My eff'ed up fate :(

[idratherberidin]

Oh... it's all coming together now. THAT bike!

With the damage you describe I'll be surprised if it's not totalled, in the eyes of insurance. Not sure if you can get any extra $ for any mods or aftermarket parts you have. If not, and if you have factory replacements, take off anything aftermarket before you let them total it and sell the stuff on ebay. Aftermarket bits were not the easiest to come by for that bike... I bought my V&H system brandy new, and would have happily gone used had I been able to find it, for example.

So, we’ve got bars, plastics, signals, exhaust, lever… I think this can get to totaled if you play it right. Not sure if you should let on to the adjuster that’s what your after, maybe just keep after “making it as it was before” which should add up to enough to total it.

You can definitely go after the scratches on the fairing. It wasn’t scratched, now it is because someone hit it. That’s on their insurance. Same thing with the tail light bracket/case/whatever. Anything that’s not right as a result of this should be fixed. Fairing may mean paint, may mean replace, I don’t know. Any cracked plastic should be replace, or at least it was on my bike. They also cover parts & labor, but just send you a check. I did my own work and chose what I fixed, but they don’t expect anyone to be able to wrench their own bike. If you do, you should be paid for your time anyway.

Don’t accept their first offer, don’t agree to anything over the phone, don’t sign anything and certainly don’t cash any checks, even if they send you one (they did that to me after I denied their first #, sent me a check for that hoping I’d cash it and they’d be off the hook at that lowball estimate).

It’s a shame I’m so far from you, I’ve got quite a few hours wrenching those and would be happy to help you go over it. I work in Newburyport (within sight of that rotary) if you wanted to ride up there, depending when you get out of work. Shouldn’t be anything you can’t do on your own though… just take your time and make damn sure you get everything. Have a list. Be prepared to check it against the adjusters. Or, as said, get a dealer estimate. I’d still go through it myself to make sure the dealer didn’t miss anything.

Keep us posted. I'd be curious to see pics of the damage and your list of everything damaged when it's done, preferably before the adjuster sees it.

I'd tell him what you're thinking. Bike is probably totalled to get it back to as-was shape. Bike is worth $1700. Offer to sell him the bike for that, since the insurance company will take it anyway if they total it. He can sell it damaged for whatever, and the hit cost him the balance. I'd be the balance is a fraction of what going through insurance will cost him. Figure he's going to have $500 or $1000 deductable, and then surcharges for years. Could be a win/win for everyone involved.

As an aside, my neighbor is looking for a short $ sport bike. If yours comes up cheap let me know. I'd help him make the repairs (he'd want flush mounts and shit anyway).

If I were him, I'd take that deal in a second. $1700 out of pocket, recoup as much as I can on the bike, and the whole thing never sees my insurance, my rates don't move.

If you think it's fair, offer to do it for less. The principle remains... it'll be cheaper for him to buy the bike from you for what you'll get for it totalled than deal with insurance on this, since he can sell the damaged bike to someone that'll deal w/ it, since it's mostly cosmetic.

If he won't go for that and you want, figure what you KNOW you could get for the bike as it is. Offer to let him pay you off the balance to forget it. It'll still be less than repairs, and he was thinking about footing that bill.

Are you sure that boneyard I pointed you to didn't have any levers or signals that'd fit your bike, maybe off another similar model? Don't spend a cent until you know the resolution... just trying to plan ahead

No, I'm not sure at all. I can't speak for the kid, but email me some pictures and I'll show him. He liked my 87 ZX750R. I'm sure just how cheap would be a factor as well.

I'll keep them crossed for you as well.

I'd try to take this as a positive. First off, it kicks ass the dude came and told you, rather than leaving you hosed. Not enough people like that lately.

In addition, this is an excuse to do some custom stuff on someone else's dime. I'd get an estimate to repair to good as new from the dealer. Be prepared to hassle w/ his insurance company's adjuster a little, and don't take their first offer. I went through this when I was rear-ended on my Ninja. They wanted to use some bullshit formula to figure the value of the damage done. I said no way, you need to pay enough to make it right. Ended up w/ a V&H 4:1 exhaust for less than new stock exhaust would have cost. Lived with the crack in the plastic and some other stupid cosmetic stuff, don't even remember what now. Come to think of it that's about when I started riding the NInja hard... it was no longer a showroom pretty 20 year old bike, it was just a 20 year old sportbike, so I didn't care if I crashed it.

Anyway, a signal is broken front & rear, there's an excuse to go to whatever you like. Should still cost less than OEM. Flush mount, whatever tickles ya. Rear signals and # plate bent... would be an undertail kit to me. As for the cracked plastic, assuming you can get them to pay for new stuff, I bet you can get what you've got repaired for a bit less, and have the bike painted however ya like. Or you could live with it and keep the cash, depending how bad it is and how much you care. I don't recall year/model of your bike, that'll make a difference. As for the lever, levers are wearables. Just get whatever ya like to replace it.

I know it sucks man, been there. Try to look on the bright side. Dude could have left you hosed, and he didn't. Play the insurance game right and you might come out ahead now. #1 piece of advice I can give you, regardless of how you handle the bike repairs, have your own dealer estimate to repair to good as new in hand before you deal with their adjuster. They're going to send some shiester down to see the bike (while you're not around, if possible - try to be around) and give you some lowball estimate. On my Ninja they completely missed a bunch of stuff on the first estimate. It took 2 or 3 tries to get it right.

It tipped over... I'd check the bars/clip ons/whatever. Personally I've been riding tweaked bars most of my life (you should see my race bike!) but if they got bent, it's on the insurance company to pay for it. On you to decide if you can feel it, if they're still intact and safe, and if you want to ride them or replace them.

Good luck. Keep us posted.

Do you drink a lot of coffee? Just asking.

["Dangerous" Dan K]

Do you drink a lot of coffee? Just asking.

Yes, but more blue rockstars. I'm just trying to help the dude out. He seems like a nice guy, we've conversated in PM's, he's got almost the exact bike I started out with and I handled a not-at-fault insurance incident getting hit on that bike as well. Oh, and I have a desk job that ties me to this damn computer...

[butcher bergs]

So lemme get this straight....your life is fucked up because of the trouble you've been having with your bike?

Wow. That's rough.

[njsrikar]

So...finally after some initial hassles of assigning a car inspector to my motorcycle, the insurance adjuster/inspector came just now and looked at the bike.

Dan, I pointed him all the stuff that you had checked the other day. His estimate for parts and labor came upto $4000.00 . He said I should be knowing by tomorrow whats going to happen with it, mostly they are going to buy my bike....now he told I might get upto $1500 for it, but will have to wait till we get the final report from his team.

I am also claiming alternate transport option.....they offered me a rented car for 5 days or 25$ for each day. I opted to get the cash, so that`ll be a 25x5 $125 for transportation allowance.

["Dangerous" Dan K]

So...finally after some initial hassles of assigning a car inspector to my motorcycle, the insurance adjuster/inspector came just now and looked at the bike.

Dan, I pointed him all the stuff that you had checked the other day. His estimate for parts and labor came upto $4000.00 . He said I should be knowing by tomorrow whats going to happen with it, mostly they are going to buy my bike....now he told I might get upto $1500 for it, but will have to wait till we get the final report from his team.

I am also claiming alternate transport option.....they offered me a rented car for 5 days or 25$ for each day. I opted to get the cash, so that`ll be a 25x5 $125 for transportation allowance.

Cool man. I knew before we were halfway through that bike they were going to total it. Too much small stuff that'll add up on a bike that's not worth that much to begin with. Remember our talk about fair vs. good and don't let them screw ya. Don't sign anything or cash any checks until you've got a fair #.

[Jim]

congrats dude, now save that cash and get something that wont need maintanence every 25 miles. so basically, dont buy a ducati

[njsrikar]

Remember our talk about fair vs. good and don't let them screw ya. Don't sign anything or cash any checks until you've got a fair #.

yup....he said he`ll give me checks tomorrow itself. I said ok, but, as you said, i will not accept them if its not atleast 1500$.

congrats dude, now save that cash and get something that wont need maintanence every 25 miles. so basically, dont buy a ducati

that would mean a wait till next summer .....hopefully it will pass as swiftly as possible

[idratherberidin]

you owe your neighbor at least a 12 pack. He really did you a huge favor. You should change the title to "My great life changing experience"

[butcher bergs]

You should change the title to "My great life changing experience"

["Dangerous" Dan K]

yup....he said he`ll give me checks tomorrow itself. I said ok, but, as you said, i will not accept them if its not atleast 1500$.

What did we find NADA was for it in good condition? $1400? If it's that, I'd take it. Don't hold out for over book, you may get screwed.

And yeah, you need to go beer shopping. Find out what your neighbor drinks. You owe him some of his brew of choice.

"Life changing" may be drastic, but a thread title change is definitely in order here. You lucked out on this one.

[njsrikar]

you owe your neighbor at least a 12 pack. He really did you a huge favor. You should change the title to "My great life changing experience"

hahahaha....yeah....dats one way of looking at it.
for that matter....every experience I have been getting from my stay here in the States has been life changing, one way or the other....learning a lot

but....this happened right at the moment when the bike was performing good. i was hoping to ride it for the remainder of the season. though i bought it jus 4 months back and rode it for jus a couple thousand miles, am already missing it. today, I started the bike(after a week) and simply stood listening to the engine and exhaust notes for 5mins. i want to riiiiiiiiiiiiiiide

[nerijusj]

hahahaha....yeah....dats one way of looking at it.
for that matter....every experience I have been getting from my stay here in the States has been life changing, one way or the other....learning a lot

but....this happened right at the moment when the bike was performing good. i was hoping to ride it for the remainder of the season. though i bought it jus 4 months back and rode it for jus a couple thousand miles, am already missing it. today, I started the bike(after a week) and simply stood listening to the engine and exhaust notes for 5mins. i want to riiiiiiiiiiiiiiide

Buy it back from insurance for a couple hundred and make it a track bike.

[njsrikar]

What did we find NADA was for it in good condition? $1400? If it's that, I'd take it. Don't hold out for over book, you may get screwed.

yeah....he mentioned NADA and was like 'you might get $1500, but am not sure how our dept works it out, either way u shud know it by tomorrow'. he had also asked me to mail/fax him the invoices of recent maintenance or repair works i have.
yeah, I will accept anything around $1500 ....but will try to get it till there if they offer me 900 or something.

And yeah, you need to go beer shopping. Find out what your neighbor drinks. You owe him some of his brew of choice.
"Life changing" may be drastic, but a thread title change is definitely in order here. You lucked out on this one.

I certainly owe him a lil for this....but imagine...he would hv just recieved a memo abt the claim and must be pondering over the condition of his driving record or insurance surcharges etc and I go with a glowing face. hehe

And yeah, after abt 5 months of my stay here(in NESR), I understand is the best way to make friends around here, I dont drink alcohol ...and seeing all you guys, am seriously missing it...i accept it.
I cant even hangout with ya guys....wat`ll i be doing when you are ? drink soda hahaha ? (and maybe record some videos )

[njsrikar]

Buy it back from insurance for a couple hundred and make it a track bike.

any takers ???? ...coz track is out of question for me for atleast an year...hehe

[njsrikar]

just read your thread and i guess you are going thru some similar shit or maybe more painful....

["Dangerous" Dan K]

1) You don't have to drink to hang with us. Some of us drink, some of us don't. I don't, currently. Used to. May again someday. Don't right now. Nothing wrong with a soda or a redbull.

I still think your neighbor should have bought it from you. Would have been cheaper.

I had one of those bikes. Heavy and slow, like all 20+ year old bikes. I don't think it'd make much of a track bike.

[butcher bergs]

just read your thread and i guess you are going thru some similar shit or maybe more painful....

Like the Transformers, there's more than meets the eye.



Did you just cuddle me??



Careful, I'm on the motorcycle rebound.

[njsrikar]

1) You don't have to drink to hang with us. Some of us drink, some of us don't. I don't, currently. Used to. May again someday. Don't right now. Nothing wrong with a soda or a redbull.

Dont get me wrong man. I jus said thats the best way. obviously I would like to hang out wid you guys...maybe one of Leaf's party. hehe.

Did you just cuddle me??

ahh...wait....i wanted this one ...thought both were the same.

Careful, I'm on the motorcycle rebound.

now...wats that ???

["Dangerous" Dan K]

Just curious, what was the adjusters first impression? Did you show him the list right away or wait to see what he found? Wouldn't be surprised, assuming you had not shown him the list, if he started @ $300 in damage rather than 4K.

[njsrikar]

Just curious, what was the adjusters first impression? Did you show him the list right away or wait to see what he found? Wouldn't be surprised, assuming you had not shown him the list, if he started @ $300 in damage rather than 4K.

well...i dint show him the list per se. First...he asked me...so wherez the damage. I had just re-read the list and confirmed all the damages before he came, so when he asked me, I showed him all those damages myself, did not show him the list. then he took pictures. he actually also noted the small dent on exhaust and the tiny lil cracks on the windshield.

itseem before coming up here, he had 2 ducatis ...dint bring them here coz of parking/garage reasons...so he is a biker too and knows abt the stuff. itseems he is the only motorcycle inspector in MA for this insurance agency.

i told him abt NESR and asked him to register himself incase he gets a bike here. hehe. also told him how 'well' the bike was performing, rides to white mountains, mohawk trail etc ....

[NeverlosT]

Fight it!!!!

oh...wait...

[njsrikar]

alright...finally my fate looks good. Now I guess I need to change the topic of this thread too ..hehehe


Yesterday the insurance adjuster called me and told me the price I would get for my totaled bike. I couldn't believe it, infact I asked him twice to make sure that I was hearing things correctly. The had come up with a $4500 estimate to fix my bike.

Yeah, they offered me $1875 plus $117 as tax. On top of it, he said the salvage value of the bike is $25 and told I could buy it for $25 from them with a CLEAN title. And then...I have a $125 transportation allowance. This is a jackpot for me, getting almost all the money I spent on the bike .

Today, he came and wrote me checks for the same amount and thats it. My life has suddenly changed for the good One more experience under my belt

And...yup.... I know, I will probably meet the car guy with some beer .....and soda. hehe

Thank you everybody for your suggestions and inputs. It was a great help. Dan K actually took a look at the bike and listed all the damages that I could not notice myself.

[njsrikar]

today is my last day at work(intern) too. will be back in school for Fall.