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And it was all going so well .....
Posted by Nigel B on August 4, 2024, 5:26 pm
... untill it wasn't !
430 miles on the clock and an "off" on an oil spill on a roundabout 50 miles from home this afternoon.
No warning, just time for a mental "WTF" before I hit the deck. Probably just as well I am still running in so was quite sedate, but it has rather taken the "newness" off the Himalayan ! The bars took the brunt of the fall (but the newly fitted handguards saved the lever) followed bu the footpeg, gear lever & stand tangs. The centre stand appears to be twisted & the newly fitted Givi pannier rack stopped the bike rolling further over - just scuffed the lower bobbins. There are small scuffs on the belly pan, the lower edge of the front mudguard, fork leg & wheel spindle nut. I will just buy the bits & sort myself - cost of bits will be less than the insurance excess.
Managed to bend the bars back something like straight & the gear lever was still useable, so a sedate backroads return home.
Apart from my left ankle (I think my foot was dragged under the bike - boot scuffed both sides) and a bit of a knock to my knee I am OK. Fortunately my helmet didn't touch the ground & my suit has only minor marks where it touched the tarmac. Ankle is stiffening up a bit now, but still able to limp around on it.
Cause of the spill was a 5 litre plastic oil can that had dropped from something then been run over & burst. Following vehicles had spread the oil about. Initially I couldn't work out what had happened & thought it might have been a loss of traction due to a badly broken up surface on the exit of the roundabout, until Mrs B (who was following and fortunately managed to avoid the oil) saw the oil trail leading back to the squashed can. Reported it to the Police, who were getting a Highways crew out to attend.
The scuff mark near the grate was made by my handlebar end, I think. The oil is a lot more visible in the pictures than it was when viewed from the saddle.
Could have been a lot worse, I suppose, but rather miffed non the less.
Agh, sad news, Nigel but very good that you are ok and, as you say, the damage is pretty limited. Even better news that your wife spotted and avoided it.
I fell off just once on a diesel spill from a lorry.The bike just shot out leaving me sat in the road. It does have you on the floor before you can even react. Not so nice having a fair bit of damage on a new bike though
Sorry to hear that Nigel. Glad your ok and I think most of us have been there. I have never been off but had a couple of very near ones on Diesel spillage which is very hard to see. Makes me shudder when I see so many riders out in this warm weather in shorts and T shirts. Sounds like your boots and jacket did what they were intended for.The oldest rocker in town!
on August 4, 2024, 5:26 pm
