CRASHER'S CORNER

A broken man and his very broken bike.....!

This was my 10 day old 1995 YZF 750 R after a Mazda 626 driver decided it would be a good idea to over take a lorry, whilst approaching a blind bend. Fortunately I was wearing Crowtree leathers and was spared from any serious and lasting injuries. Anyone thinking of buying off-the-peg leathers think again. This could happen to you and would you trust them.?? I have bought a  second set of Crowtree leathers and to be honest, I wouldn't put anything else on when riding on the road or track. The cost of the full one piece suit, with my own unique design, came to just £710. Now try and find somewhere that you can get that quality and value and I bet you can't do it. Take my advice. I've raced in them, used them for Sunday thrashes and even everyday commuting and they're as comfortable and good now as the day I first got fitted out.

Believe me, you will not buy a better set of leathers.

Have I sold you yet? If not then why not give Alec and Linda Baumber a phone at Crowtree, on 01507 602099, and tell them I told you to ring. You'll be glad you did, although I hope you never have to find out the way I did. Follow this link to take a look at my Crowtree leathers.

 Below is the statement made to my insurance company and the police, detailing the accident to the best of my recollection.

 STATEMENT BY Mr. D. A. MURRAY

I was traveling to work, at approximately 07:10 Hrs, on Monday 14th August, 1995 on the B961 Kellas to Baldovie road heading South. I had been traveling at 60 mph, prior to braking for a bend and estimate my speed at around 55 mph. As I rounded the left hand bend, immediately south of the Burnside of Duntrune junction with the B961, and gained increasing visibility of the road ahead, I was confronted by a pale coloured car coming towards me on my side of the road. I could see that he was overtaking a moving lorry as he approached the bend. Both were heading in a Northerly direction.
Due to the proximity of the other two vehicles, and the width of the B961, I quite literary had no-where to go, I vaguely remember heading for the left hand verge and hedge as I braked, but the ensuing impact was almost immediate. The next thing I remember, was sliding down the road in the direction I had been traveling. I lay at the side of the road for a couple of minutes, feeling a bit winded, and I could see the driver of the lorry get out of his cab and the driver of the car walking about shaking his head, The lorry driver waited until I moved before coming to see if I was alright, I suspect he thought I was dead at first. I stood up and took a couple of steps, but then collapsed to the verge with overwhelming pain in my left shoulder and ankle. By this point other drivers started to appear, many of them I knew to be residents of Monikie and Wellbank. One of them offered me a cigarette and another mentioned phoning for the police and an ambulance. I then remembered that I had my mobile phone with me, so preceded to make the call myself. Both police and ambulance turned up after what seemed like about 5 minutes.
I was treated at the roadside and then taken to Dundee Royal Infirmary, accident and emergency, where I received x-rays and treatment for a fractured left clavicle and torn ligaments in my left ankle along with minor cuts and bruises. I was released later that day. Mr. Mays, identified by police as the driver of the car, was also conveyed to D.R.I. as he had suddenly started complaining of a sore neck,
I was later informed, by the police attending, that my motorcycle had hit the front nearside of the car, and had been shunted backwards about 90 feet before coming to rest on its left side. I hit the windscreen, then the roof of the car and initially landed in the narrow verge before sliding down the road. Had it not been for the fact that I was wearing the best equipment available, and managed to leave the motorcycle cleanly, I would certainly have suffered far graver injuries.

My motorcycle, which I had picked up 10 days earlier, was completely destroyed and written off by my insurers. Most of my personal effects were also destroyed or damaged beyond economical repair. The total cost of damage came to £10,812.42, not including personal injury etc.

Here are the rest of the pictures of my 10 day old YZF 750.....!

Frontal labotomy, Mazda 626 style mmmm.... I reckon we could straighten that frame out!

Well now I've seen this side, maybe not How about the forks, reckon we could salvage those?

I'm sure Ron Williams could get those forks straight again? What about the engine mounts, if we push hard enough, they might line up!

We'll be pushing all night to get those engine mounts to line up! There must be something we can salvage?.. Ah the number plate!

 For a bigger image size, just click the thumbnail you want.

Special thanks go to George Paterson for managing to get the bike home for me, at the expense of a Vauxhall head gasket!!

If you have some gruesome crash stories and/or pictures, send them in to me and I will publish them here for the glory of the world to see. Just post them with the R1 below.


Last updated October, 2005
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