File a claim? Opinions wanted

hushpuff
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hushpuff
Edited Date/Time 10/12/2021 11:51am
Been a rider for 20+ years and have been lucky enough to never get seriously injured or involved in a wreck that did anything more than rip grips or scrape plastics. Yesterday I took my brand new to me (14hrs) 450 out and had one of my best days ever, never felt better on the bike. Unfortunately, my day was forcefully ended when I hit a table with a blind landing. As soon as I was airborne I saw a kid standing off to the side of the track with his bike laying on its side, right in the middle of the landing. I came down about 1'-2' before his bike, tried to pull the front wheel up but I did not ride it out.

Judging by the engine oil present on my boot, I believe the swingarm or footpeg of his bike caught my stator cover and shifter which ripped the engine case open and threw me over the bars about 20' from the landing. I stayed conscious and I don't believe I hit my head, just landed on my back and had the wind knocked out of me. Pretty sore as I type this. Kid is fine.


The bike is nearly new, partially financed and as such is fully insured. I have not torn the bike down but the frame is dented, the stator cover is shredded , the shifter and end of the shift-shaft ripped off, bars, levers, all bent, other cosmetics ruined. I am mechanically inclined but my expertise does not extend into bottom-end or transmission work.

I've filed a claim (with the same carrier) for snowmobiles before and am inclined to do the same with this bike given the frame and motor damage. If it was just a dent on the frame and bent bars I'd just replace the bars and live with the dent. I've got another bike so downtime at a dealer isn't an issue. Any reason I should or should not file? Any opinions, input, or advice on the matter? I acknowledge that the first step is to determine the extent of the damage to the motor and frame - if it's just the cover and gasket I could possibly replace that, and the shift shaft myself.




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Thisusernameisavailable 10/11/2021 10:13am
10/11/2021 10:13am
So you're asking if you should make an insurance claim?
Not a claim for damages by another party? Im not completely clear on it.
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flarider
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flarider 10/11/2021 10:15am
10/11/2021 10:15am
I can crash my MX bike and file an insurance claim?

NO shit?
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flarider
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flarider 10/11/2021 10:16am
10/11/2021 10:16am
I'd be filing a claim for new bars every few weeks

LOL
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hushpuff
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hushpuff 10/11/2021 10:21am
10/11/2021 10:21am
I am discussing filing a claim with my own carrier - and the reason being, a motor, frame, and all associated parts and labor are going to be more than my deductible.

@flarider - you can crash your own car and file a claim, hell you can burn down your own house and file claim too. If you wreck your bike and the repair costs are higher than your deductible why wouldn't you?
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The Shop

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kb228
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kb228 10/11/2021 10:21am
10/11/2021 10:21am
So you CAN file a claim for wrecking a dirtbike?
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Bruce372
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Bruce372 10/11/2021 10:29am
10/11/2021 10:29am
kb228 wrote:
So you CAN file a claim for wrecking a dirtbike?
My bikes are insured, I asked for theft and loss through fire. It also comes with coverage of damage. It makes no sense and I don't know how it works.

Op. Tread lightly, you dont want the insurance company going back after the track.... sadly, I know someone hurt at track, sued and won and now one of the most amazing tracks on the planet is closed.
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spimx
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spimx 10/11/2021 10:30am
10/11/2021 10:30am
If you have insurance on the bike yeah just call them and ask him if you can get it replaced. If you're covered by insurance and it's more financially beneficial to claim it then claim it.
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murph783
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murph783 10/11/2021 10:30am
10/11/2021 10:30am
For everyone asking, yes there are kinds of insurance for just this type of occurrence.

Hush-I say go for it, it’ll be totaled or at least far over your deductible assuming they assess it anything like I used to do street bikes. New frame and the labor there alone ain’t gonna be cheap.
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jamiechapman418 10/11/2021 10:49am
10/11/2021 10:49am
kb228 wrote:
So you CAN file a claim for wrecking a dirtbike?
Bruce372 wrote:
My bikes are insured, I asked for theft and loss through fire. It also comes with coverage of damage. It makes no sense and I don't...
My bikes are insured, I asked for theft and loss through fire. It also comes with coverage of damage. It makes no sense and I don't know how it works.

Op. Tread lightly, you dont want the insurance company going back after the track.... sadly, I know someone hurt at track, sued and won and now one of the most amazing tracks on the planet is closed.
Ya I'd have to say I am with Bruce here with on the tread lightly comment. Insurance companies are NOT going to pay for anything that they can potentially twist and put the blame on someone else.
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richardwhite
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richardwhite 10/11/2021 10:54am
10/11/2021 10:54am
I will bet that there is a disclaimer for closed course competition.
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Bruce372
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Bruce372 10/11/2021 11:06am
10/11/2021 11:06am
richardwhite wrote:
I will bet that there is a disclaimer for closed course competition.
Practice days aren't racing. Years ago, I called geico. They ask you if you plan to race. I said yes, they then said they cannot issue a policy even for theft and then I said ok, no and they then informed me they could not insure that VIN at all going forward because I answered yes.

OP ... Be very careful!
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yota
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yota 10/11/2021 11:19am
10/11/2021 11:19am
if you file a claim the insurance co has every right to subrogate against the track owner.
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mx317
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mx317 10/11/2021 11:24am
10/11/2021 11:24am
Hard to tell for sure, but looks like the flywheel (rotor) is bent.
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crowe660
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crowe660 10/11/2021 11:27am
10/11/2021 11:27am
No
gt80rider
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gt80rider 10/11/2021 11:40am
10/11/2021 11:40am
Geeezus dude... in case nobody ever told you... mx is gnarly as f.... there, now you've been told...

Now, go fix your bike with your own cash and go riding.... if you are so broke you can't afford to do that, you are too broke to ride.... make more money or get less expensive hobbies....
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GrapeApe
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GrapeApe 10/11/2021 11:43am
10/11/2021 11:43am
yota wrote:
if you file a claim the insurance co has every right to subrogate against the track owner.
Realistically they are not going to do that over a claim this small. They would spend more in attorney fees than they could hope to recover from the track owner or its insurer.
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spimx
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spimx 10/11/2021 11:48am
10/11/2021 11:48am
Don't tell them you were at a track. Say public land
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jbonemalone
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jbonemalone 10/11/2021 11:51am
10/11/2021 11:51am
If the frame is damaged yes. If it’s just external engine work no.
I’ve had a claim on a frame job after a bike fell off a trailer and it was well worth it.
Had mine been just engine covers and cosmetics no way.
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hushpuff
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hushpuff 10/11/2021 12:14pm
10/11/2021 12:14pm
gt80rider wrote:
Geeezus dude... in case nobody ever told you... mx is gnarly as f.... there, now you've been told... Now, go fix your bike with your own...
Geeezus dude... in case nobody ever told you... mx is gnarly as f.... there, now you've been told...

Now, go fix your bike with your own cash and go riding.... if you are so broke you can't afford to do that, you are too broke to ride.... make more money or get less expensive hobbies....
Thanks for your opinion - gt80rider, truly appreciate that. I can't believe I've never been told this before. Do you think the dealer should have told me that mx is gnarly as f? Do you think I can file an insurance claim against them because they didn't tell me that mx is gnarly as f? What are the ramifications of doing so? I consider myself gnarly inclined but it only goes so far. Are you gnarly as f? Can you show me how to be gnarly as f?

To those of you who have chimed in with valid and relevant input, thank you. I had not considered some of the things mentioned above and will take those into consideration.

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oldblood869
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oldblood869 10/11/2021 1:08pm
10/11/2021 1:08pm
Bruce372 wrote:
My bikes are insured, I asked for theft and loss through fire. It also comes with coverage of damage. It makes no sense and I don't...
My bikes are insured, I asked for theft and loss through fire. It also comes with coverage of damage. It makes no sense and I don't know how it works.

Op. Tread lightly, you dont want the insurance company going back after the track.... sadly, I know someone hurt at track, sued and won and now one of the most amazing tracks on the planet is closed.
What track was that?
Falcon
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Falcon 10/11/2021 1:20pm
10/11/2021 1:20pm
I had a friend who wadded up all on his own and his insurance covered bars, plastic, subframe, etc. The ins. company never went after the track he was on.
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MXer391
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MXer391 10/11/2021 1:21pm
10/11/2021 1:21pm
Dude, you're fine. File the claim. I have theft insurance on my bike and it covers accidents too. My agent specifically said if someone else hit me, my bike is covered. Don't worry about posting here. I doubt your insurance agent knows what Vital MX is or your handle here. Like someone said before, just say you were riding and wrecked and this is what happened. You don't need to tell them what track or the exact details and honestly they probably don't care as long as there isn't some sort of accident report filed with the police. They're insurance agents, not detectives. You pay for insurance for a reason, this is a reason to use it.
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Shaggin589
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Shaggin589 10/11/2021 1:40pm
10/11/2021 1:40pm Edited Date/Time 10/11/2021 1:43pm
My insurance guy who did my plan told me for $18 more a year I can get comprehensive on top of theft coverage with a $250 deductible.i was just after theft insurance. I told him I only ride track and he said aslong as it’s not a race it doesn’t matter they will cover it. Just take it to a shop for an estimate. My agent also used an example of colliding with another rider and bending a fork would be well over $250 on paper. So I thought it would be stupid not to. In this instance I would 100% make a claim as that’s what I pay Insurance for and I doubt they even ask for specifics besides a quote. Like others stated it would cost the insurance company more to investigate or go after a track than just paying the claim and moving on. They usually only look into a track when a medical claim is involved as that can be well into 6 figures.
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murph783
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murph783 10/11/2021 2:22pm
10/11/2021 2:22pm
Shaggin589 wrote:
My insurance guy who did my plan told me for $18 more a year I can get comprehensive on top of theft coverage with a $250...
My insurance guy who did my plan told me for $18 more a year I can get comprehensive on top of theft coverage with a $250 deductible.i was just after theft insurance. I told him I only ride track and he said aslong as it’s not a race it doesn’t matter they will cover it. Just take it to a shop for an estimate. My agent also used an example of colliding with another rider and bending a fork would be well over $250 on paper. So I thought it would be stupid not to. In this instance I would 100% make a claim as that’s what I pay Insurance for and I doubt they even ask for specifics besides a quote. Like others stated it would cost the insurance company more to investigate or go after a track than just paying the claim and moving on. They usually only look into a track when a medical claim is involved as that can be well into 6 figures.
Out of curiosity do you know what you pay a year? Ballpark?
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TheGetFresh 10/11/2021 2:55pm
10/11/2021 2:55pm
I carry full insurance through Geico and they will only do policies that include collision. No theft, flood, fire or whatever only policies.

The good thing about it is that collisions include transportation crashes, so if it’s damaged in the truck, trailer, van, whatever, you can file a claim.

Anyway OP, if you would have to lie to the insurance company to get a valid claim, then you shouldn’t do it. Things like crashing on a fire road or cartwheeling your KTM off a 50 foot cliff, you probably have a valid claim. Crashing into a downed bike on a closed course that likely requires a waiver for entry and hosts racing events throughout the year is probably not a valid claim.
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kb228
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kb228 10/11/2021 2:59pm
10/11/2021 2:59pm
TheGetFresh wrote:
I carry full insurance through Geico and they will only do policies that include collision. No theft, flood, fire or whatever only policies. The good thing...
I carry full insurance through Geico and they will only do policies that include collision. No theft, flood, fire or whatever only policies.

The good thing about it is that collisions include transportation crashes, so if it’s damaged in the truck, trailer, van, whatever, you can file a claim.

Anyway OP, if you would have to lie to the insurance company to get a valid claim, then you shouldn’t do it. Things like crashing on a fire road or cartwheeling your KTM off a 50 foot cliff, you probably have a valid claim. Crashing into a downed bike on a closed course that likely requires a waiver for entry and hosts racing events throughout the year is probably not a valid claim.
Insurance companies are crooks. File the claim if you can.
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TheGetFresh 10/11/2021 4:07pm
10/11/2021 4:07pm
TheGetFresh wrote:
I carry full insurance through Geico and they will only do policies that include collision. No theft, flood, fire or whatever only policies. The good thing...
I carry full insurance through Geico and they will only do policies that include collision. No theft, flood, fire or whatever only policies.

The good thing about it is that collisions include transportation crashes, so if it’s damaged in the truck, trailer, van, whatever, you can file a claim.

Anyway OP, if you would have to lie to the insurance company to get a valid claim, then you shouldn’t do it. Things like crashing on a fire road or cartwheeling your KTM off a 50 foot cliff, you probably have a valid claim. Crashing into a downed bike on a closed course that likely requires a waiver for entry and hosts racing events throughout the year is probably not a valid claim.
kb228 wrote:
Insurance companies are crooks. File the claim if you can.
I worked in a motorcycle shop long enough to realize how many of the 20 something street bike kids are slippin’ Jimmy’s that careen double the speed limit into the broadside of a minivan and then show up in court with a fake neck brace and cry “b-b-but this lady pulled out in front of meeeeeee” so they can get their $80k settlement and throw a stretched swingarm and some neon lights on a brand new zx10r. Insurance companies may be scumbags, but dealing with dudes who submit smashed ruroc helmets as evidence will give you a calloused spirit. Insurance is a collective risk pool and if you’re a 20 something y/o man with a motorcycle you end up in the same pool as other 20 something year old men with motorcycles. Motorcycle insurance is fraught with fraud, but I’m still not inclined to get on the internet and suggest it to strangers.
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JTno$
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JTno$ 10/11/2021 4:09pm
10/11/2021 4:09pm
Back in 2009, I had “full coverage” Insurance on my bike. Went to race a Sat-Sun deal with a practice Fri afternoon. First lap on Friday, I hit a short blind tabletop after a long straight. As soon as I get above the lip, I see the water truck, at the bottom of the landing, sideways across the track. Landed right into the side of it. Ruined my bike, blew my hand apart, literally, broke my knee, dislocated my hip and some other minor crap. Insurance company wouldn’t cover anything on my bike. Didn’t matter that it was a practice day. You have to have one hell of an agent to get your claim covered for an off-road bike. Good luck!
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Gilby122
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Gilby122 10/11/2021 4:57pm
10/11/2021 4:57pm
I sell it for a living. I have a crf 450 and crf 250. Full coverage on both (comp and collision - so includes fire, theft, etc) is about $150/year. They aren’t street legal obviously, so I have minimum liability and $250 deductibles. I also have med pay on there… year and a half ago I wadded up bad and had to be flown out. $6000 deductible on my health insurance and I had $5,000 in med pay on bike insurance. Insurance paid out the $5k and I only shelled out the $1k for $133,000 in medical bills. Health insurance covered the rest. They asked what happened….said I wrecked my dirt bike. Nothing more nothing less. If my bike is stolen or burns up, they’ll pay up to the limit (value) I placed on the bikes OR the current book value, whichever is less. (Less my$250 deductible). Right now those values are fairly high. Short story long, I’d get an estimate for damages first. See what it is. THEN file it if it’ll be totaled out. Don’t file first and hope for a number. Even you do the work yourself, go get an estimate from a shop first because that’s what they’ll pay off of. Hope that helps.
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