D
Dave.TX
I know I'm not on here much anymore but thought I'd share an experience I had a few months ago.
My (now) wife Melody and I ride down to Bastrop, TX, to first eat lunch and then get our marriage license. This was on June 10th. We park the bike, take off our gear and begin to walk in. We pass a couple that are walking out, I said hello. We sit in the restaurant and a few minutes later the same woman we passed earlier comes in and asks if we ride a motorcycle. My heart sinks.
Long story short her husband backed into it knocking it over. The lot is decomposed granite. The entire left side is cosmetically damaged from the mirror, bar end, side fairing, even back to the swingarm. They were kind enough to find us and give us their insurance info.
I call my insurance to get the ball rolling. A couple of days later my adjuster comes out to do an initial estimate. A few days later I drop the bike off at the shop so they can do their estimate. Couple of weeks go by and nothing.
It takes about 5 weeks for the shops estimate to get approved and they can now order parts and start getting it back on the road. Since only the side fairing (I ride a BMW) is going to be replaced not much to do, right? Order the parts from Germany. Wait two weeks for those to come in. Parts go to the painter. He says 2 days. Two weeks later he finishes painting. Parts are dropped off at the dealership.
Now I was told several times by the guy in charge of service that as soon as they get the parts they'll put it back together and get me on the road the same day. Three more days go by and the bike is finally ready for pickup. In all it took TEN weeks from the time the shop got my bike to the time I got it back.
Granted mine is a German bike, not Japanese. No one else makes parts for them but BMW. Only one dealership in town.
As it turned out I didn't spend a dime to get it repaired. The first week I had it back I put on about 800 miles. I had a lot of catching up to do! It also got repainted a color I liked. Didn't like the original color of what I came to describe as Leisure Suit Blue.
My insurance had to be prodded several times. Their insurance didn't want anything to do with me after I called about the initial claim. Either way it got fixed and is better than ever (very happy with the color). I was also able to score a slightly used carbon fiber Akropovic slip on for $300. I guess good things come to those who wait.
The bike as I bought it in April of 2012:
The bike as it looks today:
I have Dairyland/Sentry insurance. The other folks had Farmer's. I had heard horror stories about Farmer's. If I were to deal with them on my own who knows how long it would have taken. Dairyland accepted the $6800 estimate from the shop, they did not total it like I feared may happen. It's not an experience I want to go through again though. Even Melody said I needed to ride. She told me when the bike comes back leave and go wherever you want, just be home for dinner. I love my wife. :hug:
My (now) wife Melody and I ride down to Bastrop, TX, to first eat lunch and then get our marriage license. This was on June 10th. We park the bike, take off our gear and begin to walk in. We pass a couple that are walking out, I said hello. We sit in the restaurant and a few minutes later the same woman we passed earlier comes in and asks if we ride a motorcycle. My heart sinks.
Long story short her husband backed into it knocking it over. The lot is decomposed granite. The entire left side is cosmetically damaged from the mirror, bar end, side fairing, even back to the swingarm. They were kind enough to find us and give us their insurance info.
I call my insurance to get the ball rolling. A couple of days later my adjuster comes out to do an initial estimate. A few days later I drop the bike off at the shop so they can do their estimate. Couple of weeks go by and nothing.
It takes about 5 weeks for the shops estimate to get approved and they can now order parts and start getting it back on the road. Since only the side fairing (I ride a BMW) is going to be replaced not much to do, right? Order the parts from Germany. Wait two weeks for those to come in. Parts go to the painter. He says 2 days. Two weeks later he finishes painting. Parts are dropped off at the dealership.
Now I was told several times by the guy in charge of service that as soon as they get the parts they'll put it back together and get me on the road the same day. Three more days go by and the bike is finally ready for pickup. In all it took TEN weeks from the time the shop got my bike to the time I got it back.
Granted mine is a German bike, not Japanese. No one else makes parts for them but BMW. Only one dealership in town.
As it turned out I didn't spend a dime to get it repaired. The first week I had it back I put on about 800 miles. I had a lot of catching up to do! It also got repainted a color I liked. Didn't like the original color of what I came to describe as Leisure Suit Blue.
My insurance had to be prodded several times. Their insurance didn't want anything to do with me after I called about the initial claim. Either way it got fixed and is better than ever (very happy with the color). I was also able to score a slightly used carbon fiber Akropovic slip on for $300. I guess good things come to those who wait.
The bike as I bought it in April of 2012:
The bike as it looks today:
I have Dairyland/Sentry insurance. The other folks had Farmer's. I had heard horror stories about Farmer's. If I were to deal with them on my own who knows how long it would have taken. Dairyland accepted the $6800 estimate from the shop, they did not total it like I feared may happen. It's not an experience I want to go through again though. Even Melody said I needed to ride. She told me when the bike comes back leave and go wherever you want, just be home for dinner. I love my wife. :hug:
)
