Explain how this happened

Scenario is slow to stationary traffic and bikes filtering as per the photo. 3 lane road Two vans opposite each other in lanes 2 & 3 and bike approaching from the rear again as photo. Bike in question is a BMW R80RT as image. Bike and van in RH lane meet and bike ends up in central lane in front of the van in lane 2. Van sustains damage lower LH side as photo. In your opinion in what position would the van be to sustain such damage. There are no other marks or damage on the van only the crease shown. There is no damage to the bikes fairing or evidence of it hitting the van. So how did it happen? I obviously know but if you were investigating what solution to this damage would you come up with.

Damage was already there and driver / owner just looking for an insurable 3rd party?

if the R80RT is any way similar to the 1150RT, the cylinder head is not the widest part of the bike, the mirror is.

so if there was no damage to the van at mirror/handlebar height, I'd suspect that the bike didn't do it.

hmm. Crease looks a bit too low for the engine casings, unless bike was canted over to the right, in which case there should be scrapes from the handlebars.

Pre-existing damage? Looks very clean though.

In answer to the original Q I'd suggest that matey in lane 3 moved over. In which case there should be a progressively deeper crease, which looks to be the case. But it all looks that bit too low

Vans eh?

Originally Posted by maccecht

Van sustains damage lower LH side as photo. In your opinion in what position would the van be to sustain such damage. There are no other marks or damage on the van only the crease shown. There is no damage to the bikes fairing or evidence of it hitting the van. So how did it happen? I obviously know but if you were investigating what solution to this damage would you come up with.

BMW rocker box as the bike was passing the van in a closing gap.

Park the bike next to it (off the stand) and see how close they are in height and check your offside rocker box for scratches and paint. Imagine the bike being canted over a bit as the van pushes against it. Not impossible.

Originally Posted by tafflade

if the R80RT is any way similar to the 1150RT, the cylinder head is not the widest part of the bike, the mirror is.

so if there was no damage to the van at mirror/handlebar height, I'd suspect that the bike didn't do it.

The mirror mount is probably just a bit wider but unlike the K's (and probably the 1150's) the mirrors fold to avoid damage.

A few folks are warm and I can assure you the bike done it as I was on it at the time and for at least 1 second after it as well.
Question is how do you crease a van in the middle miss the rear bumper which sticks out and no other part of the bike contacts the van. Keep going a few are getting close.

Poor obs

Originally Posted by abssorb

Damage was already there

was my very first thought.

Originally Posted by CoolHands

was my very first thought.

Nope cold very cold

damage done with footrest rubber as van cut into lane two?

Has he tried to cut up the other van with you in between?

S.

Van on right moves left
Bike brake hits mirror pushing handlebars right
Bike falls on the left while suddenly stopping
It's now lent over far enough that the rocker cover can scrape the van without the handlebars touching it
Rider's superpowers fail as the van is loaded with Kryptonite and he can't hold the bike anymore
Crash.

Contact was at an angle and the rear peg or can did this?

Rocker cover done the damage to the van. But why only on the middle section and why only the rocker cover? Splat nearly won the teddy bear but not quite.