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August 22nd, 2002
Yep, I wrecked.
Just as i was coming near to the end of my projected modifications for the Bandit, fate stepped in and deemed that I would start the process again in customizing the Bandit.
On August 14th, 2002 I was coming home from a group ride with some friends. I had split off early from the ride, as it had started to rain. About 1/2 hour into the rain, i was riding down a road with a steep incline, that made a sharp hook to the right at the bottom of the hill. I attempted to slow down further from ~40 km/h at the top of this incline, and the front and rear brakes locked solid as soon as i touched the brakes. I was not squeezing down hard on the brakes, but rather trying to modulate them with no effect whatsoever. I attempted to cycle the brakes three or four times more, before the rear end of the bike stepped out to the right, and then violently snapped back into alignment. The front end of the bike then washed out, and bike and rider went down. Bike and rider proceeded to slide down the road, stopping 50-60 feet from initial impact with the road.
What caused the accident? The only thing i can say for sure, is that oil coming out of the pavement in the first 1/2 hour of rain after a long dry spell, played a large role in the accident.
I sustained multiple fractures in the right ankle, deep bruising in the left foot, hyperextended tendons in the left hand, and a broken left thumb. Roadrash was minimalized, as i was wearing a heavy leather riding jacket, heavy jeans, touring boots, gloves and a full face helmet.
The bike came out of the accident similarly trashed. One saving grace of the mods that i did before the accident, relates to the GIVI engine guards and the passenger footpeg spacer modification. The bike skidded on the passenger footpeg, and the GIVI engine guard, leaving the complete exhaust system untouched and unmolested, and the newly installed fiberglass lowers were unbroken, just some scrapes evident.
In the course of repairs, the fairing was completely replaced with an aftermarket fairing, and a gas tank was sourced from Ebay.
'Damaged Goods'
1. rashed and trashed right hand side upper fairing panel.
2. gouged and moderately cracked Lockhart Philips lower fairing panel.
3. BMW mirror punched into fairing bracket, severely bending it.
4. BMW mirror insert broken, mirror rashed.
5. right front turnsignal smashed.
6. SECDEM windshield snapped in half.
7. Renthal handlebar twisted in mounts and punched into gas tank.
8. Front brake lever snapped off at perch.
9. throttle assembly rashed.
10. Tach casing rashed.
11. Front brake reservour rashed.
12. Gas tank heavily dented in by handlebars, requiring replacement.
13. Right rider footpeg snapped off at bracket.
14. Right passenger footpeg heavily rashed.
15 Givi engine guard, right hand side, heavily rashed.
16 right rear turnsignal, heavily rashed.
17. right rear passenger grabrail, moderately rashed.
18. Instrument panel cluster, screw assemblies broken, requiring heavy epoxy work.
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