Funny thing happened on the way to the harbor

I thought I'd ride down the harbor at lunch to see this tall ship set sail. Fate had other plans.
I was stopped at a light behind another car. In the middle of the left side of the lane. This big white Yukon pulls up behind. pretty large in the mirrors. Anyway, left turn goes green at the light. Still red going straight. I'm waiting and wham! The Yukon smacks my bike and then my hip. I realized I'm looking at my bike on the ground under me and I'm still on my feet.
So, I guess she didn't see me.. blah blah, in my white helmet on 6'2" dude who's wearing black and optical yellow jacket.
I rode the bike home after getting checked out. Something's rattling under.. maybe exhaust related. Clutch lever snapped. crack in tail light, but nothing big, license plate and bracket bent on one side. Guess I suck at taking good pictures when the adrenaline is running (see finger in photo #1)


Now, need to itemize what's broken from this and get it paid for.
- clutch lever
- left grip
- tail light lens
- plate holder? it bent back easily enough.
- exhaust? Hmm, it's pretty beat up, but if the header is bent, that's money!

David

 

That's not funny at all! Glad you are alright.

 

So, gas was spilling out as the bike was on it's side. I suspect changing the oil is in order? Is it safe to assume some got in the crank case?

 

I think you meant "crappy thing happened on the way to the harbor." Glad to it wasn't worse, those SUVs are large.

 

Right there says it all..................

 

Glad you are physically ok.
Darn it! Hope she was sincerely sorry, the casual observer doesn't understand the love between a man and his XJ.
Nothing but wishes for a happy ending.... I mean happy resolve to this situation.

 

She seemed to feel bad about it and did stick around, so that was good. Still, it was all her and I found it hard to be too nice, though my nature is to be nice. Still need to get Geico to call me back about how they'd like to account for damage. Something rattles under the bike while driving. Need to look the exhaust over really well since the muffler is bent outward.

 

It's tough. I'm pretty good natured almost all the time, but when I'm hit by someone in a situation like that - where it's 100% their fault and not an understandable accident but rather gross inattention/utter negligence.... That tends to really get my goat, even when it's not a beloved vehicle. Hitting someone sitting still while moving forwards is completely inexcusable.

So props to keeping your cool! Glad your all right, and hope your bike will be ok too.

 

Dave,

1. Probably the collector box center mount. Could be the inside of the muffler broke loose, though--

2. I'll give you a call, too.... I might have parts ...

3. Possibly the centerstand is loose

Dave F

 

Maybe. Usually in a tip-over it just spills onto the ground.

 

I have the Kerker 4:1. I need to inspect more. It's on the center stand ATM. I found the left front turn signal works, but has something rattling inside. I have a replacement, which I thankfully hadn't put it on yet. Also, thankfully, the cowling and new reflectors seem untouched. I'll probably go through it throughly in the next day or two and make a list and check it twice. I have so many pictures from pre-accident that they can be used to prove what's changed.

 

was making a reference to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Funny_Thing_Happened_on_the_Way_to_the_Forum because I'm quirky like that.

 

One of the wonderful things of motorcycles is that all of us take way too many photos of our bikes. And these days, those photos are date and location stamped too, which really simplifies things for insurance.

"Here's my bike parked in front of <this>, and here's one from another angle parked by <that>.. oh, here's a set of 12 photos and 5 videos from the last time I rebuilt <whatever>."

 

Good news is Geico interviewed me and reviewed the insured's statement and is taking 100% responsibility. They're sending a guy "Todd" out to assess and write a check. I've looked up a bunch of prices for parts I know are damaged. Not sure about the exhaust. Any advice when making sure they properly account for getting it fixed properly?

 

I suspect they will just write the bike off and give your the $50 blue book value rather than the cost of the repairs.

 

Is there a world where they come out with $50 as the value? kbb.com shows trade-in at $740 and retail of $1450 (in excellent, which mine isn't quite).

 

I have not had to deal with this on an old bike so take with a grain of salt. IMHO Tricky situation. You can add up the cost of new and good used parts and it will likely exceed their threshold to total it. You can take the amount and then buy it back at a discount but then you end up with a salvage/rebuilt title. I don't know exactly how that all works in your state but Ohio it makes insurance a little trickier and will make it harder to sell. If I were in your shoes, I would make a list of all the parts needed, source them new and through completed item listings on eBay. Give them that amount and then work down if needed. Hopefully you'll get a good adjuster who will work with you and understand old bike love. From what I hear from others, be prepared to haggle. My friends recently got hit by a drunk and totaled both their Harleys. They didn't argue and got totally screwed on $$$

If concerned moving forward, you may want to look into a classic bike policy such as Hagerty offers. We have an agreed upon value in case anything happens. It worked out cheaper for full coverage with $0 deductible on my XJ than my wife's much newer bike with no collision coverage. They don't have crazy requirements etc. and I can ride it as mush as I want.

 

Yeah....be careful. Here in NY, if there is evidence that the bike touch the ground at THREE points, it will automatically BE totaled. Tiny scratches that can be seen as 'road rash' WILL be considered a point of contact.

I have a gorgeous vl1500lc that I got as a totaled bike. NO DAMAGE to the frame, or hardly anything else. The three locations?

1. The leading edge of the mirror
2. The handlebar end
3. Passenger foot peg end.

Replace them or ignore the scratches .......butt the PO went with an insurance claim, it was totaled. I bought it and located a good clean titled frame in Alabama, shipped it up, and built it on a legal frame.

Next, in NY, you'll have to go through a full-blown safety inspection, and it will cost a couple hundred $$....they will inspect every single part, and ANY part you put on will need to have a receipt showing you purchased it and it was stolen from a chopped bike.

THEN-if you ever DO Sell it, you have to give ALL the receipts to the buyer, because THEY will have to have the SAME kind of inspection done, it will cost THEM that much, all because the title is a Salvage title from the day you agree to it forward.

Be careful.

Now, here's an alternative---you know I have a 550r, if you decide to total yours because of an insanely good adjustment claim, we can talk on mine------you've seen it, it's red, not white though......

You will still have the opportunity to buy yours back, and you can keep it as a parts bike, too


Dave f

 

Here, in my discussions with adjusters where I've highlighted the lack of structural damage and my abiding love of the vehicle in question, they've agreed to find damage done equal to 90% of the assessed value of the vehicle - essentially meaning they pay out the full value and write the vehicle off, or pay out 90% (saving a few bucks) and leaving the title clean.

When you've got vehicles worth just a couple thousand or less, this is often a better way to go if you'd rather repair than replace, as once you've got a salvage title it's gong to cost you much more than you lose in the insurance payout.

 

This is the tragedy of vintage vehicles. It is worth more to us than to the insurance company.

I find it frustrating that you were minding your business and got hit by another person. In my opinion, their insurance should have to pay whatever it takes to restore your bike to its condition before you were hit. I realize it doesn't work that way, but just saying.

Now, if you were claiming damage with your own insurance under comprehensive, it would a different story. In that case, I understand why your insurance would only pay out blue book value.

I had a 1952 Chevy in original, unrestored condition. No rust, original paint, few dents. Some idiot backed into it. The damage on a new car at the time would have only been a few hundred. I informed that person's insurance adjuster that now the car just lost some of its "original condition/unrestored" value, and managed to get 2x what they originally offered.

Good luck. Glad you are ok.

 

I'm having a really hard time coming up with XJ550R sales to show the insurance guy in the morning. Though, my approach will be "I don't want it totaled, let's work it out".

 

Time to order some parts! I suppose that went as well as it could have. $922 for me to put into the bike.
Thanks for all the support!
FWIW, the insurance guy (who rides also) said if the vehicle is over 8 years old, it doesn't need a salvage title and all the inspection nonsense, but we didn't end up totaling my bike, in part because he couldn't really find a value to compare with.

 

Yaaay!

Interesting about the "over 8yrs old" statement....I'd like to know more about that tidbit

 

That's great news!

 

so, that's about $500 sent Len's way today! About 200+ was for stuff I didn't need for repairs, but will improve the bike, so win, win!

 

In case anybody wants to follow along. Here's some damage I need to repair.
The grip, obviously.. Have some Royal Enfield grips I was going to put on anyway. The clutch lever, from Len w/ new o-ring. The turn signal is really cracked. Thankfully, I had a new one ready to go on.
The oil pump cover (which covers the ignition pickups) is scuffed. The bike is supposed to have bright aluminum ones, so I've picked up 2 very nice ones from Len w/ gaskets and new screws that my #2 JIS screwdriver won't mangle. The shift lever is bent. New one w/ new rubber bit on the way from Len. Foot peg scuffed.. nbd.. leaving that for now.

Other than the extra oil pump cover, I also picked up the aftermarket windscreen I've been wanting to put on that super nice cowling. I'll take that all off to get at the turn signal and install the windscreen and brand new black trim that's on my bench in a bag.

Then, there's the exhaust. It's functional, but I recall some ticking under the bike. I will yank that muffler off and probably use a ratchet strap to get the header in line, carefully. Then, I have an e-bay sourced muffler that's in *much* better condition which I'll install.

New parts == good times!

 

Good to hear that your story will have a happy ending. Have you got another bike so you don't have to miss the riding season?

 

I should have parts by Saturday and be riding later that day! (if all goes well).

 

Can I just say, Len is the best! I only wanted to pay for regular priority mail and hoped I might get parts on Saturday. I get a box from Len TODAY and it's Priority 2-day! Amazing!

 

This is such an issue.

A coworker of mine - the guy with the SV650 I posted about previously - he had someone try to steal his bike, and smashed the ignition early in the spring, just at the very start of riding season.

Insurance covered the damage completely, but it took the shop 3 months to fix his bike. 3 months! Guy lost the entirety of spring's riding time waiting for his bike to be fixed. Even if you get good insurance coverage, that doesn't mean things are fine.

I've known several decidedly bad drivers who seem indifferent to the harm they cause that way in low speed accidents "Oh, whatever, my insurance will cover it." Sure, it will cover the financial loss, but it still screws with people's lives =/

Awesome! Glad to hear you'll be riding again soon!

 

yea, nobody needs this little sub-plots added to their lives.

 

I got rear ended in my 2005 Honda Civic SE (sporty little black two door - 5 speed manual) several years back by a young woman who was looking at her cell phone instead of the 4 way stop sign. First thing she said when she got out of her car was not "I'm sorry" but rather "Where is my cell phone"? It was on her dashboard up by the windshield. Didn't "lob" there from the seat....

Her insurance covered the damage with no issues. It was still really inconvenient. Body shop did a nice job, but it is never quite the same.

 

A friend of mine had a nice Civic SI hatchback he loved and it got rear ended. Couldn't find another one to replace it.. but, I'm trying to get him on the XJ bandwagon.

 

So, there's a sound. I heard this on the way back from the accident. I've done a bunch of little repairs and it's ready to rid, but...
I don't hear it if I run the bike in 1st or 2nd on the center stand. If I drive on the road, I hear it, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. It's kind of a rattly sound. Since I don't hear it on the center stand, makes me thing it's only under load. However, if I decelerate, I hear it also. Almost sounds external. It seems like it's not muffled enough to be from inside the engine casing, but who knows. I'll strap on the go-pro and record it.

 

welcome to the wonderful and exciting world of hard to diagnose exhaust rattles! They're the best!

 

Well, the exhaust did take a hit. Small kink in the header and muffler resting 2 inches out from where it started. I was afraid to crank the throttle with that sound. Just ate, so about to get the gopro out and record it.

 

OK, here's what I'm hearing: You'll have to deal with the excellent view of my calf and sneaker since I clipped to the rear peg mount.
my wife and daughter waving as well (she's leaving for the arm a week from Monday)!

 

I know, I know!
Exhaust was pushed out a couple of inches. The mount for it bent, and that's what kept the center stand from touching the chain. It's the chain on the center stand that makes the noise! At least I know and it's not expensive!

 

Yeah, that definitely has an external metal rattle sound. As it's only happening under load it's pretty much certainly exhaust.

Edit: obviously not that certainly! Missed the hearing it on deceleration too >.<

Checked all the mounting hardware and joins? Any wiggle in your headers?

If your mufflers will slip off, take em off and shake them. It's pretty constant, rather than rpm specific, so that makes me think it's not frequency/harmonic related and instead is just something loose in the muffler.

 

Well, never mind the above! So it didn't happen on the center stand because the rear was hanging at full extension.

I didn't realise the 550 was chain driven, didn't even consider that

 

These things can be fun to diagnose!

I used a ratchet strap to pull the exhaust back enough. It's not fixed, but I rode it and no noise!