Totaled Or Not

[rsw81]

Hi Guys,
Most of you know I was in an accident recently. The bike is borderline totaled due to cost of repair, not frame or mechanical damage. My question is, if you were given the choice and your bike could lean either way, would you total it and get something new or try to save your bike?
Thanks,
Rob

FYI: I have an '06 blue, 14k miles, lots of custom work (see signature)

 

[Cali rider]

Fix it. You know the bike's history, and in your case the damage is only superficial. Just my opinion..

BTW, I voted to total it. I'm a dumbass.

 

[OZXJR]

Fix it. You know the bike's history, and in your case the damage is only superficial. Just my opinion..

+1 fix it mate,or go naked and cut down on replacement parts .

 

[CHEMIKER]

Speaking for myself, I'd personally keep the bike if there is truly no frame or engine damage. How do you know the frame is not tweaked? That would be a deal breaker because I know how much it sucks to try to straighten a (car) frame - it's not fun. But if the frame is for sure straight, I'd keep the bike for a project.

I'd get another functional bike because I commute, then with the wrecked one I'd create the finest naked FZ6 that this world has ever seen. One that would make Wavex cry tears of joy. I have been looking at all the hot naked bikes offered overseas lately and am becoming more and more a) attracted to streetfighters and b) convinced that if you want a hot naked bike you have to make it yourself.

This is obviously not taking into consideration your situation (spare time, desire, $$$, etc); it's just what I would do. Good luck! :thumbup:

 

[MarinaFazer]

I'd save it if it's fixable...if not...you might have a local buyer for your two bros..haha

 

[sasper]

Total it, buy my crashed bike, and turn it into a sweet naked bike

 

[Wolfman]

If the frame, & motor are ok, then fix it, make it a streetfighter, heaps of bits out there to do the job, and it would look great. Well, that's what i would do anyway.

:thumbup:

 

[AJ Babaganoosh]

I was given the option of totaling or repairing mine. I opted to total because, not being a mechanic, I could not be sure something wouldn't turn up down the road. Also, the way the money worked out, I was able to get a brand new bike at no cost to me. I was also given the option of buying the old bike from the insurance company at salvage price. I really regret not doing that because the damage was mostly cosmetic and it would have made a really good naked/project bike for very cheap. I can really give you a definite recommendation because there are so many variables involved (deductible, how much you can get a new bike for, how much insurance will pay, confidence in your assessment of damage, and on and on...). All I'm saying is that you may have a 3rd option. That is, to total the bike and get a new one AND to buy the old one for really cheap.

 

[mstewar1]

If you can get the bike for a screamin' deal and have got the space, skill, time, resources, and inclination to take on the naked bike transformation, then I'd say do it. Goodness knows you've got a pretty darn good community in this forum to help you make choices and get stuff sorted.

Best of luck.

 

[rsw81]

With AAA insurance, they don't just cut you a check and tell you to fix it. They pay the repair shop directly, so I don't think a naked conversion is an option for me. We'll see though. My deductible is only $250, so that's no big deal. I know the frame and engine are in good shape because the bike is at the dealer and that is what they told me. I'd like to keep the bike, but if the insurance gives me the option, I was curious what you guys think.:thumbup:

 

[Stumbles06]

If you choose to total it, what happens to it? Can you buy it back at auction (guessing it would go really cheap) then use the insurance money to go the "Streetfighter" style?

 

[rsw81]

If you choose to total it, what happens to it? Can you buy it back at auction (guessing it would go really cheap) then use the insurance money to go the \"Streetfighter\" style?

This is a viable option. I believe I get the option to buy the bike as a salvage title. The only down side to this comes when it is time to sell the bike. No one wants to buy a salvage title bike... or at least would do so at an extreme discount.

 

[Stumbles06]

No one wants to buy a salvage title bike... or at least would do so at an extreme discount.

Ahh, but, considering your knowledge of bikes, and all of the helpful people here, you could keep a pictorial diary of the "re-build", and I'm sure if you ever wanted to sell it (god knows why you would want to.. ), you'd still get a good price.

 

[rsw81]

Ahh, but, considering your knowledge of bikes, and all of the helpful people here, you could keep a pictorial diary of the \"re-build\", and I'm sure if you ever wanted to sell it (god knows why you would want to.. ), you'd still get a good price.

I am rather attached sentimentally to this bike, but am not opposed to something newer and better (ie: Triumph Street Triple R). If I do buy the salvaged title and fix it up, you bet I'll keep a pictorial of the naked conversion. Of course, this would be with the help of Wavex since he's made 3 of them already and I live 20 minutes from him.:thumbup:

 

[Raid The Revenge]

I had a look at your bike. Wow~! Got a nice dosage of earth there, huh?

You know what? This whole situation reminds me of a DISNEY game called, "Stunt Island." You ever heard of it? Probably not. It's an OLD and OBSCURE airplane game; my favorite!

Anyway, whenever you crashed your plane, you'd get this:



-You have:

---A busted shoulder
---A roadrashed ass
---An achy hand
---A cracked windshield
---A scratched engine cover
---A brain tumor (which we've already removed...it's in this jar, see?)
---A bent turn-signal
---A dirty frame
---...and a price tag of no more than $500 US to get everything fixed.

We'll have you cleaned up and riding again...tomarrow!

Why don't you TRY IT OUT again, before making your decision? If you can't, pretend you can.

 

[inkrediboy]

I think its dependent on how much you will get if you total it (which is usually crap low bluebook)

I would keep it, and use it as a reason to start doing some sick customization. My 1600 cc Yammi Roadstar went down (yeah with me on it) and I used the experience to strip it down , take it apart, and rebuild it into a custom painted, lowered, and chromed out show bike. WAs a perfect reason to screw with the pristine OEM factory paint and configurations. That bike went on to win many a bike show..

Great things can happen from a single moment of bad circumstance. Go streetfighter with it now.

 

[sasper]

With AAA insurance, they don't just cut you a check and tell you to fix it. They pay the repair shop directly, so I don't think a naked conversion is an option for me. We'll see though. My deductible is only $250, so that's no big deal. I know the frame and engine are in good shape because the bike is at the dealer and that is what they told me. I'd like to keep the bike, but if the insurance gives me the option, I was curious what you guys think.:thumbup:

In that case my suggestion is way more valid

 

[Nelly]

If it were me and there was only a nominal cost in totaling the bike I would total it.
My reason for this is that in the past I have crashed bikes and they have never ridden the same. This may have been in my mind however, it was still enough to knock my confidence in the bike.

If you want to keep as many of the mods you have carried out, purchase another FZ6.

Good luck
Nelly

 

[Sosu2211]

Personally, when I have had cars and bikes repaired after a major/serious shunt, they are never *quite* the same... there is always 'something', and also a 'doubt' in the mind in my experience.

I vote for taking the cash and getting a new bike. You have complete peace of mind, and complete security. (And the Speed Triples sure are pretty!)

As for buying the old bike on a salvaged title. In the long run, unless you personally want to keep the bike for ever, yep, go for it. However, if you ever want to sell the bike, or try to make the repair money back, pictorial history or not, people will want an *extreme* discount, or run away screaming. IMHO, it is not worth buying the bike back.

Just my 0.02$

 

[reiobard]

the way to do it is have the insurance company total it, then ask what the buy back in, then you get full price minus a few hundred (usually) and you get to rebuild with the insurance $.

then go for a naked conversion and street fighter that thing and put the extra money aside for another bike down the road or something else.