Laid it down this morning. ...

[pstelter]

Had to put her down today.  Car pulled out in front and I could not avoid...not really sure how it went down.  Bad gash on right shin, some bumps and bruises and a lot of wounded pride.  Haven't seen what the bike looks like yet.

If totaled,  not sure what I'll do.  I really love that bike.

Shiny side up.

Pete

[f6john]

Ouch! But you're still here to tell the tale!

[larue]

glad it isn't any worse, hope you heal soon

[Rams]

Damn, I hate reading that.   Glad you're not banged up real bad.   It could always be worse.

Keep us updated on yourself and the condition of the bike.   Lots of help out there, sometimes you just have to ask.

I recently had an issue and got some damage on my Valkyrie.   Nothing like your incident but, still expensive.   I got a lot of help and some very good prices from my Valkyrie friends.   Some parts were free.   This group is filled with some very good people.   One never knows if one does not ask.

[baldo]

I did the same thing at the tender age of 16. Broke two vertebrae.......

I think it's just something that happens automatically. I don't remember having a conscience thought, it just happened. And it hurt....a lot.

Glad to hear you can talk about it.

[franco6]

Not going to waste time to copy this last response .Obviously made by a bitter person with anger and too much time on their hands.
It happened this way, going down a busy street ,I always leave enough space in front to maneuver this big bike ,when a car runs the yield sign coming from the right and slams the brakes right in front of me.the brakes locked so either go easy on the brakes, hit the car and total the bike s front end. Or lay it down on the left side srap my knee and come to rest under the rear of said car. the engine guards did their job, the bike is fine . Right it up and went to work a bit shook up.
Yes, I had to lay the bike down and am  rather satisfied with that decision

[baldo]

Not going to waste time to copy this last response .Obviously made by a bitter person with anger and too much time on their hands.

Are you talking about my post?

[Detn8er]

Where is that Willow Fellow with the bad filter.......... Time to clean up some "residue"

[old2soon]

Laid mine down last August. Only thing broken was my left ankle. Well a bit of pride but W T H. You can talk bout it so dat are a good thing. When you figure out WHAT you may need to git er back in da wind-let us know. Git yerself healed up then worry bout the M/C. RIDE SAFE.

[Oss]

Been in two accidents and afterward on thinkin about it I thought  in some way or other I might have reacted differently Never purposely laid a bike down yet

Now if a car jumped a median and landed on me maybe I would change my mind but that thank god hasnt happened to me either

Maybe I "should " have seen the oil  or anticipated traffic or cage running light or stop sign



remember MSF taught 8-5 -2 second rule for recognizing threats and vectors and check your six

Also ATGATT  for me its the hit-air jacket for others it may be flip flops  whatever is your comfort level is right for you

Hey Detn8er good to see you around !

[oldsmokey]

Even though you may be limping and quite upset, at least your up right and able to tell the tale. Get healed and hope for the best. I know how it is.

[RainMaker]

Not going to waste time to copy this last response .Obviously made by a bitter person with anger and too much time on their hands.

Are you talking about my post?

Couldn't be.  Looks like a post got deleted.

[baldo]

Not going to waste time to copy this last response .Obviously made by a bitter person with anger and too much time on their hands.

Are you talking about my post?

Couldn't be.  Looks like a post got deleted.

Oh....good....

[The emperor has no clothes]

Not going to waste time to copy this last response .Obviously made by a bitter person with anger and too much time on their hands.

Are you talking about my post?

Couldn't be.  Looks like a post got deleted.

Oh....good....

Now we need some Sherlock Holmesing to find out who said what. 

[baldo]

Not going to waste time to copy this last response .Obviously made by a bitter person with anger and too much time on their hands.

Are you talking about my post?

Couldn't be.  Looks like a post got deleted.

Oh....good....

Now we need some Sherlock Holmesing to find out who said what. 

lol.....good luck...

[sandy]

MSF classes teach that laying it down is the result of poor riding skills. Their facts show that hard braking till impact results in fewer injuries. Never lay it down before impact.

[mark81]

Glad you're here to tell the tale. Bikes can be replaced

[Firefighter]

MSF classes teach that laying it down is the result of poor riding skills. Their facts show that hard braking till impact results in fewer injuries. Never lay it down before impact.


Depends on the situation don't you think! There is no one size fits all as there are many possible scenarios. I have been to quite a few MC accidents myself and I think straight into an obstacle might be fewer injuries but causes more deaths. Just an observed opinion.

[scooperhsd]

When I did my MSF training (both beginner and Advanced)  - "laying the bike down to avoid an accident is an oxymoron".  You've already had the accident.

with that being said - at least you're still with us.  Hope your recovery goes well.

[Raider]

dang glad you're here to talk about it!  Hope the bike recovers quickly!   

[pstelter]

Thanks for all the well wishes (from both threads) !

Looking for opinions...the adjustor for the other party's insurance company is going to look at the bike tomorrow.  Will he let me kook at the bike with him?  Should I be there with him?  I'm thinking it would do more harm than good...

[RainMaker]

Thanks for all the well wishes (from both threads) !

Looking for opinions...the adjustor for the other party's insurance company is going to look at the bike tomorrow.  Will he let me kook at the bike with him?  Should I be there with him?  I'm thinking it would do more harm than good...

They will look at this as an old motorcycle, worth less than it is.   You should view it as a classic and find examples of a similar Valkyrie on sale, be it Ebay or other classifieds (like the VRCC classifieds) to argue your case.  it will probably be totaled and if that is the case, you want as much as you can get for it and, if you can repair it, the option to buy the bike as a salvage piece and then use the extra money to repair it and hopefully still have some coin left afterwards.

[Jess from VA]

I'd always like to be there when the bike is looked at by the adjuster.  Depending on where they took it (junk yard or PD storage), it's your bike and you have every right to be there (unless they won't let you into the yard).  The adjuster has no right to keep you out.  Your attitude should be I'm just here to help, and answer any questions I can about Valkyries.

Your first question should be.... do you regularly do estimates on motorcycles?  Because most insurance adjusters don't do bikes (or don't know much about  them).  When a local shop wrecked my bike on the test ride after service, the shop's insurer contacted a specialist that only did bikes.  They generally know a lot more about bent frames and such than ordinary adjusters.

My approach would be to watch and ask questions, not to nitpick the guy.  Like most business, it's better to have a friend than a foe.  

And some parts may no longer be available new, and have to be found used, and maybe painted to match.

If you think he's missed something, ask about it.

If you haven't already done it, you should take a digi camera with you and get a full compliment of close detailed photos.

If you have personal property on the bike, you should be able to take it with you.

If you get an opinion that the bike is totaled (repair is more than fair market value), come back and tell us, that brings up a number of different options.

The estimate will not (normally) be formally completed on site.  He'll do it later in his office (after looking at parts costs).  If, after seeing your bike, you are of a mind to get it fixed back up and keep it, tell him that.  If you think you'd rather it was totaled for best price, tell him that.  He may have no alternative in what he decides either way, but if he knows what you are wanting, and it's a close call, he might be able to help you out when punching up numbers back at his office.

One other thing.  In dealing with the at-fault party's insurer, get a single point of contact and write down their name and number.  Cultivate a positive relationship with that person.  When they understand you are just trying to be made whole (medicals, costs, repair or total) but not make a profit, or claim lifelong whiplash, they can be very helpful.  Remember,  Valks are going for $5-6K these days.  Going to a hospital/doctors for human repairs is rarely that cheap.

[Valker]

...and don't forget to list EVERY SINGLE aftermarket item on the bike like custom seats, pegs, paint, rails, etc.

[oldsmokey]

It's your property as stated. It will likely be a challenge. If totaled, suggest they find one and just replace it for like kind. If not at one of their facilities they will be paying storage fees and want to end them ASAP. They may play hard ball, this is the offer and now claim you will be responsible for storage.

One of my boys had a check in hand 2 hours after adjuster viewed it. Not a bike  just a 20 year old truck with reasonable book value. Other party admitted fault right off. Gieco was involved (took 1/3 of pay off and back on road)

Commerce, Liberty, State farm are known to be troublesome.

Best of luck.

[pstelter]

So the adjustor called and said it was totaled...estimated repairs costs (parts + $54 per hour labor) came to $9200 and change...I wasn't there - really was in no condition to be there.

He did say that it would be possible for me to buy it back.  Essentially Amica buys it from me at what its value is, and I buy it back for the salvage costs.  However, I need to hear from the Amica total loss center to get a determination on  both the pre-accident value and the salvage value.  This is not unexpected...but, DAMN I loved riding that bike (for the 300 miles I owned her).

From the adjustor...the forks are pretty bent.  Front fender mangled.  Oil cooler dented.  Some chrome and side covers scuffed. 

Have not seen the damage yet with my eyeballs, yet.  However, unless they really try and screw me over, I will probably just take the payment.  Even if I thought that I could get it fixed, with winter coming on here in CT, it is a coordination challenge that I am not sure I can take on at this point.  By the time repairs are done, it will probably be into November.  Taking the $$$ now allows me to get the GL1200A ready to sell in the spring and use money from that sale along with the insurance claim to get me another bike.  If I stay Valk, I think I will go for at least a Tourer, maybe the Interstate.  Dealer in NJ has an 01 IS (black & silver) with 6700 miles for about $9k now.  Of course, I could also win the HD Street Glide given away every year by the New England Carousel Museum (that I have yet to win)....

Would like to re-iterate the appreciation I have for the members here who have given me some maintenance advice during my 2 months as a Valk owner and support during this incident .  Even those whose advice is more pointed than others...just because some truths may be hard to hear, does not make them untrue.  (I also work in the nuclear shipbuilding industry...so I have seen my share of "extremely directional" criticisms - Naval Reactors will forever retain that crown).

Looking forward to seeing what the spring will bring!

Keep the shiny sides up...

Pete

[Jess from VA]

Do not forget, if you did try to buy it back (and they like to start a bit high for buyback price) (it isn't so much greed as ins co's do not like to total something that then gets fixed and put back on the road, so they like to make it expensive for you, so you decide against doing it), it will usually (but not always) come with a salvage title, which is fine if you fix, ride and keep it forever.  But no one wants to buy a salvage title bike, except maybe someone who parts it out, so it's fair market value is greatly reduced.  And, if you do fix it, you generally have to satisfy any new insurance company, and the state you live in that it is safely fixed, and they can both be pretty strict about condition before they will insure you on it, or give you a registration and plate for it. They do inspections you have to pass.

So choose wisely.  IF they lowball the total money, do not be afraid to start emailing them big listings of used valks with similar miles and conditions to see what they are selling for.  Though asking sales prices are not perfect proof of actual selling prices (and those are harder to find than asking prices).  And keep the money they owe you for medicals completely separate from valk total money.  Oranges and apples.

[The emperor has no clothes]

So the adjustor called and said it was totaled...estimated repairs costs (parts + $54 per hour labor) came to $9200 and change...I wasn't there - really was in no condition to be there.

He did say that it would be possible for me to buy it back.  Essentially Amica buys it from me at what its value is, and I buy it back for the salvage costs.  However, I need to hear from the Amica total loss center to get a determination on  both the pre-accident value and the salvage value.  This is not unexpected...but, DAMN I loved riding that bike (for the 300 miles I owned her).

From the adjustor...the forks are pretty bent.  Front fender mangled.  Oil cooler dented.  Some chrome and side covers scuffed. 

Have not seen the damage yet with my eyeballs, yet.  However, unless they really try and screw me over, I will probably just take the payment.  Even if I thought that I could get it fixed, with winter coming on here in CT, it is a coordination challenge that I am not sure I can take on at this point.  By the time repairs are done, it will probably be into November.  Taking the $$$ now allows me to get the GL1200A ready to sell in the spring and use money from that sale along with the insurance claim to get me another bike.  If I stay Valk, I think I will go for at least a Tourer, maybe the Interstate.  Dealer in NJ has an 01 IS (black & silver) with 6700 miles for about $9k now.  Of course, I could also win the HD Street Glide given away every year by the New England Carousel Museum (that I have yet to win)....

Would like to re-iterate the appreciation I have for the members here who have given me some maintenance advice during my 2 months as a Valk owner and support during this incident .  Even those whose advice is more pointed than others...just because some truths may be hard to hear, does not make them untrue.  (I also work in the nuclear shipbuilding industry...so I have seen my share of "extremely directional" criticisms - Naval Reactors will forever retain that crown).

Looking forward to seeing what the spring will bring!

Keep the shiny sides up...

Pete

If you decide to go with an Interstate, I'm sure you can find one for much less than 9k. 

[Hook#3287]

If you decide to go with an Interstate, I'm sure you can find one for much less than 9k.

Absolutely!


Pete, if you really think a new/different Valk is in your future, just sit back and watch the Classifieds here, E-bay or Craigslist.

There are numerous excellent low mileage Valks available at most times.

If you find one out of your distance threshold, most times someone on this board will check out a bike for you.  Then you could get it shipped or take a jet and ride it home.

I use these bookmarks to look around and have found 3 Valks, I bought, with them.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/6000/i.html?_nkw=honda+valkyrie&_sc=1&_sop=3&_sticky=1&_rdc=1

http://www.google.com/search?q=honda+valkyrie+site%3Acraigslist.org&rlz=1C1DVCL_enUS494US495&aq=f&oq=honda+&sugexp=chrome,mod=0&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

[franco6]

Baldo , no There was a rather long rent about how some have crashes and others lay it down. All depends on the situation ,  state of mind, and anticipation,
ps Always as I ride and see dangerous situations ,the question comes -What would I do if this or that happened ? 

[Bighead]

Oil cooler?

[pstelter]

Oil cooler?

His words, not mine.