Stopped on my trusty VFR at traffic lights outside Belmarsh Prison (A206) heading towards Abbey Wood. Car behind me does not stop and rear ends me. Sends me flying and the bike sliding down the road into the kerb.
Me to hospital and the bike to Amazing Bikes. Nigel recovered it for me and checked me out in the ambulance. I owe him one. Bike is knackered, rear rim is smashed, rear exhaust is wacked, body panel damage all down the right hand side.
Hospital, XRays of neck and back. Both very sore. I have difficulty hold my neck up and turning it. On rather strong painkillers right now and am sooooooo pissed off.
Driver admitted liability, his foot slipped on the brake pedal and I have a witness as well!! Full details from him. Police involved and they say driver admitted liability to them as well. He was anxious that I was okay and stayed with me until the ambulance arrived and then went to fetch his child from school. He then returned to the scene again and spoke with the police and checked on me again while I was strapped to the stretcher (which was way too short). They stuck some back boards under my legs so they would not hang down.
Paramedics were absolutely ace. Hats off to them for the sterling job they did. Hats off to the police too, they heard that my wife does not drive and fetch her and my children from home and took them to the hospital to be with me. Very kind of them.
Good thing is that I am alive, if battered and sore. I’ll live to ride another day! IF SWIMBO gives me permission that is…
oh mate so sorry to hear this!, i do hope that you heal well, and that everything goes well with the liability claim. Its scary stuff this winter riding, i had a biker thrown down the road in front of me today, i managed to pull over and check he was ok.
The Great Hi Vis Vest of invicibility did not work this time. I’m a big bloke, 6ft6 in my boots! I’m in pain (time to take more pills nurse!!) and am alive, most important thing. What pisses me off is that I’ve just spent £210 on getting new wheels and tyres for the VFR, delivery later this week! Also that I’ve just got her back on the road again now. New forks from a 1997 VFR, stripped and cleaned calipers, fully serviced, new coolant etc. etc.!!!
I’ll be scrapping the bike for sure and will simply find something else to ride. Insurance had better pay out a decent sum (£1200 would be nice) and I’ll take it from there.
first of all glad that you are ok [ well you know what i mean ] but you must be one pi–ed off guy right now, twice in about a month and the same way at a red light. i would think that by the time you have finished with these insurance companies you could go buy what ever bike you want.
Terrible mate, not twice in a month!! glad to hear you are OK though, shame about the bike, but hopefully you can get something with 10 ft spikes on the back now!!
Yes you need to go see an accident lawyer as this is really seriously bad news on the riding front. You will be watching your rear end forever from now on…and will always feel unsafe at traffic lights…it is real serious…
I’m phoning Rider Support in around 1/2 an hour. I’ll be getting it all done through them as they are running the other case for me at present.
They had me checked out by a specialist last week, so I’ll be going back there again! It makes my riding career look crap, but both times were definately NOT my fault. I’ll be pulling to one side of the lane now when stopping at lights, with a bright sign on the back saying “THIS BIKE IS NOT GAY- DO NOT REAR END IT” (no offense to those who are that way inclined)
but to say that ive just had them on the phone about me other accident in april…then i told them of the recent one and got forms comming asap…good ol bunch them guys…
I think you’d be better off with a spine protector than a high vis mate!
I haven’t been rear ended, but I have had 3 (not my faults) in 3 months, so I know how gutted you must feel. But as others have said - at least you’re still here.
Get some morphine in you and ask one of the pretty ones for a bed bath
I had an upgraded back protector to replace the piece of foam that came with the jacket, so a Hiprotec one from Hein Gericke. I’ll be looking at the full length ones now. This one did the job and saved me from serious pain/injury. Well worth the £40 I paid.
Just been out to Amazing Bikes to view my VFR. Rear wheel is buckled from the impact. I’ll have to get swingarm checked out and all bearings replaced by the looks of things…:crying::unsure: I’m sure this is just scratching the surface too.
It makes my riding career look crap, but both times were definately NOT my fault. I’ll be pulling to one side of the lane now when stopping at lights, with a bright sign on the back saying “THIS BIKE IS NOT GAY- DO NOT REAR END IT” (no offense to those who are that way inclined)
This one did the job and saved me from serious pain/injury. Well worth the £40 I paid.