What to do with crashed bike

[Stephen072774]

After 7 months, i finally settled on my bike accident.  My advice to you guys is don't get hit by a govenment employee.  They do not have acting insurance when they are working in their government capacity (as was the case with the 74 year old that hit me :x )  You have to file a tort claim to collect any damages and thats a HUGE hassle, plus it takes forever to get those guys to move on anything, you wouldn't believe the half of it...

Anyway, I am left with my bike and since no insurance was involved, it has a clean and clear title.  I am looking for some ideas on what to do with whats left.  Here is the orignal thread with photos of the bike...

http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=16892&highlight=stephen+goes

The real problem is I don't know how bad the frame is bent, or if it is at all.  I am worried it could be askew at the steering stem, but i just don't know.  Another thing that happened was that the ignition advancer got ripped off and the end of the crank shaft got a little boogered from the key slot, so the crank may have to be replaced too.  other than that all the damage is front wheel, forks, headlight and switch gear, fender and exhaust.

I really don't have that much of a desire to fix it, but it would be pretty easy with a frame, forks and a front wheel...  I might just save myself the trouble and part it or try to sell it to a junk yard or something. I don't know what to do...  Comments?  Suggestions?  Ideas?

[ddcsteven]

If you want to part it out, ill take thoes bars off your hands

[Stephen072774]

Yeah I'd like to kick around a few ideas, so please don't bomb my PM's with parts requests just yet... I'll give the board first shot should I part it out... thanks

[RVertigo]

You could prolly sell it as a whole to a wrencher...  But, your best is to fix it, part it, or junk it.

[Alphamazing]

Fix the necessary mechanical parts and turn it into a track bike!

[Phaedrus]

I would have the frame looked at professionally, since you are not really sure if it is bent and if it is, to what degree. Then base your decision on that. If the frame is junk, then you might as well part the bike. But if it isn't, I think it would be worth either fixing up or selling AS-IS. Some people would really enjoy buying a cheap GS to fix up, especially since it has a clear title. But no one wants a bike with a squrilly frame - you need to be able to trust the structural integrity of anything that catapults your ass down the road at just about any rate of speed  

[octane]

The unfortunate reality of a used GS is that they're not worth that much in mint condition, so it's going to cost you more than the bike is worth to have a shop look at it and determine if it's ok. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I'm sure I'm not telling you anything you don't know - it's worth more in parts.

It's a pain in the ass, but I'd dismantle it myself and part it out. If you sell it whole to a junkyard or a fellow wrencher you're only gonna get a couple hundred bucks at best. When you can buy a runner that needs some love for five bills, you're not gonna get even that much for a wreck.

[jordanearl]

id part it out if it was mine, there is always someone needing this or that.

[JamesG]

You should have been able to put in a damage claim against the ____ gub'ment agency the knuckle head worked for. They may not have conventional insurance, but they do have "pubic funds" for this sort of thing.
If nothing else you should have been able to find a ambulance chaser who would LOVE to go after them. Can you say mental anguish? Pain and suffering?  Ca-ching?

As it is, if the title is still clear (not "salvaged") and you don't want to fix it, parting it out on ebay and here is probably your best bet. Will take time, but is probably the way to get the most money from it.

[500rider]

... As it is, if the title is still clear (not "salvaged") and you don't want to fix it, parting it out on ebay and here is probably your best bet. Will take time, but is probably the way to get the most money from it.

+1

[ashman]

how much do you want for it? maybe i could convince a loved one that it would make a great x mas present for their favorite wrench turner.

-ash

[gsmetal]

Well, after looking at the photos, I would say part it out.

I'm not big on dismantling a bike but it's like a transplant patient - you have to make the best of a bad situation and lots of people could benefit from your crashed bike.

Sorry....probably not what you wanted to hear.

[Blueknyt]

ok, i will attest the front of these bikes is damn tough, ive got a big dent in mine and it tracks fine. the lower left breast bone in your pic just looks dented aswell. look over the frame area where the tank mounts, does the tank seems super tight or do all the bolts line up without issue?  if that area is good and the motormounts didnt crack/bend to shift your chain out of alignment your in business toss a katana front end on it and a replacement headerpipe and ride it into the ground, you could resorect it for under 300$ plus any pretty cost you might choose.

[davipu]

cosign it to alpha so he can build me a track bike.

[Slowe30]

I say part it out... both because I think that's the smart thing to do and because I REALLY REALLY need some parts (guages)

[Alphamazing]

I'll buy the whole thing for $100, and I'll come pick it up.

[Alphamazing]

You can sell Slowe the guages, though. I'd make this thing a track bike.

I'm serious.

[starwalt]

If wrenching is not your strength, I'd sell it in total to one of us that has the time and space for a rebuild.

Parting it out will take time, space, and tools. That's why a one stop sell would be best. Less money, but you won't have any bits left over to fiddle with.

On the other hand parting will generate the most $$. How much more will depend on how much time you put into removing and selling the parts, i.e. packing, running to the P.O., UPS, or Fedex.

The real question is what would you take for the wreck?
I paid $416 for my non-wrecked, non-running 90 off ebay. Even for a fellow GSTwinner, I wouldn't pay more than that for a wrecked bike. Check my eBay sales/survey page HERE for an idea of what running used will cost you in that venue.

I've got most of the parts to get it running, but my spare forks need new seals. I don't think the frame ding will affect steering, though I would need to touch it to be sure.

[Blueknyt]

fix it and ride it, its paid for already, bolt another front end on it for like 150-200$, i have a stock exhaust system for 25$ +shipping,  put some Fog lamps on it street fighter style for about 30$ and ride it.

[Jazzzzz]

Meh - I'd part it out and get something new(er), it'd cost more than it's worth to rebuild it in regards to both time and money required.