Smack that

[MrSavvy]

I rear ended a car at less than 10mph. Damages are minimal compared to a high-speed crash. I learned a lot and I realize my mistakes. I should have been focusing further ahead instead of the road immediately in front of my wheel.
I was in my neighborehood on a back road (no traffic) and I came around a sharp corner. I was practicing swerving and dodging pot holes. I look up and bam there's a car stopped in the road.
Locked my brakes up and skidded into the back of the car. Flipped over the handle bars and landed on the trunk and rolled off.

I pulled a tendon, not a big deal. It's almost healed now (a month later). The worse was smashing a fist-sized dent in the gas tank with my pelvis. My "family jewels" almost turned into a "family jewel." I was very close to having an operation and the doc removing one of my.... yea.... (I don't want to be too descriptive on a forum).
But he said I'll heal up eventually, no surgery needed!!
I could go into details but it's pretty gross lol.


So... my poor bike...

Pics of the crash:


I didn't take these pics, a friend did. She came over since she only lives a block away.

Me? I managed to shuffle over to the front yard and lay down. My... family jewels were swollen almost 3 times their normal size. In that second pic, see the gas tank? That fist-size dent in front of the seat? That's from my pelvis smashing the gas tank and everything inbetween.

I got my friend to stand the bike up for me.

I need help determining what needs to be replaced.

Red circle: The damage to the front end APPEARS to be located within this red circle. See how the 2 rods are bent? In the green circle you can see how the wheel has been pushed back against the exhaust.

I have a project car, a 03 VW GTI 1.8t. I do 100% of the work on my car. I never went to school for mechanical engineering but I'm very good at working on engines and auto repairs. I've replaced the head gasket, valve cover gasket, timing belt, radiator, clutch/flywheel repairs, suspension, anything you can think of.
Point being, I'm confident in my abilities to figure out and complete repairs.
But I'm new to bikes (been riding less than a year) so forgive me for not knowing all the motorcycle terms for parts.


Both wheels seem to be fine. Front rotor is good. The shifting assembly is a little bent up (the foot peg for shifting) but I can bend that out or replace it easy.
I can also pop the dent out of the gas tank.
Radiator somehow got punctured but I already bought one from a forum member here.

I am open to advice! Can I get away with replacing just the fron suspension? I cannot see any damage to the bike frame. Is there a chance it was bent and I can't tell? Anything I should look for damage-wise?

Edit: Can I replace the two chrome rods on the front suspension, and the seals, without replacing the lower black part (the black sleeve part of the suspension)? I want to repair everything safely and correctly. There's no room for jerry-rigging a bike repair. But I also don't want to dish out extra $ if it isn't needed.

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by MrSavvy

.........Edit: Can I replace the two chrome rods on the front suspension, and the seals, without replacing the lower black part (the black sleeve part of the suspension)?

Sad to read and see, MrSavvy !

Yes, replacing the chrome roads will be the first step.

The triple clamps could have been deformed, as well as the frame (getting the angle of the steering column modified and changing the critical geometry of the steering, which is bad), but that will need to be verifiable after you have new straight bars installed.

Some guidance here:

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Suspension

[MrSavvy]

Originally Posted by Motofool

Sad to read and see, MrSavvy !

Yes, replacing the chrome roads will be the first step.

The triple clamps could have been deformed, as well as the frame (getting the angle of the steering column modified and changing the critical geometry of the steering, which is bad), but that will need to be verifiable after you have new straight bars installed.

Some guidance here:

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Suspension

Thanks. I'm just blessed I wasn't injured more permanently.

How would I go about having the geometry checked afterwards? We have a couple local bike shops (Ducatti, Triumph, Street and Trail, Kawasaki). Maybe I should check with one of them?

[Motofool]

I don't think that shops can do much for you.

Check this thread:

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=113263

[alex.s]

[MrSavvy]

Originally Posted by Motofool

I don't think that shops can do much for you.

Check this thread:

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=113263

I read that thread, and dug up several others on the subject of bent frames. It seems that you really can't determine if a frame is bent until you take it for a test ride?
Either that or taking it to a bike shop and having them check the frame with lasorz and stuff.

@alex.s; you know

Edit: oh and Alex, you can't post in my thread without giving at least 1 piece of advice. So let's hear it.

[alex.s]

don't crash.

[MrSavvy]

Originally Posted by alex.s

don't crash.

Hahaha I knew you would post a smarta$$ answer

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by MrSavvy

Well, I think this dent says it all.
#ballz_of_steel


It's good that you learned to keep your head up and your eyes down the road!! I think that's really the biggest thing to be learned here; just be more aware of what's going on around you.

[MrSavvy]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Well, I think this dent says it all.
#ballz_of_steel


It's good that you learned to keep your head up and your eyes down the road!! I think that's really the biggest thing to be learned here; just be more aware of what's going on around you.

Hahaha my first thought when the specialist told me I would heal up was "damn I have balls of steel" haha

Definitely. I learned a lot. Like wear a cup when riding.

My fear now is just a bent frame. I'm gonna be so sad if I screwed the frame up.

[Jiggles]

Damn dude, your nuts are apparently harder than my bones, my gas tank didn't dent at all (which insurance was actually surprised about)

Link to original page on YouTube.

[MrSavvy]

I'm thinking that I dented my tank because I tried so hard to stay on the bike, I went straight forwards instead of just flipping right over from the start?
What is the best thing to do in a crash? Try to hold on? Don't hold on tight? Or throw yourself off? lol

Also, I locked up my brakes like I said. I think if I had pumped my brakes and tried harder to veer to the left, around the car, I would have avoided it. I had an extremely short amount of room to work with though, due to the angle of the turn I was already taking.
It all boils down to not focusing further down the road, like we discussed earlier in this thread.

Under the circumstances, I still wonder if I could have saved myself regardless of my carelessness... thoughts?

[choneofakind]

From my experience crashing bicycles, (which is vast, I kid you not)

I've never really had time to think specifically about "should I give up and jump or should I ride it out?" I always just kind of react, and whatever happens, happens. There's always something you could have done differently, but the thing is, there's so little time to react that it's all instinct.

I would love to be helpful and say, "well you should have done this" but the thing is, without being in your seat and experiencing the same crash you did, I just don't know. You know what you did, and you know what that felt like.

[rmorse]

Daaaaamn son, glad you kept both of your soldiers.


I'm a uni-baller, so I know what the alternative is like.

[Lychee]

Originally Posted by MrSavvy

Also, I locked up my brakes like I said. I think if I had pumped my brakes and tried harder to veer to the left, around the car, I would have avoided it. I had an extremely short amount of room to work with though, due to the angle of the turn I was already taking.

swerve then brake, or vice versa, but definitely not both at the same time.
Have you taken an MSF course?

[MrSavvy]

Originally Posted by Lychee

swerve then brake, or vice versa, but definitely not both at the same time.
Have you taken an MSF course?

Nope. I don't really fancy spending an entire weekend in the heat/rain/cold for a MSF. Maybe I should though.

And thanks rmorse. lol. Does it suck bad? Or do you just get used to it? And how do the ladies react? Not that I sleep around all the time, but my first thought was aw sh** there goes my chances lol.
Don't answer any of those if they are too personal.

[Lychee]

I highly recommend you take the course for the fun factor, skills, and insurance and product discounts. They cover many traffic situations including the one you were in. They do a very good job establishing a base set of skills.

I'm not sure the ball is not the part they are after.

[Aggrotech]

Originally Posted by MrSavvy

Nope. I don't really fancy spending an entire weekend in the heat/rain/cold for a MSF.

I bet if you would have taken the course you wouldnt have hit a parked car on the SIDE of the road >_>

Taking the msf course is worth it in the long run.

[MrSavvy]

Originally Posted by Lychee

I highly recommend you take the course for the fun factor, skills, and insurance and product discounts. They cover many traffic situations including the one you were in. They do a very good job establishing a base set of skills.

Good to know. If I continue to ride, I will take the MSF. If it is actually beneficial, it would be worth it.

I'm not sure the ball is not the part they are after.

Hahaha good answer

Originally Posted by Aggrotech

I bet if you would have taken the course you wouldnt have hit a parked car on the SIDE of the road >_>

Taking the msf course is worth it in the long run.

Lol ok you made your point. I'll definitely consider taking it.

[MrSavvy]

Hey, question for anybody reading this. Since I'll be replacing my tubes on my front suspension (p/n's 44013 both sides) is there anything else that I should replace? Or are there any good aftermarket parts I could swap out while I have the entire fork disassembled? I think I miiight have bent the left handle, and was considering buying a set of clip-ons. I'm new to the bike scene so bare with me. I'm doing a lot of research.

Edit: Oh, and how safe is it buying an OEM set of tubes off Ebay? I know in the euro car scene, buying parts off ebay is generally a no-no. Is that how it goes with Kawa parts too?

[cuz]

IDK if u would want to change out the oil&springs but i think u shouldn't worry about that now
& i think i still have my oem bar
and about the ebay thing just buy from some1 that you can return it back if something comes up

GL

Link to original page on YouTube.

[MrSavvy]

Alright so I bought a new set of fork tubes, as well as new dust and oil seals. Got everything installed, used some W10 oil for the fork I bought from a local Kawa dealer.
Swapped out the rad and filled her up with some WaterWetter and distilled water. By the time I finished all that, 5hrs had passed and it was midnight.
I'm cranking her up this afternoon after work. I'm praying the frame isn't bent. As long as the frame is good, she's all fixed now. I'll post pics and details later tonight or tomorrow.
Thanks for the help guys.

[MrSavvy]

A huge relief, there's no super weird steering issues, and turning left or right are both equally as smooth as the other.
Couple things wrong though. A, the fairings and headlight are kinda screwy. They don't all line up correctly. But the bottom of the two large fairings on the front sides are both a bit warped at the base from where the wheel pushed them apart.
B, I have to steer slightly to the right. Can the top part of the triple tree, and the second bracket become misaligned? I'm thinking if I loosen the fork bolts and the steering column nut/bolt, I could probably twist them back into alignment. I really have no idea though I'll have to research that later tomorrow.

I rode her a couple miles tonight which is enough for now.

[akima]

Ouch! Are you very new to riding? That's pretty impressive: crashing your bike because you weren't looking up ahead! I actually did that once on my bicycle when I was a kid... um... twice actually, come to think of it

Originally Posted by MrSavvy

Pics of the crash:

Ninjette's aren't supposed to be on their side like that

[MrSavvy]

Originally Posted by akima

Ouch! Are you very new to riding? That's pretty impressive: crashing your bike because you weren't looking up ahead! I actually did that once on my bicycle when I was a kid... um... twice actually, come to think of it



Ninjette's aren't supposed to be on their side like that

Yea yea yea get it all out. Haha on the real, this was embarrassing as f*ck. I don't have an excuse. I was super stressed out from work that day and all the bs I went through with a coworker, and I wasn't paying attention. I won't make the same mistake again that's for sure.


I followed this DIY and that fixed my handle bar alignment. A set of clip ons will fix the rest.
I don't think my rad fan is turning on though, gotta figure that out asap. Not riding it til then. Now all I have left is a lil body work and she should be good to go. *fingers crossed*