Member Contributer emoyer Posted October 5, 2014 Member Contributer Share Posted October 5, 2014 Early yesterday morning, as I was heading for Philadelphia to help teach an Advanced RiderCourse, my 1999 VFR (Buttercup) was rear-ended at a traffic light by an SUV. I always watch behind me when I'm stopped, and flash my brake light when someone approaches. I knew the guy was back there but I didn't think he was that close or coming that fast. I didn't feel the need to evade. It's harder to judge in the dark. The light turned green and I started moving through the intersection and then I felt the impact. I was not hurt, but as for the bike, I think the worst thing is that the rear subframe is bent/twisted. Also smashed tail light, cracked rear cowling, cracks in the 2Bros CF pipe, bent brake pedal, etc. I am guessing the bike will be totaled, but I don't know for sure yet. If so, it might be fun to try something else, despite the fact that the VFR was pretty close to perfect for me. I would like a bit more pillion comfort for my wife. Thinking about maybe a C14. Who knows. Anyway, there's my first (and maybe last) ride report on VFRD. And if I do end up departing the VFR community, I just want to thank everyone for all their help and advice over the two years I was here. You people are great! --Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spud786 Posted October 5, 2014 Share Posted October 5, 2014 SO what was this Dum A's reason, did he even know there was a red light? Sounds like he didn't see the light, including not seeing your flashing brake light. Of Course to evade in that situation, (and your right harder to judge speed at night). The intersection would need to be empty to do so , and blowing an intersection to evade takes practice(in order to allow yourself to do that if needed) cause its not natural to do it. There's a very short period of time to decide and to engage). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veefer800Canuck Posted October 5, 2014 Share Posted October 5, 2014 Fix it and ride it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer MaxSwell Posted October 5, 2014 Member Contributer Share Posted October 5, 2014 Fix it and ride it. +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Belfry Posted October 5, 2014 Member Contributer Share Posted October 5, 2014 Fix it and ride it. Haha ... I was waiting for Rob to chime in. There's a lot of expertise here in the rebuilding of whanged 5th gens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Switchblade Posted October 5, 2014 Member Contributer Share Posted October 5, 2014 Glad your ok and if you leave us best of luck . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimC Posted October 5, 2014 Share Posted October 5, 2014 Sorry to hear about the crash and the mangled bike, but I'm glad you're OK. I hope the idiot was at least cited. I do the same thing when stopped at lights - cycling my brake light for drivers to see - but you never really know if they're paying attention. Your insurance company might total the bike, but if you're interested in fixing it, ask what the buy-back price would be. From there you might consider repairing it yourself. Personally, I'd probably just move on to another bike, but I'm not that mechanically inclined and I don't have much free time to work on a project in the first place. If you love working on motorcycles, though, it's probably a good option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Recalcitrance Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 Whatever happens next, I'm glad you walked away. Keep us posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer mk2davis Posted October 6, 2014 Member Contributer Share Posted October 6, 2014 I'm sorry to hear about your incident, but I am happy to hear you're okay. Bikes are cheap to replace. Just because you may get something else (Ohhhh, the horror!) doesn't mean we'll kick you out. At least not right away. And a side note, my brother has a 5th with a Corbin seat and the pillion backrest, which his wife seems to really be comfortable with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer emoyer Posted October 6, 2014 Author Member Contributer Share Posted October 6, 2014 My thanks to everyone for the advice and good wishes. As to spud's question about what the other guy said, he didn't say much about WHY it happened, which I guess was just being smart on his part. He did say he was sliding, so at some point he saw the need to stop, but obviously too late. Since the light had turned green, maybe he was just looking at that. And it was 5:30 AM so maybe he was still half asleep. It was raining at the time, or I might have heard his tires screeching. But i'm wondering what I could have done better. I was already starting to move through the intersection when he hit me. I don't know how I could have sufficiently kept watching my mirrors in order to see the need to evade while still watching all the other stuff we need to watch when getting through an intersection. But I could probably do better than I did, and you can bet I will be working on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Switchblade Posted October 6, 2014 Member Contributer Share Posted October 6, 2014 No I think you did good if you had not move when you did we would have been receiving this info from someone else ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer dalesvfr Posted October 6, 2014 Member Contributer Share Posted October 6, 2014 I was riding local roads yesterday, no more than 45 or 50 mph speeds. A big old flatbed wrecker turns left into a driveway in front of me with no signals and I grab my clutch and apply both brakes and come to a quick stop. I blow my horn and shake my fist etc but the idiot probably didn't care. I wear a hi-vis jacket. I wear a hi-vis helmet. I had LED spotlights on my forks turned on. Did he not see me? WTF?! Glad you could walk away. Maybe you should develop some neck pain to soak his insurance company. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcrwt644 Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 Chalfont? Seriously? where? I'm from Doylestown! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veefer800Canuck Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 Fix it and ride it. Haha ... I was waiting for Rob to chime in. There's a lot of expertise here in the rebuilding of whanged 5th gens. I say, I say, I represent that remark! I forgot to take a pic when the swingarm shock and rear tire were not attached to the engine. There was even LESS to look at than the above pic. Haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Switchblade Posted October 7, 2014 Member Contributer Share Posted October 7, 2014 I like that rear shock ! ^^^^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VFR4Lee Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 If you walk away unhurt, it's not so bad. Maybe you'll get a newer VFR out of the deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer emoyer Posted October 7, 2014 Author Member Contributer Share Posted October 7, 2014 Chalfont? Seriously? where? I'm from Doylestown! Ha! How bout that. I am on Skyline Drive, which is one of the lights on 202 down the hill from St. Judes. There was a 7-11 at the end of my street which isn't a 7-11 anymore. It sat empty for a while and now someone is putting a martial arts school there. Do you ever get up this way any more? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Switchblade Posted October 8, 2014 Member Contributer Share Posted October 8, 2014 Philadelphia ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer emoyer Posted October 10, 2014 Author Member Contributer Share Posted October 10, 2014 Philadelphia ? Yup, the Doylestown area is about 20 miles north of Phila. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer emoyer Posted October 20, 2014 Author Member Contributer Share Posted October 20, 2014 My VFR was totalled by the insurance company. I asked about buying her back but the adjustor said that is harder to do these days because every totalled vehicle goes straight to a salvage company that puts everything out for auction. That's ok. I was satisfied with the settlement. On Friday afternoon I rode my next bike home. A 2000 Concours. Red. And I really like it. I kind of wanted the newer Connie (the 1400), but it is more expensive in every way, and the older one is simple enough that I can work on it myself. I still have a few VFR odds and ends. Once I gather them together I will put them in the classifieds. Thanks for everything! P.S. Tried to change the title on this thread to remove the "(I think)" but apparently you can't do that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veefer800Canuck Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Sorry to hear. Topic title edited. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Dutchy Posted October 20, 2014 Member Contributer Share Posted October 20, 2014 P.S. Tried to change the title on this thread to remove the "(I think)" but apparently you can't do that. you 1st choose "edit" then at the bottom click "use full editor" you can now change the title (if you so desire...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer MaxSwell Posted October 20, 2014 Member Contributer Share Posted October 20, 2014 Condolences for your loss. I can appreciate your pain. Congrats on the new machine. Hope it treats you well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TampaDave Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 Glad you're OK. Not sure what a guy is supposed to do. Ya know, when I took my bike to the track, they made me take my mirrors off. I know that was partially to keep glass off the track, but I gotta think part of it is, you can only pay attention to so many things at once, and when you're underway, the biggest problem is people off to your side, and your biggest responsibility is to stay on the road, and not run into the guy in front of you. My wife spends way too much time worrying about what's coming up from behind, and I feel that's a mistake. Enough of that. Time to name your new bike. Hopefully it will be something like, "The Sword of Destiny." That'll make those people think twice before they try to run over you, eh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superloadedcat Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 i am sorry for your loss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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