SW-Motech bars crash tested

[croydon@twin]

A couple of weeks back I was off to a training course in Harlow (I know, I know) and was just coming off the M11 at Junction 7. As I get on the slip road there was no traffic in front of me but the lights at the top were red so I eased off the throttle and began coasting up the slip road in the left hand lane looking at the signs for my exit. Second exit, so stay in the left hand lane. As I approach the top of the slip road the lights turn to green and I start rolling on the throttle gently as I don't know the junction or what the turning onto the roundabout at the top is like. I get to the point were I need to lean slightly to join the roundabout and wham. The front tucks instantaneously and I go down heavily on my left side. I land on my ribs, flip onto my back and slide off the slip road onto the gravely verge at the side. The bike comes to rest in the right hand lane but thankfully doesn't make the roundabout. I was genuinely not going fast as I didn't know my surroundings - 30-35mph max I reckon.

I'm very winded and can hardly catch my breath. I raise my head to see Mr BMW stop briefly, look down at me and then drive away. 3 other folk were kind enough to stop and pick me and my bike up. I look at the road and surprise, surprise there's a thin trail of diesel right in the middle of the lane I was in so my wheels were in and parallel with the spill rather than perpendicular to it. Ambulance arrives after 10 minutes and I'm carted off to hospital to get checked out. A 12 year old doctor (that's what she looked like) checks me over and decides there's nothing broken and sends me on my way. Luckily I have a couple of work colleagues on the same training course so they come to pick me up and help me go get the bike.

The accident happened on a Monday and on the Saturday immediately before I fitted my SW-Motech engine bars. They did their job admirably. No plastic damage whatsoever. Tank also untouched. Damage only to engine bars (cosmetic), LHS bar end, rear foot peg mount, side-stand mount and slight scuffs on the wing mirror.

I lost some oil whilst it was on the side but after checking the level it was still between the min and max mark. Fired it up and it started first time.

I can recommend the SW-Motech bars 100%. They only took an hour to fit and saved the bike from untold damage (physical and monetary). The bike has a bit more character now but nothing major.

I'm still recovering slowly - back at work but ribs still very sore. The worse thing is laying down to sleep - I have to prop myself up on the sofa to get comfortable.

After the tumble I kept going through it over in my mind seeing if there was something I could have done to avoid it, but I don't think there was. I was riding very sensibly and was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I had to ride the bike back when the training course finished 4 days later and I didn't enjoy it one bit. However, I have just started commuting to work again and I managed to enjoy the ride into work yesterday (roads were clear at 06:30 and weather was OK).

Tony

[Fatjohn]

Diesel

cost me a year in plaster

You have my sympathies.

[africatijn]

Sorry to hear bad luck struck you like that.

Hope you will get better soon, and will start to re-enjoy biking. Unfortunately, these things just sometimes happen. We all hope not to experience this. My brother had a same kind of experience, but his bike was in a lot worse shape afterwards (CB500).

Good thing you had the crashbars fitted.

T.

[Maverick]

Glad you on the mend dude and take it easy. I smelled alot of Diesel this morning on my way to work and made me go super slow. Did not see or "felt" it but was probably just the smell coming from the BP close by I hope.

[paultheold]

Speedy recovery, glad the bikes ok. Reminds me must refit my bars been off the bike since my engin rebuild, over 16 months ago.

[croydon@twin]

... I smelled alot of Diesel this morning on my way to work and made me go super slow...

I know what you mean - you often smell it before you see or feel it. Unfortunately for me the spill wasn't that big - I was just unlucky enough to find it

[DaveS]

A very good reminder to us all to be careful and diesel aware.
Very glad that you're ok and there's nothing broken.
An excellent report on those bars and I'm currently thinking about a set, so this has effectively made up my mind!

I very very nearly came a cropper on a sharp fast corner once. My front slid and stepped out but the back was ok and came round fine.

[simplysie]

Main thing is you are ok and still want to ride, and yes i think i need to get some crash bars too.

Big question is which ones, and before anyone reminds me i know there are enough posts on the subject

Sie

[robelst]

I smelled alot of Diesel this morning on my way to work and made me go super slow.

I don't need diesel to do that sort of thing

Nasty business, I once side-crashed my BMW R1100RT (yes, that big thing all covered in breakable plastics) in a slow corner on beet-pulp that had fallen from an open lorry. It was dark, I did not stand a chance, I actually could not believe it had happened when I was suddenly laying on the tarmac in an instant of a second.
Problem is there is usually nobody to blame for this sort of accident. Luckily it was a leased company bike and no, I am no police officer so keep your rucksack on .

All the best, I hope those painful ribs heal quickly.

[croydon@twin]

An excellent report on those bars and I'm currently thinking about a set, so this has effectively made up my mind!

Main thing is you are ok and still want to ride, and yes i think i need to get some crash bars too. Big question is which ones, and before anyone reminds me i know there are enough posts on the subject

I can definitely recommend the SW-Motech bars. They fit easy - took about an hour. The mount points are good - the rear one is an engine mount (replacement longer bolt provided with bars) and the front two are on the frame down spar.

Damage to the bars after the spill is minimal. I need to touch up the paint where the bike slid on the bars. One of the front mount points twisted slightly due to the impact of the bike touching down but I'm expecting that to pop back into place when I get round to loosening the bolts and re-tightening. They also prevented any plastic and the tank from sustaining any damage. They did the job basically.

I can take some pictures if it would help (once it stops raining).

Tony