TxRad
Dirty Old Man
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2005
- Posts
- 45,152
I don't know what is going to happen now. I got the call from the police on Friday evening, so perhaps somewhere next week the Insurers will contact me too.
In my opinion, the motorbike is total loss (value-wise). They took off all the side covers and the mirrors, there is a huge dent in the fuel tank, the fenders are missing, and everything is painted in black.
I do think that, technically, the motorbike it is still okay (but I've only seen some pictures), and I have to admit that the brute look does have some appeal; it's more like a mean looking dirt bike now, instead of the good-looking all-road it used to be. I wouldn't feel bad about taking such a bike off the paved roads into the mud. It would be nice to have such a bike for fun, but I'd rather keep the insurance-money I received.
The insurance company most likely considers it a total loss also. They will pay you the value of the bike or rather what they consider the value of the bike. Buying it back as salvage is a whole other story and can be really cheap. I've done this on bikes that i saw on the police recovery lists. As long as the rims are true and the motor runs, it usually doesn't take much to get it street legal again. Even with a salvage title there is money to be made or even a fun bike to ride as you can customize it as you like.
As for the dent in the tank. All it takes to repair is a steel ball that will go in through the filler neck and some patience while you flip the tank around and pop the dent out from the inside. A little dolly hammering and some bondo and paint after that.
I've doubled my money on most of the bikes I messed with even after expenses. A bike junk yard becomes your best friend for parts.