| Author | Message | ||
     Timn |
Anyone buy a salvage bike to rebuild? I saw a upper frame on ebay the other day just had some dings on the right side. What does it take to make a uly a "insurance salvage" What would you look for on a salvage bike? Thanks | ||
| Tootal |
Ask Dr. Greg: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/421118.html?1228982366 | ||
| Hooper |
My Uly nailed a deer last year, and the insurance company recommended a frame replacement - my guess it's just what they do for Buell crashes. The dealer and I disagreed - we saw nothing wrong with it...no scuffs, no marks. It wasn't until a week or so after I got the repaired bike back and filled the tank to the top...and found that there was a hairline crack on a weld near the top of the right side, under where the airbox cover meets the frame. Bummin'...so back it went to the dealer to get a new frame. Therefore, I would say you just don't know until you've been able to test it, fill it, and/or ride it...the Buell frame/gas tank is a pretty unique thing. | ||
| Natron |
Overall the Uly is pretty tough, but the frame is definitely the weak point. Not weak in the sense of the frame being weak, only in the sense that a small amount of visible damage can lead to frame replacement. Cracks in the welds seem to be fairly rare, even from impact. Mine had a few dings near the weld on the right from low speed tipovers in gravel. Never had a problem with leaks. Removing material from the frame in the form of gouges or scratches, however, mean replacement. It's thin material (4mm, I think) | ||
| Froggy |
I got a bad wreck a year ago on mine, there was a slight nick in the paint on the frame, so that unfortunately meant they were going to total it  | ||
| Nevrenuf |
same thing on the lighting last year. the frame had a nick on it and they considered it toast. | ||
| M2nc |
I have put 19,000 miles on my Uly since the insurance company totaled it. If you scratch enough pieces on a Buell you can total it. Most of the parts were just fine so I fixed myself and have doubled the mileage since my get off. | ||
| Timn |
Froggy, Nevrenf or anyone who's had any frame damage, a small nick or a couple of dings in the frame cause the insurance company to total the bike? Does this cause the frame to become unsafe? I thought buell parts were not that expensive,but I guess labor push's the repair cost's up? | ||
| Dr_greg |
Well, being the most recent "totaled bike" here...I just examined the repair estimate, and yes, they wanted to replace my frame. Pretty much all the front end was trashed. Lotsa parts, lotsa labor. My bike is still in the back of my pickup, and it's COLD outside, so I haven't examined it closely. At first glance I thought it was restorable, but in spite of my tendency to DIY I don't think I'd want to try. I thought the only damage was at the front, but the rear wheel will not turn fully...it "sticks" at a certain point; have no idea what that damage is. Still, I think the bike did pretty well in a head-on 72 mph impact of a large animal. Hell, I think I did pretty well, too!  --Doc | ||
| Froggy |
 Personally I wouldn't have cared about this damage, just throw on a new puck and go. The frame part number is L0600.1AKYBP and it is the most expensive component on the Uly at $1300. You’re looking at several hours to replace it, depending on labor rates your total is $2000 just for the frame. The bike has a resale of around 6 or 7 grand, so that’s about the third of the cost of the bike. I believe that after two thirds the cost of replacing the bike, the insurance company just cuts you a check and takes your baby away. | ||
| Hooper |
It may be that insurance companies "know" that Buells have a unique frame, and think that it's just too much to risk, so they automatically call for its replacement in the case of any significant crash. | ||
| Mark_weiss |
On nearly any significant frontal crash an insurance company will want to replace the frame. This is not unique to XBs. Steel frames readily bend and insurance companies do not want to be responsible for assuring that your motorcycle is properly straightened. Aluminum frames are not so easily bent, but they do develop hard spots, which sometimes lead to cracks. I know of two specific cases (non Buell) where alu framed sport bikes had the entire steering head fracture from the frame, post crash repair. Insurance companies don't like that too much. Mark in Arizona |
