[mrnekk]

Hello forum. Bad luck person of the year here. Here is my story.
Yesterday went to my dealer here in Athens, to test drive the Africa twin. They only had a dct model. 20minutes into the drive I turn right in a small road and the motor stalled. Weird. Anyway, I stop 10 meters down the road very close to the pavement to get phone out. Glove stuck to the throttle, before I know it bike accelerated, throwing me back and accelerated even more. On the spot the bike wheelies like a ballerina, and does a 180 and we both slam in the ground. The engine hit a pavement metallic pole and rips it off the cement. Right side of the engine leaks oil. I hit my back my legs and shoulder. I go get checked out to the hospital. I am probably ok. It's just going to get hurt for the next week.
Next part , the dealer:
The person there didn't know what to do and said this has never happen before. He told me to call accident care from their insurance and to go through all that and bring the bike back to the dealership with the truck the accident care sends. Since it is Saturday after 3 the dealership is closed and only the guard is there and no one else. On the phone he told me that whatever is broken on the bike I have to pay myself. All of it. My questions are. Isn't there a wheelie control on this thing? Why did such an extreme thing happened? What is the deal with the test drive bikes? So if something went even worse the bike got totalled, I would pay for the whole bike?

 

[mike5100]

Hello forum. Bad luck person of the year here. Here is my story.
Yesterday went to my dealer here in Athens, to test drive the Africa twin. They only had a dct model. 20minutes into the drive I turn right in a small road and the motor stalled. Weird. Anyway, I stop 10 meters down the road very close to the pavement to get phone out. Glove stuck to the throttle, before I know it bike accelerated, throwing me back and accelerated even more. On the spot the bike wheelies like a ballerina, and does a 180 and we both slam in the ground. The engine hit a pavement metallic pole and rips it off the cement. Right side of the engine leaks oil. I hit my back my legs and shoulder. I go get checked out to the hospital. I am probably ok. It's just going to get hurt for the next week.
Next part , the dealer:
The person there didn't know what to do and said this has never happen before. He told me to call accident care from their insurance and to go through all that and bring the bike back to the dealership with the truck the accident care sends. Since it is Saturday after 3 the dealership is closed and only the guard is there and no one else. On the phone he told me that whatever is broken on the bike I have to pay myself. All of it. My questions are. Isn't there a wheelie control on this thing? Why did such an extreme thing happened? What is the deal with the test drive bikes? So if something went even worse the bike got totalled, I would pay for the whole bike?

That's really bad luck especially the DCT stalling - which has never happened to me. But I have twisted the throttle when the bike was in D-mode. First time I was lucky and just slightly hit my own garage door, second time not so lucky and had similar experience to you. Now I switch to neutral every time I stop.
Not sure what the system is in Greece but in the UK most dealerships have you sign and pay for temporary insurance to ride their bike. Costs me about £12 each time I want to try a bike.
My guess is that if the dealership didn't ask you to sign anything then they have basically lent you their bike at their risk. If they want you to pay for the damage they would have to sue you. They are probably insured for just this kind of event anyway, but don't want to claim on it as it would put their premiums up, and they would have an excess to pay.
Mike

 

[mrnekk]

That's really bad luck especially the DCT stalling - which has never happened to me. But I have twisted the throttle when the bike was in D-mode. First time I was lucky and just slightly hit my own garage door, second time not so lucky and had similar experience to you. Now I switch to neutral every time I stop.
Not sure what the system is in Greece but in the UK most dealerships have you sign and pay for temporary insurance to ride their bike. Costs me about £12 each time I want to try a bike.
My guess is that if the dealership didn't ask you to sign anything then they have basically lent you their bike at their risk. If they want you to pay for the damage they would have to sue you. They are probably insured for just this kind of event anyway, but don't want to claim on it as it would put their premiums up, and they would have an excess to pay.
Mike

No no they made me sign. That I take full responsibility. Didnt read that though I saw it later, and if even if I did, I was so thrilled to drive my dream bike, I would with it anyway.

 

[ToSlow]

No no they made me sign. That I take full responsibility. Didnt read that though I saw it later, and if even if I did, I was so thrilled to drive my dream bike, I would with it anyway.

looks like you are the new owner of a AT, Fix it and enjoy your new ride

 

[mrnekk]

looks like you are the new owner of a AT, Fix it and enjoy your new ride

What a great way to own a bike

 

[Autonomity]

No no they made me sign. That I take full responsibility. Didnt read that though I saw it later, and if even if I did, I was so thrilled to drive my dream bike, I would with it anyway.

Other European guy here, usually you have a deductible only. Like said above, dealerships have insurance for this; I would definitely check up on the policy.
More often than not, even if the bike is totalled you only pay the deductible; not the entire price of the bike.

Also considering you signed something, you should have a copy of what has been signed.

 

[ToSlow]

What a great way to own a bike

If you need to pay to fix it, If it was me i would just buy it, Check to see if your auto insurance covers it

 

[Dado]

looks like you are the new owner of a AT, Fix it and enjoy your new ride

I was going to plug a smiley...but the whole story is "almost funny and sad" we need to create a special "smiley" just for you @mrnekk
Huge respect for you sharing your mishap on this forum ... this story will be with you for life... we all have stories to tell, but for the time being you are "the champion 🏆 🥇 "

I was 2seconds or 2mm close to a similar disaster... picked up my brand new '22 ATAS DCT, stopped by my daughter's house (she rides gsxr750), her and 4 Gkids around my bike, I just stopped on her driveway and off course bike was still in Drive. She was on my left,and reached over to twist the throttle to hear the engine roar (as you do being a petrol head) and good thing she couldn't reach the throttle properly so I realized what is about to happen.
Honda should hang a big RED CAUTION SIGN on every new DCT bike..."Please switch to NEUTRAL BEFORE you REV your engine!!!"

sorry for your mishap

 

[mrnekk]

I was going to plug a smiley...but the whole story is "hilariously sad" we need to create a special "smiley" just for you.
Huge respect for you sharing your mishap on this forum ... this story will be with you for life... we all have stories to tell, but for the time being you are "the champion 🏆 🥇 "

I was 2seconds or 2mm close to a similar disaster... picked up my brand new '22 ATAS DCT, stopped by my daughter's house (she rides gsxr750), her and 4 Gkids around my bike, I just stopped on her driveway and off course bike was still in Drive. She was on my left,and reached over to twist the throttle to hear the engine roar (as you do being a petrol head) and good thing she couldn't reach the throttle properly so I realized what is about to happen.
Honda should hang a big RED CAUTION SIGN on every new DCT bike..."Please switch to NEUTRAL BEFORE you REV your engine!!!"

sorry for your mishap

Thanks a lot. Glad it didn't happen to you. It actually made me more humble. Stupid things can happen to anyone. Made me question my intelligence. It's close to a year now working two jobs, so when I'm not working I'm in autopilot. I used to think things through and be more focused. That's on me. I think the DCT shouldn't be given as test bikes. If I had a clutch this would never happen, since I would put neutral without thinking. I think the DCT is something you should have time to get used to.

 

[mrnekk]

Other European guy here, usually you have a deductible only. Like said above, dealerships have insurance for this; I would definitely check up on the policy.
More often than not, even if the bike is totalled you only pay the deductible; not the entire price of the bike.

Also considering you signed something, you should have a copy of what has been signed.

Nothing like that on the thing I signed. I wish there was...

 

[Fuzzcat]

So sorry to hear of the OP's woes with this unfortunate event. I've posted this comment here in the past and I'll repost again now. Unfortunately too late for the OP, but for those who own a DCT, do this ..... occasionally walk out into the garage, look at the AT DCT, imagine riding, look at the throttle and think, "Watch out for that throttle. Watch out for that throttle. Watch out for that throttle". Might seem silly, but do this and I'll bet it helps avoid a similar situation.

 

[Dado]

Thanks a lot. Glad it didn't happen to you. It actually made me more humble. Stupid things can happen to anyone. Made me question my intelligence. It's close to a year now working two jobs, so when I'm not working I'm in autopilot. I used to think things through and be more focused. That's on me. I think the DCT shouldn't be given as test bikes. If I had a clutch this would never happen, since I would put neutral without thinking. I think the DCT is something you should have time to get used to.

True...the thing is DCT will automatically downshift to 1st gear, in any of the D,S1,2,3 and even when in M mode... selecting Neutral is strictly rider's duty.

Knowing bikers have a habit to "Rev in tunnels, at traffic lights, when downshifting etc" ...imho at least a "Caution sticker should be wrapped around the throttle" for first time DCT RIDERS.

The good thing is you lived to tell your story, everything else is just "metal parts that can be fixed"
👍🙂

 

[Fuzzcat]

Knowing bikers have a habit to "Rev in tunnels, at traffic lights, when downshifting etc" ...imho at least a "Caution sticker should be wrapped around the throttle" for first time DCT RIDERS.

Yes - something not entirely unlike this has been discussed here before.

 

[TM44]

I would consult a local lawyer as laws vary.

 

[Fuzzcat]

Really? Agreed, there should be DCT warning stickers. But legal recourse against an organization that permitted someone to operate a piece of machinery they demonstrated they had difficulty operating? Ok, so then all test riding will go away

 

[DoubleThumper]

Maybe Honda needs yet another pushbutton to disable whiskey throttle from a dead stop?

The default is "on" until user overrides it.

I'm not serious, but this is what problems new technology can bring. Scooters have the same problem, but far less ponies and an elastic band for acceleration.

 

[Cuchulainn]

I totaled a bike on a test ride back in 2010. Cold, wet, icy conditions that they probably should not have even let me test ride in. A car ran a red light causing me to have to emergency break. I hit some slick paint in a crosswalk and spun the bike down hard.

The insurance company looked at the dealer's estimate for repairs and wrote it off as totaled. I had to pay the $250 deductible. my insurance rates didn't even go up. Other than some road rash and bruises, it was relatively painless.

 

[irsh]

I don't remember the last time I was able to test ride anything that I wasn't ready to purchase outside of a "Demo Days" scenario when the manufacturer is there with the demo fleet. And those are mostly group rides with a Lead and Chase rider to keep an eye on things...

 

[Moto Vita]

True...the thing is DCT will automatically downshift to 1st gear, in any of the D,S1,2,3 and even when in M mode... selecting to Neutral is strictly rider duty.

Knowing bikers have a habit to "Rev in tunnels, at traffic lights, when downshifting etc" ...imho at least a "Caution sticker should be wrapped around the throttle" for first time DCT RIDERS.

The good thing is you lived to tell your story, everything else is just "metal parts that can be fixed"
👍🙂

So is it possible to shift to neutral while riding through a tunnel so you can rev the bike? Squids need to know.

 

[rustynut2]

Unfortunate situation for sure. Please don’t blame the dct, it only did what it was told. Same if you were a new rider and had no idea what a clutch was for. Talk with your insurance, see If you’re covered.

My 19 won’t shift out of gear while moving. Fine by me, the exhaust is nice and mellow. Unlike all the throttle blippers out there.