Ducati Monster Forum

So, last night, after my aikido class, I'm putting my shoes on, and my instructor (who just left) pops his head back in the door and asks if the red motorcycle parked outside is mine. I say yes, and jokingly ask if it's still standing. And, he says, NO!  :( :( We jump up and run outside, and sure enough, there's my precious baby, on her left side!

How did this happen? I parked behind my instructor's car, after he was already there. I suppose he could have knocked it over by backing into it as he was leaving, but I sincerely hope he would have told me. There was no mark on his car. He also had plenty of room to get out; I parked well into the adjoining space.

The kickstand was down, and there is one small scratch on the right side of the tank. Hmmmm....

Damage report:
Tank dent.  :'(  :'(
cracked left front turn signal
bent clutch lever
horn no worky
scrapes on the bar end and grip, but the CRG mirror itself is OK
bent handlebar!!!  :'( :'(
small dent on the left pipe (where it hit the curb, presumably)

<sigh>

I can live with the tank dent, but the handlebar etc. needs to be fixed. Do I just check my insurance deductible and take it to Nichols? Or....?

You can bring it by, and we can take care of some of the stuff here. I can rummage through the box 'o schtuff and see if I've got pieces that'll work.

Did you park it on pavement or concrete?  It got pretty warm yesterday.  Mebbe the kickstand sunk into the asphalt?

It was on concrete. I was parked on Mission between 9th and 10th, just east of Grace Alley. It's a bit of a dicey area, so I suppose it's possible some crackhead thought it was a real monster and was just defending himself.... A random act of violence.

My deductible is only $200, so perhaps a call to geico is in order, duckwrench's kind offer notwithstanding. The question is, will they jack up my rates?

ugh! that sucks. Sorry to hear that. Hope you can resolve it.
Park fool proof.

I think I'll just start taking it right inside with me.  ;)

Or, maybe I could cover it with bubble wrap....

I had a similar situation and my rates didn't change.  Was even able to get the tank replaced.  [thumbsup]

Yup. I called geico, my premiums won't go up, and they were surprisingly understanding about my wanting to wait before I file a claim (if I do).

I'm leaning towards taking her down to the fine shop I prefer above all others, getting the estimate, and having her made all purdy again.... Or, at least as purdy as I can without having her totaled out.

I think that's a little too far from that fugly federal building to ask them for video..

Sorry to hear about the mishap, yesterday is also not a good day for me  ;).

The current theory is that the duqette was still feeling the effects of the visit we paid on Sunday to The Mystery Spot, and that she got confused about which way was up.  [cheeky]

Or, maybe she was still hung over from all that wine tasting we did....  [wine]

What you could do (depending if your insurance does this) is get some insurance agent/shop to look at it, appraise the cost in damage. Have them cut you a big stinky check for that amount. Then, taking some of that money, buy the parts (ideally used or some such), and have one of the local wrenches install them. Then, give them a bottle of whiskey, and some bacon, and pocket the extra coin. Duckwrench offered to help, and, I could be of service as well, if need be.

Good luck.

Bottle of Speyburn 10 yr. Single Malt Scotch. Very reasonably priced, relatively easy to find. Internationally recognized as acceptable currency for repair services. [drink] [laugh] [laugh]

Perhaps this handy graph will be of some assistance.

(http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/1592/path3373le3.png)

Sorry to hear about that, duqette.  Hope the insurance comes through.

You all are the BESTEST!  :-*

After consulting my primary advisor (my BF), I am going to go ahead with the claim. If they write me a nice check, I'll probably have my favorite shop do the big stuff (handlebars, tank), and then see how much is left over... For, you know,  [bacon] . If they write the shop a nice check, I'll have a spankin' clean bike again...
Either way, the duqette will ride (or, technically, be ridden) again!

That graph is hilarious.  [laugh] [laugh]

Now I just gotta find the time to get her to the shop.  [roll]

I would think if you got an estimate, the insurance company would send you the check, whereas if you went ahead and got the repairs done, they'd send the money directly to the shop, but who knows. Insurance companies work in mysterious (and usually stupid) ways. In either case, good luck. :)

Other than the tank dent, almost all the other stuff you listed is no great shakes....

(cracked left front turn signal
bent clutch lever
horn no worky
scrapes on the bar end and grip, but the CRG mirror itself is OK
bent handlebar!!!  Cry Cry
small dent on the left pipe (where it hit the curb, presumably)

I wouldn't bother with fixing the pipe.
I *can* fix tank dents, but I wouldn't want to work on yours.

Agree on the pipe.

Somehow I thought replacing the handle bar would be a lot of work.... ? At any rate, I don't mind pushing a bit of income towards my favorite shop. They have always treated me exceptionally well.  [thumbsup]

And then there's the time factor. I'm just coming into the insanely busy time of year for me, so I don't have time to work on the bike myself right now. If this had happened in January, I'd be out there disassembling it myself right now....

I'll run her down there Friday (I think), and see what geico says.... Have to see how this whole process pans out. I may be taking you and duckwrench up on your offer(s) after all....  ;)

Somehow I thought replacing the handle bar would be a lot of work.... ? At any rate, I don't mind pushing a bit of income towards my favorite shop. They have always treated me exceptionally well.  [thumbsup]

Hey Duqette,

Sorry to hear about your incident.  Ah, the crazies in the mission... gotta love them!  [clap]  Anyway, you keep talking about your favorite shop but you never mention the name of it.  Which one is it?

Delmar

Nichols, in Milpitas
http://www.nicholsmfg.com/mc.html