Bike accident, but I'm ok -- Pictures

[rock_rebel]

I'm assuming they'll pay for half the damages which is what they said they'd do. I was also hurt in the accident so if it's not to my satisfactory, I'll probably be calling a lawyer.

The two most important parts of my bike that need to be replaced are the crankcase cover and signal generator. Considering I can get both for less than $150 on Ebay I'm hoping to get more payout than that.

If insurance is going to look at the SUV and say "Ok, this is how much we're going to pay to fix your bumper" then it's only fair to do the same for my bike.

Insurance companies should try to avoid court more than getting sued by people for not paying out enough.

I don't have any fairings on my bike so damage done to the actual body was minimal at best.

[JB848]

Um I guess we forgot the rule..no pictures..it didn't happen!

[samburger]

Glad you survived.  What did you learn from this incident?

Never be near SUVs or Minivans, they are just plain and simple dangerous.  Either stay behind or pass them

This accident was obviously not actually your fault, but preventative measures could have been taken. Any time I see a car with a blinker on or acting like they may want to turn soon, I think back to the MSF course & provide them with an ample space cushion. If you stay far enough away from vehicles when they're acting strange or possibly turning, many accidents can be avoided.

That said, I'm glad you're okay & I'm sorry the insurance company is sort of screwing you. SUV's are the worst. Especially the ones with pictures of stick-figure families & sports balls with kids' names & jersey numbers below them. Any time I see a soccer mom cruising at a steady speed, I pass them. I know it makes me look like a jackass & I risk getting a ticket if they're cruising at the speed limit (which is fairly uncommon here) but I would rather get pulled over & look like a dork than be behind a reckless driver.

[Electrojake]

SUV's are the worst.
Especially the ones with pictures of stick-figure families & sports balls with kids' names & jersey numbers below them.
Any time I see a soccer mom cruising at a steady speed, I pass them. I know it makes me look like a jackass & I risk getting a ticket if they're cruising at the speed limit (which is fairly uncommon here) but I would rather get pulled over & look like a dork than be behind a reckless driver.

Ya know samburger,
I'm starting to appreciate your style.
You've covered more ground in a mere ten posts that others have in a thousand. Not sure if it's your outlook or your delivery, but it certainly makes for an interesting read.

Also. . .
rock, do you have any pictures of the bike at all?
Perhaps some shots of the damaged components at least?
Just wondering.
Regards,
-Ej-

[JB848]

Sorry had to do it 

[samburger]

Ya know samburger,
I'm starting to appreciate your style.
You've covered more ground in a mere ten posts that others have in a thousand. Not sure if it's your outlook or your delivery, but it certainly makes for an interesting read.
[/quote]


Well thank you I try to choose my words carefully. But as other forums have reminded me, everyone is capable of saying something stupid. In due time, it will happen to me here too.

[rock_rebel]

SUV's are the worst.
Especially the ones with pictures of stick-figure families & sports balls with kids' names & jersey numbers below them.
Any time I see a soccer mom cruising at a steady speed, I pass them. I know it makes me look like a jackass & I risk getting a ticket if they're cruising at the speed limit (which is fairly uncommon here) but I would rather get pulled over & look like a dork than be behind a reckless driver.

Ya know samburger,
I'm starting to appreciate your style.
You've covered more ground in a mere ten posts that others have in a thousand. Not sure if it's your outlook or your delivery, but it certainly makes for an interesting read.

Also. . .
rock, do you have any pictures of the bike at all?
Perhaps some shots of the damaged components at least?
Just wondering.
Regards,
-Ej-

I don't have pics of the damage but I'll take them once the bike goes into storage for the winter. That's really the only thing I can do now, as I won't have all the parts until the snow falls

[JB848]

Pulling your chain dude! Just saying is all!

[rock_rebel]

As promised I'm posing some pics of the current condition of my bike.

Pic 1 shows the cracked right side engine cover and the completely bent pulse generator.



Pic 2 Bent rear brake lever



Pic 3 Engine cover again but from a different angle



Pic 4 Bent handlebar. Thanks to adidasguy I have a set of clip ons arriving shortly



Pic 5 Scratched metal casing on exhaust. Any way to fix this?

vv

Pic 6 Dent in gas tank. Seems hardly noticeable to me, but  does it look big?



Pic 7 Scratched headlight cowling. I'm removing this anyway and putting a round headlight in it's place, so the scratch isn't a big deal.




So that is the extent of it. The only part I'm having trouble finding is a used pulse generator. Time to start calling some salvage yards.

[Twisted]

How was your foot where the lever was? Must have been a close call.

[the mole]

Any time I see a soccer mom cruising at a steady speed, I pass them. I know it makes me look like a jackass & I risk getting a ticket if they're cruising at the speed limit (which is fairly uncommon here) but I would rather get pulled over & look like a dork than be behind a reckless driver.

If I don't need to pass them (especially if they're already doing the limit), then I'd rather be behind them with a good buffer, where I can see what they're up to. The most dangerous time is passing them.

[danielarms76]

hey bud glad your allright.thats alot of damage for a low speed prang,the most expensive thing to fix is giong to be the tank.if your chasing parts here in australia we have a website called findapart.com.you enter what you need and all the wreckers email you back with price.surely you have a simerlar website for america.good luck mate.

[rock_rebel]

I won't be replacing the tank. I can hardly notice the dent, so it must be small. As I said, all I need are the rear brake lever and pulse generator, the most important part being the generator.

[madjak30]

Glad to hear you weren't badly hurt...you just mentioned that you were hurt, but not too badly...

Please tell me that you went to Suzuki to price out the parts and labour for the insurance claim   ...they should be giving you credit for new replacement parts, not Ebay and buddies helping you out...you should also get a quote on labour to get the repairs done...just so that you have some documentation on the costs...don't short change yourself... it won't be a big claim, but a one to two thousand will help you out.  Has it all been dealt with now?

Later.

[Cosmo]

Exactly mate, I know from experience IF this is going through an insurer, or even just thinking or going through an insurer, get all genuine parts quoted, even if you don't intend to use them.

Make them aware the engine cover is damaged, partially opened and exposed to elements and/or dirt/debris.

Get quoted for the bars, instruments of the bars, the headlight cowling, bar-ends and mirrors also. ALL SUZUKI GENUINE!

I stress this because if the incident developes any engine problem in a few 100 km (sorry miles) you will be able to quote the work donne and the parts and be covered for that damage in the future. (unlikely but it does happen, also it will add to your resale)

Also its dosen't effect your insurance, as it will hers, and i guarentee you they will replace her whole bumper, spray it to a total cost of more than the entire GS.

Dont feel like you need to take the cheap option, just get quoted for genuine parts, whether you use them depending on the outcome is rather irrelevant in the short term.

[rock_rebel]

Exactly mate, I know from experience IF this is going through an insurer, or even just thinking or going through an insurer, get all genuine parts quoted, even if you don't intend to use them.

Make them aware the engine cover is damaged, partially opened and exposed to elements and/or dirt/debris.

Get quoted for the bars, instruments of the bars, the headlight cowling, bar-ends and mirrors also. ALL SUZUKI GENUINE!

I stress this because if the incident developes any engine problem in a few 100 km (sorry miles) you will be able to quote the work donne and the parts and be covered for that damage in the future. (unlikely but it does happen, also it will add to your resale)

Also its dosen't effect your insurance, as it will hers, and i guarentee you they will replace her whole bumper, spray it to a total cost of more than the entire GS.

Dont feel like you need to take the cheap option, just get quoted for genuine parts, whether you use them depending on the outcome is rather irrelevant in the short term.

Do you mean get quoted for the parts without having to actually buy the parts? The reason why I'm trying to go th used route is that She's also blaming me and because there was no witnesses, it's a disputed claim. That means I'll probably have to pay half of the damages. I didn't get a written statement from her, because at the time I was lying on the pavement getting lifted aboard an ambulance. I didn't want the dealer to fix it because I would have to pay around $600 myself where I could get the parts cheap, fix it myself, then bank the rest of the money. I have a price list from the dealer, over $600 in parts. Need to go back to get the cost of labor though. My leg was injured in the accident and I'm still having pain, so that has to be taken into account as well.

[Cosmo]

Do you mean get quoted for the parts without having to actually buy the parts? The reason why I'm trying to go th used route is that She's also blaming me and because there was no witnesses, it's a disputed claim. That means I'll probably have to pay half of the damages. I didn't get a written statement from her, because at the time I was lying on the pavement getting lifted aboard an ambulance. I didn't want the dealer to fix it because I would have to pay around $600 myself where I could get the parts cheap, fix it myself, then bank the rest of the money. I have a price list from the dealer, over $600 in parts. Need to go back to get the cost of labor though. My leg was injured in the accident and I'm still having pain, so that has to be taken into account as well.

Only get quoted for the parts, dont actually buy them until you know the outcome of the claim. Honestly it may got either way, it would be unlikely her insurance company, or your own would be after a court settlement. If the agreement comes to you paying half, then go the cheap option, but if not take the peice of mind.

[mister]

Any time I see a soccer mom cruising at a steady speed, I pass them. I know it makes me look like a jackass & I risk getting a ticket if they're cruising at the speed limit (which is fairly uncommon here) but I would rather get pulled over & look like a dork than be behind a reckless driver.

If I don't need to pass them (especially if they're already doing the limit), then I'd rather be behind them with a good buffer, where I can see what they're up to. The most dangerous time is passing them.

+1

I'd rather have odd behavior in front of me where I can see it and stay away from it, than behind me sneaking up.

Although, the other day riding to work I was on the left lane. There was a large gap in the right lane so I moved into it to allow the traffic merging from a merge lane to do it better. I don't know but this must have enraged the bloke behind. He starting swerving left and right, tried to go around me on my right in a non existent lane, right up my ass and stuck his head out the window and yelled obscenities at me. My solution in this instance... lane split through the traffic to put him about 30-40 cars behind then merge back in and continue as normal.

I normally will let oddballs go by me. but in this case with his agress gestures I didn't trust him not to swerve into me as he passed. So my solution was a 30-40 car buffer. And with the way that road works, he could try dodging in and out of lanes but won't progress any further than the person who just stays in their lane. But I still kept my eye on him, just in case.

Also. Sometimes it's just plain pleasant to not be going past people all the time. So sit back, let the mayhem happen around you and cruise along.

Michael

[adidasguy]

If I knew, I could have sent a brake lever with the clip ons. There are some on ebay. I saw one with shipping to Canada was about $15 total. It was the older style with the rubber tread. Go for that type. Looks nicer than the stamped metal one they use now. Then, looking up the dealer price it is only $13. Sometimes new parts are the same or cheaper than used. Go figure!?!?!

For the exhaust, explore Eastwood. Probably call them and ask what products they have to re-do the chrome exhaust. They have all kinds of paint supplies for restoration. Maybe a textured silver metallic with a heavy clear coat over it? Whatever you do - put the R&G exhaust guards on.

FYI: If you are a member of the Suzuki Owners Club of Canada and you have a dealer that supports it, you get 10%-20% off of everything. Watch for dealer specials. I ordered some parts and Alpine Star shoes when the dealer had 20% off everything including special orders. Another dealer had a weekend special discount and no sales tax. With offers like that, it can make sense to buy some new parts.
Always buy on sale. Never pay retail!

[werase643]

I don't know how it works up NORT
but, in the good ol US of F*CKING A
It is real tough to get the ins co to write you a check(unless it's a write-off)
they will write a check to you/repair facility where both have to sign
also, here, they will not use used parts on a bike in an ins claim.  that is why most bikes get totaled.  every scratched piece of plastic/metal must be replaced to "as new" condition