New rider-picked up a red 99

Discussion in 'Introductions' started by iamtylerdurden, May 17, 2009.

  1. vfrcapn

    vfrcapn Member

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    Looks like a write off imo. Have insurance cover it or part it out and get a naked bike like a sv650 or similar, something you can drop and not cause $3K in damage while you're still learning.
     
  2. Joey_Dude

    Joey_Dude Member

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    +1 you can at least part out the VFR and sell off what's still good.
     
  3. iamtylerdurden

    iamtylerdurden New Member

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    i talked to the shop thats going to check out the bike. If the cost is more than 70% of the KBB value ($4490) then they will junk it. Or if the frame is bent, which it probably is if the forks are bent that far back. The 6 days i spent with the bike were best days i've had in a long time. I really love the VFR. It had plenty of power, looked great (the compliments tell me this) and handled awesome. I really don't want a different bike, but maybe a full fairing (is that right? somebody please confirm or negate. I would hate to keep looking stupid) isn't the best choice. This is gonna be the hardest decision of my life...
    Thanks again for everyones help and comments. Being so new to this, it's great to get feedback from the more experienced riders.
     
  4. iamtylerdurden

    iamtylerdurden New Member

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    i got the bike towed to the shop. $700 for new forks, plastic is over a grand and headlight is a few hundred. Most likely they will have to junk the bike because of the cost. Should i start looking around for another VFR? If anyone knows of a good looking 5th gen in southern cali let me know please!
     
  5. cebuVFR

    cebuVFR Member

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  6. iamtylerdurden

    iamtylerdurden New Member

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    thanks for the reply but i think thats a little out of my price range. I have no idea how much i'm going to get back from the insurance company but i can't imagine it will be anymore than around $4000. There is no way i can pay anymore than what i'm getting back. Between registration, picking it up and all the gear i bought, im totally cleaned out for a while.
     
  7. vfrcapn

    vfrcapn Member

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    Are you thinking of buying it back from insurance and parting it out? (I need a 5 spoke rear wheel. :biggrin: )

    You can definitely find decent '98-'01 VFR's for under $4K if that is what you want. In the situation you ended up in, it wouldn't have mattered if it was a full fairing bike or not, given the amount of structural damage. Full fairing or not, get something inexpensive as a first bike and take it easy on the throttle. The group ride mentality can be dangerous for anyone, ride your own pace on your own until you're comfortable enough to ride with a group and deal with all that adds to the experience.
     
  8. mello dude

    mello dude Administrator

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    Dude - sorry about your wrecked bike. May I make a suggestion before you grab another VFR? Consider buying a standard to get your riding chops up. SV650 is an example, I seem to be brain dead right now, I should able to think of others. - Its the classic line - walk before you can run.

    Good luck,
    MD
     
  9. reg71

    reg71 Poser Staff Member

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    damn, that may be the shortest 'hey guys I got my bike' to 'hey guys it finally happened thread' I have ever read... dude... It's hard to eval from here not really knowing you or the people you ride with, but... why was he passing you, a new rider? IMO he should have already been in front of you from the get-go or riding along behind to keep an eye on you. OR... maybe he passed you and then maybe you were trying to keep up when maybe you should have ridden your own ride... We all have been there and unfortunately sometimes we have to learn the hard way. That's been my MO for example. If it's your fault, then own it and learn from it. it's just a bike, and you can get another one, but remember whatever mistakes you made and try not to make them again. Sorry if I seem preachy. I have been there and done that more than once. One more thing, if you are riding with people that are unsafe (only you can decide this being as we don't know) then don't ride with them. You need time to get comfortable on a bike before attempting to ride with unsafe riders. Many experienced riders won't even go near unsafe riders just due to the unpredictability of them.
     
  10. iamtylerdurden

    iamtylerdurden New Member

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    Reg71: I see what your saying and where you are coming from. The rider behind me was a new rider also (3 months). He was a coworker that just got into riding so i thought it would be good to ride and learn together. Little did i know how cocky, arrogant and wreckless he was. I was riding behind a very very experienced rider the whole 2 hrs in the canyons with no problems. I actually really enjoyed it and learned a lot just in those 2 hrs. Anytime he swerved, i swerved. Any position he took on his GSX750, i took on my VFR. He was taking it slow and easy, flashing his brakes when coming in to tight corners or any other dangers. Riding the VFR was really not that bad as a first bike since i wasn't being wreckless, always watching out and keeping my hand from wanting to hit the throttle. The only reason why i crashed was to avoid hitting the other rider that passed my doing who knows what speed on a 2 lane (1 lane each direction) highway. He still won't admit that he passed me to this day and still says he was already ahead of me even though i saw him speed ahead on the wrong side of the road. The VFR was so comfortable and predictable, thats why i wasn't scared to ride it, yet i knew what it could do so i respected it. This whole situation is a big mess, i just forgot not all new riders are like me...
     
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