Last Sunday, I was making my way home from Cornwall's biggest annual charity motorcycle run, and less than a mile from home, I had to wait on a downhill slope behind a Land Rover Discovery. We were waiting for a lorry to come up the hill and pass us. I was about 4 bike lengths back from the 'Disco, when the driver pre-empted the need to reverse to allow the lorry past.
He checked his mirror, he put it in reverse and then accelerated backwards towards me.
I looked like this:
then 
. At about 2 lengths ahead, I was shouting and on the horn but he still didn't stop until his bumper rolled up the tyre hit my headlights! At this point I was: 
and punching his back window.The bike was properly wedged under the bumper with the 'Disco parked on the wheel. He got out and had a look and said 'I didn't see you' etc.
He actually admitted to the kids roof mounted DVD screen being down and blocking his view. I agreed with him, and it was then that I remembered not seeing his eyes in the mirror!
Anyway, he's paying for the bikes damage and alignment checks.
He drove off the wheel and we checked the bike, I couldn't see any damage and thought this was too good to be true. I rode home carefully and found that the Tyre was cut and the lower mudguard bracket was slightly bent, but not seriously.
I had the bike checked this week at my local shop and found that there is no damage whatsoever! The wheel is true, the spokes are fine, the forks are straight, headlights are ok, mudguards are ok, yokes are ok.
So, I've ordered a new tyre and I'm going to put some new wheel bearings in at the same time.
Ulysses, tougher than you think!
and maybe forks and yokes too. Has the dealer done any crack detection exercise?
Dutchman!
