Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Posted: **Mon Apr 18, 2005 5:58 pm**

I-K wrote:
samhasa636 wrote:
If your bike's not completely pretzled, chances are it'll only cost a couple of grand, at worst, to get it back on the road, if not necessarily looking immaculate (let the scuffed, colour-mismatched secondhand fairing you've had to buy from a wrecker for $70 a panel serve as a reminder of what not to do again); so long as the bike runs ok, who cares what it looks like
I-K you can't be talking about a new bike here.
Why not?

For one thing, there are few better theft deterrents than a fist-sized dent in the tank, a tear in the seat, fairing panels scratched to shit and in every colour of the rainbow. Such a bike can also be lowsided pretty much with impunity, and few things drive the poseurs nuts like being hounded or rounded up by someone whose bike looks like a crashed piece of shit.

The hammerred bodywork can also always be just a temporary measure. What's stopping you having them all repaired and sprayed a uniform colour in a month or two, when you're got the folding? Or slowly accumulating clean bodywork one panel at a time, buying when the price is right?

We're being tightarses, remember. Some compromises have to be made. If we're trying to avoid forking over three grand in insurance premiums, we should be prepared to be seen waiting for the lights to change at the intersection out the front of Brighton-le-Sands Novotel on a bike which looks less than immaculate.

Mate,
with respect.........get ya head outa your arse

If you were prepared to put up with that, why the f*ck would you buy a new bike

Posted: **Mon Apr 18, 2005 6:33 pm**

samhasa636 wrote:If you don't mind riding a bike that looks like track day throw back... why on earth would you be interested in buying a brand new bike?

Because, compared to something older, a brand-new bike is going to not just look "better", but have a more powerful, smoother engine, higher-quality, more sophisticated suspension and better brakes, it's going to be more balanced, its bearings won't be in prompt need of regreasing, its exhaust won't be rusted through...

For $15,000 our mate here could buy 3 bikes that match your description.

No, he couldn't, because those three bikes would be older, their condition would be suspect and they wouldn't feature the advanced tech the new bike would.

Also, don't get too far ahead of yourself. For this new bike (and my original comment was never restricted to brand new bikes) to end up looking all sad and unappealing to you, first the rider has to crash it, then he has to be unable to afford immaculate fairing panels straight off the bat.

FWIW, my 2001-model bike has spent the last 18 months and covered its last 20-and-a-bit-thousand km with scuff marks down the left side of the ducktail, plastic weld marks on the left side panel, a small tear in the seat, and gouges in the left mirror, bar end and generator cover. I've got all the parts to make it immaculate again hanging from the roof in the garage, but why bother? Is the bike going to go any faster, pull up any harder or flick from side to side any quicker?

Posted: **Mon Apr 18, 2005 6:49 pm**

Rossi wrote:Mate,
with respect.........get ya head outa your arse

With equal respect... outline for me how exactly do you get from my constructive suggestion for minimising overall expenses in case shit happens to "why would you buy a new bike if you'd be prepared to have it looking like shit?", and I might consider it.

You could also explain to me what would be so horrifying about getting around on an ugly-looking new bike?

Like I told Sam, my bike's been carrying scuffs and scratches all down its left-hand side for a week and a half, and it's still half-covered in mud from all the roadworks I rode through on the way to and from the Phillip Island WSB round two weeks ago. Yet, despite all this, my cock just refuses to either shrivel up or drop off. I don't get it. What should I be worried about?

Posted: **Mon Apr 18, 2005 7:02 pm**

I-K wrote:
tanyathecheeky wrote:Two people I know of who aren't aggresive riders have crashed recently (in suburbia)and neither of the bikes were fixable.
Sorry, but of the three components that make up that statement:

1. suburban street.
2. crash which results in a total write-off.
3. non-agressive rider.

you can pick any two, not all three.

I forgot the all knowing might IK knows more than everyone else does...

You don't even know who I'm talking about.. so how about unless you know you keep ya trap shut??

Posted: **Mon Apr 18, 2005 7:20 pm**

tanyathecheeky wrote:
I-K wrote:
tanyathecheeky wrote:Two people I know of who aren't aggresive riders have crashed recently (in suburbia)and neither of the bikes were fixable.
Sorry, but of the three components that make up that statement:

1. suburban street.
2. crash which results in a total write-off.
3. non-agressive rider.

you can pick any two, not all three.
I forgot the all knowing might IK knows more than everyone else does...

...or more than anyone else is prepared to reveal, rather. Make blanket, unspecific statements to the effect of "I know two people who've stacked they've both written their bikes off", and you're leaving me no option but to fill in the blanks myself.

You don't even know who I'm talking about..

Yes, I'm being presumptious, but I've spent enough time around enough smashed bikes to form a fairly accurate picture of what it takes to really write a bike off. Specifically, if someone who isn't hammering it (ie. a non-aggressive rider) throws their bike down a suburban street or road, chances are it won't be a write-off. Chances are, also, that this isn't what this rider will hear from tow-truck drivers, bikeshop staff and anyone else who might be in a position to tell them,

"Ah, it's had it. You'll never get that fixed, but, tell you what, because I feel for you, I'll give you two grand for it."

Which is more likely? That these crashes really mangled these people's bikes beyond repair, or that they got caught out by two-faced idividuals from within the industry?

Posted: **Mon Apr 18, 2005 7:26 pm**

well guess what einstein
you filled in the blanks wrong
the bikes are stuffed.

And i didnt' fill in the blanks, because i hadn't expected you being such a pedantic pain in the ass to make an issue out of it.
What do you want? times? dates? pictures? locations? would that make you happy?

Either way accidents can happy anywhere anytime. If you can't afford the insurance you can't afford the bike. You obviously only buy older bikes, it's what you have experience with. We're not talking about one of your shitboxes, we're talking about a brand new $15,000 bike here.

Posted: **Mon Apr 18, 2005 7:31 pm**

I-K wrote:
Rossi wrote:Mate,
with respect.........get ya head outa your arse
With equal respect... outline for me how exactly do you get from my constructive suggestion for minimising overall expenses in case shit happens to "why would you buy a new bike if you'd be prepared to have it looking like shit?", and I might consider it.

Buy a 50cc moped/scooter........lots cheaper to run

You could also explain to me what would be so horrifying about getting around on an ugly-looking new bike?

Nothing......lots of Harley ridersa out there

Like I told Sam, my bike's been carrying scuffs and scratches all down its left-hand side for a week and a half, and it's still half-covered in mud from all the roadworks I rode through on the way to and from the Phillip Island WSB round two weeks ago. Yet, despite all this, my cock just refuses to either shrivel up or drop off. I don't get it. What should I be worried about?

Nothing.....I prefer to wash mine.......but each to their own

Posted: **Mon Apr 18, 2005 7:34 pm**

I-K, your a tool mate,
Not only do you not figure on the shit happens factor, you don't figure in what if you actually screw up and punt it into another bike, or a car or even a house or a shop.....most normal people don't have a lazy $20-30 k around to pay for other peoples repairs let alone thinking about fixing your own bike.

I'm one of the riders that Tanya mentioned and all three of the things Tanya said apply. I had full comp insurance. I had my off and 2 weeks later I'm sitting on a brand new 2005 model, they even covered my extras like the pipe, out of pocket fot me $1000.00. and about $5 in phone calls and faxes. no pile of shit to ride around on and try and repair when ever you can. oh and on that subject....seen a lot of spares at the wreckers for an 05 636 have you?

Every one is entitled to their opinion and I respect yours but from my end it sounds like a load of frog shit.

oh and one more thing, who do you think the third party insurers chase to recoup the claim pay outs they make?

For what its worth Vash I think you'd be nut to buy such a great bike and then risk it so stupidly, Iif you don't get insurance to cover you make sure you get it to at least cover those you rider with and every one else on the raod.

Posted: **Mon Apr 18, 2005 7:43 pm**

You don't even know who I'm talking about..

Yes, I'm being presumptious, but I've spent enough time around enough smashed bikes to form a fairly accurate picture of what it takes to really write a bike off. Specifically, if someone who isn't hammering it (ie. a non-aggressive rider) throws their bike down a suburban street or road, chances are it won't be a write-off. Chances are, also, that this isn't what this rider will hear from tow-truck drivers, bikeshop staff and anyone else who might be in a position to tell them,

"Ah, it's had it. You'll never get that fixed, but, tell you what, because I feel for you, I'll give you two grand for it."

Which is more likely? That these crashes really mangled these people's bikes beyond repair, or that they got caught out by two-faced idividuals from within the industry?

Well I-K I was doing 60 kmh, lowside dodging a cage driver and my bike was a write off!!!!

A Write off doesn't have to be structural...ti can be economic and if a crash shop or bike shop doesn't think they can fix it for less than the cost of a new one, how the hell can you?

Have a look at the shots I posted of my crash and tell me that was cheaply repairable?...Where would you even find the parts???

As for the dodgey dealings of tow truck drivers and the like, most bikes end up in salvage auction yards and I can tell you my wreck went for alot more than $2000....a hell of a lot more.

Posted: **Mon Apr 18, 2005 7:46 pm**

tanyathecheeky wrote:well guess what einstein
you filled in the blanks wrong
the bikes are stuffed.

According to who?

And i didnt' fill in the blanks, because i hadn't expected you being such a pedantic pain in the ass to make an issue out of it.

Well, now you know better, for next time.

What do you want? times? dates? pictures? locations? would that make you happy?

Nah, just what the bikes were and a brief outline of the damage they sustained. The nature of the hits they took would also help. I can probably take it from there.

If you can't afford the insurance you can't afford the bike.

I prefer the maxim which goes "If you can't afford the insurance, it's probably because the premium is unrealistically high.".

You obviously only buy older bikes,

My current bike was eight months old when I got it.
My YZ426F was just on a year old.
My R1, I bought brand new, and, FWIW, that's something I probably won't do again.

We're not talking about one of your shitboxes, we're talking about a brand new $15,000 bike here.

No, we're talking about the pair of people you know (or know of) whose bikes you claim were written off in crashes which occurred as they were riding along, minding their own business along a suburban road.

Posted: **Mon Apr 18, 2005 7:54 pm**

can you not read? Can't you see what Mark has said? Details of the accidents weren't posted to protect privacy.. omg someone didn't tell you something - get over it. What i said was accurate, if you don't think so I really don't give a shit.

I'm not going to argue with you anymore, you're an idiot and a waste of time. And I'm obviously not the only one who thinks so. (or didn't you read those posts either)

Posted: **Mon Apr 18, 2005 8:04 pm**

Plasma Blue 636 wrote:I-K, your a tool mate,

...and you would appear not to have read my response to Mick C which read, in part, that my 3rd party property insurance costs me $238 a year, which moots your,

you don't figure in what if you actually screw up and punt it into another bike, or a car or even a house or a shop...

I'm one of the riders that Tanya mentioned and all three of the things Tanya said apply. I had full comp insurance. I had my off and 2 weeks later I'm sitting on a brand new 2005 model, they even covered my extras like the pipe, out of pocket fot me $1000.00. and about $5 in phone calls and faxes.

...and how much in premium and excess? Oh, wait, that's what_you_pay_them,_isn't it?

no pile of shit to ride around on and try and repair when ever you can. oh and on that subject....seen a lot of spares at the wreckers for an 05 636 have you?

Every one is entitled to their opinion and I respect yours but from my end it sounds like a load of frog shit.

How long have you been riding?
How many bikes have you had?
How many km's have you covered?
How many accidents have you, yourself, been in?
How many accidents have you seen?
How many smashed bikes have you repaired, and how much secondhand parts shopping have you done?

In my case, the answers are, in order, 6-and-a-half years, 13, 135,000, too fucking many (highlights include being knocked over twice, one of which landed me in hospital, lowsiding at Eastern Creek at 125kph-that one cost $400 to repair, incidentally and, most humiliatingly and recently, highsiding on gravel at 20kph), at least 35, about 15, off the top of my head, and around 160 individual significant parts.

I've done my research. I know what I'm talking about.

oh and one more thing, who do you think the third party insurers chase to recoup the claim pay outs they make?

Going on what happened with the kid who wiped out the left side of my car with his XD Flacon, the answer to that would be,

"The people whose lack of self-preservation instincts and/or overactive sense of fair-play leads them to do something other than turn their pockets inside out and shrug "I don't have any money, guys' when the insurance company goons come knocking."

Posted: **Mon Apr 18, 2005 8:18 pm**

Plasma Blue 636 wrote:A Write off doesn't have to be structural...ti can be economic and if a crash shop

What's a crash shop?

or bike shop doesn't think they can fix it for less than the cost of a new one, how the hell can you?

Well, for one thing, I don't go around writing quotes which read like,

"Brake lever, $79.00"
"Labour, fit brake lever, 0.25 hours, $25.00"

and so on.

Have a look at the shots I posted of my crash and tell me that was cheaply repairable?

Cheaply enough, yeah. Frame looks unmarked.

...Where would you even find the parts???

For a black '03 ZX6? Throw a rock. If it lands on some '03 ZX6 parts and damages them, fret not. Plenty more where they came from.

As for the dodgey dealings of tow truck drivers and the like, most bikes end up in salvage auction yards and I can tell you my wreck went for alot more than $2000....a hell of a lot more.

Ummm, are you familiar at all with that whole "buy low, sell high" thing people talk about in relation to the stock market?

See if you can extrapolate how that might apply to crashed bikes.

Posted: **Mon Apr 18, 2005 8:20 pm**

My old man recently stacked his bike. He was riding down a straight stretch of road well within the speed limit. He hit a bump in the road caused by tree roots, and then got into a tank slapper which he was unable to pull out of.

He spent 3 months off work and the majority of that wrapped in plaster. Now that he is back to walking semi-normally again, he is trying to fix his bike. The bike was well and truly fucked, but certainly repairable. Repairs will probably be in the vacinity of a few grand. Probably the same amount that he would have paid in inusrance over the last few years, if he paid insurance.

The only difference is, if he was insured, his bike would have been fixed/replaced by now.

On the other hand, several years ago, on my daily commute to work, I went across an intersection which I thought was clear. An old bloke driving a Commodore pulled out from behind a bus and I t-boned him. I've abbreviated the story, but at the end of the day, it was my fault. I didn't have insurance on this bike. That's right... no insurance AT ALL!

I ended up with a fucked bike and a bill to repair the old blokes Commodore. Took me years to pay the bastard off.

I personally will never ride another bike without insurance. I don't have $1,000, $2,000 or $10,000 sitting in a bank account waiting for me to spend on repairs to my bike.

However, I can manage to scrape together $800 a year to pay for my insurance.

At the end of the day, it's up to you.

Posted: **Mon Apr 18, 2005 8:46 pm**

A scratched or lightly dented frame will be enough for an insurance company to right off a bike these days. You can do that falling over in the garage...
Then again if you don't have insurance its not a right off or a problem.
Until you try to sell it, perhaps. ?
A lot of home made repairs are quite noticeable (hey Duane

) and make the bike lose resale, if thats no concern then who cares. Its only money..

My 2 cents, If you don't have at least 3rd party you shouldn't be on the road. I'd make it compulsary if I had my way.
Full comp depends on the individual and the risk. Some ppl will bet there life savings on black..... I won't and always had full comp... each to there own...
Lets not get personal guys...

Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

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