Bike clapped

[moto748]

Wenesday morning in Sainsbury's car park, touch brakes approaching sleeping policeman, doing all of about 15mph, and front end goes from under me big time. Slid down road, but got up unhurt. Felt the tarmac with my hand, and it's as slippery as a very slippery thing. This is always a bad spot; it's in a bit of a hollow, and the first rain for quite a while brings the diesel to the surface.
The number of people who, unprompted, have said to me since that their car tyres always squeal on that bit of road!

The bike, however, is not so good. Amazing the damage such a low speed spill can cause:
Scratched upper and lower RHS fairing.
Nosecone damaged, probably a write-off.
Nosecone support fractured.
Seat unit badly cracked.
Gear lever bent double.
Both LHS indicators bust.
LHS footpeg damaged.
And that's just what I noticed with a cursory glance.

The bike's now with louigimoto, and he's going to price it up for me. I think it's a bit beyond the "get some second-hand panels and get them re-sprayed" optiion, so reluctantly I'm making an insurance claim (£500 excess notwithstanding
:o ).

My concern is that it may still be deemed "beyond economic repair". It's a cracking engine, and I'd really like to keep it; I was looking forward to that 50,000 mile milestone in a few months.

My other concern is louigi pointing out that bikes that go over on their sides often suffer from subsequent big-end failure.


Right, I'm off down the pub!

Oh joy.

Well, there goes the summer...

[AK]

Oh Fred!:o

hope you get her sorted out soon.

C

[moto748]

Thanks Charlotte.

I sure needed those beers!

I'll just have to see what the next couple of weeks will bring.

[deej]

good luck to ya mate

if anyone can sort your bike out for you rich can, i was well impressed with his knowledge and his little set up,its in safe hands :D

[ziggi]

no they won't write that off. I had much worse not written off.

[Edited on 30-7-2005 by ziggi]

[Nigel C]

Been there done that :(

[rcgbob44]

Wish you well and hope you get it put back together as you want it.

Can you post some pictures?

[moto748]

deej>

It actually doesn't need that much "labour", more just fitting new plastic. and replacing the gear lever.
I know Rich will do the best he can for me.


ziggi> That's good to hear. I'm just a bit concerned that my high mileage will drop the market valus considerably.


rcgbob44> That'd be too depressing!

Thanks for your good wishes, anyway, guys.
Even if the worst comes to the worst, I know there's plenty of 748's out there for a reasonable price; I saw a lovely yellow 748SPS at louigi's the other week that someone (don't know if it was a DSC member) had just bought for a very reasonable price and Rich had just serviced.

[ziggi]

You didn't mention the tank. That's an expensive item (about 900 i think) and if you don't need wheels or frame touch ups, it sounds about £1500 - £2000 in parts. If you don't get it written off i'm sure your insurance company will be better to you on the next quote. If it does get written off - buy it back.

[moto748]

The tank's OK, fortunately. I'm thinking around £1500 ball-park, too (parts only).

[moto748]

Jeez, £2100 of parts!

It's not looking good for the insurance.

[moto748]

It's not a write-off!

Popped into louigi's on the way home tonight, and he said the assessor gave the thumbs-up to repair it.


So it'll take a while, what with the factory being virtually shut in August, but louigi's just waiting for something from the insurance people in writing, and he'll get the bits on order.


Money for old rope, these assessors. Louigi said that he was there examining it for, ooh, a good 30 seconds! :puzzled:

Just have to hope for no resultant engine damage; louigi said he do an oil pressure check when he puts it back together.


Roll on! :D

[AK]

sounding good:D

hope you get it fixed soon tho.

C:)

[deej]

if i know rich it will be more than just a oil pressure check, the guy kust loves his ducatis and he wont put it back together until its right, well perfect

he will be servicing mine everytime form now in

good luck to ya mate

[Rob B]

Good luck there, that's a bummer.

[rxtim]

Sorry to hear that, good news is that Ducati are working through August, according to 3x anyway.

[moto748]

Louigi says they have a"skeleton staff".

Apparently he's got the written authorisation, and he'll be ordering the parts on Monday.

Have to say, so far so good. A couple of weeks from accident to ordering the parts doesan't seem too bad to me.
Remains to be seen what'll happen to my premiums, though. Checking my paperwork, apparently I do have "protected no-claims" (which always seemed a bit of a strange concept to me), so I'll just have to see what effect it has. Renewal's not till January, anyway.