[TamSV]

I wouldn't let a third party insurer take my vehicle until it was agreed what was going to happen to it. If you've got Comp cover your own insurers are likely to give you a better settlement. You're their customer and you've got a contract with them. To the third party, you're just a cost to be reduced as far as possible. Anyway, that's not helping you. What's done is done and it doesn't really matter all that much.

First things first, what do you want? How far away are you at £1,200? What would be a fair price? Do you want to keep the bike plus cash, get a better cash settlement for a write off, or have it repaired? Forget about the fact there's an insurance company involved - some bloke knocked your bike over so what's he got to do, in your mind, to see you right?

You mention you're going to be out of pocket - what are those expenses? Can you quantify those costs and produce receipts?

All that Bike Trader/ebay stuff is just a huge waste of time. I never do that. There's a deal to be done here - you just need to decide what that deal needs to look like so it's fair to you. Not shafted, not outrageously enriched...just fair.

If your demands are reasonable, then give them one chance to agree or send your bike back to you (and tell them you'll then be appointing your own accident management company to represent you). No need for a lengthy debate.