Tipover damage

N4teTheGreat · Jul 5, 2017

Had a fun ride over the weekend despite someone doing me the honor of backing into the bike and knocking it down while I was getting a bite.

As far as I can tell I got lucky and the damage was minimal and cosmetic only. Broken hand guard broken mirror and a small scratch on the front fairing. I did notice a dent in the bumper of the SUV, but that could have been the foot peg catching it as the bike went over.

One thing I found odd is that the handlebars twisted on impact, and I was able to straighten them with a little force. I know the stem has rubber bushings to help with vibrations, but it seems odd that the whole thing would be able to twist. The bike started fine and ran / handled well for the rest of the ride so I think I may have gotten relatively lucky. It looks like the bike came to rest on the kickstand and handlebar as there isn't even a mark on the sliders.

I'm going to have my shop look it over to make sure nothing else was damaged but I'm assuming I need a new handlebar (seems like they usually bend in tipovers). I probably won't bother replacing the scratched fairing (I think those cost $800 anyway) and I'll probably go with aftermarket hand guards since I was thinking about that anyway. I'm really surprised there wasn't more damage.

RSL · Jul 5, 2017

I'd be interested in a tapered aluminum handlebar instead, if their insurance was paying anyway.

Hyp Noob · Jul 5, 2017

This is SO COMMON in San Fran, but lately, someone may witness and nails the Cage driver ... or if they drive away, leaves a note with Perps license plate number. Knocking your bike over is NOT COOL ... and a crime if they drive off.

I seriously doubt your bars are bent. The rubber dampers are just a bit tweaked is all. Should be fine once everything is pushed back straight.

Parking in The City always a challenge ... especially riding a nice Ducati. A few years ago you could get away with sidewalk parking ... now? Not a chance and I think the fine is now somewhere around $60 to $100 a pop?

If you have FULL cover insurance ... I would file a claim for this. It will pay off when you go to sell bike ... as long as you're paying deductible ... get every single thing you can find fixed all in one go.
Good luck!

N4teTheGreat · Jul 5, 2017

This was actually in Fairfax, I pay for parking in SF because it's just not worth the risk. The driver actually stayed behind and gave me their info. They are paying, not their insurance so I'd like to keep things as cheap as possible. I had renthal bars on my old bike, they were nice but bent each time that bike got knocked over.

Funny thing is I came very close to crashing earlier in the ride when I hit gravel mid turn on a shady section of the panoramic highway, so it could have been me paying for new plastic if I hadn't gotten lucky there!

monocog007 · Jul 5, 2017

N4teTheGreat said:
This was actually in Fairfax, I pay for parking in SF because it's just not worth the risk. The driver actually stayed behind and gave me their info. They are paying, not their insurance so I'd like to keep things as cheap as possible. I had renthal bars on my old bike, they were nice but bent each time that bike got knocked over.

Funny thing is I came very close to crashing earlier in the ride when I hit gravel mid turn on a shady section of the panoramic highway, so it could have been me paying for new plastic if I hadn't gotten lucky there!

Maybe this is a dumb question but why would you not make them pay to completely fix the bike? it isn't as if they didn't cause the damage. Don't go out your way to bring up the cost, but you deserve to have your bike back in the same condition as the moment before THEY hit it.

bayotte · Jul 5, 2017

monocog007 said:
Maybe this is a dumb question but why would you not make them pay to completely fix the bike? it isn't as if they didn't cause the damage. Don't go out your way to bring up the cost, but you deserve to have your bike back in the same condition as the moment before THEY hit it.

Yeah I agree. You'll want that fairing fixed if you ever want to sell. As far as the twisted bars, I had the same happen last year when I low sided on some gravel. Tweaked them back into place, no problems since.

beef tits · Jul 5, 2017

I feel a lot more confident and less worried now that mine has some scratches on it. Think of it as a good thing.

N4teTheGreat · Jul 5, 2017

Thought about that angle as well. Looks like someone is selling a 2014 fairing for $395 on eBay, need to see if the stickers are the same (can't recall offhand) but I suppose saving them a couple hundred bucks is a reasonable reward for them sticking around after the knocked the bike over.

zibbit u2 · Jul 5, 2017

Check those foot controls.. they bend SUPER easy and they're ridiculously expensive thru Ducati.

Hyp Noob · Jul 5, 2017

N4teTheGreat said:
This was actually in Fairfax, I pay for parking in SF because it's just not worth the risk. The driver actually stayed behind and gave me their info. They are paying, not their insurance so I'd like to keep things as cheap as possible. I had renthal bars on my old bike, they were nice but bent each time that bike got knocked over.

Funny thing is I came very close to crashing earlier in the ride when I hit gravel mid turn on a shady section of the panoramic highway, so it could have been me paying for new plastic if I hadn't gotten lucky there!

Sorry, I misread your post! Good they hung around!
Good on ya for not screwing the honest car driver.

So true about SF parking. PAY!

Fairfax! Wow! Hey, that's my backyard too ... hope to see you up there someday. The Strada is great up there ... but not quite as awesome as my DR650 ... which laughs at mid corner gravel! (front off road tire

)

I still doubt you bent the bars.

They just LOOK bent. You can also have the forks twist slightly within the triple clamps ... which also looks like bent bars. Anyway, good luck.

See you round Fairfax ... probably in about a month once bike is back from Marin Speed Shop.

Hyp Noob · Jul 5, 2017

beef **** said:
I feel a lot more confident and less worried now that mine has some scratches on it. Think of it as a good thing.

YES! After my dirt explorations last weekend ... my bike is looking decidedly USED. I'm comfortable with it.

beef tits · Jul 6, 2017

My bars didn't look bent when I pulled them but when I sat them on a flat surface next to a brand new set of bars... they were definitely bent.

You also probably bent the bolts holding the bar clamps on. Those are cheap to replace. Mine were super twisted.

N4teTheGreat · Jul 6, 2017

Thanks, all the more reason to get it a once over at the shop, it's probably easier for them to catch these things than for me to do it on the sidewalk.

beef tits · Jul 6, 2017

N4teTheGreat said:
Thanks, all the more reason to get it a once over at the shop, it's probably easier for them to catch these things than for me to do it on the sidewalk.

For reference, mine was in a low-speed accident and basically got hit on one side then fell over. It was enough to send me over the bars and over this guys hood... but the dealer quoted me $15k to repair all the scratched up pieces and that did not include damaged accessories.

I got it riding straight and running right for about $750 worth of overpriced Italian junk parts (bars, one mirror, both hand guards and the front mud flap thing) but it still has scuffs, dents, etc... little stuff here and there adds up very quick.

I would definitely get it looked at. Not sure how your insurance is in your state though, in CO as long as you are not at fault you can claim on your own insurance and they cannot legally drop you or raise your rates.

N4teTheGreat · Jul 6, 2017

Yeah, I think the gal who bumped the bike got pretty lucky as it just fell on it's side and the bars and kickstand seem to have kept the rest of the bike from making contact.

I found a panel on ebay for $395 that will take care of the scratched LH panel and I'll charge her for that panel plus whatever the mirror and hand guard cost, though I'll use this as an option to upgrade to actual bark busters. Other than whatever the shop charges to go over the bike I can do all the work myself since it's just bolting things on so that'll save her some money which I am comfortable doing since she did stick around. If the bar is bent I'll charge for a stocker there but probably upgrade that as well.

kuksul08 · Jul 6, 2017

What really matters... were the lights OK??

N4teTheGreat · Jul 6, 2017

kuksul08 said:
What really matters... were the lights OK??

First thing I checked! The bike was already righted when I came out, they said another motorcyclist helped them which probably prevented any further damage.

Tipover damage

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