As some of you may be aware, I had a bit of a bingle early last week. Wrecked my ankle and bent my bike. I have a few questions that I need answered, hoping someone can help. Firstly, the bike is a 2011 FXDF (purchased in November 2010, 8000km on the clock) pipes and air cleaner upgrade, tuner, grips etc, otherwise it's stock. The bike and I took a pretty hefty impact from the left hand side. All tins are damaged, primary cover is punched in, pipes and air cleaner are stuffed, looks like the heads and barrels took a hit as well as the front end looks a bit twisted. Now my dealer recons he can do a quote and fix it and the bike won't get written off. Not sure if he's fair dinkum or not, I'm insured through Swann and would like to know roughly how much damage the bike has to receive to be a write off? 

Cheers

im with swan and in the first two years its a new for old replacment in check it out and see sounds like a lot of damage to get fixed

Thanks chief, I read my policy cover to cover and was under the impression it was new for old inside the first two years, can't understand why my dealer wants to try and fix it unless he's got something dodgy planned!

That deff' sounds like a write off. Especially IF the front end is twisted.

Has the assesor seen it yet?

Na yet to be assessed

I was thinking the same thing smutley, only reason I asked was cos I've never claimed on insurance, ever!
Spoke to Swann this morning and the guy there said to tell the dealer to fuck off untill they organize an assessor, he has the final say

Thanks Scouser, I had all my parts listed on the policy so there all covered

This is what your Dealer is saying

Gday Gilbo, Burto above is spot on.
The insurers will treat it as a purely economic exercise. The replacement clause is triggered only if the insurers deem it a write off. The dealer has no say in it at all - thats why the insurers pay assessors. IF the assessor assesses the repairs (independently) of the dealers quotes, as being more than the replacement value (after allowance for recovery of wreck) then they will write off. Bear in mind the laws changed about two years ago in relation to what options the insurers have in selling the wreck - they can no longer be repaired and registered therefore the salvage values are pretty much scrap prices. So, what it means is, if the value of repairs goes to say 90- 95% of value for replacement they may replace - otherwise they will repair. You may be better negotiating a settlement if the repair costs go close yet not close enough for a replacement. i know i would pay a few $ extra and get a new bike than have something with substantial damage handed back supposedly repaired. End of the day - talk to the claims people handling your claim directly. No one else. If you are not happy request what is called an IDR escalation. Internal Dispute Resolution escalation. They are required by law to offer this and once requested it triggers a mandatory chain of events including management panel review. Ombudsman after that. Good luck mate.

Cheers guys, I have a better understanding now. Dealer is just being a pushy shit do I spoke to the guys at Swann again and they will sort him out. Thanks again.

Agree with the above comments.

When I had an off a couple of years ago I made a point of being there when the bike was assessed. I took my bike to the repairer for the quote, took it home then back to the assessor when he was ready. Stuffed if I was leaving it in the shop for weeks & leaving the decision up to others without being there.

Assessor ended up being a long time bike rider & we spent an hour or so talking shit about bikes. He found damage that neither the repairer or I could find. The longer we talked the more time there was to look over & over the bike.

Update:

Sorted all the crap out with the pushy dealer, independent assessor will be goin over the bike from top to bottom tomorrow. Also claiming all my gear, boots n jeans(cut off by ambo), jacket n gloves(shredded through the windscreen) and my busted up goggles. No replacement lid but I think that's pretty stock standard on most policies these days. Hopefully will know what the deal is by weeks end.

Spoke to assessor today, bike is a write off!! Rear trans mount was completely torn out, swing arm broken, bent, twisted and rear wheel offset by 6 inches plus various cosmetic damages!!
Brand new bike for me plus all my gear replaced, new pipes, tuner etc.
Glad it's all sorted

103 upgrade Gilbo, done well, a good outcome mate

Good outcome Gilbo, Carrie has been keeping us upto date on all that has been going on, have to catch up once it's all sorted and the ankle is good enough for a ride!
Cheers
Ross

Yeah I'm happy with the outcome, I get to keep all the bolt on extras that aren't on my policy as well! So once all the paper work is sorted I'll have a brand new 103 to play with

Cheers FLH, I was never stressed too much about the bike getting fixed/replaced as I felt it would sort itself out in the end! As far as healing goes mate I've been doing everything the docs say (even quit the cigs) and I'm scheduled for my 5th op today (skin graft). I was honestly lucky to crawl away from the wreck with only a busted up ankle and I expect to make a 100% recovery. At the moment I have a halo pinned to my shin to keep my ankle in place but that comes off in a fortnight. Surprisingly the thing I've missed the most since being put up on blocks is not riding with the boys, cigarettes or even walking under my own steam! Its being at home with my girls(wife, daughter, two staffies) and not in a cold sterile room! I know once I'm home mate all the hard work is done. Cheers

glad you you had a good out come with the insurance / good luck with the graft today i had one done on my ankle aswell ,tell them to take the skin from the top or inner leg if thats where ther taking it from thay toke mine , thay toke my second one from the back of my leg and that hurt more than anything else due to the fact your sitting/ lying on top of it during the healing . all the best