Post ESTN accident report.

[Snowbird]

Here's hoping the injury heals quickly.

It also turns out that most ABS bikes are large, long motorcycles which would be tough to stoppie anyway.  There traditionally aren't many stoppie-friendly motorcycles with the ABS option, ironically.

To me it sounds more like the short wheelbase and steep fork architecture of the Duc was more at fault than was the "lack of ABS." Of course, couple this with multiple rider errors such as following distances, approach speeds, failure to take into account the sun position (low sun at your back means both that you may not see brake lights AND that oncoming cars might not see you), etc.

This is another example of why I'm reluctant to ride in groups. Is it just me or do many of the accidents reported here seem to occur while group riding?  

[chornbe]

Nope, you're right on all points.

I also think that ABS is a great thing for those times when judgment slips, or when road condition, weather condition, etc., might not be favorable.

[Holly]

Well.... got the call from my insurance adjuster and things are not looking good.  He estimates the repairs will cost about $5,900 and the bike may only be worth about $5,000.  He's going to do a bit of market research, but .... it looks like my 748 may be a total loss

Holly

[servicerifle]

Well, this brings up yet another question then.  Obviously the bike is "fine" but just not pretty anymore.  It wouldn't take much to have it back on the road.  So, I've often wondered, once a bike gets totalled, how do you "get it back" without paying too much for it, or what happens next?

[SWriverstone]

Yeah, I'm wondering the same thing Steve. I mean, the engine on the bike is fine---it started right up and ran fine after the accident. It's mainly a long list of other parts that need replacing (new rear wheel, new turn signals, new pegs, new lever, new grip, new windscreen, etc.).

I know Holly doesn't want to ride a rashed-up bike, and the bike being a 748 (possibly the most beautiful motorcycle design in history), I don't blame her. It's just depressing!

It does seem amazing though that the bike could run fine, yet still be considered "totaled."  

It would make a damn fine track bike for someone---the 748 is about as perfect a track bike as you can have. Don't know what Holly wants to do yet...but I suspect she'll end up selling it as a track bike (hopefully getting a couple thousand out of it), then put the money towards a new one.

Scott

[jed]

You can buy the bike back from the insurance company or just not process the claim.  If you don't process it then all repairs are out of pocket but the title status remains clear.  If you buy it back you are going to get a salvage or salvage/rebuildable title along with it.  The bike will not be street legal.  You can have a salvage title converted to a regular title (at least here in GA you can) if you go to a certified rebuilder to have it inspected.  The law states that the rebuild has to be done by a certified shop, but I think with bikes they just eyeball it.

If it were me I'd buy the obvious parts that you need right now to ride and live with the rash as best as you could.  Just think that the pavement won't find it as attractive now so it should stay upright!

Glad you weren't hurt too bad, and sorry about the bike.

[SWriverstone]

Thanks for that explanation Jed---I've been confused by the whole salvage-title thing, so that helps clear it up.
Scott

[hobbes]

I wish I could afford to not ride a rashed up bike.



My FZ1 needs about $400 in plastics to be perfect again. (scratches, etc...) Let Holly know if she wants to trade for her 748 after it's near fixed.

[DogBoy]

Check with your local DMV. Salvage title bikes are street legal in CA.

Anyway, it won't cost nearly as much to fix it yourself as the estimate.

[SWriverstone]

Holly did a Google search on “WV salvage vehicle title” and discovered WV has another category of loss called “Cosmetic Total Loss.”  See the following: http://www.dmv.org/wv-west-virginia/salvaged-vehicles.php

"A cosmetic total loss occurs when the vehicle is deemed to be a total loss, but the damages are entirely cosmetic. Unlike a salvage vehicle, a vehicle that is a cosmetic total loss should require no repairs in order for it to operate both legally and safely in West Virginia. If your vehicle is a cosmetic total loss, you must complete an Application for Cosmetic Total Loss Certification. The fee is $10."

Scott

[jed]

That sounds like a good deal if you can get the insurance folks to go along with that.  If Holly is looking to find a good home for the bike I'd be willing to make some space in my garage.  Those 748s are beautiful!

[garry]

Scott/Holly,

You may be amazed at how little the insurance company wants for the bike if they total it. You could buy it back for perhaps under $1000. Since the damage is minor or cosmetic, I would consider buying the bike back, and repairing it via eBay or new paint.

[Elseanno]

Sorry to hear about this. Glad Holly isn't worse off and the rest are ok.

Learn what you can from this. Many if not most of us have had close calls that resemble this wreck, I know I have. Keep the eyes forward and don't focus on one spot is what I've learned. sometimes though things just suprise you.

I am wondering, was there there traffic in the oncomming lane? Could you see? I'm thinking you might have had an additional escape route... I dunno, I wasn't there so I am only looking to suggest possible alternatives in the future.

Elseanno

[SWriverstone]

I am wondering, was there there traffic in the oncomming lane? Could you see? I'm thinking you might have had an additional escape route... I dunno, I wasn't there so I am only looking to suggest possible alternatives in the future.

Nope. It was a flat, straight, utterly empty road except for the two vehicles ahead of us. A rural area (nothing commercial anywhere around). I think my last-millisecond thought process was...

LEFT: could be someone turning left, NO!
RIGHT: grassy shoulder, GO!

So I braked hard and aimed for the shoulder, which worked for me. Holly did too, because if you go back and look at the yellow strip her fairing made on the pavement, it's crossing the right edge of the road and angled toward the shoulder too. (If I hadn't been in the way she might well have made it!)

I remember seeing the truck far ahead. It appeared to be traveling at only slightly less than our rate of speed...so I didn't think anything of it. Because we were likely moving 5-7mph faster than the truck, we closed distance slowly, and at that point the truck still seemed to be moving at normal highway speed.

Then all I remember is the gap just vanishing, and the truck looming VERY large...and that's when survival mode kicked in!

Scott

[Snowbird]

How did the truck's skid marks end up on the road? Avoiding Holly or did the guy brake check you?  

[SWriverstone]

How did the truck's skid marks end up on the road? Avoiding Holly or did the guy brake check you?  

There were actually two vehicles ahead. From what I can tell, a small compact car in front of the truck slammed on the brakes to make a sudden left turn, and the truck did the same. We could only see the truck, which completely blocked the smaller car from our view.

I'm not 100% sure those skid marks were made during our accident, but it's highly likely...since what are the chances of us going down right next to the only pre-existing skidmarks on an empty stretch of road in the middle of nowhere?

Scott

[Yankee Dog]

As for Holly's insurance problem.  I had something similiar when I dropped my old Trophy.  The bike was perfectly rideable but the repair estimate totaled it.  I really didnt have the money to sink into a new bike at the time so I talked with the insurance adjuster.  He agreed to pay me the maximum amount he could pay without having to total the bike.  I then could then decide what you fix and what not to fix.  

What drives the price of the repair estimate up is the repair shop writes every part on the bike that even has a nick on it.  For example on the Trophy the bottom of one of the pipes had a scratch, $500.  Could not be seen unless you were on your back looking under the bike.  The nose fairing has a nick about the size of a pencil eraser $1500.  These were both items I could live with.  So I found a local bump shop to repaint the bad spots, replaced a couple of other parts and lived with the rest.  

The overall result was I got to keep a bike that ran fine and didnt have to deal with a salvage title when I later sold it.   Now Holly's bike is a bit more rashed up than the Trophy was, but this is an avenue you might want to explore.  

Yankee Dog

[jed]

I say take the total on the bike and tell the insurance guy to give me a call.  I'll take it off their hands  

Even rashed up that thing is still dead sexy.

[Snowbird]

As for Holly's insurance problem.

Let's hope WV isn't like NY, or she may have a real "insurance problem!"

http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,8345.0.html

[Johnny Monsoon]

As usual I'm late to the party...

Really sorry to hear about the getoff.  Oddly, I recently had a pickup truck do exactly the same thing to me just a couple weeks ago; it was equally light-less.  That's one helluva pucker moment; it seems like your brain simply doesn't want to accept what's happening.  Thankfully I was running UP (and damn fast) and had an easy exit around him with a clear shot of the open, oncoming lane.  Scared the crap out of me!

Congrats for making it through without too much wrong.  I'm really, really glad to hear that you two are okay.  Really glad.