Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Edited to update:
3/9/09: Told that my bike is to be written off
4/9/09: Sorted it out with the repairer and the assessor - now it's going to be repaired
7/9/09: Insurer again telling me my bike is written off and they need some documentation
8/9/09: Spoke with insurer for half an hour. They swear the bike is a write-off. The assessor swears it isn't. I swear that I just don't care either way anymore and just want to get to the bottom of it and have a final answer. More back and forth. Finally - someone notices there are two assessments attached to my file. One is for a written off Honda. They remove that from my file. Then they tell me that the other assessment still says my bike is a write off. I push further. They protest that the assessment is for my Kawasaki and that the Honda error is fixed - my bike is a write-off. Nope, not happy. I keep pushing. Finally - someone decides to look at the actual assessment. It's for a 1400. At a different repairer. With a different rego. They remove this assessment from my file too. Now they need to find the actual assessment. I call the assessor (again - he's so sick of hearing from me). He says he will resend it, then call them and confirm they have it and it is against my file. I'm not holding my breath, but at least (for now) it's NOT written-off again.
And I'd just started getting used to the idea of getting a new bike!

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OK, I got a message last night that my bike has been written off. I seriously am flabbergasted, as there was bugger all damage, but what can you do - they can pay me out and sell it damaged for a lot less cost than fixing it.

So, I figure I have the following options:

1) Ask for a cash settlement and fix it myself
Since they've decided to write it off, they won't give me the full amount of the repair quote, obviously, but I reckon I will get enough to fix it to my satisfaction, as I will be able to take the time to source cheaper parts and make my own calls on how it's fixed.

2) Take the insurance payout and get a new bike
It's insured for a reasonably high agreed value, so I won't do badly out of this option

Back of the envelope calculations lead us to believe that either option will be within an amount of money that isn't enough to sway the decision, so consider the financial side of things a wash.

So I'm left to decide whether I want to keep my bike or get a new one. So I'm having a major dilemma. And I would be happy to have opinions, especially from people who know my riding style, or who have ridden modern ZX6's and ZX10's and can compare them. Or if you can think of factors I haven't mentioned that may make a difference.

Keeping my bike
Pros:
I love my bike.
It's the best bike I've ever ridden, it makes me smile every time I see it, and I love riding it.
I've got it set up exactly how I want it.
I love the exhaust so much.
I'll get my baby back, practically as if nothing ever happened
Did I mention I'm in love with my bike - it's seriously an awesome bike.
Cons:
It's over 45 000 kms old and this will be the most cash I'll ever get for it.
Upgrading in a year or two isn't really on the cards due to other plans, so it is a chance to upgrade now with the least amount of outlay, or I'll be keeping it for a number of years, until she's pretty old.
It seems like the sensible thing to do is not keep my bike

Getting a new bike
Pros:
Who doesn't like a new bike?
I'm sure I'll love the next bike
I've wanted to own a ZX10 for a while. This will give me the chance to get an '04-'05 or an '06-'07 ZX10 without really affecting the budget - how often does that sort of chance come along?
I could either get a new ZX6 (probably an '08) - so upgrade my bike to the newer, lower km version or I can get a mid-km ZX10. I'm not sure which way I'd jump on this one - probably the older ZX10 over the newer ZX6.
Cons:
I've ridden Wattie's old '04-'05 ZX10. It felt almost exactly like my '06 ZX6, but with much more power. I'm not sure I need or will really use that extra power on the road, to be honest, even though I'm sure it's nice to have. And I like my licence.
I have an '08 ZX6 as a tracky, and the difference between it and my '06 ZX6 isn't huge enough that I'd upgrade without having a scenario like this. In my mind, I'd just be trading for a newer, lower km version of the bike I have.

So, keep and fix my baby. Get a nice '08 ZX6. Get an '04 - '07 ZX10. Anyone got an opinion?

I need Aunty Cath's advice line, but I hear she's currently in rehab...

Thats a shock
GO the new six.... you know you want to

Can I have your pipes?.... please? name your price..... I got first dibs thats if you dont keep em

i know on facebook i said get a new bike, but i would actually sway towards keeping her and fixing her up... i know how much you love the bike, and it is way better looking than the 07-08 model, and if you aint going to get the latest 10 or 6 then just repair her, and like you say, it'll be as if nothing ever happened...

WTF? Didn't look like there was that much there!
I'd have thought you'd be able to see the quote and breakdown - I was able to every time.

I can't tell you what to get - I don't have the credentials anymore
I would suggest taking the payout and getting a new one rather than repairing yourself.
If it really is a write-off it could be more hassle than it's worth.
You know everything you did to it, so if you get another 6 you should be able to set it up the same.

My .05 cents

Speechless...

I've ridden the 09 six - its a really great bike just to uncomfy for this old fart

Maybe it would be an option to take the cash and then buy the bike...a slight difference to taking a cash settlement on the repairs. Either way they will write it off I would think. My sister recently did this with her car (VS Commodore) and they wrote it off even though it only had a ding in two doors.

Good luck with whatever option you take...

Theres good deals on the 09 atm...

Get a ZRX (You know deep down inside that's waht you want ) I am not one bit biased either

robracer wrote:Can I have your pipes?.... please? name your price..... I got first dibs thats if you dont keep em

If I don't keep it - you'll see her on motorcycle disposals I guess

Six Addict wrote:i know how much you love the bike, and it is way better looking than the 07-08 model

Yeah I do love her heaps. And she is better looking than the '07-'08 (sorry Jay, but you know it's true )

ty wrote:WTF? Didn't look like there was that much there!
I'd have thought you'd be able to see the quote and breakdown - I was able to every time.

There isn't much there. The damage is : a scratch on the exhaust (which is covered for $880), scratched bar end, scratched lever, broken mirror, cracked front fairing and cracked ducktail.
I will see the quote, but knowing what we already know we can roughly calculate that the money side of things for the three options (keep '06 ZX6 and repair, get an '08 ZX6, get an '04-'07 ZX10) are all within an amount that doesn't really change the equation either way.

You know everything you did to it, so if you get another 6 you should be able to set it up the same.

I wouldn't get the same model ZX6, I'd just keep mine. I'm not going to swap my '06 for a lower kms '06, because who knows how it's been ridden - I know how mine has been treated. I'd rather have a well-treated 45K km bike than a thrashed 20K km bike any day.

red_dave wrote:Speechless...

Me too mate. When I first listened to the voicemail, I thought they'd dialled the wrong number!

Phil wrote:I've ridden the 09 six - its a really great bike

MadKaw wrote:Theres good deals on the 09 atm...

The '09 ZX6 would cost that bit more, so I'm not really considering it at this stage.

laidback1952 wrote:Maybe it would be an option to take the cash and then buy the bike...a slight difference to taking a cash settlement on the repairs

But wouldn't I risk someone else buying the bike, or does the old owner get first dibs??? (I'm with QBE if anyone's interested)

rooster wrote:Get a ZRX

Maybe when I'm old enough to qualify as a full Ulysses member

wow Cath, i actually quite like how you have looked at this and i think its a very hard decision to make.....

hmmm, i had an 06 636 and it was farken sweet, i had some of my best biking memories on that bike and it was SOOO much fun, i can understand your love of it.

However if you can get a NEW zx6, then i'd go for that instead! as good as the 06 is, after riding the 09 zx6, i discovered that is the only 600 i'd ever own after having ridden 1000's. I loved the 09 zx6.

However if you can't get an 09 imo, then id stick with the 636. i personally like the 06 more than the 07/08 sooo.
Plus also if you LOVE the bike then stick with it, unless you could love another bike as much as this one, i dont see why you should let it go and get something which won't be heaps better. Plus as you say the crim feels to you similar to what you have now except has more power, if the power overrides the love that you have, get the crim, else if the love overrides the power then keep the 636.

so many factors but guess thats why you want our oppion!

Cath wrote:

laidback1952 wrote:Maybe it would be an option to take the cash and then buy the bike...a slight difference to taking a cash settlement on the repairs

But wouldn't I risk someone else buying the bike, or does the old owner get first dibs??? (I'm with QBE if anyone's interested)

rooster wrote:Get a ZRX

Maybe when I'm old enough to qualify as a full Ulysses member

My sister did the deal to keep the car before accepting the offer...talk to them.

Nah...that's when you buy a ZX9 and then get a ZX9 tracky...hehehe...

Saki wrote:However if you can't get an 09 imo, then id stick with the 636. i personally like the 06 more than the 07/08 sooo.

Cath, I am very surprised they have written it off, too! I understand it is really a decision of the heart in the end and I am sure you will make the right one.

WOW that's crazy they would write your baby off.

I love the look of my bike Cath but like the rear end of the '06 model better. If you want to take mine for a test ride on the road to see if you like it on the road compared to your trackie. (can't remember if you said you had ridden one on the road)

You seem to be keen on getting the 10 atm as it sits lower than your baby, but do you need the extra power if you are still comfortable on yours. I know the new '09 6 sits lower than both of ours again so maybe you will have to take a test ride.

Jay

Sorry to hear about your bike cath.

i would take the upgrade.
even though you love your current bike.

like you said you will get more for your bike now than any time in the future so upgrading in a year or so will be much more expensive.
so maybe for a couple grand as well as your pay out you might be able to get a run out deal or a super low km bike you could grow to love just as much as your current one.

then you can modify that and the fun starts again

what a pain huh - especially when you have the bike set up just the way you like.

anyway good luck with it.