Insurance settlement

[alanmcorcoran]

So, I haven't read it in person yet (won't be back home until Wed night) but from what I gathered from a brief reading over the phone it appears that my insurance settlement on the Kawa will be damn close to what I paid for the bike. Not sure this means there is more wrong with it than I thought, or, if the Law of "Parts Cost 300-500% More If You Don't Buy Them In The Form Of a Complete Motorcyle" applies.

I'm not sure if they fixed it already either, seems - like they wouldn't have without my say so, but I am inclined to keep the settlement and ride it scratched up. Thoughts?

[Sarris]

If you're just gonna take it off road and beat it up further, do like Steve Miller says, Go On Take the Money and Run!

[blaine]

If it's only cosmetic,and your riding off road anyway I wouldn't worry about it. With the extra money you are ahead of the game.
:cool:

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by alanmcorcoran

but I am inclined to keep the settlement and ride it scratched up. Thoughts?

I'm not sure exactly how that works but the insurance companie(s) will only "total" a bike once.......so I think if you take that kind of settlement, your title will end up with "salvaged" on it and you won't be able to insure it ever again, except for liability.

I may be totally wrong but you should ask before you decide.
And if I'm right, maybe that would be OK with you too.

[Water Warrior 2]

If it were me and I could get a cash settlement and buy the bike for salvage I would probably do it. This of course would be dependant on the damage found. If they found the frame was damaged or steering head was out of alignment I would just opt for cash and go shopping again. If the damage is only cosmetic go for a salvage title and declare yourself lucky to have extra gas and travel money.

[dhgeyer]

Nothing was said about totaling the bike, so I assume they did not. After our accident in 2007 there was a lot of damage to the Concours, mostly but not entirely to plastic. The total bill did come to close to what I paid for it, but they didn't total the bike. My experience from that accident, and from when my daughter hit a deer last year, is that they will replace anything that is even slightly scratched or dented, no matter how minor, even if it could easily be fixed. With respect to totaling it, they go by a certain percentage of book value, and I must have bought it (used) right and the estimate came in under book. The shop did nothing without my approval. I had them fix everything except the right muffler, which had a few scratches. With that four hundred odd bucks I replaced my safety gear.

As for what to have them actually fix, I'll just say what I said before: in the off road/adventure community you don't get any points for a pristine bike.

[Water Warrior 2]

You are right DH. Both Easy and I were thinking write-off and Alan didn't say that. It's an old guy thing. :lol: :lol:

[blaine]

Allan,How did everything work out with your accident? :??:

[alanmcorcoran]

Had some complications. Here's the short version..
1) Read the settlement letter when I got home - no check, called left message for adjuster.
2) Adjuster calls next day - surprised I have not heard from dealer (not sure why I would have heard from dealer... but... ??)
3) Shortly therafter, dealer calls - "good news, your bike is all fixed!" (what a coincidence!)
4) I say, "Interesting - who told you to fix it?" "The insurance guy." "It's not his bike. Only I can tell you to fix it."
5) Much hilarity ensues involving dealer, insurance guy, service mgr, dealer GM, etc. I'll spare you.
6) I end up with 2 grand and completely fixed bike.

Not exactly as I had planned it, but could have been worse.

[bonehead]

Sounds to me like everything turned out OK. Extra money=more stuff on the Strat.