First accident.

**DuLuX** · 15th July 2007, 09:16

So, it was a nice sunny saturday morning, i had my ginny all warmed up and ready to go for an uber ride round the bays and was considering going further as it was sunny.Stopped off at the garage in brooklyn to fill her up. and as i was taking off my gloves and about to dismount - some wee wifey in the car in front of me that was stationary - suddenly decided she wanted to be closer to the pump -so she reversed right back .... into me. snapped the clutch lever right off. there goes the weekend

luckily the guy in the garage next door was about to leave for the weekend and offered to let me park the bike there until monday morning when the wellington motorcycle guys are gonna come pick it up.
Anyone know the average turnaround for replacing the clutch lever? am assuming it will be quite fast? made me realize i should probably look into that damn insurance now... although the bill for this one is being sent round to the wee woman who dinged my wee beastie.

hopefully get her back monday afternoon.

**Mr Merde** · 15th July 2007, 09:24

Assuming that they have a spare clutch lever for your bike then it should be only a few minuites.

After my recent off that was one item I had to replace and as said it was the easiest part to replace.

Mr

**babyblade250rr** · 15th July 2007, 10:00

Originally Posted by DuLuX

So, it was a nice sunny saturday morning, i had my ginny all warmed up and ready to go for an uber ride round the bays and was considering going further as it was sunny.Stopped off at the garage in brooklyn to fill her up. and as i was taking off my gloves and about to dismount - some wee wifey in the car in front of me that was stationary - suddenly decided she wanted to be closer to the pump -so she reversed right back .... into me. snapped the clutch lever right off. there goes the weekend

luckily the guy in the garage next door was about to leave for the weekend and offered to let me park the bike there until monday morning when the wellington motorcycle guys are gonna come pick it up.
Anyone know the average turnaround for replacing the clutch lever? am assuming it will be quite fast? made me realize i should probably look into that damn insurance now... although the bill for this one is being sent round to the wee woman who dinged my wee beastie.

hopefully get her back monday afternoon.

Insurance is a good idea if you completely kill ya wee beast but for a clutch lever by far aint worth the access, Glad to hear the ginny came off with such minor damage though and it will take a bike shop like five minutes to change that lever

**Drum** · 15th July 2007, 10:14

Bummer! New lever is probably around $20, and takes about 2 minutes to replace.

**kiwifruit** · 15th July 2007, 10:32

Stink!

Was she sorry?
You don't NEED a clutch lever, its a luxury

**Leong** · 15th July 2007, 10:33

Originally Posted by Drum

Bummer! New lever is probably around $20, and takes about 2 minutes to replace.

Yep. Think the real cost is the loss of this fine weekend's riding..... Bad luck mate.... Not your fault but anything learnt from this experience?

**janno** · 15th July 2007, 10:36

Get someone to show you how to replace both levers and have a spare set at home.

I don't know your bike, but on an SV650 and a Honda NT650, lever replacing is easy peasy - I can do it no sweat and I am not exactly a mechanic.

Getting the shop to do it for you would be a bit like putting your bike into the garage for them to put air in your tyres . . . it's really basic once someone has shown you!

**JimO** · 15th July 2007, 10:44

first thing monday i would be getting insurance because if you had hit her car you would be looking at far more than the $20 to fix...3rd party should be compulsary

**DuLuX** · 15th July 2007, 11:39

Originally Posted by Leong

Yep. Think the real cost is the loss of this fine weekend's riding..... Bad luck mate.... Not your fault but anything learnt from this experience?

Yeah i guess I learned to keep my eye open for women drivers! hehe joking!
Seriously though I think it has made me realize that bikes are quite hard to spot if you're just going through the motions and not being 100% vigilant - I dont blame the lass, I probably could have done the same thing (although i always look behind me over the left shoulder no in the wing mirror!) - but i think the main thing is that if she can see me reversing at 2km/hr its just as likely she wont see me while putting her lipstick on as she's late for work doing 100 on the highway.

first thing monday i would be getting insurance because if you had hit her car you would be looking at far more than the $20 to fix...3rd party should be compulsary -jimjim

Yup, i have been emailing places the past week anyway to get quotes and will be calling round Monday until i get something sorted.

**Mr. Peanut** · 15th July 2007, 11:45

Originally Posted by kiwifruit

Stink!

Was she sorry?
You don't NEED a clutch lever, its a luxury

Pfft, back in my day we didn't have clutches! You had to pull the back wheel off the road, then change gear.

Clutches? Luxury...

**Leong** · 15th July 2007, 13:05

Originally Posted by DuLuX

Seriously though I think it has made me realize that bikes are quite hard to spot if you're just going through the motions and not being 100% vigilant

So when I'm driving the cage... even though I ride a bike and am thus aware.... I'll admit that I'm not 100% vigilant 100% of the time and I reckon most people are the same. You don't need full concentration to drive so the mind tends to wander, unlike riding.

Point is NOT to put yourself in the position where you can be harmed - doesn't matter whos fault it is.... likely you'll be the one hurt!! This time simple low speed/cost. Next week you could be filtering thru traffic...

Don't know about this particular situation, but maybe you could have stopped in a different position, or somehow made eye contact, a nod or a hello or something so the driver knew you were there etc etc. When filtering, drivers often have zero chance of seeing you, so make sure that no matter what they do (within reason), you have not put yourself in a position where they could hit you. Same goes with where you stop at traffic lights, riding thru intersections where you have right of way etc etc.

I think this is something experienced riders do automatically. It doesn't come naturally to those of us who have been driving for years before learning to ride.

Just my 2c FWIW....

**Macktheknife** · 15th July 2007, 18:10

It pays to keep a set of spare levers with you on the bike, should pack under the seat nicely. If you ever have an off in the wops somewhere, this can often get you home.

**gijoe1313** · 15th July 2007, 22:58

Originally Posted by Macktheknife

It pays to keep a set of spare levers with you on the bike, should pack under the seat nicely. If you ever have an off in the wops somewhere, this can often get you home.

Now that is damn fine idea... I will do this ASAP since I'm the sort of person who ends up in the wop wops quite often and at random!

**gijoe1313** · 15th July 2007, 23:00

Sorry to hear about the loss of a fine days pootling

But the upside is you are okay and it should be a relatively simple fix! And good on you for taking action right away and sorting out your insurance needs!

Now, I woulda given you some bling but it appears I've been too generous with it lately!

**sAsLEX** · 15th July 2007, 23:06

Originally Posted by Macktheknife

It pays to keep a set of spare levers with you on the bike, should pack under the seat nicely. If you ever have an off in the wops somewhere, this can often get you home.

If its a cable just put a loop in the end and pull it with your hand!