RIP Burgman (but I'm just fine)

[HHaynes]

Hey guys - just a quick FYI - I just signed off on totaling out my Burgman. Someone turned left in front of me as I was crossing through an intersection one morning last month. Fortunately I was able to brake quite a bit before I made contact with her vehicle because I wasn't going that fast. It was 7:50ish AM local time and the sun was very low (and bright) behind me. I ended up colliding with their rear passenger wheel as I made a last-ditch effort to steer around her vehicle as she crossed in front of me - and the bike dropped onto its left side with no skidding. A few seconds before that fateful moment, the car in front of her had turned left and cleared the intersection LONG before I entered the intersection from my side, so I thought she had settled in and was waiting for me to pass through, as she should have. I distinctly recall going into the intersection looking at those big Jackie-O sunglasses on her head wondering if she was looking at me. I was wrong. She said she never saw me, but later confessed that she was turning on her hands-free bluetooth kit in her car when she was "waiting to turn" - which mean that she was fiddling with her blue tooth as she was turning in front of me with the Sun in her eyes.

After confirming I was OK (I was in full gear - just a little shaken up with a few scrapes on my knees and banged up hands from the shock through the handlebars) she apologized profusely and offered to pay for damages with cash - and begged me to not call the police. Mind you, this is in an intersection within a block or two of three major highways in L.A. - and it was the the beginning of rush hour. As I was trying to push the bike to the curb, she offered to outright buy my bike from me, until she found out what it's worth. Within 15 minutes of moving my bike from the middle of the intersection she was trying to "re-author" the sequence of the events to help herself believe that she actually wasn't at fault.

LESSON #1 - don't move your bike unless your life or others' lives are at eminent risk.
LESSON #2 - always ALWAYS call the police after you've been in an accident

Such as it is, my collision coverage is paying off the bike and a large portion of my out-of-pocket for the accessories - and my insurance company is going after hers for reimbursement. I'll see enough cash back to put money down on a new bike, but I don't think I'm going to buy a Burgman this time. I really enjoyed riding it but I'd like to go back to a traditional motorcycle - something that sits a bit taller in the saddle (I'm 6'2" tall) and has a bit more power. I'm going to spend some time shopping around and will probably make a decision sometime next month. I just wanted to check in to say 'hello' - put the word out on lessons learned - and say thanks to everyone that offered advice to me along the way.

Be safe, and ride on.
H3

[Dave_J]

HH, sorry to hear this. It happens.

Just a question, will the Insurance Co alow you to buy the Burgman back? I ask as some of us would love to buy a dammaged one and use the parts. I am looking for a CVT and other parts. DaveJ

[HHaynes]

The bike was signed over to the insurance company, who sold it to a salvage company. If my insurance company wins the fight with her insurance Co., then I get reimbursed for the salvage $$ as part of the deal (or so my adjuster told me). But the bike is long gone and probably already showing up on eBay in bits and pieces.

[LeDude]

Glad to hear that you weren't hurt yourself, as for the Burgman it can easily be replaced... of course accidents are never fun and as you said, never move unless you really have to... anytime anybody offers to settle for cash, high ball them and ask them if they have cash on hand to the tune of 10k, otherwise, call the Police and your insurance company asap... if you have a camera, start taking pictures and writing down how the accident occured and avoid any unnecessary chit chat until the cops get there, especially if you know that you are not at fault...

test drive a Vstrom 1000, you will like it...

[HHaynes]

I was looking at the VStrom and have an eye out for the new Honda VT700.

[Buffalo]

Sorry to hear about your crash but glad you came out of it OK. Enjoy the new ride when you get it.

[QuantumRift]

First, I'm sorry to hear about your accident. And glad that you were not seriously injured! And sorry to hear about your bike being totaled.

The situation you describe is EXACTLY why I installed a Kriss headlight modulator on my 650. When the sun is at your back, drivers are literally blinded by it, and even simple headlights don't seem to get their attention (if at all). The flashing headlight does get a better job of drawing attention to you if a person is contemplating turning across your lanes. As such, I try to plan my trips somewhat differently at those times of day, if possible...obviously if it' s the only way I have to go in the morning or evening, so be it. But if I have discretionary trips, say on the weekends, I try to take different routes if possible. I just described what happened in another "CLOSE CALL" thread where an eastbound driver, blinded by the sun, nearly took me out I traversed the same intersection northbound. HE blew the light and I had to hit th throttle (condensed version). Obviously I was on his right and he wasn't looking anyways because he apparently didn't even look, like he didn't even know he'd gone thru an intersection. And the sun was rising and was pretty bright that morning.....and that was one reason I decided to order a hm...just in case.

And, if you want to sit taller in the saddle, then get the biggest dirt bike you can afford and license it for the road! LoL....

[Colchicine]

Yeah, it sounds like you were the victim of the two most likely situations, a distracted driver AND a driver turning left in front of you. I'd like to think various forms of visibility would have helped in this case. Although I don't think bright colors would have helped in a white-wash situation.

[w-coyote]

I,m glad you came out O.K when in a accident it is also a good ideal to take pictures of both vehicles, the location, and your camera, cel ph, etc should have a time\date stamp as well. What concerns me is that she tried to buy your bike out right, she did not want her insurance to pay out, could this be a sign of bad driving on her part and her ins co, has already payed out?? but it could be worse that you were not injured, if you were then her insurance would be paying more. When this happens get a Police report to cover you. Be sure to keep all of your records regarding the accident, in case it is needed. If she was making a left turn and crossed into your path, she most yield to on-coming drivers per DMV regs. and she should of not been operating a hands free devise while driving she should of done this prior to placing the car into drive before she even moved the vehicle.

My daughter & wife were both involved in a accident (there fault) they did a kiss the rear bumper routine, less then 5 mph slow traffic, both drivers complained of pains, the ins co payed out, and we now pay higher rates, which are now gong down. With the economy in trouble people will resort to anything to get a few bucks.

[Flint]

Glad to hear you came out of it okay physically. Bummer the bike is RIP but, the up side is you get the thrill of looking for it's replacement. I added a DL 100 Vee Strom to the stable this year and it is a hoot. That big V twin just seems to always have a gob of torque waiting to shove ya for ward when you turn the loud handle? I added a set a bags and a top case and a larger screen from Calsci and have even done a little back road touring on it. I found a couple neat places on out of the way roads to go visit.

At any rate just glad your healthy and on the prowl for a new little friend.

Flint

[57mike]

Sorry to hear about your accident. Glad you're okay.

As to your interest in the new Honda NT700V, it looks like a good match against a 650 Burg as far as power, features, and capabilities, albeit with a manual. I was talking with the Sales Manager at Mid Cities Honda-Kawasaki in Paramount about it the other day. He has 2 coming in this month. The first (red) is already sold, and the second will be a silver one (didn't ask if it is ABS). They arrive about the 8th and 20th, I recall. You might give him a call - Robin Krueger at 562-531-1225 or 888-MID-MOTO. You might find one closer to home, maybe not. It sounds like not too many will be around at first.

Best of luck in everything!

[HHaynes]

Thanks! I have a great dealership up the road. Honda (and Suzuki) of North Hollywood. They were the ones that mentioned the new model coming out when I was trying the VStrom. I think I might have found a new job that's just a few miles from where I live, so the hopefully the lack of onerous commute will let me take my time in deciding on the next ride. Cheers.

[DewaltDakota]

I'm glad you made out okay on the ordeal.

I was looking at the VStrom and have an eye out for the new Honda VT700.

Did you mean VT700, or the NT700V? I can't wait for that bike (NT700V) to hit the showroom floors!!

[HHaynes]

Did you mean VT700, or the NT700V?

Definitely the latter - just a typo on my part.

[choirguy]

Having the sun at your back in an intersection makes oncoming drivers blind. So gald to hear you're okay.