Mercedes-1 Ducati-0

I was off early today to meet up with the Pistonheads bikers for a nice ride out from Boxhill to Loomies and then for a run when this happened.

Scenario was this...

I was behind the Merc and he put his washers on...no worries just hung back some. He then put them on again for a prolonged period..again no biggie but as the road turned straight and there where no oncoming vehicles I overtook at 40mph (40 limit) and changed into lane 1 again. The limit changed to 30mph so I gently broke to 30mph only to be met by the Merc literally 10 feet behind me hooting his horn like crazy (he must have sped up when I entered lane 1).

The road had a gentle right hander but I saw that there where chippings/stones on the road and also a damp patch, so I adjusted my road position to just left of the centre lines and allowed the bike to go to 20-25mph as the conditions dictated. I kept the braking gradual from the 40mph zone and was all set for the slight bend when it came. I checked my mirrors as heard the horn on the Merc go again only to see him hit me (well almost looked like he rammed me!)

The bike was hit in the rear on the onside pipes cleanly braking the pipe off with the rear set still attached and bending the pipe where the rear peg had hit before it snapped off. The bike then went down on the right side after I had ridden the initial hit for 10 feet or so and broke again as to take as much sting out of it as I could. I ended up in the gutter on the opposite side of the road with the oncoming traffic luckily stopping.

The driver of the oncoming vehicle had rushed over to see if I was ok and this was the first thing I remember after seeing the Merc in the mirror. I collected myself and rolled to see the Monster looking sorry for itself. I then saw petrol dripping from under the tank (just the carbs emptying) so ran over and lifted the bike up at an angle and wiped away the fuel to make it safe...checked the tank fully to ensure no leaks and put the bike on the side stand. Throughout all of this the Merc driver had got out...stood crossed armed and just looked at the scene..didn't offer help...didn't ask if I was ok or anything!

I removed my lid after doing some self checks on myself and just looked at him saying 'why did you do that!!' His reply was "I'm not saying anything...speak to my solicitor!!" Well this just filled me with warmth!

The whiteness gave me and the Merc driver her details and went on her way..along with the other 10 cars that had formed each way. I asked for the Merc drivers details and he stated "You'll have to wait..I'm late picking my Son up from the station." How I kept my cool was beyond me at this stage but I retorted with "I need your info and you need mine." He carried on walking until I stated that if he got in his car I would pull him out through the screen top get the details..which at this time, and considering his behaviour I felt was a good enough time to lay down some demands.

He only stopped as a cyclist had phoned 999 and the operator had told him to give the details, pick his Son up and return to the scene.

I was checked out by some paramedics and gave my statement to the Police when they arrived. Upon hearing my statement one of the paramedics commented that he thought that it sounded like road rage..and upon looking at it it could quite well have been...but who would ram a motorcyclist in revenge for a lawfull overtake??

Damage is...

Left Rearset snapped off
Left pipe dented and scratched
Swingarm dented
Engine caseing scuffed
Gear shift link snapped
Frame scratches both sides due to impact/landing
Right and Left clutch/brake scratched
Right pipe dented
Brake pedal scuffed
Tank scratched from my being thrown off
Cracked Belly pan
...and I'm sure there is more as this is a surface damage look at things.

Spoke to the whitness to say thank you for her help and she says that she saw me slow down and the Merc ram through me.

Anyhoo I'm home now after great service from Norwich Union...when I eventually got through to the UK!! and the bike is ready for the assessors to take him away and see what's what on Monday. I'm off for a soak as ache a bit


Oh here are the obligatory pics...

Straight where I overtook. Merc was roughtly where the car coming towards is when I overtook him.



Petrol spill and some marks where he eventually went over...



Dented swingarm...



Bike...



Right pipe...



left pipe...



Rearset...




Police took statements but didn't take any pics/measurements so I think him being done for anything are non existant.....I ache a lot as well lol.

Very sorry to hear about this. It's bad, but I'm glad for you that it's not worse.

[Funkatronic]

sorry for you, not a fun encounter at all by the sounds of it

sounds like the merc driver was way out of order and the fact you have a wiling witness who will testify the merc hit you in the back will help no end. The shock and adrenaline pumping after a close call like that that either you explode with fury at the scene or just be very passive and stunned.

Happy to her you not hurt, hope your bike gets back on the road soon

last week saw a guy on a push bike get deliberately rear ended by a twat in an alpha who was hot under the collar cos the cyclist had shouted at him when he almost ran him over accidently!! absolutely vicious and nasty thing to do to a low speed bicyclist, but to rear end a motorbike at 25mph is basically attempted murder imho. Hope he loses his licence

hope you get back in the saddle as soon as you can

Police took no measurements/pics etc. I didn't even get a producer...don't know about the driver so doubt they will be persuing him for anything, just let the insurance sort out the claim

[chris yeatman]

glad ur ok mate, but the bloke in the merc, wot a w##ker

[jerry]

The police are ****ers then for not investigating further ..the Mercedes driver is a public menace.

I must admit though...they where the fittest Policewomen I have ever seen...and I've been on some really dirty sites

Sorry to hear that, but at least you're ok - there are lots of tw*ts on the road. I'm most wary of vehicles behind me and I either get a safe distance away from them, or if conditions dont allow that I pull over and wave them past (letting them know at the same time that I'm not impressed with their driving).

An advanced riding course taught me to make good progress and leave all the tw*t drivers behind you.

I did think that if he persisted after I'd negotiated the bend then I'd just pull over and invite him past using the one hand shuffle motion to signal my displesure...but he didn't let me get that far

I must admit drivers generally aren't quite as aggressive as you've described - I dont think I've ever had a driver tooting his horn at me!

got rammed in a similar scenario last summer by a van, clear example of road rage. Plod came down, took details and everyone was on his way. Took me 4 months to get the money for the part replacement (which I had to pay in advance as I wasn't going to miss summer) but apart from that, nothing, no reprimand, court cases, wrist-slapping or anything.Lucky enough another biker saw everything and witnessed on my side. But as said, no action was taken.

Firstly, you're okay. That is the most important thing.

I'm speechless that plod are not investigating this. The car driver has disregarded basic highway code rules and is actually up for a potential ban for this. His entire attitude in causing damage to your bike and injuring you is disgusting. Being late to pick up his son is absolutely no excuse at all for causing an accident. If you had been hit by a coach for example, new regs in place means the driver is instantly investigated. And - quite rightly too - they would be in sever danger of losing their licence. Why should this halfwit be any different?

It only proves yet again that car licences are held by some utter scum. I used to be against the idea of re-testing on a car driving licence but now I'm very much up for it.

Glad you're ok, but it really makes you wonder about some people. Could you get the police to press charges after all it was basically an assault, if they won't, take it higher, as they would be failing in their duty of care. Alternatively raise it with your insurance company, if you have legal cover you should be able to take action against the driver, your home insurance may also have cover. After all if he does it to you and gets off he may do it again and the next person may not be as skilled in keeping upright. You did really well not hitting him, I think I would have punched his lights out, and I'm the most laid back non violent person there is!

Glad you got back ok Hyper Glad I wasn't coming down the road at the time of the accident, the Merc driver would've been wearing the steering wheel lock for my hairdresser car out of a certain hole.

I hope the insurance gets sorted quickly for you matey