My eff'ed up fate :(

[njsrikar]

jus when things started to look good ...when my bike started performing good....my fate turned ugly the million'th time past these few months.

For starters, after I bought this bike in april this year for around a grand, i musta spent around another grand on riding gear, oil, fixing, towing(derek and jim know abt it ). Just after having a problem with clutch a week ago, my bike started to feel normal and safe to ride. I clocked more than 450miles this sat and sunday and just when i started looking into future rides and planning....this thing happens....

I parked my bike behind my house, where 3 other cars are also parked. Jus a few minutes ago when I slept, somebody knocked on the door. This guy, trying to take his car out banged into my bike from the back...the number plate is bent, right rear turn signal broken, front brake lever broken, plastics under the headlight broke, front turn signal broken, plastics of the engine cowl also hv broken. I just bought these new signals when some drunkard broke them a few weeks ago. The bike started fine, but i dunno how it`ll ride .

The car guy gave his address and cell phone number and took mine and told he will get in touch with his insurance. what do I need to do ? Do i call my insurance or just wait for this guy to call me back ??? how do i claim for all the stuff...please guide...am a complete noob with this stuff...never ever dealt with insurance in my life.

My fucked up life....i dunno...nothing seems to be going my way past few months.....

one good thing is....this guy atleast called me out and told me that he hit the bike. i was deep in sleep and did not even know that the bike was hit. if he could, I guess he coulda easily slipped away into the night.

[xbootlickx]

Did you get is license plate # also. I would contact your insurance company right away and let them know what happened. Don't wait for the guy to contact you. Chances are that he does really have insurance because he took the effort to let you know he hit your bike. Take it to a dealer and get an estimate as soon as possitble.

["Dangerous" Dan K]

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.

[richw]

If he just knocked over its fine

If he crunched it under his car maybe done.

HIs insurance should take care of it but they are only obligated to give you a $$$ not to fix it. If its old etc. they could total it and you would need to prove all the other money into it for them to pay.

[slammp]

Srikar this could be a blessing in disguise. Youv'e had issues with the bike and now its sounds as if he knocked it over and caused a fair amount of damage. Notify your insurance and have them do an estimate. You got a fair deal on the bioke when you bought it, they mayt actually pay you more than you paid for it if they total it and then you can move on to a bike that will not give you as many issues.

Make a list of all of the things you have added to the bike and the cost: this will help you in negotiating with the insurance (its alot like shopping in India - dont take the first offer everything is negotiable).

[FireboltEric_MA]

Bring it to GMD Computrack and have him measure the bike, that tells everything about the bike in terms of straightness.

Most of the other stuff is cosmetic....

Hope that luck turns around for ya...

[Wishbone]

Bring it to GMD Computrack and have him measure the bike, that tells everything about the bike in terms of straightness.

Most of the other stuff is cosmetic....

Hope that luck turns around for ya...

The GMD measurement will be covered by insurance, and give you a good place to argue from for more money.

[idratherberidin]

Whats the book value? If it involves plastics prices go up quick. I wouldn't be surprised if they totaled it.

[Jim]

dude, this is actually luck in your favor. call the insurance company to get an estimate. hopefully the damage will be enough to mark it totalled. then you can get another bike. i know you've been thinking of getting something else anyways

[slykittycat]

1988 Kawasaki ZX750-F2 Ninja 750R w/Fairing
4-Cylinders
4-Stroke
750cc
Suggested Retail Value $1665

["Dangerous" Dan K]

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.

[idratherberidin]

1988 Kawasaki ZX750-F2 Ninja 750R w/Fairing
4-Cylinders
4-Stroke
750cc
Suggested Retail Value $1665

Go out and kick it over again and call it a day!

[Jim]

1988 Kawasaki ZX750-F2 Ninja 750R w/Fairing
4-Cylinders
4-Stroke
750cc
Suggested Retail Value $1665

then hope for $1250 in damage, and you're good to go
don't spend a dime on that bike till a claims adjuster has looked at it. make sure you thoroughly inspect that bike before then. make sure to point out any damage that wasn't there prior to the incident.

[jwm2k3]

Go out and kick it over again and call it a day!

That made me laugh, but Im sure its not what he wants to hear...

[naked-daytrader]

This thread is wordy..

[njsrikar]

thanks guys. yup ...will call my insurance in sometime now. jus came to work.
bike is ridable, although i feel the right handle bar has bent a lil.

i wish the insurance guys will deem it totaled and gimme the said amt
if otherwise...does the insurance pay only for parts or labor charges too ?

I rode it to work just now. the damage as i can see is more to plastics, a small dent on the exhaust pipe, both front and rear turn signals are broken, and front brake lever also has broken. the side panel (or i think decals) are broken, as he banged into the rear-end of the bike, the tail light's casing has moved, broke a lil. do you think I can ask even for the scratches on the fairing ? it did not have any scratches before.

thank you once again for the detailed explanation. trying to look at it in a positive way and hope it turns out that way

["Dangerous" Dan K]

thanks guys. yup ...will call my insurance in sometime now. jus came to work.
bike is ridable, although i feel the right handle bar has bent a lil.

i wish the insurance guys will deem it totaled and gimme the said amt
if otherwise...does the insurance pay only for parts or labor charges too ?

I rode it to work just now. the damage as i can see is more to plastics, a small dent on the exhaust pipe, both front and rear turn signals are broken, and front brake lever also has broken. the side panel (or i think decals) are broken, as he banged into the rear-end of the bike, the tail light's casing has moved, broke a lil. do you think I can ask even for the scratches on the fairing ? it did not have any scratches before.

thank you once again for the detailed explanation. trying to look at it in a positive way and hope it turns out that way

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.

[njsrikar]

Did you get is license plate # also. I would contact your insurance company right away and let them know what happened. Don't wait for the guy to contact you.

he stays in the same building, 3rd floor...so i did not note his plate #. he himself gave me his phone number, name and apt# and told me that he`d give my contact info to his insurance peeps.

[Jim]

take his plate info anyways

[richw]

Back in the day I had a friend who side swiped a rock wall with a car

he hated the car

he got a loader and flipped it over to make sure it was totaled.... just saying

[qkathanagsxxa]

PM Sent!

[njsrikar]

I called my insurance agency...since I do not coverage for bike's physical damage, they said they will not intervene in this matter. they had asked me to call the other party and contact his insurance agency.

I called this guy now, he at first said he was thinking of paying up for the damages, asked me if i had an estimate...which I did nt....but then again he was like...'am leaning more towards calling my insurance into it' and so he said he`d meet me today evening around 6pm and gimme his insurance company's details.

["Dangerous" Dan K]

I called my insurance agency...since I do not coverage for bike's physical damage, they said they will not intervene in this matter. they had asked me to call the other party and contact his insurance agency.

I called this guy now, he at first said he was thinking of paying up for the damages, asked me if i had an estimate...which I did nt....but then again he was like...'am leaning more towards calling my insurance into it' and so he said he`d meet me today evening around 6pm and gimme his insurance company's details.

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.

[njsrikar]

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.

$1700 ???? i`d be more than happy with that offer...if he agrees for it...i`ll take it with tears in my eyes....

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).

you sure about it ? i strongly suggest you first hv a look at the bike before even thinking of it.

just hoping and that everything turns out to be good.

["Dangerous" Dan K]

$1700 ???? i`d be more than happy with that offer...if he agrees for it...i`ll take it with tears in my eyes....

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

you sure about it ? i strongly suggest you first hv a look at the bike before even thinking of it.

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.

just hoping and that everything turns out to be good.

I'll keep them crossed for you as well.