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[grc]

If there is even any consideration by the insurance company to "total" this bike and sell it for salvage, then there has to be one heck of a lot more damage than $2500 in parts.  Some insurance companies are dumb, but not that dumb.

I would want to see the insurance adjuster's report, assuming the owner has insurance and has had an adjuster look at the bike.  Something doesn't sound kosher with just the facts we've seen so far, no one takes a $20k loss after only 6 months voluntarily.  Don't suppose the $12k just represents what he has in it personally, and the rest is owed to a finance company?

What's that old expression, if something looks too good to be true, it usually is?  Be careful!

Jerry

[smkymtnboy]

If there is even any consideration by the insurance company to "total" this bike and sell it for salvage, then there has to be one heck of a lot more damage than $2500 in parts.  Some insurance companies are dumb, but not that dumb.

I would want to see the insurance adjuster's report, assuming the owner has insurance and has had an adjuster look at the bike.  Something doesn't sound kosher with just the facts we've seen so far, no one takes a $20k loss after only 6 months voluntarily.  Don't suppose the $12k just represents what he has in it personally, and the rest is owed to a finance company?

What's that old expression, if something looks too good to be true, it usually is?  Be careful!

Jerry

HEY JERRY!! YOU ARE RIGHT! IF IT LOOKS LIKE AND SMELLS LIKE IT. IT PROBABLY IS. BIKE HAS CLAIM PAID!! OWNER KEPT BIKE NOW WANTS TO SELL. THE TITLE STATUS IS THE UNKOWN AS OF NOW. THE PARTS COSTS DO SEEM LEGIMATE. EXCEPT FOR MAYBE BRACKETS OR SCREWS. WHICH DO SEEM EXPENSIVE FOR HD. I DO APPRECIATE THE INPUT. DO NOT HESITATE TO HOLLER AGAIN IF SOMETHING LOOKS FISHY!!  THANKS,GREG!!

[RickC]

==>>> !!! CAVEAT EMPTOR !!! <<<==

Something doesn't seem right to me on this deal. Not sure what it is, but the low price is what raises my suspicions.

Let's assume the current owner paid $35K. If he's willing to sell for $12K, then where did the $23K go? Let's suppose hte owner is willing to take a $3K loss. That means somewhere he got $20K. If that $20K came from an insurance company, then there was an estimate for $20K in repairs somewhere. That estimate would have to be prepared by the dealer's service department or a reputable MC repair shop.

I, for one, would insist on knowing every detail of (a) what happened to the bike and (b) what damages were reported to the insurance company. Then, I would *still* take it to a Harley mechanic that I trust for a good once-over to see what's wrong with the bike.

Like Jerry said:
 

What's that old expression, if something looks too good to be true, it usually is?  Be careful!

[Keats]

The old sayings apply here;

there are no free lunches!


Things that seem to good to be true, are!

[Gone Fishin']

HEY JERRY!! YOU ARE RIGHT! IF IT LOOKS LIKE AND SMELLS LIKE IT. IT PROBABLY IS. BIKE HAS CLAIM PAID!! OWNER KEPT BIKE NOW WANTS TO SELL. THE TITLE STATUS IS THE UNKOWN AS OF NOW. THE PARTS COSTS DO SEEM LEGIMATE. EXCEPT FOR MAYBE BRACKETS OR SCREWS. WHICH DO SEEM EXPENSIVE FOR HD. I DO APPRECIATE THE INPUT. DO NOT HESITATE TO HOLLER AGAIN IF SOMETHING LOOKS FISHY!!  THANKS,GREG!!

Hi Greg, I wonder if your computer has a lower case mode too. You should be aware that typing all upper case is the equivalent of shouting on an interactive site like this, and I don't think that's what you are trying to do. After all, you are seeking (and have received) help from many people on this board.

Ride safely,
Louis

[smkymtnboy]

Hi Greg, I wonder if your computer has a lower case mode too. You should be aware that typing all upper case is the equivalent of shouting on an interactive site like this, and I don't think that's what you are trying to do. After all, you are seeking (and have received) help from many people on this board.

Ride safely,
Louis

[/quoteI am sorry,Louis!!]

[smkymtnboy]

Don't paint any of the parts.  Order new.  You can get 20% from a couple dealers mentioned in this forum.  Most parts are easy to replace yourself.  I know the outer fairing on mine (07 SEUC) is $730 new at list price.  It would cost more to paint a primed one and it would never match.  CVOs are the only bikes not painted by Harley and the paint codes are protected like nuclear launch codes.  It sounds like a good deal to me as long as it's not a salvage title.
     I agree!! just found the wating time is about 8-10 weeks maybe more. but i think it is worth it. thanks for helping

[sportygordy]

I'm curious why this bike is all scratched up?? What kind of accident was this thing involved in? If it was minor, i.e. the bike came out under someone, buy it and fix it. If it got clobbered or it clobbered something emmmmm , as Hard 10 said, i would take a t real good look at the frame.

[Trapperdog]

Chief can give him some good advice on frame replacement

[smkymtnboy]

I'm curious why this bike is all scratched up?? What kind of accident was this thing involved in? If it was minor, i.e. the bike came out under someone, buy it and fix it. If it got clobbered or it clobbered something emmmmm , as Hard 10 said, i would take a t real good look at the frame.
   more to damage story as of  today!!  seems there may have been an accident!! a vengeful woman may have inflicted the damages. i kept wondering why all the damages were up high. ins story may have been told different as i was.

[JCZ]

It's really not that complicated.  Ask the owner to look at the title. 
  When the bike is paid off by the insurance company the owner has the first buy back rights to the bike.  If the owner buys it back, the motor vehicle dept. may or may not be notified of "salvage" status. 

This is how it went down when I totaled a Heritage.  It never showed a salvaged title.  The dealership kept telling me that nothing was wrong with the frame but I insisted that they strip the sheet metal and send it over to the Frame Man.  Not only was the frame bent, the neck races were also oval shaped and had to be re-shaped.

I ended up rebuilding that bike and rode it for a few more years before I finally traded it for an Ultra Classic.

The questions that come to mind for me:
1. if it were totaled by the insurance company and the financing bank and/or owner were paid in full, it's still not going to be what was owed on the bike unless he put a large amount down or if he had GAP insurance.  But then it's till only going to pay what's owed.  Most insurance companies the damage would have had to be greater than 50% of the value of the bike.....some companies more than that.

But for the sake of argument, let's say that happened and he bought it back.....salvage value of a SEUC has to be probably $8k (it's around $5k for a regular Ultra Classic)....that's what he'd have to pay the insurance company back, in order to keep it. 

2. Why isn't the owner able to produce an estimate?  Surely he got one of the insurance company settled on it and by most insurance companies own admission, their adjusters don't know enough about Harleys and therefore require a dealership to put an estimate together.

3.  Why doesn't the owner of the bike know the status of the title?

[grc]

This entire thing still makes no sense.  Insurance companies do not "total" a 6 month old, $36k vehicle for a few thousand in damages.  Someone is still not telling the whole story, and that alone would make me walk away.

Jerry

[Boatman]

This entire thing still makes no sense.  Insurance companies do not "total" a 6 month old, $36k vehicle for a few thousand in damages.  Someone is still not telling the whole story, and that alone would make me walk away.

Jerry

Yep, something wrong with this deal.

[mrmagloo]

Way wrong. Frankly, as I look at the listing of parts alone, at CVO parts cost, this is way low. Second, with the types of items listed, even in just a knock over, there would logically be other items that normally hit first that are not listed.

Imho, unless you see the original estimate that the insurance company based their decision on, and you get an independant estimate, I wouldn't base my decision on what the owner is shelling out. Like the others mentioned, even if you value a mint 08 SEUC at $30K, the number just aren't matching up.

[RYANCVO]

i have been an insurance adjuster lisenced in many states for 10yrs now. most all states total vehicles by %. most states are at 70% to 75%. if bike was totaled, insurance company will not relese a copy of estimate.(this is a possibility why they dont have one). they will not give that to you because this confuses the total loss process. owner sees a est for $25,000 worh of damages, and the bike is only worth $20,000, owner sees $25,000 and thats what he wants paid. most all states now require title be branded as salvage title after being totaled. there are not many ways around that. if bike has salvage title, bike will always be hard to get full coverage or to sell someday. if u can get full coverage, and u ever total bike again. u will never recupe because salvage title will effect value no matter how nice repairs are.