Bike crash europe - insurance or not?

Hello,

Coming back from a euro trip I crashed my bike en route to calais and ended up in a French hospital with a couple of broken fingers and battered arm. I have returned to the U.K and the bike is still in France being held at a garage. I have seen the bike and the damage looks minimal considering the speed I crashed at - broken mirror, indy and scratched fairing next to the nose cone. Starts and rides ok as far as I can make out and I would of ridden it back but I have no strength in my hands for the levers. My question is this - after speaking to the insurance company, they said its highly likely that the bike would be classed as a write off given the age (2000 curvy with 25,000 miles) and never return to the U.K. I'm guessing after excess (£150) I wouldn't get alot for her back from them and she is a nice, well maintained bike so this would be a shame. Is it worth me hiring a van and going back over to get her and not doing it through the insurance company? Ive costed this up and its around £320 excluding fuel (but includes the release fee from the garage, van hire and ferry tickets) - so maybe around £400 to see her back home or do I do it through the insurance company?
Any advice would be much appreciated

You may find the garage will want storage money, usually £10-20 a day. If you get away with that, get it back if the bits you say are the only things wrong

They do indeed - 11 euros a day which isnt huge but soon adds up!

find a fellow member to ride it back for you! surely that must be cheaper?