Then I went carbon fibre crazy to make it even lighter (although if I am being completely honest, the easiest way to lighten the ride on track would be for me to eat less pies!) and even more of a work of art.
Amongst other things I decided to buy some carbon fibre wheels. These were duly bought from a supplier in the north of England and then fitted by my local mechanic down south. They really looked the dog’s…
Over the summer I had booked in four track days to get some tuition on how to tame the beast. I duly turned up at the first one. Now I must confess that whilst I rode bikes years ago, I hadn’t ridden for about 10 years. After I told the instructor that, I heard some muttering behind me as two lads laughed and said: “All the gear and no idea.”
Maybe they were right as on lap three of that first morning on track, I completely lost the rear end, high-sided and flew off, landing heavily, breaking my arm and shattering my collar bone. In addition, the bike ended up in bits.
I was devasted. My son scooped me and the trashed bike up in his van. Thereafter he took me to hospital and what was left of my pride and joy back to my local mechanic. Initially, I put this down to being my fault.
However, my mechanic came back and said he believed the rear carbon fibre wheel had effectively collapsed as the rim had come completely away from the spokes and hub. That would explain the sudden loss of control. However, I don’t really want to sue my mechanic if this is actually down to me. What should I do?
Answer
I’m always sad when I hear about beautiful bikes smashed to bits. However, bikes can be replaced, people aren’t always as lucky.
From what you have said, I do not believe your mechanic is in the frame for this as he simply fitted the carbon fibre wheels you supplied. Therefore, on the basis that the theory is the wheel collapsed (and it is unusual in my experience for the rim to have completely detached) and caused the accident, you need to be looking at the wheel supplier from up north as that is who your contract is with.
With this in mind, make sure you keep your purchase invoice/receipt and DO NOT send them the wheel back if you want to bring a claim against them as this is your vital evidence. To bring a successful claim, you as the Claimant are going to have to ‘prove on the balance of probabilities’ that someone has done something wrong, i.e. they provided a faulty wheel, and that caused the accident.
Practically, you are going to need a forensic expert to examine what’s left of the wheel and say what caused it to be in bits. For example, if s/he can prove that the carbon fibre was structurally unsafe and that caused the wheel to collapse and caused you to fall off, you can direct your claim for your damaged bike and personal injury, etc., towards the wheel supplier.
I advise you find a solicitor who ideally specialises in motorcycle accidents as you may be in for a legal battle to win your claim. It is by no means an impossible case to win (we have run more complicated) but this is not a run-of-the-mill case.
Lastly, contact the track/track day organiser to ask if they have any CCTV of the accident (it may show the wheel collapsing) and for them to give you a copy. If they will not provide it without a Court Order (some will not), ask they securely store the footage and get legal advice. What I am trying to avoid, if possible, is the wheel supplier claiming the wheel is smashed up because you crashed. This claim may be blown out of the water if you have it on video (as well as the expert evidence, if supportive).
Andrew ‘Chef’ Prendergast
More Bikes – January 2024
