Forced off the road

I was going to work this morning when a Ford Ranger forced me off the road. I was in the middle of a left hand turn at about 30 MPH when the Ranger drifted all the way across the line fully into my lane. I braked and swerved to miss him, this put me in to the loose stuff at the edge of the pavement. I thought I had saved it right until the front end washed out and my freshly washed, pristine VFR low sidded and went skidding across the gravel. As I was rolling through the gravel following the bike I looked back and saw the Ranger hauling butt up the road. The SOB didn’t even slow down to see if I was dead or not.

This happened at 5:30 this morning so no witnesses. Someone did stop by a couple of minutes after it happened and offered assistance. I had enough adrenalin in my system to pick the bike up and put it on the center stand. Luckily, I had all my gear on so, other that some road rash on my legs and some bruises I came out ok. Unfortunately, the bike was not as lucky. After I got up the nerve to start the bike back up, it looked OK to ride home (about 3 miles). Getting back on and riding took more guts than I thought it would.

Anyway, the bikes back home and so far I know I’m going to need left side lower cowling and the upper cowl. The shift lever is slightly bent and the left mirror has some scrapes. The left bar end is scrapped but I think the bar is ok. I think everything else is good. I’ll have to pull the cowlings off tonight and look at everything else. The radiator is still good and nothing is leaking.

So I guess my question is where to get new cowlings? Ron Ayers and Service Honda seem to have the most reasonable prices. I have heard of Ron Ayers, has anyone bought anything from Service Honda? They were slightly cheaper and closer for shipping costs.

 

Glad to hear your ok, sorry to hear the bike isn't.

I have seen most of the parts your looking for on ebay in the
past weeks. I know some mirrors and bar ends are on now also
think the clutch lever is on. Unsure of the plastics but I have
seen them on before.

Good luck.

 

ah man, that's horrible!! Glad you're okay, could have been worse.

I've never personally ordered anything from Service Honda, but a couple people I know have and they've been satisfied, for what that's worth.

 

Argh.....that totally sucks...but I'm glad you are ok.
I recently placed an order with Service Honda, and was very satisfied with thier service and the parts I received (all Honda OEM stuff).
I don't know about the '04, but they definitely had the best prices on OEM plastic for my '95. However, like FLYONWALL said, there have been alot of auctions for plastic on EBAY lately so you might want to consider that as an alternative.
Again, sorry for the lousy luck...did you call the police? If nothing else, they can be on the lookout for the guy.

Mike

 

Glad you are ok. SOB in the ranger will get his sonner or later. Maybe you will get lucky and see it again and be able to get a license #. I hope you filed a police report. Of all my searches, Service Honda does seem to have the lowest prices and I have talked to them once on the phone nad they were very helpful to me in determining if a part was available or not.

 

Glad to hear your ok:smile: I have ordered from Ron Ayers before and all went well. I don't know if they are lower than service honda though

 

Thanks for all the kind words. I did file a report with the police. They actually came out to the house with in about 20 minutes, weird. Anyway, got home and looked at the bike in the sunlight (felt a little sick just seeing it). Put it up on the center stand and rotated both tires, everything looks true, no odd noises. Damage looks limited to what I posted previously, keeping my fingers crossed.

One question, my left bar was noticeably closet to the tank than the right. I measured from the top of the triple tree to the tank at full lock and both sides are the same. Steering stops show no damage. So I'm thinking the left bar just got turned back a small amount. I loosened the Allen screws (they were not very tight - 1/4 turn to loosen) and matched everything up so both bars are even. To sore right now to take a SLOW check out ride. Any other suggestions on things to look at?

Thanks again to everyone who wrote back.

 

sucky!

I've got a few 06 VFR parts for sale in the classified section from my near-theft incident with similar rashings to yours.

Yes, the bars can move some, so I bet thats all was wrong with yours.

Oh, and +1 to Ron Ayers. They got ALL my business on the $3,000+ of OEM and some aftermarket parts for my 06 during the rebuild. They ROCK, and their prices are the lowest I've seen. You can call if you want to, or use their internet site. The shipping was 10 days flat to my door, all at once (quite the early Christmas when 10 boxes show up at your house/work one day, all with motorcycle parts in them!), and I paid $70 for all of that. Very reasonable, and the best I found yet. Also, if they don't have it on the site, ask on the phone...thats how I found out they carry Sargent seats.

Buzz me if you think any of my classified parts will help, there is a smattering of parts available, some in excellent condition, some in OK condition, and some scrap.

 

Time For A Wake Up Call ?

hay that just sucks i feel for you, ive been down hard three times in 22 years so i know what your feeling, to meny time the scum bag just drives away so i want to know what we can do to change the way people think ?
ive tryed the approch of kicking in doors but something needs to change ?
i have a friend that went down but was lucky he had a web cam on and cought the cars license plate number, but then i dont use a cam ?
anyways its good to hear your ok and walked away, good luck. speedfreek

 

Don't ride beside cages. Ever.

Glad yer OK, that sucks.

 

Ride like they're trying to kill you!

Ride like they're trying to kill you...they are!!

 

..............glad u walked away...but it still sucks that the jackass took off on you.....hope youre bike is insured....and u have her back on the road...soon!!.
keet

 

i agree with leggs

 

Wow! some what a good save could have been alot worse. good to hear your okay.

Yep, Service Honda works the best for me in price and availabity, infact just recieved a part from them today, 3 days out and running almost 2/3rds the price from a dealer, not bad for OEM. Give Jen a call at 1 800-828-5498 she's comes across not only smart, but a real sweetie

 

First, I’d like to say thanks to everyone who wrote back. I got new left lower and upper plastics from Service Honda. They were great to work with and had my shipment to me in less than a week. I changed out both pieces in my garage in about 4 hours. I could have gone quicker but I wanted to make sure I didn’t have any hidden damage from the low side. I also wanted to make sure I didn’t break anything else. Everything went smooth, the parts matched up fine and the color looks good. The hardest part was getting the rubber grommets off the old plastics and on to the new. I posted a before and after picture in my gallery. Now I have to get back to riding with out flinching every time I get near a cage. Ride Safe out there.

 

Great news! Glad you are OK!

 

Glad to hear you're ok. I get run off the road going into work about once a year from empty headed cagers trying to get to the convenience store from the off ramp and across 2 lanes of traffic.

Gotta have that morning coffee.

Luckily for me I usually am on the Harley going that way and the median is ramped to the grass bit so the harley gives me a bit of the white knuckle time until I slow down/get back on the road.

The VFR doesn't handle off road as well.