Topic: Harley stuck in flood, what to do next (Read 3715 times)

kalikali · « **on:** August 27, 2017, 06:20:13 PM »

I temporary left one of my Harleys in Houston and it got flooded out with the recent rains today. I am not sure how high the water level reached but I am assuming at least 1 ft, most likely more. I do have full coverage insurance but at what point is a flooded bike considered a total loss or is is something that can be fixed? Its a 2010 Ultra (Non CVO) and it is quite a ways from the ocean so I am assuming it is not salt water.

King Glide · « **Reply #1 on:** August 27, 2017, 06:33:36 PM »

Here in Baton Rouge, when we had the floods last august, the dealer advised all of the insurance companies that if the waters covered the primary case the bike should be totaled. The reason is that the mud in the water makes its way past the gaskets and causes a rusty mess of everything and it costs more to replace the engine and wiring than the bike is worth.

Needless to say the dealer sold more bikes last year than anyone else in the region.

moscooter · « **Reply #2 on:** August 27, 2017, 06:37:16 PM »

$:-\$
You're saying.......how high the water reached........as in it is not going any higher. Per the newscasts, you have days left before it all ends and you can determine how high it got where ever in that area it happens to be.

If it doesn't get high enough to come in through the air intake, you might not have that much of a problem. If it ends up pretty much submerged, then there would be much more to consider getting it back in running condition.

Too early to really tell now just what you should do.

TN · « **Reply #3 on:** August 27, 2017, 06:37:25 PM »

Sorry to hear Mother Nature has dealt such a terrible blow, bikes can be replaced. Good luck to everyone that is in the storms path.

TN

King Glide · « **Reply #4 on:** August 27, 2017, 07:36:05 PM »

It flooded here in Baton Rouge a year ago, it is flooding now in Houston. There is 400 miles between there and here, and some homes here got 12 feet of water or more. And, I'm telling you if any part of the primary sits in the water the bike is toast.

CVODON · « **Reply #5 on:** August 27, 2017, 07:55:59 PM »

If you had insurance you would just turn it in, but since you don't... Long as it stays below the air intake and hopefully the ecm, well you can disassemble, clean & dry and go on your way. But if it only got a foot high and wasn't started just change fluids and ride.
But reality of it if it got that deep today and you didn't move it, well it will probably be under by tomorrow.

OBB · « **Reply #6 on:** August 27, 2017, 08:34:03 PM »

Quote from: kalikali on August 27, 2017, 06:20:13 PM

I temporary left one of my Harleys in Houston and it got flooded out with the recent rains today. I am not sure how high the water level reached but I am assuming at least 1 ft, most likely more. I do have full coverage insurance but at what point is a flooded bike considered a total loss or is is something that can be fixed? Its a 2010 Ultra (Non CVO) and it is quite a ways from the ocean so I am assuming it is not salt water.

Quote from: CVODON on August 27, 2017, 07:55:59 PM

If you had insurance you would just turn it in, but since you don't... Long as it stays below the air intake and hopefully the ecm, well you can disassemble, clean & dry and go on your way. But if it only got a foot high and wasn't started just change fluids and ride.
But reality of it if it got that deep today and you didn't move it, well it will probably be under by tomorrow.

Twolanerider · « **Reply #7 on:** August 27, 2017, 08:56:54 PM »

Don't mean to sound harsh sir. But were it me I'd be hoping for enough more flooding so that your insurance buying you another bike isn't ever even a question for negotiation.

moscooter · « **Reply #8 on:** August 28, 2017, 07:56:02 AM »

Quote from: King Glide on August 27, 2017, 06:33:36 PM

Here in Baton Rouge, when we had the floods last august, the dealer advised all of the insurance companies that if the waters covered the primary case the bike should be totaled. The reason is that the mud in the water makes its way past the gaskets and causes a rusty mess of everything and it costs more to replace the engine and wiring than the bike is worth.

Needless to say the dealer sold more bikes last year than anyone else in the region.

$:-\$
To me, your very last sentence above says it all.........."the dealer sold more bikes last year than anyone else in the region".

While indeed a bike or two or maybe more could have had the described muddy water get past gaskets, I would tend to say that was the (exception) and NOT the rule as the dealer was claiming. The damn primary is sealed with oil inside. If it's not leaking out, the muddy water should not leak in

All in all, I would view that dealers statements as an "opportunity" to cash in.

*58Vette · « **Reply #9 on:** August 28, 2017, 08:20:19 AM »

If it was above the wheel bearings, change them along with all ot the fluids. The transmision vent will let water in.

coloradotom · « **Reply #10 on:** August 28, 2017, 10:46:27 AM »

With full coverage, get a quote. If it's a good reliable bike and it gets totaled, buy it back and fix it. It's just water. Mud in the primary is sales guy talk or every time we rode these things in the rain they'd get trashed.

mark · « **Reply #11 on:** August 28, 2017, 02:27:44 PM »

Katrina guy here. You're going to want the insurance company to total the bike if it sat in water - and they will...won't even blink an eye. Imagine your bike sitting in a foot or two (or more) of water for days - wheel bearings, brake calipers, engine, tranny, starter, etc. Trust me, if you try to save it, rust and corrosion will start showing up down the road. The only way to know for sure if the bike is OK is to disassemble everything. At a $100+/hr labor cost, that becomes too expensive for an insurance company. It sucks, but take the check and move on.

King Glide · « **Reply #12 on:** August 28, 2017, 02:59:09 PM »

And, if you were here for Katrina you know what I'm talking about. Salt water is one thing and I've seen it do lots of damage, but the stagnant muddy water from the Mississippi River is a hundred times worse.

Para Bellum · « **Reply #13 on:** August 30, 2017, 03:35:45 AM »

Quote from: Mark on August 28, 2017, 02:27:44 PM

Katrina guy here. You're going to want the insurance company to total the bike if it sat in water - and they will...won't even blink an eye. Imagine your bike sitting in a foot or two (or more) of water for days - wheel bearings, brake calipers, engine, tranny, starter, etc. Trust me, if you try to save it, rust and corrosion will start showing up down the road. The only way to know for sure if the bike is OK is to disassemble everything. At a $100+/hr labor cost, that becomes too expensive for an insurance company. It sucks, but take the check and move on.

Maybe inside the frame, too.

load97 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 01, 2017, 08:47:50 AM »

I'd rather have mud than saltwater. preferably neither, unless it's all over my four wheeler.

chaos901 · « **Reply #15 on:** September 01, 2017, 09:38:33 AM »

The only flood experience I have had was in WV and there is typically some higher ground close by up there. Sometimes people would leave a car to get flooded when they could have moved it to safety, the insurance company did not always pay those cases.

That was years ago and different circumstances to TX and LA.

kalikali · « **Reply #16 on:** September 03, 2017, 11:37:33 PM »

THis was sitting on 10 inch blocks.
Adjuster has yet to come out, what do you guys think?
Totaled?

FYI, I looked at my policy and I am covered for $5k in accessories. Now that I am adding everything up just the sound system, jammers, GPS is about $5k. I might just take the other stuff off if it is considered totaled. Just a heads up to bump your accessory coverage, I was paying $6 a year for $5k coverage, coverage all the accessories wouldnt have been much more.

Twolanerider · « **Reply #17 on:** September 04, 2017, 12:58:53 AM »

Quote from: kalikali on September 03, 2017, 11:37:33 PM

THis was sitting on 10 inch blocks.
Adjuster has yet to come out, what do you guys think?
Totaled?

FYI, I looked at my policy and I am covered for $5k in accessories. Now that I am adding everything up just the sound system, jammers, GPS is about $5k. I might just take the other stuff off if it is considered totaled. Just a heads up to bump your accessory coverage, I was paying $6 a year for $5k coverage, coverage all the accessories wouldnt have been much more.

You can tell from the waterline on the bike that the water had been significantly higher than it currently is. To my mind there'd be no thought at all of trying to talk the insurance company out of totaling it. Let them take it away and start over. Strip pieces you can before they come look. Still show enough receipts to claim your $5k in accessories. Then thank the travel gods you had insurance.

kalikali · « **Reply #18 on:** September 04, 2017, 10:10:24 PM »

This guy had some serious bikes and cars in his collection:

Dan_Lockwood · « **Reply #19 on:** September 05, 2017, 12:00:10 PM »

A rope around the handlebars and knock a hole in the ceiling drywall and loop the rope over the truss and lift it up to hang on the rear wheel might have "been" an option. I know you had blocks under it too. I think a back wheel underwater would be fixable.

I know, 20/20, but we do feel for all of you that had no options but to leave your stuff where it was and just walk away until it's over.

Good luck. I agree, this is not a bike that I would want to try to get sorted out at a later time.

Can you imagine what the glut of flood vehicles is going to be like at the auctions coming soon? Also all of the unscrupulous people giving the cars/bike a quick cleaning and then peddling them off as not flood vehicles?

For the right price I would be interested in some toys, but it would be purely at my choice knowing that upfront.

Author Topic: Harley stuck in flood, what to do next (Read 3715 times)

mark