Recommend me a repair shop...

[KnightRider]

Further to my previous post regarding today's accident (http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?p=1289091#post1289091) can anyone recommend me a decent bike repair shop that can repair bodywork etc. The main repair needed will be to the front bikini fairing as there is a massive scratch through the paint, there are other bits and peices that will need doing, like removing scratches from the exhaust, mirror, brake lever etc but anyone could do those.

Other questions I have:
1. do most shops offer free hire bikes during the repair as I need the bike to get to work
2. do you reckon the shop will let me keep any of the old parts that they replace for spares?

Thanks for your help guys,

Jon

[ASM-Forever]

It depends how good a job you want done, but usually it is cheaper to replace than repair. Especially if you lurk around ebay, or snaffle some bits from the forum.

The sort of places that repair plastics are usualy small....so i doubt a loaner bike will be offered.

If you ask to keep any replaced bits, then you can have them, as they are yours!

IMHO you should either repair gash yourself, or replace with new/2nd hand bits.

Sorry to hear about the incident mate....it was bound to happen sometime, so good to get it out of the way! :)

[ASM-Forever]

Mate, i just read your post about the accident and as you are not at fault, unleash the insurance monkeys!

The bike is quite new so may even be an insurance write off! Depends on frame etc.

[KnightRider]

Insurance write off - we are talking about a minor scratch to the front fairing, and some scratches to the mirror, bar end, brake lever, crash bung and exhaust. The frame etc should be fine as nothing actually drove over it!

Definately want the bike to be put back to perfect condition as it wasnt my fault!

[SoulKiss]

Insurance write off - we are talking about a minor scratch to the front fairing, and some scratches to the mirror, bar end, brake lever, crash bung and exhaust. The frame etc should be fine as nothing actually drove over it!

Definately want the bike to be put back to perfect condition as it wasnt my fault!

If you want perfect then everything in your list needs replacing.

And if the frame is scratched anywhere thats a new frame.

So it COULD be written off.

Oh well, time to break another engine in.

Hopefully I am being overly pessimistic tho.

[KnightRider]

If you want perfect then everything in your list needs replacing.

And if the frame is scratched anywhere thats a new frame.

So it COULD be written off.

Oh well, time to break another engine in.

Hopefully I am being overly pessimistic tho.

Thats what I thought, which is why I would be interested to find out if I can keep the scratched parts for spares?

Thankfully the frame will be fine...as it was only the the front bikini fairing and the the side of the bike as it hit the floor that made contact (but R&G bungs saved the fairing and frame etc.

Jon

I am not expecting this to be a major

[SoulKiss]

Thats what I thought, which is why I would be interested to find out if I can keep the scratched parts for spares?

Thankfully the frame will be fine...as it was only the the front bikini fairing and the the side of the bike as it hit the floor that made contact (but R&G bungs saved the fairing and frame etc.

Jon

I am not expecting this to be a major

What I should have added is that this thread is pointless.

You really dont want to get anything other than essentials fixed at this point, and if you can get a courtesy bike, dont even fix those.

Leave it all to the insurer.

[Demonz]

Talk to your insurer about a loan bike too - PM Stu as he managed to get one sorted. From memory his insurer or legal people just charged this to the other parties bill. Not 100% on the details though...

Sorry to hear BTW!

[KnightRider]

What I should have added is that this thread is pointless.

You really dont want to get anything other than essentials fixed at this point, and if you can get a courtesy bike, dont even fix those.

Leave it all to the insurer.

To an extent you make a good point, and I am not considering fixing anything myself and will leave it all to the insurer. However, when the insurer rings me up to talk about getting the bike fixed I will most likely be given the option of which company to use. Personally I would rather pick a repair shop that one of you guys had recommended and that will do a decent job than just pick one at random.

The last time I left it "to the insurer" the company they picked were a bunch of monkies and left my car without any lights over the numberplate on the rear bumper and there were a number of other issues that I was not satisfied with and ended up fighting over.

Jon

[Viney]

Phone you rinsurance co and get it sorted. If not yuour fault and you have thier detials, then job done.

[StreetHawk]

Bad news dude... Get on to the insurers and hassle them until they get you booked in somewhere for repair. Your insurer may offer you a loan bike, it's not just the garage that fixes it that can supply the bike. They may get another company to drop one off. Best ask em!

[KnightRider]

Just got off the phone with the insurance company (Express Insurance - the official Suzuki insurers) and they have been great. Within 30 minutes of calling them to make the claim their third party repair people were calling me to arrange for a bike to be dropped off to my work and for my bike to be collected (it will be with me tomorrow at 5pm!).

I have been really impressed with their response, so at this stage would highly recommend them. I should also note that one of the reasons that everything is moving so quickly is because I have witnesses to the accident - so make sure you get names and addresses if you have an off!!!

[SoulKiss]

Just got off the phone with the insurance company (Express Insurance - the official Suzuki insurers) and they have been great. Within 30 minutes of calling them to make the claim their third party repair people were calling me to arrange for a bike to be dropped off to my work and for my bike to be collected (it will be with me tomorrow at 5pm!).

I have been really impressed with their response, so at this stage would highly recommend them. I should also note that one of the reasons that everything is moving so quickly is because I have witnesses to the accident - so make sure you get names and addresses if you have an off!!!

I am fairly sure that you are on a full, unrestricted license, but if you are not, be sure to check what they are delivering tomorrow - or do you know that already.

Good news on the fast response tho - could even have yours back by the weekend at this rate :)

[KnightRider]

I am fairly sure that you are on a full, unrestricted license, but if you are not, be sure to check what they are delivering tomorrow - or do you know that already.

Good news on the fast response tho - could even have yours back by the weekend at this rate :)

I do indeed have a full license so no probs there - incidently I was also impressed that the insurance company did all the DVLA checks on my license (ie do I have any points on the license and what type of licenses I have) by conferencing in the DVLA to our conversation so that I could give approval for my details to be given out whithout having to sign a dozen authorisation forms. Very effieicent.

[Warthog]

Efficiency? Insurance company?? NAH!