Hello, all!
So, I've had my GS for about 4 weeks now (??) or somewhere around there. Been riding it all over...put about 1400 mile son it since I bought it and have been enjoying every minute of it, despite it needing some cosmetic attention (surface rust by the pegs, etc).

I come to find out Monday that someone backed into it in the parking lot where I live and one of the guys in the business was asked to help the guy who knocked it over pick it back up. Once the bike was up the driver just drove out of the lot and the business was able to get the plate number. After all of the police report stuff and insurance stuff the I was able to get in contact with the guy we both agreed to have me take it to a repair shop for an estimate. Once he found out the cost, he flipped and will be going through insurance.

Damage:
-Round cover with SUZUKI emblem on right side of engine scratched to hell.
-Dent on tank from hitting the wood planter bed it fell into.
-Napolean mirror were all contorted, but I think they are fine.
-Cover torn here and there.
-More scratched on the exhaust can.

So, now, I have to go through insurance to get it repaired, and here are my questions as I call around for a shop that will give me an estimate:
-I'm guessing there is no damage to the bike's frame since it only fell over, although I do not know how hard it was hit (hard enough to dent the tank).
-Steering feels fine, I rode it to work carefully it seems to ride as it did. Did not take my hands off the bard to see if it pulls at all, but I'd guess that's a hard judge as most roads here are cambered for water run off.

Any ideas from you guys? As much as it pains me to say it, I'm sure someone here has been through this.


Some people just SUCK! How do you hit a vehicle and think no damage happened to it and drive away. I have the option to press charges via the police.

check the neck above hte lower triples, see if any paint is flaked.

will do!

Holy crap!
New tank will be like $695 if bought on ebay.
Emblem is $15.
Exhaust: if minor, meh. If major, new OEM is very expensive. You can get a stainless Motad from the UK cheaper.

If exhaust damage minor, just get some compensation. The tank is the real biggie.
If you go for exhaust and tank, they may total the bike. Just check the OEM prices and then add labor - you've exceeded the value of the bike.

I see your pictures. 2001 correct? So value is lower due to age. Also probably not full cost of repairs. Tank already had a gash and rust spot and exhaust headers were rusty. Not putting it down - just trying to be realistic.

What color is it? It looks like a dark blue-green-teal from your pictures. Was that Canadian? Is there a 3 charagter color code inside any parts or under the tank?

Knowing the color code, a tank repair would be cheaper - probably $250. And then something for the decals if you can find them or a generic Suzuki decal on the tank and under the clear coat.

Retail Dealer Prices
==============
MUFFLER   14301-01DE0-E02    $1,512.76
TANK ASSY,FUEL   44100-01DL0-YM7  (replaces 44100-01DJ0-YM7)    1    $816.71  (part number different depending on color)

holy hell  forgot about dealer prices. id say bike shops similar. if they cut you a check, maybe addy will have a spare tank?, or it being this close to winter,  could take your time acquiring parts?

If that fool is paying a grand or so ... he's getting away scot free ...

Insurance will be 500 as a deductible for him+ they gonna raise his premiums by 500 almost immediately ...
Then you can press charges for him in a hit and run ... yea that will cost him plenty ...

Seriously some people are Idiots. I'll stand there and pay up and walk away.

Cool.
Buddha.

I deliberately park my bike further away from cars,encourages walking.

Quote from: fetor56 on September 27, 2013, 04:35:14 PM
I deliberately park my bike further away from cars,encourages walking.

ehh not sure about that my friend. me im just paranoid. if I have to park close, I park at end of space, so its visible. and I turn it if possiblewith kickstand facing inside of space, at an angle so theres not an " I didn't see it" excuse

I've lost the plot, he flipped (as in angry) and is going through HIS insurance? Or he's flipped the other way and denying?

GS500F2004: He flipped when I told him it was going to cost $750 for the repairs: tank and the small round cover and emblem, so he advised on going through insurance.

Guys, I'm not looking for a new bike out of this. I took it to the guy to look at and was very specific on what was there previously. There are a few rust spots on the tank, but now it is even more banged up, on both sides and it is moving around like crazy.

I'll be going to a MC shop later to drop it off for an estimate.

If this bike gets totalled, what are my options?

Quote from: yamahonkawazuki on September 27, 2013, 09:19:17 PM

Quote from: fetor56 on September 27, 2013, 04:35:14 PM
I deliberately park my bike further away from cars,encourages walking.

ehh not sure about that my friend. me im just paranoid. if I have to park close, I park at end of space, so its visible. and I turn it if possiblewith kickstand facing inside of space, at an angle so theres not an " I didn't see it" excuse

Yea I do that too. Yet one genius backed up over it in 2006. I was in the autoparts store, buying spark plugs for the bike I had just bought, that I rode to the autoparts store ... he he ... I made lots of $$$, the exhaust was 1200 bucks dealer cost, and we went through nation wide (her and my insurance) ... made $1300 in repairs for a ratty a$$ GS I had barely paid 6-700 for just the previous day ... kept the $$ and sold the bike a week later for also 1300 ...

Yes, @ 750 that fool is walking away with it literally free, I'll pay for it now and walk away. I'd get a release of liability from you hand you the $$ and run. Going through insurance, this can easily triple and shaft him. The Idiot.

Cool.
Buddha.

Quote from: nico on September 27, 2013, 01:51:07 PM
Some people just SUCK! How do you hit a vehicle and think no damage happened to it and drive away. I have the option to press charges via the police.

The short answer is you don't. He knew full well what he did. Over here if he did that and didn't leave his insurance on your bike he'd have huge fines and potential prison time. If I were you I'd press any charges you could (if there are any) and also make sure the quote you get is astronomically high. Ideally go to your dealership and have the bike evaluated for EVERYTHING. Make this guy pay.

In today's economy people can't afford to pay for things. Obviously the next best thing is to run. Honesty doesn't exist anymore. They're far more common when the victim is a motorcycle too. They don't want to face the reality of potentially paying for a lifetime of medical treatment because of their inability to pay attention. I mean just the other day I was nearly forced into oncoming traffic by a woman flying through a right-hand turn talking on her phone while trying to entertain her daughter. It's like people do anything but drive when they drive. If it wasn't for my split second choice to grab a handful of throttle to get away I would've gone over the barrier into oncoming traffic. Thankfully there wasn't any cars in the oncoming lanes - I might've actually lived.

Aye hit em hard in the wallet.

Thanks for all your advice. I tried being as nice as I could telling the guy my intentions. He got all frumpy so I left it at a Suzuki dealership on Saturday and his insurance company will be there to look at it in 3-5 days.

I may be looking to have charges placed on him, for the fact that he ran away with the intention of getting away with it, and a restraining order if possible. By speaking to the guy on the phone, he seems to be the type to drive around and look where I live and smack the bike and/or my car once this is all over.

This sucks in general. All I want is my bike fixed and ride like iI was before. The weather is sooo nice right now and I have the forks off my vintage Vespa so I cant even get any type of 2-wheel motorized fun.

Sad to say a no contact might have to happen. I just wish people could man up and take responsibility. I was uninsured when I hit that tree in ladies yard. she said I didn't have to do anything. but I asked permission to make repairs as best I could. ( and I did) some people think by running nothing will happen. hate to tell them, karmas a biatch

In AZ this would be considered hit and run.  Go to the police and demand they charge him with it.  Setup a meeting and ask them if they really allow people to hit vehicles and disappear.  Codify it with not letting yourself get screwed by this prick who clearly knew what he was doing.

You have a witness.  You are golden.  At my work a co-worker's Impala hot hit twice and both times the person took off and both times there was a witness that got the plate.  Both were charged.

Quote from: john on October 01, 2013, 01:10:10 PM
  Codify it

Why would he do that John?

Cause he doesn't want them to be naked reading your posts I guess