How is a bike judged to be a write off?

**hellokitty** · 3rd February 2012, 11:58

I have a bike valued at $5000. I crashed it on deep gravel.
Bent handle bars, bent front brake lever, rear brake lever bent to the side. Still rideable..

Mirror back, knuckle guard thingy, front fairing, side fairing and tank gouged. Passenger foot peg gouged -all minor cosmetic damage
I know this can be sorted out - bent bits replaced and damage to fairings can be ignored, but I have full insurance, and I am getting it assessed to
see how much to repair, and to make sure that there isn't damage that my untrained eye can't see.
How do they work out if something is a write off? Do they repair or replace the plastic stuff?

**MSTRS:Me** · 3rd February 2012, 12:03

Replacement parts.
Write off is when sum of repairs is close to, or exceeds, value of bike as insured.

Often, you can buy-back the write off, and patch fix etc. Be aware that often a written off bike will be deregistered by the insurer, so you will need to go through the VIN process.

**Scuba_Steve** · 3rd February 2012, 12:04

I believe they replace parts (with new) and if the cost of repair exceeds 80% current market value (which on bikes almost always does) they write it off
At-least this is my understanding someone else may be more knowledgeable

**Gremlin** · 3rd February 2012, 12:07

Figures I've heard (for parts and labour to repair back to original condition) are somewhere around the 66-75% mark, but some companies may have a lower value.

There's also the uncertainty that if they start repairing, then find bigger issues, suddenly it's deep into write off territory... My assessor discussed with me what I would prefer, they preferred repair, as did I, and the cost was a little over half.

**MOTOXXX** · 3rd February 2012, 12:07

i might be wrong but.
i think they work it out if the damage is 70% of the value of the bike - they write it off

crashed my 2001 TL100r about 5 years ago. it was valued at 11k and insurance wrote it off.
i dented the tank, cracked / scraped fairings, indicators, broke a muffler and a few other small bits
was about 10k in damage but cost me about 3k to repair myself.

it adds up very quickly when they look at replacing things with genuine parts.

**hellokitty** · 3rd February 2012, 12:13

Yeah I figure that if they replace the plastic body parts with new parts then it will be a write off.

**hellokitty** · 3rd February 2012, 12:14

Originally Posted by MOTOXXX

i might be wrong but.
i think they work it out if the damage is 70% of the value of the bike - they write it off

crashed my 2001 TL100r about 5 years ago. it was valued at 11k and insurance wrote it off.
i dented the tank, cracked / scraped fairings, indicators, broke a muffler and a few other small bits
was about 10k in damage but cost me about 3k to repair myself.

it adds up very quickly when they look at replacing things with genuine parts.

It is funny, cos Mr Hellokitty said the same thing about his TL1000R - exhaust tank and fairings would make it s write off.
Can you tell me how to find the radiator cap on a TL1000R - is it under the fairings somewhere?

**Crasherfromwayback** · 3rd February 2012, 12:29

Originally Posted by hellokitty

Can you tell me how to find the radiator cap on a TL1000R - is it under the fairings somewhere?

Top right side of radiator sitting on the bike.

**FJRider** · 3rd February 2012, 12:30

Originally Posted by hellokitty

Can you tell me how to find the radiator cap on a TL1000R - is it under the fairings somewhere?

I believe it's on the right hand side (top) of the radiator ...

**Bassmatt** · 3rd February 2012, 12:59

Originally Posted by Scuba_Steve

I believe they replace parts (with new) and if the cost of repair exceeds 80% current market value (which on bikes almost always does) they write it off
At-least this is my understanding someone else may be more knowledgeable

Hmmm I'm seeing some sort of conspiracy here with insurance companies, write offs, and the ridiculous prices charged by distributors for replacement parts (as evidenced in various other threads).....cant quite work it out yet.....give me time

**MOTOXXX** · 3rd February 2012, 13:04

just buy it back off the ins company and fix it up yourself.
much cheaper and you can buy stuff off ebay and shop around for repairs / do things your self

**Oblivion** · 3rd February 2012, 14:30

Originally Posted by MOTOXXX

just buy it back off the ins company and fix it up yourself.
much cheaper and you can buy stuff off ebay and shop around for repairs / do things your self

Labour costs are involved in an insurance repair aren't they?

**hellokitty** · 3rd February 2012, 16:13

Originally Posted by MOTOXXX

just buy it back off the ins company and fix it up yourself.
much cheaper and you can buy stuff off ebay and shop around for repairs / do things your self

Yeah, all it needs really, is the handle bars and back brake pedal. The body work is cosmetic. But, if it does get written off, then I can pay my mortgage while looking for work. Apparently having a mortgage for 9 years with your bank that you have had an account with for 23 years and owning 50% of the value of the house means JACK SHIT. Also having insurance to cover the mortgage in case of redundancy means JACK SHIT too.
BNZ you suck hairy bollocks.

**hellokitty** · 3rd February 2012, 16:14

Originally Posted by MOTOXXX

just buy it back off the ins company and fix it up yourself.
much cheaper and you can buy stuff off ebay and shop around for repairs / do things your self

Plus my husband can plastic weld! He welded our mate's Aprillia back together!