it finally happened...*56k warning*

[what?!]

they say there are two types of riders in this world...those who've gone down and those who WILL go down.

i have finally joined the first group of people.

my house is on a hill and if you were facing the street, the incline goes to the right.  my van is parked on the street to the right of my driveway (facing the street).  so my bike warms up (facing the street) and i'm geared up and ready to go so i look both ways.  my bike warms up to the side of my house on the pathway to the backyard so i have a clear view up the hill up to the bend.  a car's going downhill around the bend (about 300-350 ft up) and a car's coming uphill.  i let them pass and i check again.  clear uphill, but a car's comin from downhill but is quite a way's away.  i check uphill again...clear, so i go.  but when i get to the street, pretty much going straight, a car comes out of nowhere and i sideswipe the left-rear of his car, and go down pretty hard.  my pretty arai helmet hits the road (sorry allan ) and i roll over once...i think.  but all i remember is getting up as quick as i can to turn off my bike which was spewing black smoke.

i'm not sure exactly what happened and how, but his tire was flat and there were some scratches on his trunk and left-rear.  a looks-to-be-somewhat-well-off mexican guy gets out and asks if i need an ambulance.  i say no and muscle my bike over to the curb.  my bike is pretty beat up, but it runs.  it just revs because the bars are bent, pulling the throttle cable.  i assume he was speeding because people tend to speed on my street, especially because of the decline, up to 40-50mph.  also, when i asked him how fast he thought he was going, he immediately replied basically cutting me off (how fitting :rolleyes: ), "it doesn't matter.  YOU hit ME."  that's exactly what he said...i asked him nicely...he just wants money probably...

so he called the cops, i called my mom.  he took a police report and i guess i'll see what happens with insurance...i may be to blame since the evidence shows i hit his left rear, but that could be because he sped past me and swerved a lil.  he said he saw me so he tried to swerve out of the way, but i hit him anyway...

so i went to the hospital via mumther, and i leave with a vicodin and cyclobenzaprin perscription, rash on my knees and a sore right shoulder, a ouching left wrist and a slight headache and sleepyness...i guess i'm ok...i'm just a lil sad for my bike and mad at the guy for not telling me everything 'AS IT HAPPENED'...but i don't blame him.  i wouldn't want to be responsible for a poor college student and his toy...

pics coming...

hl bucket and right signal


front view


side


muffler


tank


right crankcase/clutch cover?


clutch cover? detail-underside


speedo


speedo detail - side


front wheel view from speedometer (above)


front wheel view from speedometer (above, better lit)


3/4 view from front of wheel [mis]alignment


helmet


jacket - front


jacket - rear


so yeah, it could've been worse had he been going faster (than 50mph) and if i had left a second sooner...

oh and i guess the bike will go on sale sometime soon...in its current condition...it's worth around $1500-$1600 kbb retail...any suggestions on how much i should let it go for?  it does run...but i think it needs fork alignment and new bars (duh)...

[annguyen1981]

It hurts just looking at those pics!  I'm glad you're OK

[Bluebellylint]

Glad your OK considering it could have been worse.
Why dont you just fix your bike it doesnt look to damaged?

[Alphamazing]

Glad you're alright! Be glad you're up and about. It could be worse: hospital time is not fun, and hospital bills are far worse.

I say fix the bike up, it isn't that bad. New crankcase cover, bars, and turnsignals and you should be golden. Your forks probably just got rotated. You might need to get them alligned properly, but probably no need for a new set.

[RVertigo]

Those pics kill me!  Although, I'm really glad there are no meat pics in there.  Good for wearing your gear!!!

Just fix it yourself...  You'll get way more for a fully functional bike.

[what?!]

thanks for your support, guys it really means a lot!

i know that it's not as bad as the other crashes i've seen, but a crash is a crash no matter how bad.  mine is nowhere near as bad as the other crashes i've withnessed, but i'm glad i'm still gonna be able to cage it to bikenight haha...so much to experience in 10 or so months of riding...

because of recent events, i'm not gonna be able to ride for a while (under mom's roof still :rolleyes: ) but motorcycling is still in my blood so i'll be up and riding soon...but i think i'll leave sportriding to the track for when i get me an sv650s!  possibly a cruiser for the streets :errf: haha...i think it'll be nice to use both feet at a stop and to cruise with my girl, comfortably...

about the forks...where do i take it to get realigned?  typical bike shop?  dealer??  generally how much does it cost (in socal)...i don't know if i want to hassle with fixing it, since i'll be tempted to ride again.  but by the damage in the pics, how much do you guys think it'll cost all together to fix??

as for meaty pics, just rash on my knees and a splint on my wrist.  nothing too bad...

thanks again!

[Alphamazing]

Getting the forks alligned won't be too difficult, even for you. Loosen up the clamps a tiny bit and grip the tire in between your knees while holding the bars with your hands. Rotate accordingly until the tire alligns with the fender appropriately. Tighten down the clamps, replace all your other parts, and get riding! You can get Bikemaster bars for $20, some new signals for $15 or so, a crankcase contact breaker and sticker for $35 (new!) and you're good. Put some elbow grease into fixing that guage cluster bracket and it'll be good as new. I had to do the same with that bracket when I lowsided back in December. So, $70 in parts, a new helmet, and you're back on the road in no time! Keep riding!

#11 & #13 in this diagram:
http://www.psndealer.com/fiche/images/Suzuki/1989/Motorcycles/2103_5.gif

[what?!]

wow...maybe i'll fix it after all haha.  i do have a question tho...

you know how the bars are bent right?  well, it's pulling the throttle cable so that if i start it, the bike revs...isn't it gonna be flooded the next time i try to start it again??  how do i loosen the throttle cable?  or do i just remove it all together?

oh, which bars do i use?? from a-h? is it g?
http://store.azmusa.com/knclubhanbla.html

[Alphamazing]

wow...maybe i'll fix it after all haha.  i do have a question tho...

you know how the bars are bent right?  well, it's pulling the throttle cable so that if i start it, the bike revs...isn't it gonna be flooded the next time i try to start it again??  how do i loosen the throttle cable?  or do i just remove it all together?

I'd just say take them off at the control side. It's pretty easy, especially with a single cable. Unscrew the plastic housing of the throttle control and get to the throttle sleeve. Twist it until the cable has enough slack in it (just go WOT) and then get the little ball out of the hole by pulling it to the side. Repeat with the other cable if it's a dual-cable model.

Not sure about wether it will be flooded or not, but I doubt it.

[scratch]

It wont flood via the throttle, but you might as well as loosen the cable.  Actually, it looks like in the third picture, that your cable is going to need to be replaced anyway.  That little 'break', or kink, isn't going to give you smooth throttle action.

Glad you survived.

[Bluebellylint]

I got the black superbike bars in that link (E) you could also just pick them up from your local dealer. I think I payed $13 for them.
Good luck fixing your bike.

[Bluebellylint]

Forgot to mention, the bars are slightly more aggressive than stock but not much.

[Cal Amari]

The "E" bars are the Superbike bars; they are lower (less rise than stock) and a slightly longer reach (less pullback than stock), which helps lean you into the wind instead of forcing you to sit upright like the stock bars. They seem to be clones of the old K&N Superbike bars, which were the preferred replacements for the stockers back in the day.

The "F" bars (G. P. Touring model) are very similar to the stock bars; they are designed to make noobs feel comfortable on the GS when they sit on it in the showroom, but that doesn't provide the best riding posture.

The "G" bars (Daytona model) are even higher than the stock bars, with the same pullback as the Superbike bars; I can't imagine anyone being comfortable using them.

BTW, the specs listed on that azmusa.com page for width, rise, and pullback are mostly wrong; for the actual specs of those handlebars, see this link:

CLICK HERE FOR CHART WITH PART NUMBERS

Hope that helps you decide on a replacement; I started using K&N Superbike bars more than twenty years ago to improve the feel and handling of stock Honda and Suzuki motorcycles (never owned a Kawasaki or Yamaha that didn't use clip-ons), and I highly recommend the K&N Superbike clones.

Glad you survived; your gear did what it was designed to do. Heal quickly, and let us know if you need anything to get your GS back on the road.

[Mk1inCali]

Hey man, sorry to see you went down...and for lack of time to go riding.

Still haven't been out to Palomar or Idyllwylde yet, working every freekin weekend...


If you need any help, I've done everything mentioned in this thread, so I'd be happy to roll over after work and help get 'er back straight so you get the right amount when you sell it.

If you don't have my number anymore, PM me and I'll send it to you, otherwise, give me a ring!

[pandy]

Glad you're ok! 

What year is your bike? I see the purple peeking through. 

[chris in va]

Wow, yikes.  Looks like my bike, only a little more severe damage.  I don't care much about cosmetic scratches, if it rides good that's all that matters.  Even my instrument cluster holder is the same as yours, never got around to fixing it.

Soon as you can, get back on and ride.  Don't want to see a bent-up GS for sale on here...

[jnande4176]

Fame sliders work miracles for crankcase covers, plastic, exhaust, etc. I would say that after you repair, you invest in a set of frame sliders to keep your new stuff safe and sound.

[Alphamazing]

They're kinda pricey, but my SW-Motech case guards work like a charm.

My thread about them: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=22851.0