To Total or Fix??

[Tiffany696]

I have been in an accident with my brand new 2011 696 in the flat white. I love my bike so I am really bummed I crashed. You know you love your bike when I was on the ground with a broken back and I was trying to get up to see how bad the bike was.

The good news is the damage to the bike is superficial, mainly just scratches and broken plastic pieces. Bad news is the scratches are EVERYWHERE and the pieces are so damn expensive. If we replace everything with visible scratches, it would total the bike. The estimate was up to $7,500 when the shop called me to see if I had bike replacement coverage if the bike is totaled. I do have that coverage, but it does not seem like a great idea to me, I had a hard time getting financed for the bike and it was also the only 2011 in flat white is California, and we would have to order another and that could take a while to get another.

So my question is should I try and get the insurance to buy me another new bike and see if my financing will carry over, or should I take the max amount of money they will give me without totaling it, and focus on fixing the really noticeable stuff. Because the estimate is based on replacing everything with new OEM Ducati parts, for an example the fame has some scratches so they estimate to replace the frame at $1,000.  So I think I can make it look really good with the $7.000 or so they will give me to fix it, but it would be a brand new perfect bike it was.

What do you suggest,total it and try to get another one, or take the money and focus on customizing and fixing the noticeable stuff and leave some of the small scratches.

[booger]

Sorry about the accident. First of all you should focus on healing and not worry too much about the motorcycle.

I think the easiest thing for you is to just try and get a new bike. Maybe by the time you're healed the new one will be ready for you. All those body panels are stupid expensive, dunno why but it's like that for all of them. I'm surprised they estimated the frame at $1000, I would have expected it to be much more. Is it the main frame or the rear cast aluminum subframe? If they are recommending you replace the frame, that might mean the frame is tweaked somehow. Tweaked frame=totaled.
This could potentially be a can of worms. I recommend you heal up nice & proper and start fresh with a new bike. Your totaled machine will end up somebody's weekend project, no big deal.

[Link]

Sorry to hear about your crash, I'd take bergdoefer advice get a new bike. The ins co. will total out you bike & you will end up with a salvage title which ruins the re sale value. So if the ins. will replace it should be a no brainer I'm sure you can get the color you want if you spend some time shopping.
 Good luck

[He Man]

Theres a million opinons on this.

Unless the bike flipped over and destroyed itself, for the most part, the frame is good (hell ive been down 4 times on the same frame and the subframe is just a tad bit bent if you look at it, but the main frame is okay and it rides true.

Salvage doesn't mean anything if you intend to keep the bike. It does kill the resale value, but if you really think about it, you got money out of it, so it balances itself out. My bike @ 7000 used when i bought it, has netted me $3,000 in insurance payouts. the bike is technically worth $4000 now and i would of broke even if i sold it for that much stock (of course id push it off a cliff before id sell it).

Some of the coolest bikes are born form salvaged bikes as well. So if you are willing to spend the time to get the bike back up to riding condition,  id take the money, pay off a huge chunk and use the rest of clean up the bike. Ebay, fiberglass and some paint can go a long way!

[booger]

Dude, she broke her back. I highly doubt she's going to be in the mood for a project. And salvage titles are a pain in the ass.
She could have a brand new bike with a clean title in white waiting for her by the time her back heals. No salvage title hassles, rebuilding, or voided warranties. Just like Link stated, it's a no brainer. She just needs everything to go back to normal. White 696s shouldn't be that big of a deal to get now that they have been on the market for 3 years.

[loopsrider]

Dude, she broke her back. I highly doubt she's going to be in the mood for a project. And salvage titles are a pain in the ass.
She could have a brand new bike with a clean title in white waiting for her by the time her back heals. No salvage title hassles, rebuilding, or voided warranties. Just like Link stated, it's a no brainer. She just needs everything to go back to normal. White 696s shouldn't be that big of a deal to get now that they have been on the market for 3 years.

Well said...

[badgalbetty]

^^ +1 
The bike will get sorted by insurance so don't worry about it, but you rest and recover.
BGB

[scduc]

Sorry to hear about this. I always say to heal first. Clearly, you have healed some because your bike is on your mind. I recommend to do nothing. let everything settle in. If your insurance co. needs you to make your decision as to keep or salvage, tell them you need time. You are not going to be riding any time soon, so you do not need to make any decision in which you may regret. Try and research cost and what you really want. If this is your dream bike, then keep it. I was told after my last downing that it is a perfect opportunity for a custom paint job. Options are many. What I should have done on my first (bad ) accident, was to keep the bike. Let the insurance pay me less, and then sell everything in pieces.

[bunnyman666]

Ack. That's rotten news...

Get better FIRST.

Now, I have nothing to add as my advice would be the SAME as everyone else.

Do take care of yourself.

[MotoCreations]

#1. Priority is to gets yourself healed; physical therapy; physical strength and flexibility into your back.  Back injuries don't heal quickly and if you don't do it correctly -- it will hurt years or even decades later.  Myself and others on the board will repeat that many times to yourself or you will see it when we are walking around.  Don't do like us.  (I wish I hadn't)

#2. You can easily replace your beloved 696 in white.  Panels are easily interchangable if needed in the future on a new one.  For the time being, money (or not making payments) might be to your best advantage given your ability to work and/or pay bills for the upcoming future.  It might be easier to lose a Ducati now instead of more or other assets.  It's just "reality".  There will always be Ducati's out there later...

#3. Make sure you do #1 and do it correctly.  It will allow you to do #2 much easier later and enjoy it better and for decades to come.

[Tiffany696]

Thanks for all the well wishes. I am on bed rest and trying to follow doctors orders.

As far as some comments let me answer a few questions:

  1- the frame is not bent and the shop said repaining would be a good solution, but they usually price replacement to insurance companies. And the price was closer to $1400.

2 - The color is actually a flat white new for 2011. It is awesome.

3 - my worry is that if they total the bike and pay off my loan, I have recently had a really bad hit to my credit, I would not qualify for the loan today that I got when I bought the bike.

And thannks again for the advice about getting better. It is hard to stay in bed all dsy, but I know the chance of reinjury is high so I need to relax and take time to heal.

[rideserotta]

Check with your bank about a "substitution of collateral". With cars this can be done. Basically you amend your loan documents to substitute one vehicle for another. The insurance check would go to the dealer to buy the bike. You would have the original loan with the new bike on the paperwork. So if you have 34 payments left on a 36 month loan you still have 34 payments left at the same payment amount. Again, I know you can do if with cars, not sure about bikes but it's worth a phone call.

[Howie]

As others said, worry about yourself first, then the bike.  Discuss what to do with your bike with the shop.  If the damage is superficial it is possible for the insurance adjuster to write the estimate at "diminished value" and award a sum of money less than total loss so you can retain clean title.  Adjusters don't like doing this since clients can come back later and ask for more money due to hidden damage, but it can (and was by me) done.

[Jarvicious]

Screw the bike.

I parked mine in a ditch last month and have hardly looked at it since.  Am I going to ride again?  Absolutely.  Can I get out of bed in the morning without considerable pain?  Nope.  Until I have a day or 10 when I forget that I took a pretty good dive, she'll be in the garage waiting. 

That being said, listen to the rest of these cats.  If you can POSSIBLY avoid it, I'd stay away from the insurance claim but that kind of thing should be decided on a case by case basis so do whatever feels right.  Either way:  heal up, rest well, and get back on the stick, banana man!

[Raux]

If the insurance totals it and you keep it, you will have to pay off the loan before you can repair it. that will suck up all the insurance money, so you'll need the cash on hand to fix the bike.

Total it out. pay off the loan, that will help your credit. concentrate on getting better and getting your finances better. by the time you're ready to ride again you'll have a better credit rating.

just a bit of a question with some advice.

How did you break your back? Were you wearing back armor, not just jacket padding?
I hit my back pretty hard almost 2 summers ago in a wreck, but the back armor took the brunt.

It took me a year to get the funds and parts together and still had to do the work myself to avoid the crazy labor costs.
That 1400 for the frame, is only the part, the work to get it replaced.... the ENTIRE bike has to come apart.

RELAX, another bike will come along you love as much or more.