So, back in mid-April, my bike was stolen from my apartment complex on a Wednesday night. On Sunday, the guy riding it was pulled over, and the bike was recovered. :police: The bad thing is, they never charged him with anything, and I only had minimum coverage on it, so I have to pay for all the repairs to the bike.
Here is a before shot:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/lvfmz7g6njb4r5m/20130406_154453.jpg (https://www.dropbox.com/s/lvfmz7g6njb4r5m/20130406_154453.jpg)
(I can't figure out how to embed photos from Dropbox, and at work I can't access my imgur account because I login with Facebook, so I'll fix that later.)
Anyways, the idiot really worked a number on the bike. Here is the link to the full album: http://imgur.com/a/2TE1H (http://imgur.com/a/2TE1H) Here are some afters with the damage:
(http://i.imgur.com/qTXwYV9h.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/vdunJiKh.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/xHdaqNfh.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/M4l5G53h.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/JVCjc6Yh.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/Tq0wHrph.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/LiDsnZUh.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/t9LqaXKh.jpg)
These are some "highlights." I'll come back and post the link to the imgur album when I can.
So anyways, this all adds up to one big bucket of pissed off.
In the meantime, I am planning on rebuilding and repainting the bike, which this thread is all about.
Right now, my plans include:
- Repainting the bike with a dark gray satin.
- Replacing the broken mirror.
- Replacing the broken brake (and clutch) lever.
- Replacing the ignition switch/triple top.
- Replacing the gas cap.
- Replacing the (missing) seat lock.
- Putting on new tires.
- Doing some regular maintenance that I haven't done since owning the bike (grease the chain, sync the carbs, etc.).
This is everything I can think of so far, but I'm sure there will be more. I already have a lot of parts, but I will detail that in separate posts.
Quote from: ilarson007 on May 30, 2013, 08:20:58 AM
So, back in mid-April, my bike was stolen from my apartment complex on a Wednesday night. On Sunday, the guy riding it was pulled over, and the bike was recovered. :police: The bad thing is, they never charged him with anything...
That's incredible. I wonder why he wasn't charged.
I'm glad you got your bike back. I hope you get around to getting it back in shape!
I think getting insurance coverage for the bike itself usually ends up being a waste of money (just my personal opinion)--they set it up so that most people will pay much more than they ever claim; otherwise they couldn't make any profit. So don't feel bad about not having coverage for it.
Still it seems weird the thief didn't get charged and he's not made to cough up some money for screwing you over.
DAMN that sucks man. How can you steal a bike and get zero charges or have zero liability? I would have that police station send to you in writing why they cannot prosecute. Better yet talk to a lawyer. Save you hours of time and money i bet . SORRY MAN!
When i think about WHY i need insurance on my bike. I also remind myself of this. I live in washington state where i am not required to get insurance BUT i should anyways.
"In order to drive a motorcycle in Washington you are required to be at least 16 years old, you are required to have a valid Washington license and you are required to pass a written and a road test. What you are not required to have is Washington motorcycle insurance. Even though Washington does not require insurance for motorcycles, riders must be prepared to meet state requirements for financial responsibility. In the event of an accident, you could be required to deposit cash or post a bond with the Department of Licensing in amounts up to $25,000. So, while motorcycle insurance in Washington may not be mandatory, it is an awfully good idea.
There are several types of protection from financial risk you should consider for your bike and yourself. Liability coverages include bodily injury liability to cover injury you cause to other people where you could be held financially responsible. Property damage liability covers damage you may cause to another person's property. These coverages respond when you are financially responsible for the damage or injury related to your driving, use or ownership of your vehicle.
Consider insuring for your own protection through uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage This type of coverage helps pay for injuries you suffer from an accident caused by a person who has no insurance; a person who can't be located ("hit and run" drivers); a person who has insurance but their insurance company is insolvent; or a person who has insurance in an insufficient amount to cover all costs.
There are also coverages that protect your investment. Collision coverage responds in situations when your vehicle runs into another object, such as other vehicles, trees, light poles, or fences. Coverage is also available for fire, theft, vandalism, earthquake, flood or hail. These may be particularly important for owners of special or particularly expensive motorcycles. These coverages are subject to deductibles that can vary in amounts. Deductibles eliminate an insurer having to pay for very minor losses and keep the costs of insurance low.
Finally, there are specialty coverages available as optional or additional items. If you own a bike that has custom equipment added to a cycle beyond that provided by the cycle manufacturer, you can insure that. You can also purchase medical payment policies that handle medical expenses for injuries to you while operating your cycle and even roadside assistance to help pay for your costs to deal with a disabled cycle.
So, even if motorcycle insurance is not mandatory in Washington, it is worthwhile to consider your risks for financial loss and your exposure to the state's financial responsibility laws when deciding about insuring your bike"
http://www.homersmith.com/about-us/our-blog/motorcycle_insurance_do_you_need_it
also read this link. WAYYY too long to post but answered some common questions as to why you SHOULD get insurance.
http://www.autohomeboat.com/research-center/real-life-situations/buying-a-motorcycle
Yes. its a SOB to have to get it but its worse to be without it when you need it. Unless your a millionaire which can cover the expenses in cash!
I've got insurance, but I didn't have Comprehensive, therefore they aren't covering the damage.
Tough to read, let alone go through.
All the very best.
Quote from: Gorilla on May 30, 2013, 08:51:04 AMDAMN that sucks man. How can you steal a bike and get zero charges or have zero liability?
I have found that, much as I admire the contributions of certain individual police officers who give 100%effort to protect the common man, generally the enforcement of most laws is very lax and people just aren't held to culpability much of the time. I was surprised that such a brash and heinous crime as motorcycle theft (and essentially vandalism) would go unpunished, but then again, people get away with all kinds of shaZam!. It happens all the time.
I am really glad that the bike was recovered though. It's something. It just sucks that the OP will have to eat the cost of fixing the bike up. The system passes responsibility on to the victim yet again.
Quote from: Gorilla on May 30, 2013, 08:51:04 AM
DAMN that sucks man. How can you steal a bike and get zero charges or have zero liability? I would have that police station send to you in writing why they cannot prosecute. Better yet talk to a lawyer. Save you hours of time and money i bet . SORRY MAN!
Aye, id file a suit against the thief err worthless piece of shît. granted prolly will get nothing. but make it hurt
Quote from: yamahonkawazuki on May 31, 2013, 12:09:41 PM
Quote from: Gorilla on May 30, 2013, 08:51:04 AM
DAMN that sucks man. How can you steal a bike and get zero charges or have zero liability? I would have that police station send to you in writing why they cannot prosecute. Better yet talk to a lawyer. Save you hours of time and money i bet . SORRY MAN!
Aye, id file a suit against the thief err worthless piece of shît. granted prolly will get nothing. but make it hurt
They wouldn't release his name to me unless they pressed charges.
Assuming you reported it as stolen, why wasn't he charged? Also, we have open records laws here. That means I can get a copy of any police report on anything excluding rape or child incidents
Why he wasn't charged! You should not be paying for anything. My car was stolen last year, you have to bug the insurance company. My friend owns a dealer ship and he told me that,some insurance company's will say anything not to pay. You have to be very forceful and let them know that you are paying for insurance,and some one stole your bike. Bug them Over and Over and over,then ask to speak with a supervisor.There job is to make you back down and pay for it your self.
Quote from: rowbvp on June 01, 2013, 10:53:59 PM
Why he wasn't charged! You should not be paying for anything. My car was stolen last year, you have to bug the insurance company. My friend owns a dealer ship and he told me that,some insurance company's will say anything not to pay. You have to be very forceful and let them know that you are paying for insurance,and some one stole your bike. Bug them Over and Over and over,then ask to speak with a supervisor.There job is to make you back down and pay for it your self.
He wasn't charged because his story was that he had no idea it was stolen, and that his friend let him ride it. And, according to the cop, the DA in that county won't take the case unless they know they can win.
Also, I didn't have comprehensive on it, so insurance won't pay.
Criminals LIE... and they just are going on this dude's word?! WTF?! I just don't understand why the perps story matters when you are caught with anything stolen, no matter his story, you can still try him for it since he was caught with the damn thing! - thats why the system exists, to prove innocent vs guilty.
Oh, I'm sorry officer my friend gave me this bag of money. I blew half of it at the tables first, but here's the rest, I didn't know it was robbed from that bank yesterday... I give you my word, officer, its as true as the bible to an atheist, I promise. Yeah, like I'd get away scott free with that!
I'd charge him in small claims at a minimum and let a jury decide on his 'story'. If he doesn't rat on his 'friend' (if this friends exists) then its on him, and he is just as bad and deserves to pay for it. Why does the story stop at this guy's word? How come the cops would not follow up on his 'story'... Sounds like someone isn't doing their job if you are going to pay for this.
I understand wanting to get it back on the road, so you might pay for it upfront yourself. But I would not just eat that cost! At the very least get an estimate on the damage at a shop, and document it all... then if you are able to make a case, you have solid base for compensation in the future.
- Bboy
Quote from: BockinBboy on June 03, 2013, 10:30:04 AM
Criminals LIE... and they just are going on this dude's word?! WTF?! I just don't understand why the perps story matters when you are caught with anything stolen, no matter his story, you can still try him for it since he was caught with the damn thing! - thats why the system exists, to prove innocent vs guilty.
Oh, I'm sorry officer my friend gave me this bag of money. I blew half of it at the tables first, but here's the rest, I didn't know it was robbed from that bank yesterday... I give you my word, officer, its as true as the bible to an atheist, I promise. Yeah, like I'd get away scott free with that!
I'd charge him in small claims at a minimum and let a jury decide on his 'story'. If he doesn't rat on his 'friend' (if this friends exists) then its on him, and he is just as bad and deserves to pay for it. Why does the story stop at this guy's word? How come the cops would not follow up on his 'story'... Sounds like someone isn't doing their job if you are going to pay for this.
I understand wanting to get it back on the road, so you might pay for it upfront yourself. But I would not just eat that cost! At the very least get an estimate on the damage at a shop, and document it all... then if you are able to make a case, you have solid base for compensation in the future.
- Bboy
I just don't really have the time nor resources to be able to do any of this. And even if I take him to small claims court, what is the likelihood that he'll have the money to pay for it?
I can empathize with that. But, getting an estimate on the damage and documenting the process is not really time consuming. I'd make sure you have a copies of the police report, damage estimate, course of events with an accurate timeline, any other contact or correspondence related to the incedent, etc... who is to say this guy didn't commit crimes (like rob a bank just for an extreme example) while on the bike, and that crap comes back to haunt you later... you definately need to document it for yourself regardless. The legwork always falls to the victim, as no one else cares, no one else will protect you or do it for you... its not their problem, its yours. In addition to documentation, I'd at least bug the mess out the police to make it their problem.
It truly sucks that our system works this way, but if you are okay with paying for it, then don't bother I guess :dunno_black:
But I'm still telling you to document it all for yourself like I listed above, and anything else you can think of, and keep it all together. His word might have gotten him out of it, but your own word won't mean squat about the incident years later. Protect yourself first, whether you care about paying for it or not. Then if you do find the time or resources within you, persue further. Mind you the best results in your favor are time sensitive on your end... once its in the laws hands, thats another story...
:cheers:
- Bboy
... I've had a related experience is only reason I'm trying to help here. My situation was a little different, but I'll share it anyway. In my truck, I was hit by a guy with a suspended license driving a stolen car with no insurance. The story is quite long, but the jist is I thought I was out of luck with the whole mess... I was left with a totaled truck and no one to pay for a replacement, because like you my insurance didn't cover that type of damage. I pursued him in court... guy had gone to jail and was wanted for other crimes, and he couldn't pay of course... his debts somehow fell upon his father. Nearly three years later I received checks for $250 in biweekly increments till they reached the amount for which my truck was worth and $750 over that amount for various related expenses such as tow, rental, etc... BECAUSE I had documented it ALL. Those checks allowed me to pay for my tuition and finish my bachelors degree... Truly worth the time I put into it, even though it took YEARS to get it back.
- Bboy