BAMM!!! Rockster T-Bone

[Rockster1150]

Now that the title has got your attention. I crashed my bike. Yep, I rode straight through a red light and into an off duty copper with an impact of about 25kmh. No excuses, just a few sets of green with a red in the middle that I didn't see. Usually I would see the cars at the intersection anyway, but I was playing with the pixies Monday morning on the way to work.

Forks were very twisted at the front as I chose to hit just off from square, bars were almost 35degrees and inline with the wheel as I must have fought hard. With a 6mm allen key I pulled it straight enough to continue on my way. The bike never actually went down, I was stopped with the clutch in and in first gear. But it wasn't easy riding to the footpath.

Back in the shed after a few hours, looking at it you wouldn't even know I crashed. But I am concerned.

1. The bars are slightly bent forward and down on the left. Can I bend them back?
2. Sometimes when I put it on the centrestand (Ohlins fitted), the front wheel is hard on the deck as is the rear. But most times there is daylight under one (weird) Previously I would have the daylght always?
3. The balljoint appears fine externally, I think I should change it???
4.The wishbone of the Telelever is spot on, except the rightside appears not perfectly lined up as the left. Only fractionally and the bike seems straight. Opinions???
5. I did loosen the big bolt, rear mount of the wishbone to pull it forward. No good but what is the tension that goes on this bolt/lever mount?

As for damage, nothing purchased to get it back onto the road. I will need to get at some stage a new indicator and right side headlight/dash mount due to a small break of the dashmounting screw locating hole thingy.
But all up upon inspection you'd be hardpressed to notice anything. Hardy bike, it was not a soft hit I can assure you. I don't wish to try this again either.
Yes you can call me very lucky, or an idiot. Your choice.

[MikeCam]

Couple of questions?

I try to envision the light scenario - a city street packed with traffic and a traffic signal every block? You saw the entire stretch of lights but missed catching the red at an intermediate intersection? Overhead or side of the street posts for the lights? A traffic engineer's fault or, as you say, "playing with pixies"? I encounter city traffic only rarely and the stop lights around my environs are widely spaced, prominent overhead, and harder to miss. But I get the idea, I think. And glad you handled it safely and without worse results.

Now about the bike - any crash will dissipate forces somewhere. I'd suspect the forks, head, telelever, perhaps the wheel axle, the cast wheel (for round and true) and front subframe as well as the bars need a thorough checking to be certain you've captured and assessed every damage. Riding a wonky front can be the first clue - progressively test the feel and response on safe, empty and slow speed straights and curves. Feel for any vibration, tugs, turns, lack of smoothness. Also try the wet tire test - run through a puddle and see the front and back track line up. With a known good bike (any friends handy?) measure closely for all tolerances near every fitting, bolt, etc. Don't forget to check rotors and calipers. If any of this is beyond your shop level, don't hesitate to get into a pro shop.

In the 60's and 70's it was very common for us young, cashless, and risk taking guys to ride bikes that were out of whack. These days, I'd not trust a bad pothole hit without checking carefully.

[MikeCam]

Now to your specific questions:

1. The bars are slightly bent forward and down on the left. Can I bend them back? Yes but how will you know it is properly done? Streess fractures, slight bends, weaknesses are now present but perhaps undetectable.

2. Sometimes when I put it on the centrestand (Ohlins fitted), the front wheel is hard on the deck as is the rear. But most times there is daylight under one (weird) Previously I would have the daylght always? Damage at the shock mount and/or telelever mount.

3. The balljoint appears fine externally, I think I should change it??? Not without/until assessing the entire damage to the telelever system - rear mounts, front joint, shock mount and side to side alignment - there is high liklihood that the damage is more than just the ball.

4.The wishbone of the Telelever is spot on, except the rightside appears not perfectly lined up as the left. Only fractionally and the bike seems straight. Opinions??? Small out of alignment can mask bigger problems. Again, careful measurements everywhere. Also check closely for any damage to the engine as it is a stressed frame member.

5. I did loosen the big bolt, rear mount of the wishbone to pull it forward. No good but what is the tension that goes on this bolt/lever mount? Pivot shaft bolt - 73 Nm; Pivot Shaft retaining cap - 43 Nm; Ball Joint - 230 Nm; Ball joint retainer assembly - 130 Nm

[riceburner]

Sorry to hear about the incident!

I'd get it to a BMW shop to have it assessed by someone who knows the bikes.

I've done a 25mph impact that's written the bike off before now (well - 2 actually!) they're not that hardy tbh at the front. The wishbone/crankcase mounts act like a "crumple zone" and absorb the majority of the impact (by breaking).

[Rockster1150]

Mikecam, your envisaging is spot on. I ride this road daily, a big weekend and the usual blazay of riding to work would point towards the lack of concentration. Something we all know we should avoid if one chooses a lifestyle of riding as we do. 22years riding on the road daily and I was certain I'd never hit a car, well I did.
If the car had continued at the speed it were traversing the intersection I would have passed behind. But no she stopped directly in my path.

The brakes, well I don't take ABS for granted, and I am well practised in right braking technique, particularly as I used to instruct and hand out licences in a previous life.
Well the road was wet, and they only gave me so much pressure. My lever was hard in to the hard bit, like you can feel when the engine is off.
No there was no pulsating, just a lever about two thirds in and wouldn't go any further. I was along for the ride. I would have stopped with normal brakes I reckon.

I was pretty much saying under my breathe, "no, don't stop, don't stop" I don't believe I had the the time to actually release and change direction, particularly as I had not given myself much chance of an escape route anyway.
Whether the road was greasy at the point that I applied the brakes who knows, it is an intersection anyway and as we know this is where the oil is. Maybe this is why the ABS kicked in. If so then they did their job, if the grip was good I am unsure if I like the control being taken away from me. Either way I don't wish to test this situation again.

As for the hit, I aimed for the rear door and just slightly off square. I think this minimised the damage, and allowed me to smack my bodies right side into the drivers door and not over the roof. Uninjured except for some stretched muscles on the other side.

Thanks for the tips and tolerances, I am constantly going over the bike. Yep, I had a mate help me yesterday. With a measure we checked lots. All we can find is the bars bent, the right side rear telelever mount just fractionally mounted rearward. As the right side is very much square with the engine moulding of the mounted position.

I do wonder about every so often both wheels being grounded whilst on the centrestand. I have checked several times all suspension and lever mounts and found nothing yet. The bike rides the same, it actually feels really good.
My concerns lay with damage, weakness' as you say. I will seek professional advice later in the week, I don't believe I could have gotten so lightly out of it.
Much appreciation fella's.

[frostbyteva]

I T-Boned a Kia Sportage, not my fault, with my R1200RT (6 months old). I suspect that I hit her at 25-30 mph. Ended up breaking a fork, damaged many plastic parts, and I expect bent the teleleaver (amongst many other things not visable to the naked eye). $17,000 to fix it. Needless to say, it was 'totaled' even though the cop estimated damages at $3500. LOL

As such, I now have a R1150R Rockster, with the knowledge that a front end collision will likely total the bike. Perhaps that's why insurance is so expensive

[Rockster1150]

Last night I got another set of eyes and did another effort at straightening, and yes it is bloody well straight. Still for myself I will stringline it in the morning just for good measure.

Visited the dealer this arvo, he was quite impressed upon how straight I got it. Was not concerned at all on any structual parts requiring replacement. He reckoned the 1st thing to bend would have been the forks at the stauchens.

Prices for parts (not all required at present if at all)
Bars 32717666544 $AU457.24
Carrier (headlight/Dash Mount) 46637672692 $AU283.04
Indicator Tube Bracket 63232306484 $AU24.28
Indicator (the flashing bit) 46627670526 $AU100.99

I need the bars, but not at that price.
Luckily the manager agreed and checked "shed". He found some 2nd hand ones and we agreed at $310 fitted next Friday! WooHoo!
I will try and repair the other stuff, or replace it later.

I am a happy man, who has regained his observation skills at all side streets and intersections.