1st Blur wreck?

Rippinyarn · Post by **Rippinyarn** » Thu Sep 16, 2010 2:14 pm

I got hit coming home from my job in Detroit last night on the Blur. A lady with two kids in the car drove right the hell into the front of my scoot as I was stopped at the "T" intersection of Oakland and Clay. As I was sitting at the red light, she was making a left turn (from Clay on my right) and "cut the corner" to pass (in the turn!) a white van that was moving too slowly for her taste.
She saw me late and I think moved slightly to her right, and that probably saved me. I didn't have time to do anything except look at her heading towards me. I was thinking "Hey lady!" when she hit me with the left front of her Fusion and it was a pretty big bang. The hit spun me around, shattered the fender, cracked the front plastic and tweaked the fork, it seems. The bike never went down, but I had to catch it on the way. No apparent injuries except for a sore upper left leg (handlebar?) Her fault, but I'll be missing some prime Blur scooting weather for who knows how long. I wasn't seriously hurt, and she had insurance, thank you Jesus. Detroit cops, to their credit, were there within about 10 minutes, and had the report available within 40. I just got off the phone with the insurance, and I made them aware that I will be an absolute bastard about the repair, especially the fork, that it must go to a professional motorcycle shop to be evaluated, that it was essentially brand new, and that the bike is technically sold out across the US.

I'd ask for you to wish me luck, but I think that I was already pretty lucky in this one. It was my first wreck after almost five years of scooting, probably 13,000 miles accident free...

illnoise · Post by **illnoise** » Thu Sep 16, 2010 2:37 pm

Glad to hear you're OK.

It can (and does) happen to the best of us.

We've had two cars totalled in the last two years, and we've had to hire attorneys for both, and there's been virtually no progress in either case, so I hope yours goes more smoothly than that. Fight for a new bike, don't worry about availability, there will be plenty around by the time you finally get your money, I bet. (Also, God help you if you have Allstate, I can't wait until this is all over so we can boot them, the agencies we're fighting against have been easier to work with than our own)

When my Blur was stolen, the insurance company (Progressive) was great about it, hopefully yours is, too.

BeachBuzz · Post by **BeachBuzz** » Thu Sep 16, 2010 2:38 pm

that sux

good luck getting the Blur back on the road, at least you have a back-up!

Wheelz · Post by **Wheelz** » Thu Sep 16, 2010 3:30 pm

Ouch poor blur, and you Rippin.
Like, Buzz said @ least ya got another scoot to ride in the meantime, I hope all goes well with the replacement(s).

Rippinyarn · Post by **Rippinyarn** » Thu Sep 16, 2010 5:11 pm

Thanks guys - updated story (with pics) here:
http://www.examiner.com/scooter-in-detr ... r-accident

Mikie M. · Post by **Mikie M.** » Fri Sep 17, 2010 11:56 pm

I'm glad you're okay.

jasondavis48108 · Post by **jasondavis48108** » Sat Sep 18, 2010 2:23 am

Glad to hear your o.k. Hope the insurance company doesn't give you any grief about the repairs. Hopeflly you'll be back on the road before the first snowfall.

Rippinyarn · Post by **Rippinyarn** » Sat Sep 18, 2010 2:11 pm

They towed it away yesterday - a sad sight. I got a call from the shop and they are already boning up on parts and asking Genuine about availability. They will assess the damage next week and then meet up with the insurance adjuster for the repair/replace determination. I do think that the forks/axle will need replacing (plus the fender and nose/light plastics) plus perhaps the wheel/brake as well. At some point (with the labor), it might get close... we'll see.

Thanks for the best wishes everybody. I keep replaying it in my head and I still can't believe it happened.

Post by **ericalm** » Sat Sep 18, 2010 3:09 pm

Wow, so sorry to hear about this but glad you're okay.

A wreck like that can easily twist the frame. Beware ignorant insurance adjusters.

Lostmycage · Post by **Lostmycage** » Sat Sep 18, 2010 4:20 pm

Glad you came out alright. Keep us posted. If anything doesn't feel right, press for her insurance to make it right.

gearhead · Post by **gearhead** » Wed Sep 22, 2010 10:01 am

glad you are ok man! hopefully everything works out with the repairs!

Rippinyarn · Post by **Rippinyarn** » Wed Sep 22, 2010 1:13 pm

My man JD is on the case over at Scoot Around Town in Ypsilanti. So far he's verified that the fork is indeed bent. He'll know more today when he tears into it. I'm hoping for good news.

gearhead · Post by **gearhead** » Sat Sep 25, 2010 1:32 am

how are the rims? are they bent?

Rippinyarn · Post by **Rippinyarn** » Sat Sep 25, 2010 4:38 pm

The front rim is slightly bent, apparently, so yes, he going to replace that. He's going to replace the brake disc as well. Also the fork, axle, bearings, front plastics, headlamp, fender and a few other small items. The insurance estimator is going to visit him sometime next week and then hopefully, he can get to ordering the parts from Genuine. I'm hoping for a rapid recovery!

The current estimate is just under $1200 for parts and labor. Don't get hit, because it's scary as hell and expensive too (for the other person's insurance). I just miss my Blur...

jasondavis48108 · Post by **jasondavis48108** » Sun Sep 26, 2010 12:21 am

Rippinyarn wrote:My man JD is on the case over at Scoot Around Town in Ypsilanti. So far he's verified that the fork is indeed bent. He'll know more today when he tears into it. I'm hoping for good news.

Did you originally purchase the scoot from Scoot Around Town? I love that shop so much, those folks are the best! I'm sure they will have you back on the road ASAP

Rippinyarn · Post by **Rippinyarn** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 1:11 am

I got it from Blackbeard Powersports, as they are only a few miles from me and are a new Genuine dealer, so they needed a little boost. SAT is my favorite scooter shop, if only they were a little closer to Royal Oak!

We are riding out there next Saturday (about a 60 mile RT), and it's always a good time. SAT and burgers from Roy's Squeeze In!

jasondavis48108 · Post by **jasondavis48108** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 1:35 pm

right on, Scoot Around Town is very close to me so I guess I'm lucky to have an excellent shop so close to home. Now what is this Roy's Squeeze In you speak of, is it near Royal Oak or is it in my neck of the woods and I've just never heard of it before

Rippinyarn · Post by **Rippinyarn** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 3:12 pm

It's right down the street from SAT. It's an old school burger joint that has been there forever. Perhaps not the greatest burgers in the world, but damn good and combined with the sort of run-down-Ypsi-outskirts feeling, it's very good indeed. I can't wait for both a decent burger and to see the progress on the bent Blur.

Rippinyarn · Post by **Rippinyarn** » Sat Oct 16, 2010 12:52 pm

I got note late yesterday from JD at Scoot Around Town - the Blur is ready! I'm heading out there with a buddy today to give it the old once over, the hairy eyeball and a thorough test ride to insure that it really is "ready".

One month and one day later, I gotta tell you it feels like getting a new scoot all over again.

jasondavis48108 · Post by **jasondavis48108** » Sat Oct 16, 2010 12:59 pm

Glad to hear that Blur is back in bussiness.

Rippinyarn · Post by **Rippinyarn** » Sat Oct 16, 2010 7:59 pm

Had an awesome 37 mile ride back from the shop and the Blur has never felt better. Even more, they gave me back the parts they replaced, so I'm already thinking of some repair and some paint on the nose.
I just rode over to the Veledrome in Detroit for the www.Thunderdrome.com moped racing event and that was very, very cool. It felt great to haul a little butt on the way home too

jasondavis48108 · Post by **jasondavis48108** » Sun Oct 17, 2010 2:27 am

Rippinyarn wrote:Had an awesome 37 mile ride back from the shop and the Blur has never felt better. Even more, they gave me back the parts they replaced, so I'm already thinking of some repair and some paint on the nose.
I just rode over to the Veledrome in Detroit for the www.Thunderdrome.com moped racing event and that was very, very cool. It felt great to haul a little butt on the way home too

How on earth did I miss the fact that they had a scooter race within driving distance of my house

I'm just glad to hear that sort of thing happening around these parts.

Rippinyarn · Post by **Rippinyarn** » Sun Oct 17, 2010 1:00 pm

They are apparently going to have many more events there next year, so stay tuned. It was actually very cool - I saw a few bike races and the "pit bike" and moped races. It was basically hipster central... but a good crowd, having fun. I sadly missed the after party in Ferndale, but I bet that it was a hoot. I was busy tearing up the streets on my renewed Blur.