Would you buy a Cat D writeoff?

[Heorot]

I work as an insurance claims handler and our write off rules are; if the cost of repairs with factory parts (including labour) is greater then 75% of the trade value, then it's a write off.

Cat D is generally cosmetic damage.
I've even bought cat C vehicles, once they've been repaired correctly.
I wouldn't let it worry you, it's reflected in the price, but you know that already.
Buy it and ride it and enjoy it.

[DJ123]

What's the insurance like on it? Would I be right in thinking that some insurers may only insure it TPFT and not fully comp?

[madcockney]

Originally Posted by Red Herring

How often do people buy bikes without ever knowing that once upon a time they were an insurance job. Bikes get written off so easily these days due to what is nothing more than cosmetic damage or bolt on repairs and it's simply because of the cost of original parts. My SV was a write off when I bought it, yet I rode it home! Unless you're buying something nearly new and spending silly money on it do people even bother getting background checks done? I know I don't.

How did you get on with getting insurance to ride it home as a write off?

Originally Posted by daddyjob

What's the insurance like on it? Would I be right in thinking that some insurers may only insure it TPFT and not fully comp?

My SK3 (lots of mods) is Cat C and it made approximately £0 difference. The mods added to the premium, but the fact it's a write off made no difference. It's insured fully comp, btw.

MICK..

[Red Herring]

Originally Posted by madcockney

How did you get on with getting insurance to ride it home as a write off?

Rang my insurance company, gave them the registration number, got on bike, rode home. Should I have done something else?

[Fallout]

Personally I wouldn't Clive. I wouldn't know how to check everything is straight, which is really what you're worried about after a crash. If the bike is worth say £5k in good nick and it was written off, then it had at least 3k damage. You have to ask yourself if you can account for that damage. Do a few fairings etc, come to 3k?

The Shed most likely has bent forks or something. Something ain't right from it's crash as it's warping its second pair of discs as we speak. There's nothing I can visually see wrong at a quick glance. From that I've learnt to check for crash damage and if I see evidence do not buy unless it has been professionally repaired with warranty. Even then I'd probably walk away, but I was risking less than 2k. You're risking 4k.

Just not worth it imo just to get a bit of a 'bargain'.

[Sid Squid]

That doesn't make sense - if it's good it's good and if it ain't it ain't.

Whether it's recorded as previously damaged or not, its present condition is everything, whether it's for sale for ten grand or ten quid if you can't gauge the condition and thus its suitability to buy or not yourself, get someone who can to view it with/for you. This is the very same whatever bike you're considering, short of a brand new one of course.

Simply being priced higher is no guarantee whatsoever as to it's being a better buy.

Vehicles are not sentient, they cannot hide their faults. You can be either ignorant of them, blind to them, or simply ignore them, but they will not be hidden. When buying any second hand vehicle never ever ever buy the first one you see, you must ride/drive at least three, and once you have you'll know a duffer as it will stand out.

Guess what? It's exactly the same whether someone wrote its number on a list somewhere or not.

[Nobbylad]

Cat D - beyond economical repair.

My SV was registered Cat D after 8 months due to damaged:-

Fairings - top cowl and lowers
R&G bungs
Levers
Pegs
Indicators (front and rear LHS)
Exhaust
LHS mirror

Not a huge amount of damage, however to buy brand spanking new, then add labour costs for a well known insurance company and it was borderline write off. The very kind man at the insurance co (who used to be a member on here) advised to push for the write off so I could buy back and fix up myself.

Can't agree with Sid enough on this one. Bikes are bikes, simple as. If you know what you're doing/looking for, a Cat D can be in far better condition than one that's not registered.

[Fallout]

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

That doesn't make sense - if it's good it's good and if it ain't it ain't.

Yeah but you have to admit there is a higher chance of a crashed bike (with record of it being crashed) of having damage that is hard to see than one that doesn't claim to have been crashed. I doubt Clive is going to find someone who'll be expert enough to come along and tell him if anything is bent. Most likely he'll just go along himself and check it out and look for things he does know about (normal consumables and signs of damage).

For most people without expert knowledge who don't have an expert to hand they can bring with them, there is always a risk when buying a bike that it might not be in the condition they think it's in. It makes sense in that situation to reduce that risk by passing up ones that are claiming to have been crashed.

It's all right for you, Mr Billy Bike Brains McFixer Expertus Maximus.