't bend unless you head-on into something solid like a car or wall. Your upper fairing stay is likely bent.

Take off the fairing, both upper and lower, then eyeball the forks from the side to see how they're out of alignment. Loosen top and bottom bolts, grip the wheel between your knees and bars in hands and twist, recheck, retwist, until they're straight again. Use a piece of glass laid across the upper fork tubes to verify.

Search on this forum and over at http://www.ninja250.org for instructions for plastic repair, use assorted techniques such as soldering iron and ABS cement.

Turn signals can be bought used. The left rear is the same as the right front IIRC, main difference is screw location holding lens on, you want that downward facing. You can straighten handlebars if not bent too badly, check that bar risers sit flush on top of triple clamp. Often times they bend upward. Bars should not touch tank lock to lock. Left and right handle bars are the same bar. Left and right risers are different.

Buy a used windscreen, not that hard to come across.

If the brake foot lever is bent, clamp an adjustable wrench on the flat, and a second wrench on the first wrench, to get the leverage to unbend it. It's mild steel, won't hurt it at all to bend it back. Same for shifters, BTW.

Hardest part will be finding a front fairing stay that's not bent. That stay holds headlight, instrument cluster, fairing, mirrors, etc, all in precise alignment, it will be tedious getting it straightened enough to fit properly again.

Here's what mine looked like:

I had it fixed that weekend, though in mismatched colors. My fairing was too damaged to save. Later that spring I took paint and body at the local community college and painted it:

http://www.kirkerautomotive.com/html...D=382&SORT=220

It's a different color now...

May 4th, 2012, 07:47 AM	#1
Kidstealth ninjette.org newbie Name: Kid Location: Orlando Join Date: May 2012 Motorcycle(s): Kawa 250 Posts: 5	Van pulled out in front of me Hello all! I have a Kawa 250 2005 that I have ridden for almost 15K miles now. I got it with only 200 miles on it. Anyway, this is my main mode of transportation as I currently do not have a stable job nor have money for a car. Anyway, I was on my way to the gym this morning as usual. There are two lanes each way with a median in the middle. After my turn at the light I am driving past some shops when I see a van come to a stop sign. I swear he looks right at me, but as he approaches the stop sign, he rolls to it, pumps his brakes real quick, then pulls out in front of me. I had slowed a bit (speed limit is 50) to around 40, but his move still caught me by surprise. I hit the brakes realized I couldn't stop in time, swerve to the right and half hit/half miss the curb and end up on the sidewalk. (I was in the right lane, and there was a car coming up in the left) Unfortunately the sidewalk ends. I hit gravel and then grass and end up tipping over and falling off at around 15 MPH. The van drove away. I got up after sliding a bit and am fine, thankfully, but my motorcycle is not. The front tire seems to be about 5 degrees off from the handlebars. The right side turn signal is torn up, as is the whole front fairing on that side. The mirror is intact but that side is torn up. I also managed to snap my windshield in half. After that I didn't feel like working out, so I carefully drove home to inspect the damage further. I'm going to get some pictures and post them. I have a bruise on my leg, some scratches on my arm from the gravel I guess, and a bump on my forehead. I was wearing all my gear so nothing serious thankfully. I'm hoping I can fix this on the cheap and on my own. I am supposed to have a job interview Monday! :/

May 4th, 2012, 07:55 AM	#2
csmith12 The Corner Whisperer Name: Chris (aka Reactor) Location: Northern KY Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much. MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13	Oh snap! I would like to Welcome you under better conditions but.... Glad your OK. Post up some pics so we can see if we can help you get to your interview. __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

May 4th, 2012, 09:48 AM	#8
Motofool Daily Ninjette rider Name: Hernan Location: Florida Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 Posts: A lot. MOTY - 2016, MOTM - Dec '12, Jan '14, Jan '15, May '16	Perform this easy work: http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/I_need_...nd_front_wheel And ride it Monday. Best luck with the interview! __________________________________________________ *Motofool* *.................................Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly* "Mankind is composed of two sorts of men — those who love and create, and those who hate and destroy. Love is the bond between men, the way to teach and the center of the world." - José Martí

May 4th, 2012, 12:26 PM	#11
Stingray1000 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Jon Location: Newark, De Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2003 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Posts: A lot.	Sucks dude, sorry to here! I'm sure you know if not better now but ATGATT __________________________________________________ http://www.facebook.com/groups/DeMdNjPagrouprides/ I live my life a quarter mile at a time! Who is affraid of the big bad jiggles???? LOL

May 7th, 2012, 09:09 AM	#13
koenigcitizen Russian Ninja :) Name: Andrei Location: Ocean City, MD Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Triumph Street Triple R, 2009 Yamaha FZ6, 2010 Kawi 250r (sold) Posts: 335	Sucks that happened! I cant believe the van just drove off. He must have seen you go down... what a d-bag __________________________________________________ 2009 Fazer (2009 Yamaha FZ6), 2012 Triumph Street Triple R

May 4th, 2012, 08:09 AM	#3
Kidstealth ninjette.org newbie Name: Kid Location: Orlando Join Date: May 2012 Motorcycle(s): Kawa 250 Posts: 5	2012-05-04_10-57-05_64.jpg 2012-05-04_10-57-16_561.jpg 2012-05-04_10-57-41_728.jpg 2012-05-04_10-57-31_218.jpg 2012-05-04_10-58-00_902.jpg

May 4th, 2012, 08:24 AM	#6
Kidstealth ninjette.org newbie Name: Kid Location: Orlando Join Date: May 2012 Motorcycle(s): Kawa 250 Posts: 5	Alright figured it out after reading the FAQ on how to attach. Those aren't the ones I wanted. I will try to get the right pictures attached. I doubt that is a helpful angle. Sorry! Give me a few and I will see if I can get the right ones. The main issues to me (as a very inexperienced person in fixing things in general) is that the front tire/handle bars are off by 5-10 degrees. Another is a cable snapped out that connects the tripometer and speedometer which I am assuming would be easy to fix. The rest is mostly cosmetic IMO but I am very inexperienced regarding this and wouldn't want something serious happening while driving. As for the car in the back, that is my friend's dad's as he is on vacation and parked it there. Short term - Safe to ride? Okay to ride on Monday? (Or do I need to get a ride or take public transport?) Long term - Cost of repairs? Worth it to repair?

May 4th, 2012, 08:35 AM	#7
Kidstealth ninjette.org newbie Name: Kid Location: Orlando Join Date: May 2012 Motorcycle(s): Kawa 250 Posts: 5	2012-05-04_11-29-09_407.jpg 2012-05-04_11-29-33_392.jpg 2012-05-04_11-29-45_646.jpg Unfortunately Im not sure these are going to be helpful either :/

May 4th, 2012, 10:05 AM	#9
Kidstealth ninjette.org newbie Name: Kid Location: Orlando Join Date: May 2012 Motorcycle(s): Kawa 250 Posts: 5	Will do, sweet thanks! My friend is coming over this afternoon after he gets off and is bringing tools.

May 4th, 2012, 12:16 PM	#10
Miles_Prower One Loyal Fox Name: Rahul Location: Mechanicsburg, PA Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Ninja 250R (RIP), 2011 ZX-6R Posts: 869	i straightened my front end out perfectly after my crash. loosened up four nuts on the triple tree, put the tire against a curb, and pushed against the handlebars. Straightened it out, tightened up the nuts, and test road it around. handled like new, no problems what so ever. seems more complicated than it really is. everything is held on by clips, basic nuts/bolts, or pems, and generally everything is easy to get to. hopefully nothing is bent/broken beyond plastic stuff. that's easy to fix/replace. i'm no pro by any means, I just decided to do stuff myself, and found it to be not so complicated. just look things up here, a lot of people post step by step directions, like how to take your fairings off and everything.

May 6th, 2012, 08:58 PM	#12
Jono ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Jono Location: Memphis, TN Join Date: Sep 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Triumph Street Triple, 2009 KLX250SF, 2003 Suzuki SV650S (Sold), 2006 Ninja 250 (Sold) Posts: A lot.	Check your forks. It is very likely one if not both forks got bent when you crashed. And if the fork is bent, it is very likely your triple trees may be bent. It happened to me when I crashed. Me and the bike flew off the road at like 40mph. But hopefully it is not that bad. I would hope the bike could survive a 15mph crash. But you never know.

May 7th, 2012, 10:26 AM	#15
FrugalNinja250 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Frugal Location: Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) Join Date: Mar 2010 Motorcycle(s): Several Posts: A lot.	Forks are probably ok, they typically don't bend unless you head-on into something solid like a car or wall. Your upper fairing stay is likely bent. Take off the fairing, both upper and lower, then eyeball the forks from the side to see how they're out of alignment. Loosen top and bottom bolts, grip the wheel between your knees and bars in hands and twist, recheck, retwist, until they're straight again. Use a piece of glass laid across the upper fork tubes to verify. Search on this forum and over at http://www.ninja250.org for instructions for plastic repair, use assorted techniques such as soldering iron and ABS cement. Turn signals can be bought used. The left rear is the same as the right front IIRC, main difference is screw location holding lens on, you want that downward facing. You can straighten handlebars if not bent too badly, check that bar risers sit flush on top of triple clamp. Often times they bend upward. Bars should not touch tank lock to lock. Left and right handle bars are the same bar. Left and right risers are different. Buy a used windscreen, not that hard to come across. If the brake foot lever is bent, clamp an adjustable wrench on the flat, and a second wrench on the first wrench, to get the leverage to unbend it. It's mild steel, won't hurt it at all to bend it back. Same for shifters, BTW. Hardest part will be finding a front fairing stay that's not bent. That stay holds headlight, instrument cluster, fairing, mirrors, etc, all in precise alignment, it will be tedious getting it straightened enough to fit properly again. Here's what mine looked like: I had it fixed that weekend, though in mismatched colors. My fairing was too damaged to save. Later that spring I took paint and body at the local community college and painted it: http://www.kirkerautomotive.com/html...D=382&SORT=220 It's a different color now... Last futzed with by FrugalNinja250; May 8th, 2012 at 03:30 PM.

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