Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge My America's wrecked

So I got to work early this morning. Was the first bike there according to the empty spots in the spaces designated for bikes. And off to the side of the motorcycle parking lot was a Mack truck. Across the street from work is construction for new military housing. The driver and his assistant were both out of the truck and saw me pull up into a slot.

I head on inside and begin changing into my uniform in the locker room. Not two minutes later a coworker comes in asking if anyone here owns a motorcycle. Yep that's me. Well I think it just got hit in the parking lot. Finish changing and head back out.

I get to the parking lot and my bike is a mess. Both footpegs and kickstand are broken off. The rear brake pedal is smashed in. On the left side: rear signal light is bent in, rear shock bent in, tank smashed in, forward signal bent in, handlebars are all jacked up.

A buddy of mine has already called the police. The driver says he just inched forward so he could back up. The way the truck was parked when I showed up for work, he didn't need to go forward at all to back out. He goes on to say, I knew the bike was there, when I got in the truck I couldn't see it so I thought I could inch forward just a bit. YOU BIG DUMB IDIOT! Driver said he only "tapped" the bike. Dude! The pavement doesn't lie. There was a foot long gouge where the kickstand dug in, approx. 3' of scrapped pavement where my tank's Triumph emblem got ground down and plenty of other marks. This jackhole didn't "tap" my bike, he hit it and pushed it another 3+ feet.

I was at least able to crank it and it sounded alright. Can't even ride it to the dealer (which luckily is only about 1/2 mile up the road) because I have no kickstand. Everytime I put it in gear it dies. The cops show up and say there's nothing they can so as long as information is exchanged so insurance companies can take care of it all. OK. All info is swapped. A buddy goes and gets his trailer to bring the bike to the Triumph dealer.

We get there and Brian (the onwner) is like "holy cow, he definately did a number on ya". He'll try and get an estimate today or tomorrow. Biggest concern now is whether or not the frame bent where the kickstand connects. He said of that's bent then could be some serious trouble. Regardless, I'm fearing of being out of one beautiful bike during some really prime ride time. So that was my Tuesday!

im worried about this constantly...i park next to the parking lot booth and the parking guys car and he has to unparallel park between my bike and another car, in order to leave for the day...i can see my bike from my window so im constantly checking on it. Theres a steel bollard on the other side of the bike so if he "taps" it im screwed

Good luck on all that stuff....that really sucks

Sorry to hear that man, I hope the cop wrote a report of what he saw when he got there. Get a copy of that. My guess is it dies when you put it in gear because of the kickstand switch. That's the least of your worries at the moment. Good luck, hope it works out for ya.

That sucks man! Maybe the other dudes insurance will cover a rental while you get yours fixed? Good luck.

Man I'm really sorry to hear about your bike. We all park ours at work at the end of a lot to stay away from the cars. Wonder why the cop didn't at least fill out a report for you.

Sorry to hear that, what an idiot, at least you were not sitting on the bike. I would get a picture of the gouges in the road while they are still fresh, just in case.

Thats bad luck, I hope it all works out for you and doesn't take to long.

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Maybe the other dudes insurance will cover a rental while you get yours fixed?

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Interesting question. If it were a car you insurance would cover you for a rental. Does this apply to Motorcycles?

Man that sucks, if you need parts make sure you let us know.

Sucks to hear that man.

This is why I get so ****** off when I come to work on a Saturday to find cagers parking in the spots designated for motorcycles. I find that cagers think its OK to park in those spots on a Saturday cause most of us who ride do not come in on Saturdays.

On the occasions when I do and a cager is in the parking spots clearly designated for bikes I immediately find out who it is and I read them the riot act and ask them to move there cage. Most of those people dont appreciate my request. Screw em though.

Even when we park in a spot clearly designated for a bike these idjits will still find a way to run over our bikes.

What a sickner, I think I would of been either in tears or dragging the driver out of the cab...

Rarely a cussing man, these are exactly the situations profanity was invented

Good Luck, give a shout if "we" can help.

jh

What a terrible way to start your day, sux big time. Hopefully frames not bent and insurance covers the fix...

Thanks for your words everyone. I restrained myself with the driver despite that I was being VERY thankful I don't have a weapons carry permit yet. Both my and the other insurance co. has asked if I need a replacement, I don't, I still have my F-150. I didn't get specific, but both sounded like they would even cover motorcycle rental. What I may try and hit them up with is fuel expense. I always ride into work as long as it's not a rainy day. Now I'll be using the truck...much less gas milage. I feel I sould be covered for the extra expense.

So hopefully tomorrow (Wed) I'll have an estimate and let you guys know. Now it's just a waiting game to find out if it can be fixed or needs to be replaced. And how long (either case).

Man that makes me sick to my stomach. I park in the middle of the row to avoid tree overhang and now I am rethinking that. Hope it all works out for you.

Oh man that really stinks, I know exactly how you feel, I don't want to sound pessimist but I had an accident which caused quite a bit of damage to the bike and it was almost a total loss... just be prepared for bad news. It sounds like it was a lot of damage; at least you weren't on the bike when it happened! My bike is almost finished and can't wait to get it back... my shoulder is still healing.

Hope you get your ride soon.

That is terrible news! The only otehr thing I can say (and keep it family friendly) is, "What a complete MORON!"

Soren

Well the dealer called today with an estimate to fix my bike. $5300 is what he says is needed to get it back to the condition it was before the accident. Now here's the bad news: when that jackhole driver hit the bike, the kickstand was ripped off. That caused a minor twist in the frame. The shop said they might be able to fix it by heating up that portion and straighten it out.

The estimate has already been faxed to the company the driver worked for. I called and they said they are going to turn the claim over to their insurance company. I haven't heard from them yet. I'm expecting them to say it's totalled.

I'm really at a crappy crossroads. This time of the year it's getting hard to find a 2008 and nearly impossible to find a 2007 (I want to stay with the blue/white paint job). Visually I don't like the new tank design. So here's the questions I have. For those that have or riden on a '08 model, how comfortable is it with the new design? Second, and I know I'm getting expensive here, is it possible (and how much trouble) to put an '07 tank on a '08 bike?

I know I'm grasping here; just want my old bike back. I did find a never-sold '06 with the silver/gray paint. I did like it, but it's no where close to the blue/white. Beggers can't be choosers I guess.

Somewhere on another thread I seem to recall someone, possibly Soren, mentioning that if you have a carbed bike you should be able to retro fit the old style tank. The new tank should only be required for EFI bikes.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2004-Triu...1QQcmdZViewItem

That's what I was afraid of; it really stinks, yes the insurance will want to total it. The only thing that saved mine from total loss was that I kept all of the receipts of upgrades and accessories, that brought the value of the bike high enough to avoid a total loss. I got lucky cause my frame didn't bend. Maybe the dealer that you took your bike would let you try one of the new ones out so you can see how comfortable it is for you, if you don't want to go through swapping the tank that is...

Well I'd actually have to order a '07 tank and then put it on a '08 bike. My tank got well dented up on the left side. Looking at moocho money then. If I end up with a '08 model, I would at least like to change out the emblem with one off a '07 tank....much better looking IMO.

The problem you'll have there is that the tank badges that fit on '07 and earlier don't fit on the '08 tanks.

Is this what you're looking for?
web page

web page

Heck, if you can make a deal, I'll ride it out there for you for the price of a return trip.

Try cycletrader.com, it's where I found my Speedy.

Man! Looks like Ed found a steal for you! It's even the 790 that I would personally rather have than the 865! I would take a crack at that if you are pretty sure yours is going to be totaled.

I've already done a quick cycletrader search (within 400 miles of Norfolk) and came up with the following that I would consider:
(2) 2008 Americas in blue/white paint at market price
(1) 2007 in blue/white and plenty of accessories at $9100
(1) 2006 America in silver/gray...not my beloved blue/white, but still a very beautiful machine (~$6400)

Stewart, I'll shoot you an email when I get back from work this afternoon.