Dealer CRASHED MY BIKE!

[qksltwo]

I will keep this thred updated every step of the journey from Hell.

People have been asking how bad the damage is:

right handlebar snapped, triple tree cracked, handle bar dented in the gas tank headers scraped up, engine case scrathched up, rear brake and foot pegs snapped off, factory race exhaust and "chin peice" scratched up,

Thank you to everyone who put in there opinions, the people on the fourm are the best and brightest in the motorcycle community! I have a meeting with the owner today. I'll update later.

 

[kyle_dewald]

Wow, I was t-boned by a car and didn't get a lot of that damage. JW, did you have the rubber frame pucks on the bike? That saved my frame when mine went down.

Also, in all honest, go in nice straight to the dealer. Don't make any deals unless it's in writing and you are satisfied. They will do anything to keep from getting sued, and it's very long and drawn out man. Don't go in talking ****, keep your cool, throwing a lawyer and all these threats at them won't have them open up, it will shut them down.

If you do end up getting a Lawyer, whatever happens, you lose 30 something percent off the top,if you go to court it can be even more. My lawyer said it would take about 2 years to get to court after we file for it. So you could end up without a bike for that long.

 

[beaterbaja]

damn man! thats a pretty good wreck from just falling over?!

 

[konarider94]

damn man! thats a pretty good wreck from just falling over?!

it didnt fall over, they crashed it while riding it.

 

[spor_xb12r]

I have noticed that the closer you get to boston, the worse the HD dealerships get. Im not sure where you are located but I head north to get my bike serviced. The guys at manchester HD Buell are extremely helpful and I have never had a problem with them.

 

[Drkside79]

I would cry

 

[myronman3]

under no circumstances should YOUR insurance pay for it. their shop insurance should be the ones paying for it. i would call your insurance agent and tell them the dealership crashed your bike. you need to do that anyway. i am betting they have more clout than you do as they have their lawyer on speed-dial.

 

[BadDad320]

Your insurance will go after their insurance.... It's that simple..... If it is "totaled" ... you will get book value..... Work with the dealer..... Make sure your title stays clean.....

 

[strmvt]

Ouch dude sorry about the bike. I hope you get it sorted. With all that damage I`m surprised nobody has asked was the tech hurt when he wrecked your baby, not that you have to worry about him at all but would be on my mind albeit in the VERY BACK of it

 

[matt4068xb]

lawyer, if you havent already done so. oh & lawyer.

 

[winnetka]

This post is making me mad. Two key questions:

Is the HD dealership still wanting you to go through your insurance, or have they come to their senses and will take care of the repair with their insurance?

Are they working with you to get this resolved or is this turning into a pissing contest?

 

[qksltwo]

I did ask how the tech was ( I do have a soul ) he just has some cuts and scrapes. He said he was "breakinjg in" my new track tires AKA beating the piss oit of it. This is the ONLY time my bike has ever been to a dealer. I didnt feel like mounting my tires... look were it got me.

 

[kyle_dewald]

I take my wheels off and go up to cyclegear and buy the tires and pay $20 a tire to have them mounted and balanced

 

[dave_xb12r]

Being how I've been down before cuz of cold new tires, I understand how a thing like that could happen. Someone has to break in the tires and it just as easily could have been you. **** happens. That doesn't mean you don't deserve a bike in the same condition as how it was when you brought it in. At least everyone is ok and it's not going on your record.

 

[upthemaiden]

It's one thing to test ride a bike and have something happen, but "breaking in" your tires isn't the same thing as test riding a bike, so it sounds like 1) he definitely had some intentions of pushing it if he thought he was going to break in your tires on one short ride, and 2) it was definitely his fault as he had perfect knowledge that your bike had new tires that needed broken in, and he still pushed it far enough on someone elses bike to crash it, clearly with a bit of speed behind it too. I think if the only thing he did was mount some race tires, a simple "be gentle, these are new tires and need broken in" should've been all they needed for their liabilities sake.

 

[icepop77]

Sounds like a H-D tech who has ridden Softails his entire life who wanted to tear it up on "one of them there Buell thingies" and lost it. Just a guess on my part.

Regardless, there's some good advice in this thread. Get some legal advice at a minimum, don't fly solo on it. If the dealer, however, is willing to rebuild the bike (new frame, new header, etc) to make it whole; or even if they get you a new one (haha, not likely) then it's possible that the matter could be settled easily.

 

[Thorivola]

I understand some of you hate the HDMC with a passion, but in no way did they do anything in this situation and it is not the stance of the company that unable mechanics test ride motorcycles

if there is damage the the engine casings, the motorcycle will be totaled

it costs thousands of dollars in labor to split and replace any piece of the engine casings, and with frame damage it's definitely gone

if you really hate the idea of calling a layer, just ask the local police station to come with and have an officer present when you talk to them and come up with a deal

just find an officer that sympathizes with your situation and would be willing to testify on your behalf and the blue uniform should help snap things in line

if you are still having issues with the dealer after that let me know

 

[Alfatango1]

I don't know the laws in every state but the law of "Bailment" applies in most. If you leave an item with a business such as a mechanics shop or valet parking garage and such they must return it in the same condition as you left it in. They cannot say, even in a contract that your insurance is liable for any damages THEY cause. It's called an exculpatory clause, they try to get out of paying due to their own negligence. It's illegal as far as I know of most everywhere.

 

[marko138]

Man, what a terrible situation. Best of luck, brother.

 

[keisersozae]

I would have my own estimates done, at least 2. I would bet that it's totaled and not worth fixing, don't trust your dealer to tell you that, I'm sure they will just try to repair it. If it happened to me I wouldn't accept that bike back no matter what they told me, it won't ever be the same.

If the dealership didn't offer me a settlement that I was happy with immediatly I would get a lawyer quicker than they could say chrome and sue them for the bike, the headache, and to cover lawyer costs. Good luck to you man, hope it comes out ok.