First accident: Going to need some parts, guys.

Classic:
People change to tapered rollers on the steering head because they can't be assed chasing those pesky balls all over the shop! Yep if you want to run the balls, that's fine. Tapered are a better product, but the balls are certainly adequate. (same with the swing arm bushes, nothing wrong with plastic, just when they are 30 years old & flogged, easier to make bronze replacements).

Pamcopete has a great how to somewhere on checking the triple trees for alignment.

I've been looking for things that can come up after a wreck and found some of pamco's posts on the triple trees. I'll check mine in the morning. I'll definitely be switching to bronze swing arm bushings from TCBros for $30. They are the only part needed for the conversion, correct?

Glad your ok man.

Yeah, bushes are all you need, as long as your pivot bolt is ok.
Some pivot bolts are reduced at the thread, and this is the weakest point, many have failed in the past.
Mikes replacement is constant diameter and is much stronger.
The worst part about the originals, is they look fine. The most critical time for them I suspect, is when you tighten them for the last time. I believe that is what sets the breaking motion in motion! So consider adding that to your list,

Wait...wait...what's all this talk about parts and stuff? This was an accident, so let's get to the important thing....

GET A LAWYER

Do not try to settle this thing with the other guys insurance company yourself. Remember, when the other guys insurance adjuster calls, HE HAS 65 LAWYERS ADVISING HIM! You don't stand a chance.

I had a similar accident. Lady in an SUV talking on her cell phone. I slid down the road with the bike on my legs. Mostly just road rash and severe lacerations and both big toe nails broken. (Hey...don't laugh. It takes two years for the big toe nail to grow back... . Fortunately, you can do both at the same time! )

I called a lawyer. It's amazing the things that the lawyer comes up with that you would never think of. I got my bike repaired. Paid all my medical expenses. The lawyer got $6,000 and I got $10,000 cash, which is not taxable. The wife and I flew off to Italy .

If you want to fix the bike yourself, estimate the amount of time you need and get the insurance company to pay you at $40 / hr. I did that. Estimated 20 hrs @ $40 and got $800 in addition to the settlement.

As for parts, your triple trees are probably bent. Very hard to see. This is what mine looked like:



Very hard to see with the naked eye. Clamp the triple to the workbench on top of a flat piece of metal strip. Note the twist evident on the left side.

Do not let them total your bike! You will not get what it is worth to you. I told my lawyer I did not want it totaled and he did his magic. The trick is to not have your estimate too high. Quote used parts wherever possible.

Next time you have an encounter like this, aim for the rear door if it is a four door car. I did that years ago in yet another left turn accident because I suddenly remembered that Ralph Nader did not install I-beams in the rear doors. I let go of the brake and jerked the front wheel up to avoid the cars frame. Collapsed the rear door of the car but did not damage my '78/E which kept going for another 12 years. But, I still collected for new forks! I could not do this trick with the SUV because I was going too fast and the doors were too high off the ground, so I had to put the bike down. Fortunately, I caught a piece of the SUV as I went by her front, otherwise she would have left the scene and I would not have gotten to see Italy!

Additional notes:

1. Do not ride your bike home after an accident. Have it towed to a garage. Get a receipt. Some insurance adjusters will claim that you substituted broken parts when you got home. Leave it at the garage until the adjuster has seen it. Remember the 65 lawyers on his side .
2. Call an ambulance while still laying on the pavement. Do not get up and run around. Go to the ER. You have to have a medical evaluation to collect the insurance for your injuries. Remember the 65 lawyers on the adjusters side.

Ride. Enjoy. Life is simple!

Great advice Pete,

Glad you're still young and bouncy Classic.

What really bugs me is how lax driving laws are. Recently in RI, some lady just got serious time for running a red light and killing a motorcyclist a year and a half ago. Turns out she had 35 moving violations PRIOR to the accident. How does that happen? How does someone like that keep their DL?

Here's an article I found:
http://www.thewesterlysun.com/news/article_8f8f1278-6353-11df-bdd0-001cc4c03286.html

26 y/o with 31 violations, in the past 10 years....

twinsarehot,

Well, I have often said that driving in America is a right, not a privilege. People always correct me and quote chapter and verse from the DMV that defines driving as a privilege, but my point is, there aren't many politicians who would pass laws with teeth in them to keep dangerous drivers off the road. Drunk driving is an example.

Just got around to checking the triple trees. Top one appears to be alright. The bottom one when clamped to a flat surface is atleast a half inch out of wack and the clamp for the fork was almost completely ripped off.

pamcopete said:

It's amazing the things that the lawyer comes up with that you would never think of. I got my bike repaired. Paid all my medical expenses. The lawyer got $6,000 and I got $10,000 cash, which is not taxable. The wife and I flew off to Italy .

Click to expand...

They do. That seems to me to be the essence of lawyering and also police work.

What was the $16,000 for, out of curiosity?

When I see a potential left turner I will cover my front brake and start slowing until I'm convinced they've seen me. I sometimes change my position in the lane, to the right, to give them more time to see me. Remembering that moving to the right may make you less obvious to somebody ready to turn right in front of you lol. I will also make a weave sometimes to get their attention. And my headlight is on. And my helmet is white. A lot of you guys are more experienced riders than I, but that's what I do.

I let off the gas as soon as i saw him creeping forward. Unfortunately the car had a standard transmission and he didn't know how to drive it properly. I think maybe he was concentrating too hard on his gauges and not on traffic. He also had a huge television in his passenger seat that obstructed his view almost completely.

Glad your ok bro

Glad you're ok. The bike can be repaired. Tell me, what protective gear were you wearing? I always wear my full face, gloves and I have armored jacket and pants but when it gets hot...well I just don't wear the jacket or pants as often. Looks like some knee armor would have helped?

I was wearing my helmet, hide jacket, jeans, and street shoes. My helmet never touched the ground.

Hey I got a complete fork set up just put a gsxr on a 79 you can have it for the shipping if you want

Glad your o.k. man, weather sure has been nice around here lately.

Ya, it's been great.

Thanks a bunch, Cliff. Private message me the quote for shipping and I'll let you know. How was the gsxr conversion?

Wow glad you made it out without serious injury! All cars have reinforced doors nowadays so the " aim for the rear door" thing is outdated.
I have a set of 35mm legs that need seals but are straight if you need them, just pay shipping. The fender mounts have been shaved off though.
edit: looks like you already have a front end figured out

Thanks. I aimed for..... not head on. Haha
I'm not sure what I need yet. Tomorrow I'll hopefully be picking up the whole lot from a local XS rider.

My bet is the frame/neck is fine. I agree with everyone else....have the other guy buy you new forks, wheel, triple, um.....tire...anyone else got any ideas?