On Tuesday evening, on my way home from work on my motorbike I was filtering past a 2 mile queue of stationary traffic on the A1068 a single carriageway. The main A189 (Spine Road) arterial route had been closed 10 mins earlier due to a nasty smash (with a motorbike) hence a significant volume of traffic was now being diverted on the normally steady A1068.
So, with all the traffic heading in my direction being sat there, or crawling forward every few minutes, I was moving along down the middle of the road at approx. 30mph. Unfortunately, the driver of a black Insignia didn't want to wait in the traffic anymore and decided to perform a 'U' turn, driving straight in to my path approx. 3 meters ahead of me.
I braked as hard as I could but couldn't avoid hitting the back three quarters of the car. The lady driver was very apologetic and admitted liability and another person came forward to confirm she had witnessed the incident and provided her details.
No broken bones, but some great bruises. I'm stiff as a board now but OK. The VFR has sustained damage to the front fairing/screen/headlight/instruments and surround and the tops of each of the side fairings but headstock/frame and forks all look fine but I suspect the bike will still be written off.
I've had my VFR for 15 years, it's a limited-edition bike, one of just 50 made to celebrate Honda's 50th Anniversary in 1998. It's been my pride and joy and maintained to a high standard both mechanically and cosmetically in this time and the 80,000 miles I've done on it but will any of this be considered by the insurers though? Or, will I just get a settlement based on a 'leggy' 20 year old VFR 800 – i.e. approx. £900? I know of a few 50th Anniversary bikes like mine which have changed hands at over £3,000 this year, admittedly with less miles than mine but still not in as good order.
I'm keen to get the bike back so I can fix it if the damage is as superficial as I think, or break it for parts if it's not suitable to put back on the road, but how do I do this once the insurer for the 3rd party writes it off. I'm really gutted to be in this situation, perhaps I should have opted for a bespoke agreed valuation policy but 'door closed' and 'horse now bolted' springs to mind.
Any input would be most welcome from anyone in the know. :thumb:
Cheers,
Steve
So, with all the traffic heading in my direction being sat there, or crawling forward every few minutes, I was moving along down the middle of the road at approx. 30mph. Unfortunately, the driver of a black Insignia didn't want to wait in the traffic anymore and decided to perform a 'U' turn, driving straight in to my path approx. 3 meters ahead of me.
I braked as hard as I could but couldn't avoid hitting the back three quarters of the car. The lady driver was very apologetic and admitted liability and another person came forward to confirm she had witnessed the incident and provided her details.
No broken bones, but some great bruises. I'm stiff as a board now but OK. The VFR has sustained damage to the front fairing/screen/headlight/instruments and surround and the tops of each of the side fairings but headstock/frame and forks all look fine but I suspect the bike will still be written off.
I've had my VFR for 15 years, it's a limited-edition bike, one of just 50 made to celebrate Honda's 50th Anniversary in 1998. It's been my pride and joy and maintained to a high standard both mechanically and cosmetically in this time and the 80,000 miles I've done on it but will any of this be considered by the insurers though? Or, will I just get a settlement based on a 'leggy' 20 year old VFR 800 – i.e. approx. £900? I know of a few 50th Anniversary bikes like mine which have changed hands at over £3,000 this year, admittedly with less miles than mine but still not in as good order.
I'm keen to get the bike back so I can fix it if the damage is as superficial as I think, or break it for parts if it's not suitable to put back on the road, but how do I do this once the insurer for the 3rd party writes it off. I'm really gutted to be in this situation, perhaps I should have opted for a bespoke agreed valuation policy but 'door closed' and 'horse now bolted' springs to mind.
Any input would be most welcome from anyone in the know. :thumb:
Cheers,
Steve
