FZ6 gets into accident, rider is OK

[cv_rider]

Glad you're okay, and thanks for the "lessons learned." Maybe it will help us avoid a similar situation.

How fast were you going? How much following time did you have? Of course the minimum is really 2 sec, many people advocated for more, but here in CA, more than 2 sec following will result in you going slower than the flow of traffic as people will continually cut in front of you. Even at 2 sec, I find people tailgating me as they tend to think I'm not keeping up with car in front.

Do you think that accident would have happened had it not been wet? Of course you can lock the wheels on dry pavement too, but certainly it's not as likely. It seems a bit much to ask of a rider, in a panic situation, to calibrate their braking response to the conditions of the road. I'm sure very experienced riders could accomodate that, but many of us would just do whatever our reflexes as formed by habit (mostly on dry roads) tell us to do.

Yesterday I saw someone weaving through 70 mph traffic at about 90mph, as if those moving cars were cones in a parking lot. He'd have been dead had any of those cars needed to brake while he was screaming up behind them. I had this feeling I was going to encountage his wreckage down the road, but I didn't.

 

[D-Mac]

That's not gonna buff out.....it looks totalled to me. That nick on the engine block put it over the edge I think.

Thank you for sharing what happened.

Although I'm very impressed with the brakes on the FZ6, I wish we had ABS in the U.S. I would have paid extra for it.

 

[rsw81]

Damn Pete, another one bites the dust. As mentioned before, this looks like a total due to cost of cosmetic repair, not likely mechanical repair. Prepare for battle with your insurance company over the value of your bike, I had to fight mine to the death this past September of my totaled bike. As Wavex already said, you can probably buy the bike back pretty cheap and do a naked project pretty easily. Just make sure you check out your front end for damage to the forks, stearing head, rim, etc. before you estimate cost of repair. Those can be a bit pricey to replace.

Glad you made it out relatively unscathed.

 

[xj750_Pete]

Glad you're okay, and thanks for the "lessons learned." Maybe it will help us avoid a similar situation.

How fast were you going? How much following time did you have? Of course the minimum is really 2 sec, many people advocated for more, but here in CA, more than 2 sec following will result in you going slower than the flow of traffic as people will continually cut in front of you. Even at 2 sec, I find people tailgating me as they tend to think I'm not keeping up with car in front.

Do you think that accident would have happened had it not been wet? Of course you can lock the wheels on dry pavement too, but certainly it's not as likely. It seems a bit much to ask of a rider, in a panic situation, to calibrate their braking response to the conditions of the road. I'm sure very experienced riders could accomodate that, but many of us would just do whatever our reflexes as formed by habit (mostly on dry roads) tell us to do.

Yesterday I saw someone weaving through 70 mph traffic at about 90mph, as if those moving cars were cones in a parking lot. He'd have been dead had any of those cars needed to brake while he was screaming up behind them. I had this feeling I was going to encountage his wreckage down the road, but I didn't.

I was going approximately 40 MPH. The van was about 2 cars distance away from me, so yes I think I was following too closesly especially in the rain. She slammed on her brakes hard and though I applied my brakes gradually i didn't start skidding until I got very close. If it would have been dry, I think i may have avoided it, but playing the "what if" game won't change what happened. Honestly, I have to admit, when there aren't any cars around, especially on a nice long on ramp, I go a little faster than usual. However, for the most part I'm a casual rider, especially in traffic. This would be my 3rd year of riding and my first crash (Hopefully my last).

BTW, thanks all for the responses! If it will be totalled (I'm guessing it will be from your posts) I may try another motorcycle... possibly an SV650. We'll just have to wait until my butt heals.

 

[VEGASRIDER]

Glad you're okay.

What the heck were you doing riding behind traffic in the rain, you should have been in front of them, remember to avoid the wash! Just kidding...well not really.

The question I have for you is: What lane were you in and what line were you in? If you were riding in the center of the lane, this is one of the reason's why I don't like to. It becomes rather difficult to go around if it's too late to stop. If you favored riding either to the very left or very right of the lane, where the cager's tire tracks are, it will make it a lot easier and more manageable to swerve around no matter how close you are. I personlly have recalled resorting to similar evasive action. If I was riding dead center in the lane, I don't think I would have made it.

Also when you are riding in the rain, you have to make a mental note to yourself that a handful of brake isn't probably going to give you the best result in case corrective actions need to be taken. You always have to keep your options open that swerving or throttling out will be better in the rain.

Thanks for posting, you along with so many members have been so kind to share your unfortunate incidents involving your bike and injuries. It provides all of us great information on how we can avoid similar situations and reminds all of us that it can happen to anyone of us at anytime.

 

[kinderwood]

Glad you're relatively ok! And thanks for sharing your experience/lessons learned. I would just let it be declared a total. If you really want you could buy it back as savlage. With damage that extensive who knows what else could be damaged or comprimised that you don't know about yet. Not having peace of mind, you know?

 

[CHEMIKER]

Damn, sorry about the crash but glad to hear that you're relatively okay.

Thanks a ton for posting this; I have been riding in the rain around here and it's a great reminder to me to ride slow, have an exit, and keep a safe distance.

Heal up quick and hope you are back on two wheels (whether this bike or another) soon.

Travis

 

[mxgolf]

Bummer. Glad you are OK. You will live to ride another day. You can't be too carefull these days. Way to many :squid: in cars, trucks ect. Remember we are invisible and no one can see us. All ways be looking it's your best defense. Anymore I'm not in a hurry at all. I am just enjoying the freedom of riding my FZ6. Hope you heal quickly. :thumbup:

 

[smokenu]

As everyone before me "Glad to hear your ok"!
sorry about the bike. keep us posted on what the insurance company say's.

take care

 

[xj750_Pete]

It took awhile, but the FZ6 was considered totalled due to frame damage and State Farm gave me full KBB value for it with a lil extra which isn't bad conidering I put apprx 7,500 miles on it.

Now I am a Yamaha loyalist and I tried to find a YZF600R or possibly even another FZ6 to try out, but there was this small dealer down my street that had something that caught my eye. It is still RED, but unfortunately it belongs to Team GREEN...

I will post a comparison soon as well. Thank you guys again for all the support.

 

[OZXJR]

Nothing wrong with Kwaka's mate...........I've had 3 of 'em :rockon:

 

[SovietRobot]

I'd buy a ZX before a GSXR. Hope you have fun with that, looks pretty!

 

[staticghost]

Damn...Lots of damage but am glad you are OK. That is the most important thing. Hope everything works out well for you.

 

[Norbert]

Glad you're ok!