I know what caused my accident on 2nd December

**beyond** · 9th February 2007, 16:43

99% sure I know what caused my accident on the 2nd December 2006.

When I traded my bike, I had the Scott Oiler transferred to the new bike and never thought to check the oil flow settings, assuming that all the settings would have been kept the same at changeover. (NB: Assumption is the prelude to disaster) I am not blaming anyone here as I might have bumped it myself shoving the waterproof gear under the seat, though I doubt it.

While getting my bike repaired, I also had the tyres changed to Pirelli Spada rear and Pirelli Diablo Corsa front. I've clocked up 2700kms since getting the bike back and several times on left handers, I have still had the rear step out a bit. Because I haven't been pushing hard, nothing serious has come of this but man was I getting concerned.

Last night I checked under the bike and there was oil everywhere, running down the side stand, the main stand, the rear swingarm etc.

Because my other GSX1400 had white rims, you could tell if the Scott Oiler was feeding too much but the new bike has black rims so you can't. Also I have had to fill the oiler twice and normally it goes for ages. Last night it was nearly empty again so I refilled it and turned it right back to nearly minimum flow where it was before.

So, I truly believe that too much oil was getting on the back wheel and caused the rear to swing out on the 2nd Dec. with me going down hard. It's happened a few times since on the other tyres as well and now I know why.
On the 2nd, I stopped for a couple of minutes at the Whangamata turnoff to let some other riders catch up and oil will have seeped down the wheel at this stage. When taking off again and throwing it into the left hander where I came off a little oil on the tyre would have been enough to start the slide and the rest is history.

I could have had another accident since too as mentioned the rear has stepped out on me a few times now, so I will be checking this component regularly. Those with Scott Oilers: please be careful. Watch those oil flows.
I was amazed at how much oil was under the bike and dribbling down the swingarm and all over the wheel.

**MSTRS:Me** · 9th February 2007, 16:53

It must be a relief to work out the reason for your bin. At least you know you didn't do anything wrong per se. Good advice re Oilers

**Nutter34** · 9th February 2007, 16:55

Glad you figured it out... Nothing worse than never knowing...

Hope it goes better now you've found a symptom and adressed it...

**Panther** · 9th February 2007, 16:57

glad to hear you found out, the puzzled look on your face that day was priceless!

**Scouse** · 9th February 2007, 16:59

Hey Paul I was thinking the exact same thing the other day and ment to say somthing to you on Tuesday about it

**beyond** · 9th February 2007, 17:03

I am real pleased I found a cause. The look on my face must have been priceless cos at the time and until now, I have tried to figure out what went wrong or if I had done anything wrong and for the life of me had no idea what could have caused it.

I detest loose ends and this has bothered me for a long time. Real glad I have got to the bottom of it. I was beginning to think my new bike had an intermittent hinge in the middle

**Panther** · 9th February 2007, 17:13

notice i said puzzled...not sitting there in anguish

**2much** · 9th February 2007, 17:18

glad you finally figured out the lesson mate... will take note myself.

**Grahameeboy** · 9th February 2007, 17:19

I remember years ago I must have overfilled the sump on my YPVS and got to Brighton and discovered that the overflow pipe had chucked oil all over rear tyre...lucky it was mainly dual carriageway..

**Leong** · 9th February 2007, 17:23

Guess you'll sleep better now eh! Thanks for posting, I have a scott oiler too....

**bane** · 9th February 2007, 17:31

it would be wonderful to live in hindsight....

pleased you have closure, (bloody hell, I sound like Dr Phil!)

...does that mean you will be apologising to all the BT020's you dissed

**The Pastor** · 9th February 2007, 17:36

err shouldnt you check your tires & chain daily? Sounds like you noobed it up a bit......

**RiderInBlack** · 9th February 2007, 17:49

This is part of the reason I've stopped using this kind of product. The spatter on the left-side of my rear tyre on the VFR from the Scott Oiler worried me. Made me lamer on leaning over on the left (special if the road was wet). So when I lost the oiler due to righting off that bike (not caused by the oiler) and insurance getting their clammy hands on it before I could remove it, I did not get another one for my next bike. I have found that due to the fact that I regularly clean and lube my chain, that I am getting as much life out of it as I did using the oiler.
My advice here is that if ya just clean and lube ya chain regularly, you will not need an oiler, and this will save ya risking coming down due to lube on ya tyre.

**beyond** · 9th February 2007, 17:53

Always check my tyre pressures but use the spray on and hose of gunk when cleaning the bike so never appreciated the amount of oil getting around under there. I suppose I keep my bike too clean. Is there such a thing??

I can go a complete service interval without adjusting the chain thanks to the oiler and when it does get serviced they check the chain anyways, so it was pretty easy to miss what what was going on down there.

**The Pastor** · 9th February 2007, 18:28

Originally Posted by beyond

Always check my tyre pressures but use the spray on and hose of gunk when cleaning the bike so never appreciated the amount of oil getting around under there. I suppose I keep my bike too clean. Is there such a thing??

I can go a complete service interval without adjusting the chain thanks to the oiler and when it does get serviced they check the chain anyways, so it was pretty easy to miss what what was going on down there.

most newbie mistakes ARE easy to miss......