Ducati Monster Forum

Had this posted in my local forum but the suggestion to post here was made as well.  So here we go......

Sometimes a good day just has to get spoiled by some idiot. Was having a grand time at the gym this morning when one of the staff came up and gave me a note from a woman who backed her Range Rover into my bike. How she didn't see my beautiful bike, I'm not sure or why she needed to back up so far ( I gave her so much room to move back) has left me speechless as well. I am thankful that she did the right thing and provided her contact information but am still a little sad at the current state on my baby Monster. 

When she tipped my bike the following things now have deep scratches/dents and missing paint:

  - Tank
  - Left lever
  - Left mirror
  - Left Apex Clip-on bar
  - Left Termi exhaust can
  - Left foot peg

Just wondering since I've never been involved in an incident like this, what State Farm will likely do. I'm hoping they'll do the right things and just buy me a new left lever, mirror, peg and clip-on. However, I'm not sure what they're going to say about the termi that's scratched. I mean how do you fix scratched carbon fiber?

I've already called my insurance company and made them aware of the situation, taken pictures of my bike and am taking it in for estimates tomorrow. With a little over $2,500.00 in damaged parts is it likely that they will just fix everything or am I in for a fight with the insurance company? Just want it fixed to the way it was at 9:00 when I entered the gym.

Anyone had an experience like this and can help, I would greatly appreciate the insight.

Do you have coverage for aftermarket parts?

Her insurance needs to cover it - not his.

Yeah unless you showed them your bike with all the aftermarket stuff on it.  IE sent them in photos of it with all the mods on, they wont cover it.

They stated it in your policy, factory items only.  I doubt most have given photos with mods on as it increases your monthly rates.  Sorry to say things probably wont go the way you'd like them to.

I could be wrong, stranger things have happened.  However i strongly doubt they will do much for the aftermarket items

Poster above me is most likely correct, ignore my error above  [beer]

My brother had a crash that did almost no damage (100% not his fault, btw). It cracked ONE of the aftermarket exhaust cans pretty badly and nothing else was affected at all. The insurance totaled it. I don't want to worry you, but depending on the state if the damage is 80% of the cost of the total, they may just cash it out. If that happens, take the buyback option and use the check for the value of the bike to get the replacement parts (saving the remainder for the next bike!).

good luck

If redxblack's scenario turns out correct and the bike is considered a total loss there is an alternative to the buyback option.  If the adjuster knows you want to keep the bike and trusts you not to try and get more money after settlement the bike can be written for a few dollars short of total loss.  This will avoid salvage title.

+1 with SA_S2R, her insurance should cover it, but that being said be prepared for some stonewalling. I have State Farm. I've filed a few claims on my FZR1000 which were promptly honored by SF. They even paid for a new "Yamaha" bike cover when my hoopty cover was ripped during a storm.

Lol! You said "hoopty"!  [laugh]

you're forgeting the obvious.

you have to get revenge.


next time she is there, you need to tip over her range rover

i have nothing to add to the insurance question but i do want to express how much this really sucks.  my wife and i have a running joke that when you buy a range rover, they give you a lobotomy at the dealership.  at least it seems that way based on all the idiots in LA driving around in them.  sorry man.

since it tipped to the left you should check the kick stand and surrounding areas for damage, there was a post a while back of an 848 that got pushed over to the left and it cracked the engine case at the kick stand

When my 998 was tipped over by an SUV driver nice enough to leave her info (as opposed to the times my Monster was tipped over hit-and-run style), her insurance asked for a repair quote and sent me a check right away.  No need to contact your insurance at all unless her insurance hassles you or tries to slow down the process.  Then you can take the check and do what you want with it.

Good point.  The side stand will often bend slightly.  If so, you'll want to get that replaced so your bike doesn't lean too far over.  Also, the index tabs on your left hand controls (horn, high beam, etc.) often snap.  They are little plastic pins that fit into holes on the bar.  Not entirely necessary, but worth getting the money to replace that part.

I'll be sure to have the shop that's giving me my estimate check that area thoroughly. 


Hahahah.....I do have some friends that are built like offensive linemen.

 
So far so good with the insurance company.  Just got a call stating she accepted responsibility.  Need to send them damage pictures and estimate(s). 

When a similar situation happened to me... i was quoted about that much for JUST the tank.  As they would replace it...
http://www.ducatiperformance.com/ducati-oem-fuel-tankred-695-mr07-p-126107.html (http://www.ducatiperformance.com/ducati-oem-fuel-tankred-695-mr07-p-126107.html)
The parts can add up VERY fast.  I had tank damage, lever, blinker, mirror, and a termi, and i was looking at over 4K. 

Makes me very happy to hear that some people still own up to their actions. 

Good luck on getting it repaired and maybe you can get some upgrades while you're already replacing items.

Something I have learned about accidents, and I've had a few, is that if you are not at fault, deal with the other partys' insurance company and not yours.  You shouldn't even tell your insurance company because even if its 100% her fault and her company pays out 100%, it still goes down as an incident on your account.  It sucks.  The past two accidents my wife and I have had were when we were parked or stopped.  I didn't even bother telling my insurance co. and went after the other peoples insurance co.  Everything worked out fine and I didn't get charged for either.  I know every situation could be different but this was something that I had learned from my experiences with dealing with the insurance bigs.

UPDATE -

So the final estimate was completed ($4300) to fix her back to her pre-accident condition.  State Farm adjuster came out to look at my bike and after everything she deemed the bike was a total loss.  KBB is $5885.00 not including the aftermarket parts (levers, termi, headlight, bars, etc) I'm supposed to hear from State Farm tomorrow as to what my options are. Anyone had experience with whats gonna happen next? Is buying the bike back the next best option if I want to keep her?

Thanks for the guidance. 

yeah, if you can fix her up, ask if you can keep or buyback the bike, preferably without having to give up the title so that it doesn't get a salvage title.

Unfortunately in MD - they'll have to title her as such so any work I put into her will be lost on account of the fact that she will have that blemish on her record.  Thinking about parting my beloved bike and buying another one.  AS much as I love this bike putting more money means nothing with a salvaged title. 

So I went with the buyback option.  After everything is said and done I get $4300.00 which includes the buyback price of $1200.00 bucks for my bike.  Is $1200.00 for a bike with 9K miles a lot to pay for a buy back?

Umm no, you got a great deal. Now you either have a cheap track bike, or you could part it out and make a ton of money.

Here's a question for you, are/were you making payments on the bike, or do you actually own it?  If it is yours, as in the title is clear and in your hands, the insurance cannot total it out without your permission. 

Interesting thought.  I will be curious to see if this is the case, cause then you would really be getting hooked up.

I gave them permission because it was either that or we go round and round with offers and counter offers.  It's gonna have a salvaged title now, which means it will be tough to sell but I figure I should still hold on to her as she is my first bike and FIRST Ducati. Only been riding her since July and I have a whole lot more learning to do.  Although I am sure hte SD could do laps around her.   

I just feel torn between fixing the scratches or buying another bike like an S2R800 or S2R1K.  The choices

I told the insurance company I was keeping her and not parting her out.  So I feel like I kinda have to be true to my word.
I also just installed Showa forks from an ST, Apex clip-ons, new Pilot Pure 2s, my dual headlights and other bits and pieces.

I don't see why you would buy another bike at this point.  You just started riding, and you already have a nicer bike to start on that most people.  You also have more than enough power than you need as a noob.  The main thing you would be getting from an s2r800 or a s2r1k is more power.  So, just put that money in your pocket, be content, and get out and ride.

My two cents.

I've never had to deal with a salvage title, what's the big deal other then it being hard to resale?  Higher ins rates?   

I say fix her up and be happy..

sometimes it is a pain in the ass to get it inspected to be road worthy again. If you end up selling it and get $2k, someone gets a sweet deal and you end up with $6300 between settlement and sale. You come out ahead regardless. Any more aftermarket bling you add, just take it off before you sell later. Ride it until you want something else. It's the same bike it was a month ago.

From MVA's site:
"In Maryland, anyone who wishes to re-title a salvaged vehicle is required to undergo a salvage inspection to prove that the vehicle is safe to drive. A salvage certificate is then issued with a “brand”. Salvage certificates are branded in Maryland by the following categories:

Damage to the vehicle is greater than the market value
Damage to the vehicle is equal to or less than the market value, (the title will not be branded)
The vehicle is not rebuildable, not to be re-titled
Or the vehicle has been either stolen or abandoned.
Once the Maryland Salvage Certificate has been issued, the owner can apply for and obtain a new title for the vehicle. If the salvage certificate was branded because the damage to the vehicle was greater than the fair market value or was an abandoned vehicle, the title certificate will be branded rebuilt savage. The MVA cannot issue a title to a vehicle branded as not rebuildable; not to be retitled. If applying for registration, the vehicle must undergo a Maryland Salvage Inspection, and then a Maryland Safety Inspection before registration plates may be issued."

I'm just restless and get the itch to look at other things.   

Resist the urge.  At some point you will drop it yourself, and then you will be like "Whew, good thing I didn't upgrade yet."  Just some advice from someone who has had a drop or two, or three,  [laugh]

The inspection itself is painless and quick. Getting the appointment is sometimes the pain in the balls. My brother went through that over the summer. It was a 4-6 week wait for an inspection (the inspection cost $50).