Hi All , Just after all the viewpoints here . I had a low speed off on my 04 999s , I have just been informed it is a write off , the little info I had back on email was that it was uneconomical to repair ,I asked if I could purchase it back and was told yes ( I haven't looked into it more than that so don't know exactly what the damage is but I presume frame forks ect must be straight other wise I presume I couldn't have it back ) The damage I know of is - l/h fairing damaged , top fairing cracked , fairing screen cracked , both mirror/indicators damaged , swing arm scratched , gear lever bent , petrol tank damaged and seat fairing damaged . I do have a spare tank and swing arm . I guess that lot is enough to be quite expensive in new parts !! Could any of you answer the following and give me some advice as I would certainly like to keep the bike . 1.Do the insurance company issue a full report of damage if I buy back ? 2. Is it worth the hassle ? 3/Would the resale value be affected ? im not looking to repair and sell. 4. Are there people out there for example who repair fairings/fuel tanks . 5. Is there anything else I should be aware of ? Cheers in advance
I must add that I rode the bike home ! got up to dual carriageway speeds !!!! ahem , and it felt fine . Cheers bradders got any more feed back than that ?
I had one years a written off. I bought it, fitted some fibreglass bodywork, sold it on. Broken plastic and tank and frame scratch which meant, for an insurer, beyond ecomonic etc. worked for me as the payput, minus buy-back, plus the amount I sold it for minus the fairing and paninting, i made more money back I bought a cat C, paid 3k for what would be a 4k bike if not written off, ran it a year, sold it for 3k Unless the damage is minimal its never worth buyjg to sell on imho, but if you can fix it and ride it, why not
Most buyers run a mile from purchasing bikes "on the register" as having been written off - whether that's right or wrong is another issue. If you want to keep the bike , repairing what's necessary, then it could be a good buy from the insurers
After my little off in August I had the dilema of whether to claim of the insurance and risk it being a right off or just repair it, with similar damage to you including a buckled front wheel and a bent axle I have repaired or replaced all the parts back to the pre accident condition for less than my insurance excess. I repaired the cracked front nose cone and replaced the left side fairing with a second hand one along with repairs to the seat, gear lever left clip on and clutch lever replaced. It can be repaired without to much expense if you bide your time looking for replacement parts. Steve .
I want the bike for myself as it was ! I wish my 2 broken ribs and collar bone were ok . I want the bike of my dreams back , which it was , I just want to know if its worth the hassle , obviously I will need to sell it as im 59 and cant ride a sports bike forever .
From previous experience, the insurer will offer you a settlement ,this is based on the value of your bike in a decent state of repair,less the salvage value. They will give you the difference,and you get to keep the bike . Normally for a Cat C, you won't have to spend too much getting it back together, it makes it much more difficult to sell,and if you do I would say knocks about 33% off the value of a good example. If it's a keeper then go for it. It's a bike that you know and trust , if you go and buy another you just don't know if it will be like your previous lovely bike, enjoy.
Have a haggle with the insurance company and buy it back. I once bought a Ducati back for less money than I'd just spent on the motor! If it's chassis is straight and it's only cosmetic then you've no issues. But very importantly, take loads of photos pre repair. That way when you sell it you can show the post accident damage. The cost of plastics, tanks, and exhaust cans can easily write off an older bike. Add a scratch on the swingarm and that will easily do it. It's pretty common to see cat D and C bikes listed on ebay, and you will have to price it accordingly. But if the price is right you can get your own bike back, fix it over the winter, and have cheap fun next summer!
My SS was a cat-C write off, and I bought it back for 25% of its book value. However as wrought iron said, when it came to sell it people run a mile. Would I buy one off the insurance company again? - yes, but then again I do get sentimental about my toys. You know how confident you feel on it, and at the end of it all - its your bike and now you've got it back. If nothing else it gives you the opportunity to do all the stuff you were scared to do when it was pristine. If the frame is trollied, then its a different story but that's not a cat C in that case, and ancillary brackets - peg hangers etc can be bent back. I suppose it really does depend on how much they want to sell it to you for.
If you decide to buy it back its extremely unlikely you will ever be able to part exchange it with a dealer
From a buyer's point of view, a cat C bike would have to be considerably cheaper than normal for me to consider buying it. That's something you ought to consider if you're buying it back to sell on. Other people will say it doesn't matter, but it does mean there's less potential buyers for your bike.
Under the circumstances, I'd be buying it back & fixing it myself (unless the claim can be 'unclaimed' and you just take the bike back to fix?) this way you get your bike back, knowing that it's still good. As for getting less on future resale (if I like a bike then I plan not to sell anyway) you could always break it for parts - that way you'd likely get more than it's 'whole' value, as the only part that is cat C is the frame...
Just to update you all , the frame and forks are not damaged , and if I buy back I have been told I can have a copy of the engineers report . Its just uneconomical for the insurers point of view , Its an S so ohlins ect , the tank on it is an R with now a dent on front l h "corner , I have the std tank in my garage . If I buy back I will be posting on here for parts !! Any one know of any companies who can repair a cracked fairing ect .?
