Back that SUV up!

[Lorenzai]

Pulled up behind a woman in an SUV at a stop sign. I was about 10 feet back with my blinker on to take a right. She pulls out into the intersection like she's going to take off, but then stops. I have just rolled up to the position she was in previously, still between 10-15 feet away. I don't even see reverse lights and I barely even had enough reaction time to start my hand movement towards my horn button before she plows the front of my fizzer with the rear bumper of her SUV. She did not back up slow and cautious, she mashed the gas pretty good. Front fender and fork took the initial hit, I got forced back a few feet and I fell over dropping the bike on its right side. I got one scratch on my left leg from who knows what, honestly just more concerned about the bike. The front fender did not break or even crack, its just got a scuff. That blows my mind. The status of my forks, well I really dont know. They dont LOOK bent but that doesn't mean a whole lot. They still have full travel and aren't binding so I guess there's that. The very front upper fairing did crack and break on the side the bike went down. My stator cover has some deep scratches in it and my stock muffler has some minor rash. Oh and my handlebar I just replaced gets to be replaced again. Overall it could have been way worse.. but it really makes me think. I felt safe behind vehicles as long as I kept an appropriate distance, but now I know that literally nowhere is safe on a bike.

[djalbin]

Glad you came out with only a scratch and the bike sounds like it's repairable. SUV drivers are some of the worst. They can't see anything that's around them ... especially a motorcycle. That's in addition to their horrible driving. Who pulls out into an intersection, halfway through a turn, and then backs up because they changed their mind?
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[Lorenzai]

Thanks. It turns out its not a scratch it's a series of bruises. I still dont know what I hit my leg on but its N a big deal. Her insurance blew up my phone today offering to schedule me a doctors appointment at anywhere I choose on them. I thought that was nice of them. I told my insurance I just want the lady to pay to have my bike looked at at the Honda East dealership here. I want my stator cover replaced and make sure my front forks are okay, and if I can wrangle a front fairing out of her insurance ill be happy, but I'm not going go be dishonest.

[Lorenzai]

I have an update I would like to share. I called the ladies insurance today to see what the holdup is. They informed me that they have considered my bike a total loss! Alarmed I said wait hold up here, it has some minor damage yes but its not totalled! They replied saying because the bike is so old its a total loss basically by default. They offered me $2200 for it. My jaw dropped (I paid $800). So i said I like my bike and i just want to fix it and ride it. They said ok, if you want to keep it then we will deduct the current scrap price of the bike which is $275, and cut you a check for $1925. I said you know what, i think that sounds fair! Jeesh. Im just blown away.

[djalbin]

No salvage title or anything? Now you can fix it up right. Turned out to be a good deal - but I would still stay away from any SUVs in the future.
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[Lorenzai]

Yeah im going to have to salvage title it. I dont understand why that is the case but I guess thats the way it works. Ill probably never be able to get rid of it with a rebuilt title. Even though im getting twice what i paid for it AND keeping the bike, Im kind of upset about the whole title thing. I love the bike but I really wantbto get an R6 some day.

[djalbin]

Salvage or rebuilt title is normal for buying back a vehicle that's been totaled by the insurance company. It will not make any difference to you if you enjoy the bike and it's still reliable. I'm not sure of the details associated with getting it insured once you have it fixed and ready for the road. If/when you're ready to sell it, a salvage title will not make much difference to someone who wants a track day bike or a inexpensive beginners first bike. Obviously you will not get top dollar for selling it but a 1992 isn't going to bring the big $$$ anyway. Would be a different situation if it was a new 2015 bike. Then it would be some serious depreciation in value.
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