[Guest]

Here is my present situation. My 2002 620ie Dark (4100 miles) was recently knocked over while parked by a careless driver who was nice enough to leave a note with their name and phone number. Bottom line the bike has been "totalled" and I have the following options.

(1) Take the money and run. $4900 check from the insurance company and never see my bike again. Find a used monster or (can I say this here?) a 600cc cratch rocket. CBR or R6.

(2) Buy my baby back from the insurance company for $2000 and have $2900 left over to repair the dented tank, buy new (ie aftermarket) pipes, a clutch lever and the other odds and ends to make her funtional and pretty again. Maybe with some cash left over? I can do all the part replacing but will nead to have the tank fixed professionally (approx $500 or so?)

(3) Same as option two but bring it back to stock, sell it, and buy something used. (as in option 1). Maybe end up a little more on top then option 1.

(4) The dealer who did the estimate wants my bike and $2900 for a new 2003 620 Dark. Basically I would end up with no cash but a brand new bike.

Tell me what you all think, I'm presently leaning towards the "new" option, but with $2900 and a little wrenching I think I could end up with a pretty sweet little 620. I'm open to any other ideas anyone comes up with and in the back of my mind I would like something a little quicker then the 620. Thanks so much for your input. Cheers.

Rich

 

[darylbowden]

If you're ever going to want to sell the bike, go the new route. If you just want a fun bike, then buy it back and fix it up, but know that people are always weary of that salvage title. Thing is, motorcycles get "totaled" very easily. As long as the frame isn't too messed up, I don't see anything wrong with fixing it up. I believe that is exactly what rev deadpan did.

 

[Mark1305]

Man, tough choices! I agree that in the long run with the potential to ever sell or trade the bike you would probably do best to opt for the new bike deal. If you were planning to seriously mod out the bike anyway, then maybe buying the bike back would be better and having the leftover cash to play with. Or if you think you will itch for something a little bigger someday soon, take the cash settlement and start shopping for it.

I'd say the new bike or the cash payoff are tied as the two best options - but that's really a subjective opinion on my part.

 

[Guest]

If i bought the bike back it wouldn't have a salvage title. Change any opinions?

 

[Guest]

I was wrong, for some reason I got the impression that the bike would have a clear title. But I just talked to the insurance adjuster and that is apparently not the case.

 

[Guest]

1st if you don't plan on keeping the bike... then either letting the insurance co (option 1) or that dealer take it off your hands (option 4) would be the best options if you don't want to deal with a salvaged title. some folks don't mind a salvage title, but a lot of folks shy away if not run like a bat out of hell from stuff like that. i wouldn't even bother rebuilding back to stock and trying to sell it on your own especially with a dealer willing to give you a new bike in trade plus $2900. so don't bother with option 3.

2nd the rebuild option should definitely take into consideration how much damage you've experience and how easy it will be for you to repair.... i wouldn't think just a tip over in a parking lot should total out a monster. but i'm sure dealer labor is in that estimate too. 2k sounds like a lot of mula for a buy back imo especially for a 620 dark. i'm thinking dented tank, bent bars, bent levers, scuffed pegs, scuffed exhaust, and some dinged turn indicators at a maximum. tanks can be easily repaired and painted... the other stuff can be scrummaged up or bought through a dealer. most aftermarket parts are similar in cost as oem parts from the dealer, so things like cans and turn indicators can be picked up cheap. you might try talking to your insurance co to see if you can avoid totalling the bike out and do the repairs your self so as not to have a salvaged title. problem there will be if your bank still has a lien against it then the insurance co won't be able to work with you that much cause the bank will generally want to inspect the repairs.

 

[Fillmore]

I'm normally a "rebuild it" kinda guy, but used bikes are so cheap now, I'd probably sell it and buy a similarly priced used bike. (Unless you have an emotional attachment to the bike)

I recently saw a '01 M900S for $4900. Between the power and suspension upgrades, and the better resale value of a 900, I think you'd be ahead even if the bike is a year older than your M620.

I think #3 is a no win situation. You'll put a lot of work into the bike, have no working ride for a while, and be lucky if you break even.

Option #4 doesn't sound too bad if you wanted a new bike, or was even thinking about selling it. Kinda the same outcome for you as #3, except that you'd be selling a new bike and not a crashed and rebuilt 2 year old bike.

--Fillmore

 

[ewolnosaj]

Take the money and buy a used Monster, with any extra $s spring for some cans etc. Or take the entire wod and go on a sweet bender.....

 

[MikeD5172]

You'd be surprised at what will total most bikes today. And the reasons will surprise you even more. I just recently aquired my M750 with a salvaged title. The insurance company totaled the bike because of the frame. The funny thing is, there is no frame damage. I replaced the front turn signals and have a completely intact bike that runs and rides great. I also had it inspected and now have a "recertified for road use" title. I bought this bike knowing full well what I was getting into, ie., low resale due to rebuilt title.

< i wouldn't think just a tip over in a parking lot should total <out a monster. but i'm sure dealer labor is in that estimate <too.

As to what Daryl ought to do? Option #1 or #4 sound like the best of all the options. Just stick with the Monster and forget the crotch rockets, there's nothing like a Duc. 8)

 

[Guest]

Take the money and run. Although, it's a little known fact that the buy back price is negotiable. Get them down to about 1200 and that's a different story.

 

[Guest]

You'd be surprised at what will total most bikes today.... The insurance company totaled the bike because of the frame.

 

[MikeD5172]

i'm not at all surprised at how much oem parts costs and how easily costs can add up... but i'm surprised that a parking lot tip over would total a bike. that's a bit of a stretch. i've got a bit of experience at playing that game. typically insurance co's will total a bike when the cost to rebuild it are 70%-80% of the vehicle value.

It's like you said, the insurance company has to replace parts to prior or like new condition. So, if the frame and tank sustain cosmetic damage in a parking lot tipover then the bike will be totaled. My understanding is that a new Monster frame is going to cost in the neighborhood of $2000 or more. And a tank, $1000 or so. Then the labor costs on top of that. It all adds up. But as you said, if you can live with a couple of scratches on the frame and do most the work yourself, you can keep the salvage title boogy-man away.