Low speed crash - Bike a write off!

**Jackal** · 28th October 2010, 20:54

Mrs Jackal decided some time ago she wanted to start riding her own bike. After some time on a wee GN125 to learn to ride we bought her a very nice, nearly new VL250 which she has grown to love. After a number of short rides around the countryside and into town we headed away together last saturday on a road trip to stay with friends in North Otago. After visiting our old neighbours near Oamaru we headed off to Moeraki along the country roads. When slowing down to make a left hand turn Mrs Jackal got hit in the visor by a kamakazi bird. The fright caused her to miss the corner and she ended up skidding through the corner and into a concrete post and power pole.

Bike ended up on its side while Mrs Jackal managed to stay on her feet. She suffered bumps and bruises but the bike was unrideable.

Looking at the damage to the bike I thought, new set of forks, front guard, clutch lever, new front wheel and bike would be repaired.

Dropped it off to the Suzuki shop back home and put an insurance claim in. The assessor has written the bike off! As well as those items I mentioned the frame is all bent up as well. Insurance company will de-register the bike and crush it so it cannot be 'fixed up' and put back on the road. Mrs Jackal is gutted!!!

My question is, are bikes these days built to 'collapse' in crashes. The damage to the bike just does not seem right for the speed at the time of the sudden stop. Has anyone else seen a VL do the same thing?

**twinbruva** · 28th October 2010, 21:00

Originally Posted by Jackal

Has anyone else seen a VL do the same thing?

No, but if I did I'd laugh my arse off.

**Mully** · 28th October 2010, 21:04

My understanding (and take from that what you will), is that frames can have leverage on them, so can bend relatively easily.

So leverage on the front wheel can damage the frame.

Glad the Missus is OK - bikes can be replaced, wives can't. (well they can, but it's usually expensive)

**steve_t** · 28th October 2010, 21:08

Have seen quite a few bikes in the same state. Bikes are relatively cheap to buy but expensive to fix up so they can get written off pretty easily. Glad your missus is OK too. Mully cracks me up

**The Everlasting** · 28th October 2010, 21:19

Well good to hear your wife wasn't seriously hurt.

They probably build them cheaply so if you crash,rather than fixing it,you have to buy a new one.

**YellowDog** · 28th October 2010, 21:25

Glad the Missus is OK.

Has noone considered the fate of said Kamakazi bird ?

AND as for wives, I beg to differ with Mr Mully. My new(est) one represents considerably better 'Bang for Buck' than the last one

**Mully** · 28th October 2010, 21:25

Originally Posted by The Everlasting

They probably build them cheaply so if you crash,rather than fixing it,you have to buy a new one.

Wait, are you still talking about the wife?

**Jackal** · 28th October 2010, 21:29

Originally Posted by Mully

Glad the Missus is OK - bikes can be replaced, wives can't. (well they can, but it's usually expensive)

You are right there. My first one cost me $10k cash, the house, car and kids. I did get to keep my chainsaw though!

**Antonio** · 28th October 2010, 21:45

Originally Posted by Mully

Glad the Missus is OK - bikes can be replaced, wives can't. (well they can, but it's usually expensive)

**Conquiztador** · 28th October 2010, 21:54

Suzuki has taken to have their bikes made in China. The steel is crappy and the workmanship poor. Not sure re their quality of wifes though...

**ellipsis** · 28th October 2010, 22:02

....i was surprised when my son had a fairly low speed off and his cbr250 was written off for what was only fairing damage really....too expensive to fix they said...glad your girls cool...hope it hasnt shaken her too much...my wife is only a couple of years into her licence...we ride a lot, but its added a new dimension to my riding...i love it...but i freak a bit too...

**turtleman** · 28th October 2010, 22:06

Originally Posted by Jackal

You are right there. My first one cost me $10k cash, the house, car and kids. I did get to keep my chainsaw though!

Huh - I'm STILL paying for mine ....

**trailblazer** · 28th October 2010, 22:41

Originally Posted by Conquiztador

Suzuki has taken to have their bikes made in China. The steel is crappy and the workmanship poor. Not sure re their quality of wifes though...

chinese wives are made to bend to. Well so im told.
bikes mainly get written off because of the price of the parts being so expensive and when you take into account the labour cost and unforseen items that are damaged not seen when quoting it's not usually worth insurance companies fixing them.
Glad to here your wife is ok i hope she still wants to get a new bike and get back into riding.

**Brian d marge** · 29th October 2010, 02:57

bollocks thats a write off

UNLESS there is major frame damage , or something that we cant see in the photo

Forks can be straightened in a press , front wheel re laced to a new rim , and a new front mudguard

frames straightened , and a new set of handle bars if they are bent .....

A days work , tops ,,,,

but if she gets a new bike out of it , yes its a write off sir ,,,

Stephen

**hellokitty** · 29th October 2010, 05:28

Glad to hear your wife is okay - she must have freaked having a bird hit her visor

I had a VL250 and I loved it - such a great bike to get your confidence on.

It doesn't take much to write off a bike - I bought my 750 as damaged - it had $3000 of damage to it - which amounted to the rear indicators being badly scratched and the rear guard having a very small piece missing out of it - stuff I could quite easily do myself.