On the deck

First topic message reminder :

I had a great day today. The local Police ran a training day and we spent all day learning handling skills and I really got a lot out of it. Those boys can really ride those BMW white bathtubs. One had a ride on the Bandit, which was positively svelte in comparison to the Beemers.

We finished about 3.30 and rode home, following one of the Police bikes, came down a hill, bright and sunny day, slight right hand bend and WHAM - on the deck instantly on the right side, sliding down the road about 40 km/hr and hearing the bike behind me hit the deck and slide after me (now that's not a happy sound).

The Bandit went over a gutter and ended up in someone's drive. The GSG Moto crash peg sheared off (not good), and the right hand fairing upper and lower, Yoshi, bar end, magneto cover, indicator, lever, Givi top box and mirror are toast. The bike was rideable, (I think) but I had hurt my hand (sprain it turns out), and got carted off in an ambulance with my fellow crasher to be on the safe side. (He got some friction burns). I am glad I had all the gear on.

The road was dry, weather beautiful, but something had leaked a huge trail of either oil or diesel for several hundred metres, about half a metre wide, right smack in the lane. Almost invisible, but shit it takes you down fast.

I had just fitted a clear LED tail light and cleaned the beast too. i am gutted and hope the insurance company are prompt. Fortunately the Police officer in front saw us go down in his mirrors, and because we were riding in staggered formation, no one got run over.

What a day. So much for the GSG crash pegs.

kewwig wrote:I spent the whole day repairing the bike and you can't tell it had ever had a spill. I have the standard can back on it for now ( a Yoshi TRS is winging its way to me for US$278). All up so far $2318, which saw me replace: bars, bar end weight, right front indicator, upper fairing/cowling, balance weights for both right hand side foot pegs and a mirror. I also replaced the right hand crankshaft cover and gasket. That had been ground right down and had a pinhole in it. Another few metres along the road and it would have got right through it. I have dropped the oil and filter to be on the safe side, but I am confident no metal got into the engine.

Just trying to source a lower fairing and all will be well. The bike looks better than before and it was good then.

Thanks all for the support, and I am well and truly back.

Good stuff mate. Ya should of done photo story of the rebuild.

Frame is straight at the steering head???

as far as I know, yes. The bars and crash posts absorbed the impact (as did I).

kewwig wrote:as far as I know, yes. The bars and crash posts absorbed the impact (as did I).

Was wondering if the fairing had moved and maybe twisted the fairing bracket and then the head stem?

FUTURE aka Ross wrote:

kewwig wrote:as far as I know, yes. The bars and crash posts absorbed the impact (as did I).

Was wondering if the fairing had moved and maybe twisted the fairing bracket and then the head stem?

Not at all. Fairing looked like a sander had been taken to it, but the upper was in the same position and scratched rather than pushed. Brackets never moved. The lowers prevented engine damage and I took it out for a decent ride today and it's perfect. Tracks straight, hands off bars no head shake, brakes perfectly. All good.

Reardo wrote:Good stuff mate. Ya should of done photo story of the rebuild.

Ever one to oblige. Here's the damaged bike in the photos taken by the bike shop. Hard to see where they got $9,500 worth of damage from!!


The worst things were the trashed Yoshi and fairings:



So, I have replaced the fairings, levers, top box, Yoshi and crankshaft cover which was actually holed


The new levers are great quality for an Ebay cheapy, and replace the broken brake lever at a significant saving. I had the last set on for a year and they are good:



I also put on an integrated LED tail light and electronic flasher unit. The indicators and tail lights are bright and it's money well spent:


The bike is now complete except for the lower fairing, which is en route from Leeson's in the USA. I even got a new Yoshi for US$278, which is an amazing price:


A new Givi V46 topbox and cover, which I have put a Suzuki badge on to replace the Givi label, plus added the interior light and high level brake light kit from the original box (which I just sold). I will sell the old fairings as someone can plastic weld and paint them up. A lower fairing with mounts that is scuffed on only one side should sell OK.


Does the bike ride OK? Yes. Perfectly. It looks better than it was before it was crashed, as now it has new plastics. It was too good to give up with a list of mods including:
-Full Givi luggage colour matched
-Stebel Nautilus
-Heated grips
-Genuine Suzuki vario Touring screen
-12V socket
-Scottoiler
-Dale Walker Stage II (TFI, Yoshi TRS/BMC filter, secondaries out etc)
-LED tail light
-Adjustable black levers

So good to be back riding again, and thanks all for the words of kindness. I will post a pic of the bike all dressed up when the lowers arrive.

Good job mate. I admit I thought you were pushing shit up hill to be riding it again.
You have saved the insurance Co a heap. I hope they look after you.

They were slow to start with, but have waived my excess and paid within 2 days of agreeing the claim. I have been enjoying buying all the new parts (early Christmas) and rebuilding the bike, and in turn they saved $5K, so we all win.

I must admit I thought it was all over for that bike, but no.

A mate who crashed his Honda at the same time is still waiting for it back and has been stung the $400 excess as well as he isn't able to rebuild it

Really bloody outstanding result for both you and the insurance company kewwig - glad they showed the faith in you to do the fixes. Have no idea over here in Oz if rider quotes are even accepted. That crankcase hole looked nasty. Glad you're back in the saddle and happy with the final result. Merry Xmas.

Job well done mate all round I would say.

Ewok1958 wrote:Really bloody outstanding result for both you and the insurance company kewwig - glad they showed the faith in you to do the fixes. Have no idea over here in Oz if rider quotes are even accepted. That crankcase hole looked nasty. Glad you're back in the saddle and happy with the final result. Merry Xmas.

The lesson for me is to challenge the quote and money talks at the end of the day

Bloody good job kiwwig, hope all is well and your back as good as new, very very well done!

Nice to read a good story concerning an Insurance co' for a change. Well done.

Finally finished the bike with the arrival today of my lower fairing. It's all felt rather Christmassy with these large boxes arriving. I got this through Leeson's in the USA for USD $473. I thought I'd put some pics up to show what you get for that, and the finished result.

Better then a new one!

Reardo wrote:Better then a new one!

Yeah, the red ones never came out with lowers from the factory (or a Stage II kit, Stebel nautilus, Scott Oiler, heated grips, Givi V35s and V46, hugger, touring MRA vario Suzuki screen, LED indicators and integrated taillight, gel seat, power socket, black alloy levers etc etc.)

So glad to get it back. I was looking at new ones but I'd never get one up to the spec of this one

kewwig wrote:They were slow to start with, but have waived my excess and paid within 2 days of agreeing the claim.

You would have only paid the excess to yourself anyway as you are the repairer. I repaired my dads car under insurance. Put in a quote which was cheaper than others so got the job. Although I am a panelbeater, I dont have a business.

Job well done in repairing the bike.