I know that no-one likes to think about accidents/crashes, but what happens to these bikes? I would think that there would be some awesome opportunities for us. When I had my accident, the bike was not badely damaged at all, yet the insurance agent called it a total loss. He ultimately bought the bike from me and ? where didi it go? I would think that engines and other protected parts would be pennies on the dollar cheap. Those who are looking to upgrade engines would be able to for next to nothing.
a lot of things may happen to them. the isnruance co might decide that its not worth anything at all, and they get scraped for metal.
if they are not damaged that badly, they are held in a lot and are sold to license salvage companies that buy the salvage title and the bike, and they aucition them off, or hold it in a lot to be sold every month or whatever their schedule is like. or you have the option of buying the bike back from the insurance company.
I know you can debate the amount of money you receive from the insurance settlement, so im pretty sure you can buy the bike back if you try to bargain with them. in the end its less work for them and theyll probably get more money from you, then from a junk yard.
Some go to salvage yards and get parted out. Lots of ebay parts are from salvaged bikes.
We have a local outfit that buys wrecked bikes from insurers/banks and auctions them off. Some are easily rebuildable, some would make good track bikes, and others are probably only worth their weight in scrap steel + aluminum. [laugh]
www.crashedtoys.com (//http://)
Click on the "Inventory" link and you'll see that they sell virtually every type of wrecked bike (and ATV, and RV, and...). They're expanding into the realm of Repo'd items, too -- sign of the times, I guess.