[crumb]

Good morning/afternoon/evening to all.

I was rear ended gently yesterday on my way home from work. As I type this it makes me feel a little sick but it happened. (not major)

I had a car behind me through the city streets for around 4 KM. I went around a curve and up a little hill to a well known all way stop. I rolled my bike past the stop sign to start to leave and BUMP. A little blue toyota zipped up and bumped me from behind on the tire (I think).


The bump was light enough that my head didn't kick back and I didn't loose my light grip on the handlebars.

I had my clutch only half applied. Bike didn't stall.
I was off the brakes when he bumped me (I saw him zip up)
Bike didn't fall over
My tire didn't go flat
I don't see any damage on the bike or the car the bumped me.
It seemed like a fairly straight on bump
There isn't any noticeable play in the wheel.
There are no skid marks on the road.

I took the bike for a ride after the fact and did mixed city and highway and it didn't feel any different. Late my wife and I did some slow around the block riding to feel it out as well.

I put the bike on the center stand and checked to feel any play in the rear wheel. I didn't feel anything that I felt was bad.

There is a small amount of what I think is side to side play in the rear swing arm but I can't tell if that's normal or what that is.

Questions:
1. What should be checked?
2. Any risk to the rear swing arm / tire / rim?
3. I ride two up most of the time with bags loaded. Any additional risk after this?


I've been riding for close to two years now. Never had a problem on my motorcycle. Been hit/bumped 4 or 5 times just like this on my bicycle in the past. I thought a motorcycle would be more viable then a bicycle :S

Thank you all in advance.

 

[Vstrom134]

Sounds like the tire took what little impact there was. If the bike feels good while riding I personnaly would not worry about it. You may want to check the rim to see if its bent. If not I think your good to go. There is always a bit of play in the swingarm bearings.

Mark

 

[crumb]

Thanks Mark.

I was thinking the tire might have taken all the impact. I also keep my tire about 3 pounds softer then the suzuki label wants. Not sure if that would help at all....

 

[PTRider]

crumb, very glad you're OK. Your story is a reminder that every time we stop in traffic we need to position ourselves with an escape route and watch the mirrors for the driver that doesn't stop in time.

 

[Dino M]

I was at an intersection at night that has the oncoming left turn lanes directly in front of each other. I was first in line in the left hand turn lane with a car directly in front of me when bump, a car hit me from behind. No damage but my hands did come off the bars briefly and I rolled forward a couple of feet. The second time was at the same light and in the same lane. This time the light had just turned green and I had started to roll forward when a car hit me hard from behind. I came off the bike like a shot and hit the car with my helmet, cracking the windshield. No physical damage to me but it did teach me a lesson. At night when you have apposing turn lanes, cars coming up in back of you quite often don't see you because of the glare from the headlights of the oncoming cars. I try to stay to one side partially blocking one headlight and tap my brake to give them some warning.

 

[crumb]

Good advice Dino.

I'm generally a nut about getting rear ended. I've been in a couple car vs bicycles in the past with three of them being from behind.

In this case I had a turn signal blinking. I flick my brake lights every few moments. I noticed him just as he came to close and I turned my front wheel straight, pulled in the clutch a bit and leaned slightly forward. I knew what was about to happen based on my experience of cycling on roadways for the last 20 years with the cars.

My wife was surprised with how cool I was. I tend to have a little bit of a (blackout) temper combined with a high tolerance for pain. Could have been bad.

This driver couldn't produce anything beyond an ownership. No insurance slip. No drivers license. His car had lots of scrapes etc on it and was missing the drivers side mirror.

 

[Godfather]

First off...Glad you're OK!

This serves as a reminder to all of us to check your 6.

I would have the bike looked at by someone knowledgable...be sure the axle is not bent or rim damage at the bearing area and wheel bearings for damage. Check the swingarm to be sure there is no lateral shifting/bending. Does the chain track true and straight? Is there any unusual wear on the sprocket? How about the swingarm pivot bearings and where they fit into the frame/swingarm. Lots to look into before you let this person off the hook. Just my 2 cents...Good Luck.

 

[itsak9]

Must be Tuesday coincidence .
Someone gave my Vee a rear love tap yesterday just as I about to make a left turn.
Maybe I wasn't going fast enough for his liking.
Got to a safe stop, off the bike and ripped a strip off the idiot and sent the jerk on his way. :argue:
Filed a report against the twit today.

 

[rdguy]

This driver couldn't produce anything beyond an ownership. No insurance slip. No drivers license. His car had lots of scrapes etc on it and was missing the drivers side mirror.

So he's buying you two sets of tires, that luggage you need, and movie passes for the weekend, right?

Let me rephrase that... An undocumented driver hit you, and you let him get away with it???

Considering what my insurance company put me through when I added the Wee, I'd have thought that the powers that be in Ontario would be delighted to know about this guy.

//Deep breaths... in... out...//

Personally, I'd have had the guy's gonads stapled to my swingarm, but then, sometimes I get carried away.

Glenn

 

[Ruggybuggy]

This driver couldn't produce anything beyond an ownership. No insurance slip. No drivers license. His car had lots of scrapes etc on it and was missing the drivers side mirror.

So what happened to the driver? Did you call the police? No license, no insurance and a car that doesn't pass an Ontario Safety Inspection. He would be in for a world of hurt. If the police weren't called you can still do it. You'd be talking an unsafe driver off the road.

 

[crumb]

As for the driver.

I did phone the police after he went on his way. The police here wouldn't have come for a fender bender. The city opened a "Collision Reporting Center" staffed by civilians for things like that.

When I called the police I told them I was rear ended from behind. Told them all about how the driver didn't have a mirror, license, insurance etc. They said that's to bad (in a sympathetic tone) and instructed me to go to the reporting center. At that time I didn't know it was civilian run.

The reporting center didn't want to fill out a report until my bike had been checked out. I tried to explain to the guy what was involved in my getting my frame checked and the costs. I also explained my insurance company wants a report BEFORE I take it in for any inspection if insurance is required. He said since I didn't get the guys phone number there was nothing he could do.

So...... police don't seem to care about this guy and the reporting center didn't seem to be interested in cooperating with me to fill out the report.

)P&IO)&%)&*$# Belleville. I'm starting to see why many of the people here complain about the attitude of the city and police here.

I took my bike into the lovely skilled mechanics at 725 Sports here in Belleville. I don't trust the dealers after what they did in the spring.

 

[crumb]

So he's buying you two sets of tires, that luggage ...
Let me rephrase that... An undocumented driver hit you, and you let him get away with it???
...

Glenn

Belleville isn't a rich town. It would be like trying to get blood out of a stone. I will however be tracking him down to give him the bill for the inspection and any repairs required on my bike.

 

[Ruggybuggy]

Strange how a different town in the same province handles police matters in different ways. I our town if I reported a driver without insurance, license and unsafe vehicle there would be a car down in 10 minutes. We are policed by the OPP so maybe that's the difference.

 

[crumb]

I got my bike back from the shop today. Clean bill of health.

I went back and talked with the guy who bumped me to let him know. Found out he is battling lung cancer, had surgery and is on some heavy meds. I also notice his car wasn't there anymore and he had a rental.

Since the little bump I've put my side cases back on. I plan to keep them on in hopes of giving me a bigger profile from behind.

 

[Ruggybuggy]

One of the best things I did was add a very bright LED flashing light when the brake is applied. I works quite well. Also the safety green jack helps as well.