Got some bad news. I had an off but this time for the bike it was terminal. Bimbled up to Brecon no problems and headed for Upper Chapel to take a quieter road to Builth Wells. Slowed down for a left hand bend, doing no more than 40 as the bend was blind, turned in off the brakes the put a little power back on. A van come round the corner and I brake a bit, back end steps out grips and high sided me. I rolled down the road and jumped up to find I couldn't breath and the van had stopped on the grass bank with a blown tyre. Found out later he run over the bike after it landed so lucky really it threw me off. Whole front end is in bits. Clocks survived but forks were snapped when he run over it. Being Third Party I'll scrap the bike. It's so far from home it wouldn't be worth bringing it home to strip plus as it stands it's £150 recovery and £15 a day where it is. I still have to tell the insurer it happened but there's nothing for me to claim for. Not sure how it all works from now. Presumably the van driver gets any claim from the insurance. My next quotes will be high but that's expected. Will be a long time before I'm on a bike again. Car needs a few things before the month is out.

My injuries are no broken bones but I've grazed elbows and knees. Hyper extended all the ligaments in my left foot. Nothing broken just sore to stand on. Shows proper gear works. My alarm was in my pocket and that ripped through and ended up several yards away. That's ruined too. Boots have scraped but all still useable so that's something and not a mark on my lid either. Got the tax off the bike so at least that can be cashed in. Glad I bought a relatively cheap bike now. Still lost about £2.5k but could have been way worse. I'll stick a photo of the bike up in a bit. It's been an expensive and painful afternoon but at least I'm here :(

Gutted to hear this Martyn, glad to hear your all right at the same time, lucky man! Stuff like this happens, as most of us know! Still once again, top job that your ok, gear did it's thing and the rest is only money!

So sorry to hear thiis.

It is so difficult on bikes compared to cars if you line takes you across some sh*tty patch of much, oil or the like.

Not much bikes can do about this no matter how wide the tyres are on any other electronic aids like ABS.

Hope you win a lottery or something to get back on two wheels.

I'll be buying a few tickets lol. Was tempted to take a day off tomorrow but can't afford to. Work is so short staffed it's not funny. Few hours later I still feel sore. Foot swelling more but nothing broken. all bruises and stretched ligaments. Foot hyper extended when I rolled. Stomach hurts after I got winded. Got scraped elbows and one knee that's still numb. Could have been worse but I don't regret a bike one bit. Had some saying to sell all my gear and never ride again, others say get back on asap. I'll ride when I feel ready and I can afford it. When it feels right I'll ride again. Once my foot is right I'll be back on the road bike at least.

So sorry to hear about your accident, many have already said it but at least your ok. Bikes are very dangerous things and have to be treated with respect. Any other road users need to give us the respect as well. I've hear of so many accidents caused by cars and usually they walk away without a mark when it could be fatal to the biker.

Anyway, all the best for a speedy recovery and hope you stumble upon some money fast!!!

I've had all sorts of responses after it happened. Some are surprised how I'm dealing with it. I'm not stressed about it. It's happened and not a lot I can do now so I've accepted it. My Aunt who almost lost my Uncle in a bike crash years ago said sell whatever gear I have left and never ride again, others have asked when I'm getting next (my boss), some have said I told you so and I shouldn't have got a big bike in the first place, etc which did annoy me. I don't consider an SV to be a "big bike". OK it's 650cc but 75bhp at best. If it was a 4cyl quick revving sports bike with 100bhp+ I could understand. It wasn't the power that was the problem. It was a combination of inexperience, not knowing the road and a dodgy surface. It wasn't the smoothest of surfaces and when the Recovery place said it was the third bike in a few weeks that had gone down on that bit of road I didn't feel as bad. But it's something to learn from as everything is.

There is no doubt I'll ride again. May not even be this year but I will. May get something smaller to tool around on and that's really cheap to buy and run, something for commuting that's naked and good round town. Probably a "sit up and beg" as my instructor called them. My parents I thought would say never bike again but haven't said anything yet. Think because I took all the precautions I could, bought all the right gear from the start and wasn't because I'd done something stupid it happened. Some have said if I'd never ridden in the first place it wouldn't have happened. If you always think like that you'd stay in the house all day and never venture out just in case something happens. We all know biking is dangerous. Most of us have had offs now but we all knew it could happen before we started. Someone said I should have ridden off road instead. An ex-gf had a KX250F, slid on gravel and the bike shattered her knee when she landed. The risk is always there.

I've had all sorts of responses after it happened. Some are surprised how I'm dealing with it. I'm not stressed about it. It's happened and not a lot I can do now so I've accepted it. My Aunt who almost lost my Uncle in a bike crash years ago said sell whatever gear I have left and never ride again, others have asked when I'm getting next (my boss), some have said I told you so and I shouldn't have got a big bike in the first place, etc which did annoy me. I don't consider an SV to be a "big bike". OK it's 650cc but 75bhp at best. If it was a 4cyl quick revving sports bike with 100bhp+ I could understand. It wasn't the power that was the problem. It was a combination of inexperience, not knowing the road and a dodgy surface. It wasn't the smoothest of surfaces and when the Recovery place said it was the third bike in a few weeks that had gone down on that bit of road I didn't feel as bad. But it's something to learn from as everything is.

There is no doubt I'll ride again. May not even be this year but I will. May get something smaller to tool around on and that's really cheap to buy and run, something for commuting that's naked and good round town. Probably a "sit up and beg" as my instructor called them. My parents I thought would say never bike again but haven't said anything yet. Think because I took all the precautions I could, bought all the right gear from the start and wasn't because I'd done something stupid it happened. Some have said if I'd never ridden in the first place it wouldn't have happened. If you always think like that you'd stay in the house all day and never venture out just in case something happens. We all know biking is dangerous. Most of us have had offs now but we all knew it could happen before we started. Someone said I should have ridden off road instead. An ex-gf had a KX250F, slid on gravel and the bike shattered her knee when she landed. The risk is always there.

I don't know, you bikers are all the same! :p

We all do things wrong at times. That's life. We learn by the mistakes we make. Hopefully.

Been there done that etc..

Its not the Power of the bike that's wrong its how its handled.

Jag owners don't drive round at 150mph.

I don't ride my bike at 160mph, but you gotta respect the power that is there.

More people die in the home..

Quote " More than 1,000 people die every year after falling down stairs"

"The powerful Commons public accounts committee said obesity was contributing to 30,000 deaths every year

So Statistics tell amazing stories.

Ride Safe. Keep off Drugs & the Booz

So sorry to hear your major off, Martyn.

It sounds like you've made your mind up in a good way. When you're ready, with something you feel comfortable with is the key IMO and getting back on probably sooner rather than later is important as I think the fear can otherwise grow on you.

We all learn from our mistakes / inexperience, some more than others.

Sorry to hear this Martyn - hope you're ok. Don't leave it too long to get back on two wheels.

Sometimes think that having an off is actually a good learning curve - if that makes sense?

Got chucked off as a pillion at low speed once and hitting the Tarmac, certainly made me think more when riding myself.

keep Safe x

Sorry to hear this Martyn - hope you're ok. Don't leave it too long to get back on two wheels.

Sometimes think that having an off is actually a good learning curve - if that makes sense?

That's how I look at it. When I had a small off in a car years ago I still say it was the best thing that ever happened regarding my driving. I wasn't going excessively fast but didn't appreciate the lack of grip at the time. Now I know exactly what the tyres are doing and know how far I can push. Just learning to ride have massively improved my forward planning and observations. there were always good but I do feel sharper. It did hurt a bit yesterday going to work when I was braking for a roundabout after coming off a NSL road and my left foot braces on the foot rest. I forgot and it bloody hurt! Foot is all but right but the knee is still numb and swollen. if it's not right by tomorrow I'll go into A&E to get a scan to be sure. Boss will be fine with it. Loads have said I should have just taken time off anyway.

Glad you are OK Martyn but it is a shame about the bike. Looks like you are in good company. Just read today that Lorenzo has broken his collar bone during practice at Assen. :wonder:

Foot is all but right but the knee is still numb and swollen. if it's not right by tomorrow I'll go into A&E to get a scan to be sure. Boss will be fine with it. Loads have said I should have just taken time off anyway.

Hope the Knee is ok and a trip to A&E hasn't been necessary. Have you tried the old elevation and ice routine ?

Yeah. If it's not right in the morning I'll phone in sick to rest it properly.

Yeah. If it's not right in the morning I'll phone in sick to rest it properly.

2 years next week and I still have no feeling on skin around knee (but plenty from within!) Definitely get it checked out if it's not better. Id imagine in the most unqualified way possible that the swelling itself is the cause of the numbness. Knee is a busy joint and if its had a good knock and swollen, a weekend on your back, on sofa with knee truly above the heart and good ice treatment, should do wonders. If the numbness is a flesh numbness and no real pain when using it, sounds like it should be 110% before too long. As I said though, that's just my cripples hunch not a prescription. Get your moneys worth from the professionals to be happy.

Hi Guys, just stumbled across this post and thought i'd add in my bike history starting from being 16 and getting a moped anyway here we go in chronological order:-

1. Puch Maxi moped, filed ports home made expansion chamber exhaust for a twist and go it went quite well 55mph..

2. Suzuki GP100, was a heap when i bought it resprayed it all, micron exhaust re spoked the back wheel and rebuilt the engine.

3. Yamaha RD125 DX twin nicknamed the custard cream as it was the bright yellow speed block colours had a set of race pipes on and sounded awesome.

4. Yamaha RD125 LC mk2 probably my favourite bike as it was the first bike that would do a ton and showed up many Aprilia and Cagiva Mito's costing three times as much.

5. Yamaha RD350 YPVS Mk1 another favourite of mine again had race pipes on and sounded awesome didn't handle very well though.

6. Yamaha FZR400 1WG first 4 stroke and was bloody good revved to 14,500rpm sounded ace with a straight through pipe on it.

7. Suzuki GS500 don't know why i got this but i only had it about a month before i swapped it for the next bike, it was ok ...

8. Yamaha TZR250 great bike but a little two small for me and in side winds it was terrible..

9. Yamaha FZR600 this was a beautiful bike in TECH 21 Suzuka 8Hr race colours kept it pretty much standard had it for about a year not as much fun as the 400 though..

10.Yamaha FZR400 Exup 3EN1 second 400 i owned and the best one once i got the suspension sorted for my weight and riding style, in the twisties i used to leave my mate on his ZXR750 for dead ...lol

11.Suzuki TL1000S this was the unrestricted version and i loved it had a set of Quill race cans on it that sounded amazing along with a few other tastefull upgrades, handled great if you rode it properly...

12.Suzuki GSXR750 K1 this was mint when i bought it and had very low mileage unfortunately two of the gears wore in the gear box so needed to be stripped on putting it back together the local dealer forgot to replace all the studs in the sump and it ****ed oil all over the place lost confidence in the bike after that and sold it.

13.Suzuki TLR1000 my favourite bike of all time not to everyone tastes but i think it has one of the best looking front ends of any bike and i even lliked the back end, very comfortable for a sports bike, took it around the Nurburgring in 2009 then the black forest and the B500 to Baden Baden the year later two must do's if you go to Germany, also did my first track day at Cadwell on it which was a hoot.

14.Aprilia RSV1000 Mille this was bright Yellow looked very nice handled and stopped very well but lacked the grunt and excitment of the TLR and thus i never really gelled with it sold it last year and bought an MX5 track car..

I may have missed a couple of bikes that i only had briefly but these are the ones that made an impression on me and that i enjoyed riding.

Cheers Steve

Hi Guys, just stumbled across this post and thought i'd add in my bike history starting from being 16 and getting a moped anyway here we go in chronological order:-

1. Puch Maxi moped, filed ports home made expansion chamber exhaust for a twist and go it went quite well 55mph..

2. Suzuki GP100, was a heap when i bought it resprayed it all, micron exhaust re spoked the back wheel and rebuilt the engine.

3. Yamaha RD125 DX twin nicknamed the custard cream as it was the bright yellow speed block colours had a set of race pipes on and sounded awesome.

4. Yamaha RD125 LC mk2 probably my favourite bike as it was the first bike that would do a ton and showed up many Aprilia and Cagiva Mito's costing three times as much.

5. Yamaha RD350 YPVS Mk1 another favourite of mine again had race pipes on and sounded awesome didn't handle very well though.

6. Yamaha FZR400 1WG first 4 stroke and was bloody good revved to 14,500rpm sounded ace with a straight through pipe on it.

7. Suzuki GS500 don't know why i got this but i only had it about a month before i swapped it for the next bike, it was ok ...

8. Yamaha TZR250 great bike but a little two small for me and in side winds it was terrible..

9. Yamaha FZR600 this was a beautiful bike in TECH 21 Suzuka 8Hr race colours kept it pretty much standard had it for about a year not as much fun as the 400 though..

10.Yamaha FZR400 Exup 3EN1 second 400 i owned and the best one once i got the suspension sorted for my weight and riding style, in the twisties i used to leave my mate on his ZXR750 for dead ...lol

11.Suzuki TL1000S this was the unrestricted version and i loved it had a set of Quill race cans on it that sounded amazing along with a few other tastefull upgrades, handled great if you rode it properly...

12.Suzuki GSXR750 K1 this was mint when i bought it and had very low mileage unfortunately two of the gears wore in the gear box so needed to be stripped on putting it back together the local dealer forgot to replace all the studs in the sump and it ****ed oil all over the place lost confidence in the bike after that and sold it.

13.Suzuki TLR1000 my favourite bike of all time not to everyone tastes but i think it has one of the best looking front ends of any bike and i even lliked the back end, very comfortable for a sports bike, took it around the Nurburgring in 2009 then the black forest and the B500 to Baden Baden the year later two must do's if you go to Germany, also did my first track day at Cadwell on it which was a hoot.

14.Aprilia RSV1000 Mille this was bright Yellow looked very nice handled and stopped very well but lacked the grunt and excitment of the TLR and thus i never really gelled with it sold it last year and bought an MX5 track car..

I may have missed a couple of bikes that i only had briefly but these are the ones that made an impression on me and that i enjoyed riding.

Cheers Steve

Awesome biking career Steve! Have you any plans to get another??

Just saw this on Visor Down's FB WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Definitely a twitchy sphincter moment. :peek:

There's a idiot rider if ever I saw one!

Obviously doesn't have a front brake.

Blimey !!! - White Van Man should have been warning enough for anyone

Oops. I guess he's ended up with a flat spotted tyre and brown spotted underpants!

Fantastic weather in Wales this weekend.  **** quality phone photo though.  11 of us met up in Abergavenny Friday night, ride out on Saturday and home today.

 

Edited 30 June, 201312 yr by RizzoTheRat

13.Suzuki TLR1000 my favourite bike of all time not to everyone tastes but i think it has one of the best looking front ends of any bike and i even lliked the back end, very comfortable for a sports bike, took it around the Nurburgring in 2009 then the black forest and the B500 to Baden Baden the year later two must do's if you go to Germany, also did my first track day at Cadwell on it which was a hoot.

+1. Awesome bikes, sound lovely too especially with some not entirely road legal cans fitted.

Awesome biking career Steve! Have you any plans to get another??

Yeah looking at Triumph Street Triple or even a Tiger, then again if a nice TLR came up at the right price i'd have another one of those...

Quote " Yeah looking at Triumph Street Triple or even a Tiger, then again if a nice TLR came up at the right price i'd have another one of those..."

 

Or One of these....