Bike knocked off side stand.

[tommygun]

So It looks like some scrote(s) reversed into my GSA today knocking it over away from the side stand. The Oxford cover was on but it looks like the cylinder head cover took the brunt of the impact. Mirror was swivelled in and it looked like that was it. Upon further investigation it looks like the screen frame is bent as well, and not sure if the right hand cylinder is now sticking back a bit more than the left or if it's always like that . I know the cylinder covers are there to protect the casing, but is it possible the force of the impact ma have moved the cylinder itself? Is there any other possible damage I should be looking for from a shunt like that?

The culprit did not leave any details and I suspect there were two men needed to pick the bike back up. It's a quiet street and there was a transit van there this morning. Do I inform my insurance or have it looked at first? Is it serious enough to report to the police?

Thanking in advance

 

[araspitfire]

Cylinders are designed offset...

Al...

 

[The smudger]

So It looks like some scrote(s) reversed into my GSA today knocking it over away from the side stand. The Oxford cover was on but it looks like the cylinder head cover took the brunt of the impact. Mirror was swivelled in and it looked like that was it. Upon further investigation it looks like the screen frame is bent as well, and not sure if the right hand cylinder is now sticking back a bit more than the left or if it's always like that . I know the cylinder covers are there to protect the casing, but is it possible the force of the impact ma have moved the cylinder itself? Is there any other possible damage I should be looking for from a shunt like that?

The culprit did not leave any details and I suspect there were two men needed to pick the bike back up. It's a quiet street and there was a transit van there this morning. Do I inform my insurance or have it looked at first? Is it serious enough to report to the police?

Thanking in advance

Definately report it to the police, they take a very dim view on people leaving the scene of an accident..... Any CCTV camera;s nearby???

Also phone insurance Co and let them know. You will need to get an ins quote, I would say its impossible for a cylinder to 'move back'. I saw a boxer twin with a cylinder 'smashed off' once, bent con rod & all, fella had a low side on a sweeping bend, bike slid along the road on one of the head covers and the head hit the kerb!!!!!

 

[Blackal]

Turn the bars away from the ground, cup your hands, bend your knees, and heave the bike up with your hands under the upturned bar-end.

One-man job (as long as not lying downhill)

(good question about the cylinders...... )

Al

 

[Davey B]

My 1150 was knocked over by a Green Goddess during the fire strike ! It scratched it a bit but sod all else, didn't need to do anything at it.
I wouldn't tell the Insurance, it will cost you
I wouldn't tell the Police, they will not be able to do a thing about it and will probably just send you away with the scantest of details.


Choose whichever post suits you best...they'll all be at odds with each other.

 

[tommygun]

Turn the bars away from the ground, cup your hands, bend your knees, and heave the bike up with your hands under the upturned bar-end.

One-man job (as long as not lying downhill)

(good question about the cylinders...... )

Al

That's a fair statement. Bars were locked away from ground, the Oxford rain cover was locked on making it tricky to grab a hold of anything, and on a slight incline. The mirror also managed to knock the headlight in on the neighbours gti mk1. Unless you've picked up a GSA before on your own, it's a two man job.

 

[Blobby]

Turn the bars away from the ground, cup your hands, bend your knees, and heave the bike up with your hands under the upturned bar-end.

One-man job (as long as not lying downhill)

(good question about the cylinders...... )

Al

I find this technique v hard and much prefer, sit on side of seat, one hand on lowest bar grip, other hand on rear passenger grab rail. Keep back straight and just straighten legs. Job done. Best to put bike in 1st gear so it doesn't roll away and if lifting it off its right hand side, put the side stand out before you lift so it's ready to lean it on to.

 

[rodders]

My thought is that it is better they picked it up than just leaving it on the floor.

Still shit it was knocked over.

 

[Pukmeister]

Would you inform your insurers if you dropped the bike whilst offroading??

 

[tommygun]

Dunno. Would you?

Small difference between dropping your own bike off road and 'failing to stop/report an accident'.

If anything good is to come of this, then it's to remember to keep a cover on the bike as it seems to have prevented actual breaking of plastics and glass, and left bent frames.

 

[Dazlove]

Same happened to me some years ago.
Went to pull away and realised I had no front brake, the pipe was broken and pumping fluid out.
It was only then, on closer inspection, that I realised it had been knocked over ie scraped handlebar end, top box dented etc.
It cost me a fair amount to get repaired, which on hindsight may have been better to have gone the insurance route.

Dazlove

 

[Bobbin-Man]

If you tell the insurers your premium will most likely go up next year because you'll be perceived to be a greater risk, ie. you parked it somewhere that it was able to get knocked over. I kid not. Discovered the hard way years ago when I had a car nicked from a pub car park ... now classed in the risk group that goes to the pub and leaves the car unattended making it more likely to result in a theft than if I'd left it at home

 

[Bendy toy]

Tell police if only to get a crime number.

Work out sensible repair costs and call insurance if it's too much to pay yourself.

Engine is built with offset cylinders it's a boxer so can't be done any other way

 

[Sooty09]

If you have your suspension set high, accidently leave the bike in neutral and pointing ever so slightly down hill it will very easily fall of the crap side stand. The person who nudged it may not have realised.
It happened to me recently, I think it was a passer by on foot who caused the problem.
Really in this case it was my fault for failing to leave it in gear and not taking care of the way it was parked. Its also a BMW fault as far as I am concerned, the stand should be a bit longer and project a bit more in front of its pivot point. Its got a cameltoe plate under it now, this helps a bit but more care on my part is required.

Im not suggesting this was the case in Tommyguns incident but something for others to be aware of.

 

[Bendy toy]

When using side side stand on any bike alway park facing up hill. The 12GS has a side stand at least 25mm too short but for some reason that is the convention for off road bikes. I have no idea why BMW or anyone else thinks this is a good idea.

Far more useful would be sides stands on both sides of the bike so it does not have to lean. Unfortunately bike makers and many riders are very narrow minded. Some things are so set in stone nobody knows why they are as they are.

 

[Pukmeister]

I wouldn't inform my insurers if/when I dropped it, which is what I was implying in my flippant comment, no piss taking intended. You seem to have got lucky with the limited damage which is similar to that which occurs offroad in a drop.

If you inform your insurers and make a claim it will increase your premiums which is probably not worth it. The screen frame can probably be tweaked back into shape. I threw my previous GS up the road at about 35mph on diesel/rain, they crash pretty good.

A pity they knocked it over and it isn't your fault. I doubt plod will be interested other than giving you a crime number.

 

[birdseye]

Do I inform my insurance or have it looked at first?

have it looked at and then carefully work out the cost of the two options. I would be surprised if it paid to claim off insurance

Is it serious enough to report to the police?

Dont bother. They arent interested in property damage unless its deliberate. I'm not even sure that an offence has been created as opposed to a simple accident. No way will they put any resources into investigating something they will regard as trivial.

 

[Alan R]

Engine is built with offset cylinders it's a boxer so can't be done any other way

Not true, it could be done, a boxer could be likened to a 180 degree (flat) vee twin. HD's cylinders are not off set due to one of the conrods being forked at the crank shaft end.
Alan R

 

[Pukmeister]

Fork and blade conrods also used on many large Diesel engines with banks of opposing cylinders. Makes overhaul a real PITA.

 

[Whele]

TBH Police a FAU in these situations.

A couple of years ago my wifes Yamaha got knocked over in the same way. A witness took the registration number and also reported it to the Police by telephone. When my wife returned later in the evening the witness came forward.

Fast forward 18 months, more than 20 phone calls, 5 letters and two visits to the Police station and the matter has come down to his denial against a witness statement. The matter was thrown out and cost her the NCB for the trouble.

The only person comming out of this with a smile was the solicitor who collected 14months of fees from the insurance company.