Is Repair Worth It

[rgross98]

I am torn on what to do, and maybe you guys/gals may have a good opinion, an idea I haven't thought about, or maybe even willing to lend a hand?

To the point, I was at a Lee Parks Total Control Advanced Riding Clinic and I lost control in a right hand turn. The bike slid on the rigt side, and then it flipped up in the air and landed on the front tire/left side fairing. It seems the forks are bent, and all plastics ruined, and windshield mechanism all crushed in. The dealer says it will cost approximately $8k to repair. I did not have comprehensive insurance, so no help there. This is where I don't know what to do? Does anyone feel it's a good use of money to repair a crashed bike to this extent that the cost of repairs is equal to the value of the bike?

The bike is a 07 with 34k miles, and in perfect condition, even just spent 1k on this seasons tuneup.

I really don't have much money, as I did just buy a new house and a new car. I could swing maybe 3k cash, and I will not take a loan at this time.

I guess my options are to:

1. Get a few bucks from the salvage yard and get a cheap used bike, sv maybe, and in a year or two sell it and hopefully get another fjr

2. Pull the bike apart and try to get money from the still intact parts. But I never worked on a bike before and I am not sure I can do this on my own? I guess I would have to buy at least some sort of bike jack? Sell parts on eBay, and try to raise enough money to get a decent bike this season and maybe in ayear or two, get another fjr.

3. Park the bike in the garage and wait a year or two and then repair it. And I will have an fjr again, but is that a good investment?

4. I don't know, maybe you have better ideas

Thanks,

Robert

 

[Fontanaman]

Sorry to you had an accident and now the loss of use of your Feejer. I suggest it is totaled based on the price of used bikes here on the Forum.

I high sided a BMW R100RT a few years ago. After getting the plastic fixed I was a good as new or so I thought. A while later when replacing the bearings in the triple tree the shop found the triple tree was cracked. With a hard crash it is really difficult to know what needs repair until the bike is dissembled.

I wish I had better news. Maybe somebody else will. What is the cost of parts alone? Maybe repair of with help is an option if there is significant cost savings vs $8k.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Wow, sorry to hear about the oops Robert. At least you're OK...that's the most important part.

Tough decision on the scoot. Once you tear into it, there are many small items that quickly add up, ie. the $8k repair estimate. EBay, salvage yards and the forum are going to be your best bet for used repair parts if you choose that option. Even then, you'll have to be patient and wait for used parts to become available.

To answer directly, it's definitely not worth putting $8K into a bike that's barely worth that now.

Got any good FJR friends around you can tap for knowledge?

--G

 

[rgross98]

Sorry to you had an accident and now the loss of use of your Feejer. I suggest it is totaled based on the price of used bikes here on the Forum.

I high sided a BMW R100RT a few years ago. After getting the plastic fixed I was a good as new or so I thought. A while later when replacing the bearings in the triple tree the shop found the triple tree was cracked. With a hard crash it is really difficult to know what needs repair until the bike is dissembled.

I wish I had better news. Maybe somebody else will. What is the cost of parts alone? Maybe repair of with help is an option if there is significant cost savings vs $8k.

Thanks for the reply.... It would be considered totalled, but without insurance, it doesn't help. Your right about not knowing what you will find until it is taken apart, that makes me more nervous, I commit to repair and then the costs go up as unexpected things are found. Also, there is no guarantee that after I spend big $ to repair, that is will ride perfectly again. When I decide to sell in the future (maybe ;-)) will anyone even want to buy my bike for normal used value with a crash on the VIN?

 

[rgross98]

Wow, sorry to hear about the oops Robert. At least you're OK...that's the most important part.

Tough decision on the scoot. Once you tear into it, there are many small items that quickly add up, ie. the $8k repair estimate. EBay, salvage yards and the forum are going to be your best bet for used repair parts if you choose that option. Even then, you'll have to be patient and wait for used parts to become available.

To answer directly, it's definitely not worth putting $8K into a bike that's barely worth that now.

Got any good FJR friends around you can tap for knowledge?

--G

Thanks for the reply. I unfortunately don't know if I trust myself to repair the bike myself, as I never worked on a bike before. I might be willing to try tear down, but putting together is a little different. And unfortunately, I don't have any friends who ride or even into cars....this has always been my own passion, with no one to share it with.

 

[Monty]

If it were me, I woudn't want to go thru the hassle. Just sell it for what you can get and buy a different bike.

 

[rgross98]

If it were me, I woudn't want to go thru the hassle. Just sell it for what you can get and buy a different bike.

Do you think someone would come and trailer it away for a parts bike and give me like $2k? The wheels are perfect, the brake pads are brand new, motor is perfect....

 

[Monty]

If it were me, I woudn't want to go thru the hassle. Just sell it for what you can get and buy a different bike.

Do you think someone would come and trailer it away for a parts bike and give me like $2k? The wheels are perfect, the brake pads are brand new, motor is perfect....

Possibly, however, you might do better parting it out on EBay or Craigs List.

 

[mk2wilson]

Part it out. That is the only way your are going to get enough out of it to even get close to getting a new bike. You could probably sell the motor, assuming it is in good condition, for around a grand on e-bay. Add up all the small parts that are still good and the money will add up quick.

 

[monkin]

Glad your OK..

I've had this happen before and parted the bike.

It was a PIA..but it was the best way to recover the most money.

If you don't want to go thru the trouble of parting..I'd bet the

2K number for the bike is about right. You may get more if you can

find someone who needs the motor and some other parts. Maybe start by

listing it as a whole bike.

I feel you pain man...But..I'm REALLY GLAD you aren't hurt.

Edit..

Parting the bike isn't that tough..putting it back together is tricky.. :lol:

 

[steve'o']

Robert:

Sorry to hear about your misfortune. I definately don't have near as much experience as some of the guys on this forum, and being on par with you, putting a bike back together, I would agree with the fellows who said to part it out and sell on Ebay, the forum and or Craigs list. Even if you end up with $2500 from the parts and I believe you said you could swing another $3000 cash, you're getting close to getting a $6000 FJR, which could work out fine for you.

Best of luck.

Steve

 

[WitlessEvil]

If you aren't interested in doing the work yourself, it seems to me you would be better off just getting out from under the whole deal right now. Sell the bike off for whatever you can get out of it.

However, if you know an independent mechanic that does good work, let him look at the bike and have him give you an estimate of what it would take just to get back on the road SAFELY. You might be able to get by for one to two grand. Replace the front forks, if they are really bent, a used fairing off of ebay or salvage, and miscellaneous other parts. The one caveat would be the frame must be straight.

In my opinion you would be hard pressed to get 2K out of it the way it is without parting it out yourself unless you have a private buyer lined up. Even when you do part it out there are usually only a couple of popular parts needed off of any bike, and the rest of the parts you wind up sitting on forever.

Good luck

Steve

 

[DJB]

If you can get the bike here to me in CT in a day I can have it apart and give you an estimate to put it back together. I would do it for dinner and you can help. I have taken mine down the frame twice, replaced the throttle bodies and rebuild the started which is under the throttle bodies. I have also rebuilt the front forks. So if ou had a truck and can haul it we could put it together or you could leave with the good parts to sell and scrap the rest. PM me if you are interested.

 

[Bugnatr]

If you can get the bike here to me in CT in a day I can have it apart and give you an estimate to put it back together. I would do it for dinner and you can help. I have taken mine down the frame twice, replaced the throttle bodies and rebuild the started which is under the throttle bodies. I have also rebuilt the front forks. So if ou had a truck and can haul it we could put it together or you could leave with the good parts to sell and scrap the rest. PM me if you are interested.

Bam, there is your answer. I would be all over DJB's offer. Best part is what you would learn by watching/ helping him work on the Feejeer.

DJB- awesome offer, good on you!

PS my Dad taught me years ago to carry full insurance on anything you can't afford to replace out of pocket. Glad you are ok after the mishap.

 

[drc32-0]

I always hate to hear about an FJR going down,but at least you're o.k.

My first concern would be frame/steering stem damage,then is the radiator o.k.?Have you had it running since the crash?If the engine sounds good and the frame checks out,replacing the forks,body work,front subframe and windshield assembly would be relatively easy work,but there will be some $$$ involved.I guess it comes down to time,money and how much do you like the bike.

I wish you were closer,I'd be happy to help you rebuild it if it's only plastics and forks.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[rgross98]

If you can get the bike here to me in CT in a day I can have it apart and give you an estimate to put it back together. I would do it for dinner and you can help. I have taken mine down the frame twice, replaced the throttle bodies and rebuild the started which is under the throttle bodies. I have also rebuilt the front forks. So if ou had a truck and can haul it we could put it together or you could leave with the good parts to sell and scrap the rest. PM me if you are interested.

WOW! That is a really amazing offer. This is the first time I wish I had a way to tow my bike (besides the accident)....

 

[supertankerm60a3]

I guess I am the dissenting opinion. (or at least in the repair it camp) You say you don't trust yourself to work on the bike. NOW is the perfect time BECAUSE you cannot mess it up! That is a win-win. The worst that can happen is you lose only the amount it drops from its present condition to what it ends up as after you work on it. You can't mess it up that bad.

You say it SEEMS the forks are bent, get them checked, or check them yourself, they may not be. IF they are get those replaced and strip off all damaged parts.

Jimmy up a headlight and front blinkers. Now, you have your FJR, beat though it may be, and can ride for the cost of the forks and an old headlight.

Next, start looking for the windscreen system. Ebay has them often and you can still ride while you look. When you find one at a good price, then get the windscreen. Total elapsed time a few months.

Lastly, get a complete replacement fairing. They are not the same quality as OEM but they only cost about 600.00

Fork check, visual, do they LOOK bent? Travel, Do they bind? Ride and handling slow and careful does it handle OK? If yes then it checks out.

I once fixed a friends Magna after he missed the Colorado blvd exit, hit the curb and cartwheeled down the road. (3 of us were going down there to go cruising and the exit surprised us, he started from the left lane) He went to the hospital chauffeured by two hot blond girls in a convertible Mercedes with allot of road rash and a broken collarbone. The next week, we went to the impound lot to pick it up. I beat the handlebars back with an old disk rotor, taped the seat back on, put everything else in a baggy and rode it from Pasadena to Ft Irwin with my hands at the 8:00 and 1:00 positions.

We fixed it for the cost of

1 used tank

1 used seat

1 set of aftermarket handlebars

1 pair aftermarket chrome glasspack mufflers

about 6 hours with epoxy and an instrument pod turned into a jigsaw puzzle.

He enjoyed that Magna for another 3 years before selling it for and buying an Eliminator.

It can be fixed. It can be fixed cheap. You can do it. It can be ridden in the meantime.

I wish I were close enough to help. but I know someone with a few parts he may give away, I can ask.

 

[majicmaker]

All good options here. My advice on your next bike. Stay the Hell away from those advanced riding courses on your own bike. Rent one and insure the Hell out of it. Cheers. h34r:

 

[allrider]

Here's a less expensive option. Make it an FJR1300N

I have always found folks on this forum are a generous bunch. I expect once this post is up for a couple days you will have quite a few offers of help.

I'm sure there's some folks in your area on this forum that would lend a hand. :clapping: Let's get the word out. :clapping:

Do a little horse trading and borrow someones pickup and bike ramp to get her to CT.

In the meantime take some pics of the damage so we can assess what you might need. Once you have an idea I would start a new thread asking for what you need.

FJR people are pretty good about taking care of their own.