clsonfjr
Well-known member
After many years without my own bike I defied everybody I knew last July (2004) and bought a 2004 FJR. Almost 30,000 km later, I got T-boned by a half-ton that came roaring out of a car wash parking lot. His front-left bumper hit my left saddle-bag and, although I can't picture how, both sides of the bike show significant damage. I was thrown clear and although I'm pretty banged up I only spent 1 day in the hospital. The same cannot be said for my gear - the left side of my helmet (full-face) is scraped nearly through the shell, and the front and shoulder of my Joe Rocket jacket is shredded. A traffic cop witnessed the whole thing, and the other driver is 100% at fault.
My question to you (Warchild especially) is this: This bike wasn't just a machine to me, and I'm not ready to part with it yet The repair estimate is only $700 less than the price of a 2005 FJR that my dealer has sitting on the floor, but it's about $1500 more than the blue book value of my bike. One minute I'm ready to take the financial hit and go for the new bike, the next I'm thinking "why can't I turn this into a winter "project bike". Most of the identified repairs are bolt-ons (new plastic, new levers, etc). The only engine repairs are a new crankcase cover and oil filter. The estimate included a new frame, but all that happened is the bracket coming off the front of the headset that holds the front fairing on was ripped off - I'm sure I could find a machine shop that could repair that. Both front forks, and the front wheel are listed as needing replacement, but again this seems like bolt-on work. I'm not a licensed mechanic, but I've been servicing my own vehicles since 1970 and I generally trust my repairs more than the ones I pay for. I've read several stories about project bikes, and I truly believe I could get my baby back on the road. I have also read several threads on this board recently where the overwhelming reaction to somebody getting hit was "get a new bike".
Is there some way I can determine now that the bike won't be ride-able or safe when I'm done? Is the whole "project bike" idea nothing more than a dangerous pipe dream? Will a blue FJR ever "really" replace my Silver/Blue girlfriend (and I mean girlfriend - riding it was like having a day-long orgasm)? I spent $600 on the 25K service, and $500 to have new Avon 45/46 tires installed just over a week before the accident; if I opt for a new bike, do I have any legal way to try and get this money from the insurance claim. Can I claim for new safety gear? Alberta law limits insurance claims for "soft tissue damage" to $4000; knowing this, is there any real point in retaining a lawyer (see "doesn't play well..." below to see how this relationship is likely to work out)? I had daily demonstrations that Silver/Blue motorcycles are invisible; is dark blue a "safer" color?
By the way, "doesn't play well with others" describes me perfectly. I've been skulking around this forum (and the "other" one) for a year now, and never saw a reason to post; I don't think I'll ever be anything besides an FNG. Every conversation I've had with the insurance companies (mine and his) has done nothing but pi** me off; same with my dealings with the bike shop. I realize that my insurance $$ questions are probably unanswerable, since I live in Alberta (Canada) and our laws are nothing like those in the states, but I wanted to throw them into cyberspace anyway.
My question to you (Warchild especially) is this: This bike wasn't just a machine to me, and I'm not ready to part with it yet The repair estimate is only $700 less than the price of a 2005 FJR that my dealer has sitting on the floor, but it's about $1500 more than the blue book value of my bike. One minute I'm ready to take the financial hit and go for the new bike, the next I'm thinking "why can't I turn this into a winter "project bike". Most of the identified repairs are bolt-ons (new plastic, new levers, etc). The only engine repairs are a new crankcase cover and oil filter. The estimate included a new frame, but all that happened is the bracket coming off the front of the headset that holds the front fairing on was ripped off - I'm sure I could find a machine shop that could repair that. Both front forks, and the front wheel are listed as needing replacement, but again this seems like bolt-on work. I'm not a licensed mechanic, but I've been servicing my own vehicles since 1970 and I generally trust my repairs more than the ones I pay for. I've read several stories about project bikes, and I truly believe I could get my baby back on the road. I have also read several threads on this board recently where the overwhelming reaction to somebody getting hit was "get a new bike".
Is there some way I can determine now that the bike won't be ride-able or safe when I'm done? Is the whole "project bike" idea nothing more than a dangerous pipe dream? Will a blue FJR ever "really" replace my Silver/Blue girlfriend (and I mean girlfriend - riding it was like having a day-long orgasm)? I spent $600 on the 25K service, and $500 to have new Avon 45/46 tires installed just over a week before the accident; if I opt for a new bike, do I have any legal way to try and get this money from the insurance claim. Can I claim for new safety gear? Alberta law limits insurance claims for "soft tissue damage" to $4000; knowing this, is there any real point in retaining a lawyer (see "doesn't play well..." below to see how this relationship is likely to work out)? I had daily demonstrations that Silver/Blue motorcycles are invisible; is dark blue a "safer" color?
By the way, "doesn't play well with others" describes me perfectly. I've been skulking around this forum (and the "other" one) for a year now, and never saw a reason to post; I don't think I'll ever be anything besides an FNG. Every conversation I've had with the insurance companies (mine and his) has done nothing but pi** me off; same with my dealings with the bike shop. I realize that my insurance $$ questions are probably unanswerable, since I live in Alberta (Canada) and our laws are nothing like those in the states, but I wanted to throw them into cyberspace anyway.