C14 Rashed.....Rasafrippingcrapshit!

[Thundergod]

So angry at myself - Pulling away from dropping off letters in a mailbox in a grocery store parking lot - I had to pull forward and around a large construction fence with blinds (the kind they weave in between the wire in a fence) -- pulling around and looking through the corner I see some construction guys further down the road-- and I notice they have closed the road, so I start to slow down to turn around. As I reach for the break to turn around something catches my eye- Its a red "caution tape" coming over my windshield near my neck. They had it hung very low - and I was simply looking beyond it through the corner  -  Well as I recognize a stretched object coming up over my windshield towards my neck - Reflex kicks in an I squeeze the breaks thinking I was going to get clotheslined.  Front tire locks and folds....at 15mph!!  

No construction cones across the road-- (until after I left- then they put three cones across the road)

So now the right side of my bike is rashed ($500+) , and the right front mirror is broken off ($128), A small scratch on the bazooka.

First time I've been on the pavement in over 25 years......
 

Im perfectly fine...ATGATT did its job. Without it my elbow and hands would have rashed - I took a hit on my hip - no bruise just sore.

[Tyrroneous]

That sucks.        Glad you're okay though.  

I thought the Connie's had ABS?  

[SuperHans]

Both you and the bike have a little character now.

[Justin]

Yuck - Plastics are expensive! But at least they can be fixed

[stevent]

I hate those little penny-ante tip overs that cost a fortune to repair. Glad you're OK at least, even a low speed thump on the noggin can cause you all kinds of problems.

 

[HipGnosis]

I'm not a lawyer (in fact I can't stand em) but...  that sure sounds like a case for small claims court.  Run back ASAP and take LOTs of pics.  Then take lots of pics of the bike and your gear.
Then you have time to decide what course of action to take.

Oh yea, glad your gear worked and you're okay.

[Cablebandit]

I'm not a lawyer (in fact I can't stand em) but...  that sure sounds like a case for small claims court.  Run back ASAP and take LOTs of pics.  Then take lots of pics of the bike and your gear.
Then you have time to decide what course of action to take.

Oh yea, glad your gear worked and you're okay.

   

[chesthing]

If you went down at 15mph, you did a lot more than $500/damage - that's the bad news. The good news is that this is the only incident in 25 years of riding - I'd say you are shooting way under par, don't beat yourself up for a second.

[wibornz]

The stock muffler is 1077.00 dollars.  Time for a Two Brothers slip on.

[Justin]

The stock muffler is 1077.00 dollars.  Time for a Two Brothers slip on.

+1 - they sound wicked on the c-14's as well - good excuse for the upgrade lol

[Spanky]

If you went down at 15mph, you did a lot more than $500/damage - that's the bad news. The good news is that this is the only incident in 25 years of riding - I'd say you are shooting way under par, don't beat yourself up for a second.

Well said!

[mmdrake]

We have all been there , Done THat,  fixed it.

[tjhess74]

couple of thoughts here...most have been expressed.

1. a low speed get off on a c14 is more than $500.  

2. its bound to happen sooner or later.

3. glad youre ok and the bike is rideable.

4. the construction company may have some liability, although its hard to tell just from your words.  there are federal guidelines for construction companies on how to do road/lane closures.  if that was indeed the problem, then you may have some recourse.

do take lots of pics, that protects you and the insurance company may also attempt payment from the construction folks.  

[JamminJere]

Well...that does suck!  

 Sorry to hear about your getoff...if you decide on not upgrading your exhaust... I have a pristine stocker hanging in the shed that I would be willing to help a fellow C14 owner and ST.Ner with for just a little more than shipping to your door. A PM would be necessary  

JJ

[Andrew]

Well...that does suck!  

 Sorry to hear about you getoff...if you decide on not upgrading your exhaust... I have a pristine stocker hanging in the shed that I would be willing to help a fellow C14 owner and ST.Ner with for just a little more than shipping to your door. A PM would be necessary  

JJ

Thats the coolest

[kevin_stevens]

Well...that does suck!  

 Sorry to hear about you getoff...if you decide on not upgrading your exhaust... I have a pristine stocker hanging in the shed that I would be willing to help a fellow C14 owner and ST.Ner with for just a little more than shipping to your door. A PM would be necessary  

JJ

Very unclear on this definition of replacing a high quality, expensive OEM part with a cheaply made, noisy, cheap aftermarket part as "upgrading".  

KeS

[chesthing]

I'd leave the exhaust alone. How freakin anal does one have to be to replace a muffler because of "one small scratch"?
The obvious and gruesome I'd deal with, life's way too short to obsess over the little shit noone sees but you.

[Thundergod]

Im not even going to sue or even bother looking into it....its my dumbass mistake, no lawsuits.

Here is the ugly damage, other than the broken off mirror housing, clean break - very crisp...possibly worth looking into a ABS welder - but most likely will have to buy a new mirror housing.

[stevent]

I'd just see if I could get a shop to sand and repaint the fairing panel and live with the exhaust if it was my bike...      

[chesthing]

That's a bit more than a small scratch on the muffler, more like minor rash. What happen when you take those bolts out, can you spin it and reinstall the bolts with the rash pointing inward? If not I'd leave it alone unless I found a cheap replacement like jere's offering.
The problem with having a shop repaint the fairings is silver can be really hard to match. If it's off by just a little (which it probably will be) I think I'd rather have the rash. The type of shop that will match the paint perfect is likely to be as expensive as new fairings. What happened to the bag? if it was on it had to have been rashed. Have you priced new fairings from Kaw? I'd probably just bite the bullet, or wait if cash is tight.
Keep in mind you got this bike 2 grand under book, you're still way ahead.

[cbsnbiker]

The stock muffler is 1077.00 dollars.  Time for a Two Brothers slip on.

Better yet, a cheap stock take-off from someone who upgraded to the Two Brothers.

[cbsnbiker]

That sucks.        Glad you're okay though.  

I thought the Connie's had ABS?  

ABS works in a straight line. It may or may not work when leaned over, as he was -- assuming his bike is so equipped.

[davemeister]

Time to repaint RED

Glad to hear your not seriously hurt. Good lesson for always wearing all the gear.

[bonnieboomer]

How did you pick the bike up? The one time I dropped mine [now sold], it was in my shop right under a hoist. Out on the road, if dropped it would have needed a helper or so to pick it up.

bb

[Major 662]

How did you pick the bike up? The one time I dropped mine [now sold], it was in my shop right under a hoist. Out on the road, if dropped it would have needed a helper or so to pick it up.

Put your back to the bike, butt on the front/middle of the seat if possible, grab a handle bar and something hard under seat and do a leg press.  If you Google "how to pick up a motorcycle", there are a bunch of YouTube videos and how-to explanations with videos.  Just don't push it over to the other side.  

I dropped my Ducati at a gas station in the middle of eastern Oregon and this big ol' rancher dude picked it up like it was no big thing.  No proper lifting technique or anything.  He probably figured that, unlike a calf, the bike wasn't fighting back.

[cbsnbiker]

Put your back to the bike, butt on the front/middle of the seat if possible, grab a handle bar and something hard under seat and do a leg press.  If you Google "how to pick up a motorcycle", there are a bunch of YouTube videos and how-to explanations with videos.  Just don't push it over to the other side.  

I dropped my Ducati at a gas station in the middle of eastern Oregon and this big ol' rancher dude picked it up like it was no big thing.  No proper lifting technique or anything.  He probably figured that, unlike a calf, the bike wasn't fighting back.

I actually have watched a bike fight back.

I've seen many people drop bikes on my MSF ranges over the years. Sometimes the bike will still be running and in gear when it's on its side. Occasionally a student will try to pick it up in this condition. I invariably yell (about the only time I ever yell in a course) for them to leave the bike alone. On a few occasions they have picked it up anyway, for whatever reason. Then the bike launches itself.  

It is possible for even a petite rider to pick up even a heavy bike using the leg press technique in routine conditions.

[Thundergod]

Luckily the bags were removed right before I left the house that morning - so they survived without damage.

Picking up the bike? I didn't even think about how heavy it was -  squat, tilt/roll until tires touch - recenter under tank - push up and away with legs-never lift (no one can bicep curl 700lbs)
Of course Im sure my workout 24 reps of 300lbs Squats have helped in that matter.

Ive thought about getting a new exhaust - 2 Bros, or V&H CS1 - but Denver-downtown has a nasty little fine for "aftermarket not EPA muffers" - specifically on motorcycles - its a hefty fine until you replace with the OEM/EPA stamped muffler.  (thanks a lot straight pipe harleys!!)

Ive thought about repainting.....possibly my favorite color - Deep Eggplant Violet-Candy coat
something like this...

[Cablebandit]

One reason my bags never come off.  They make a nice crashbar.  You would have probably ended up with a couple scratches on the bottom of the bag that would not be visible without REALLY looking for them, and a rashed mirror.

[JamesG]

I like the patina, you should drop it on the other side at about the same speed to even out the look.  

Just kidding.

Drops happen. I'm so clumsy, I had to get a bike that crashes well.

[M.Brane]

 Good thing it wasn't the GTS. You know what it's like trying to find bodywork for those especially turn signals which are the first casualty in a drop.

[Jet Jock]

The stock muffler is 1077.00 dollars.  Time for a Two Brothers slip on.

Except there's a few thousand of them sitting on garage shelves right this very instant looking for a new home, courtesy of all the 2Bros cans that have been sold. Put up a request to buy one and you'll probably get one cheap. But a 2Bros is the way I'd go.

[cultureslayer]

I'd keep on riding and consider it additional theft protection.  

[SuperSlider]

Awww hell, that's nothin'.

[cutback]

pm'd

[Reddog]

Where are you in Colorado?  I'm in Fort Collins and have a stocker pipe after installing a Vance & Hines.  Stop by if you'd like to see and hear the aftermarket pipe.  I'd let you have the stocker for $50 if that's the way you want to go.  
email is best:   tmikemac718atgmaildotcom