FARK! where should I take my bike now?

**Duke of Rogan** · 21st July 2003, 12:31

I fucked up and now my bike needs fairing repairs, but I'm not sure where to take it, any suggestions?
preferably a place in CBD Auckland, or North Shore.

I guess the first step is a quote.
not sure if I'll use insurance yet, but prolly will as my excess is only $500, and I have damage to both sides and front mudguard, as well as the tailight and bumper of the car I slid into

FARK!!!
this only happened this morning and I only have myself (and a slippery road) to blame. put it down to lack of experience.
first ride in my new jacket too!
FARK! FARK FARK!

**Mitch** · 21st July 2003, 12:56

That just sucks Duke!!!! Reflections are the best for painting and probably have someone they use for other repairs, would be a good place to start.

Glad your OK though!!

**Coldkiwi** · 21st July 2003, 13:10

aye.. reflections are (as Wkid puts it) the mutts pearls in Auckland.. but if you gotta pay for it you may want to look elsewhere.

if its an insurance claim though, get reflections to price it up and take the price list to your assessor. That way, all he has to do is scratch his bum and sign it off and you get a wicked paint job and repair. Turn up without a pre-priced job and he'll just go to the nearest dodgy plastic welder who'll get the wrong paint and won't replace fairings if it's needed.

Trust me (worked for me!), make it easy for the assessor and you'll have a much easier time getting a good job done on it.

**Duke of Rogan** · 21st July 2003, 13:17

thanks guys for the response, I'll stop in there on my way home.

the bike still goes in a straight line, but it feels like the left grip is closer to me than the right. I did a "string-line" wheel alignment about a week ago, so tonight I will recheck.
I suspect the left grip/handle is a little bent, as this is the side it slid on, dont think (hope) forks are bent.

**wkid_one** · 21st July 2003, 13:21

How bad is the bike Duke??

If more damage is done - go see Brent at Spectrum Motorcycles on the 'Shore. HE did the insurance work for my bike when I stacked it - and you can't even tell it's had an accident - it was all fairing damage also - with some minor bits like mirros etc...

Source the parts like mirrors/blade etc off the net - way cheaper than OEM parts.

**Duke of Rogan** · 21st July 2003, 13:29

Originally posted by wkid_one
How bad is the bike Duke??

pretty minor in terms of crash damage, but I'm picking it may cost a lot more than my $500 excess to fix (BMW taillight replacment and bumper respray)

no mirrors or controls are broken, scratches on left mirror and clutch control.
the front wheel guard is cracked on right where it attaches to fork.
right fairing is cracked from impact with car bumper (30cm long?)
left fairing is scratched from road slide (50-60cm long?)
pride is very dented, and lower back sore

new jacket is dirty.

**wkid_one** · 21st July 2003, 13:42

Ouch - I know I had a good experience from Spectrum if it is an insurance repair....

**Duke of Rogan** · 21st July 2003, 14:27

well, well.
I just spoke to my insurance company, and the loverly girl at AMI told me that another motorcyclist had the same experience on the same road only 2 weeks ago.
I told her "it felt like I had hit a slippery patch on the road like it had diesel on it" and she said thats exactly what the other guy said!
I'm not making up excuses, but I thought at the time I must of been braking over the painted turn-left arrow on the road (which I normally avoid), 'cos it was llike one second I was braking and the next sliding!

so is the other doode out there? AMI couldn't give me his contact details and I'd like to share experiences.
According to the girl on the phone he slid directly into the car in front and came away with a broken arm also

**What?** · 21st July 2003, 14:51

Good to hear you didn't get too hurt, Duke. Sounds like a bad spot of road - where was it ??

**Duke of Rogan** · 21st July 2003, 16:03

occurred on Greviile Road as I was about to go onto Aucklands Nothern motorway to go into town.
I was coming down the hill from East Coast road, and was braking to stop for a car that had stopped for another vehicle in the round-about that leads into the motorways onramp.
A lot of trucks use that bit of road, and espically the left lane, which I was in, as there is a landfill halfway up Greville Road.
Next time I use right lane me thinks.

**wkid_one** · 21st July 2003, 16:07

Do what I did Duke. On the basis of some previous comments on the site (BB can confirm) - my riding has been identified as below par (by people who don't know me)....so accordingly - there is now a VTR motor up for sale- with full wiring loom- as I am converting my motorbike in to a fully suspended mountain bike (I figure with how heavy the bike is - it will make a wicked down hill machine).

...so now focused on speeding the steering up AND increasing ground clearance....not an easy task.....I am replaced the front forks with Rock Shox and the rear is getting an extra 4 inches of travel (courtesy of a Cannondale rear shock).

...I can obviously ditch the fuel in the tank - but I am keeping it to fill with water - as I figure I will get thirsty going up hill....and would only have to wear a Camelbak anyway.

Fitting the fitting the Shimano STX Gears on the bars is easy - but the cable routing and connection to the gear box isn't....especially if I want the Raleigh 20 Bell.

It doesn't look that smart with the Dirt Tyres - but they are on 22inch carbon fibe rims - with three spokes - nice!

Right I am off ot the gym - as I will need a few months of training before I can get this beast up hill.....

Wanted - Chopper Flag

**Duke of Rogan** · 21st July 2003, 16:52

haha! made me smile

FARK! FARK! FARK-IT! why did I have to scratch my bike?

**bikerboy** · 21st July 2003, 17:32

Glad to hear your all right fellow ducatisti.

Sorry about the bike but with a good repairer it will soon be a sad but distant memory.

The important thing is you weren't hurt too badly as we've often told KK, you can fix the bike but the body is often a different story.

Best of luck with the repairs

**What?** · 22nd July 2003, 06:53

Wkid_one - it is a lost cause! History has shown that before long, anyone with a pushy wants to add a motor to it. First there will be an old BSA Winged Wheel, then a 5 horse Briggs & Stratton rotary hoe motor welded into the frame. Next you will be on a James cadet, and before you know it you will own a 100HP+ Japanese sports bike. Save yourself the pain; leave gym's to the pretty people, ignore all the pontificating know-alls (oops, that might be me

) and go for a nice, long ride.

**Duke of Rogan** · 22nd July 2003, 10:13

I took my bike into Spectrum this morning, who also told me that he's had a lot of guys come in after having a spill on Greville Road! (atleast 4 recently).
Who do you contact with roading concerns? and will they care?
and I wonder how many cars have nose-to-tails there?

I rode down the same road this morning and even with clear blue skies it looks slippery, so bikers beware!

anyway Spectrum are doing me a quote, and they send there stuff to Reflections cos "there the best", although maybe a 3 week wait to get it back

(unless I get OEM pre-painted maybe!)