Some of you may remember a couple weeks ago, some guy bumped into my bike while I was on vacation, resulting in a lay down causing about $2500 in cosmetic damage.
I didn't have photos at the time ... here they are:
Damage Photo One
Damage Photo Two
Damage Photo Three
Ok, I can live with that, it's still ridable. The insurance is going to cover it. However the insurance company seems to be in a bit of a rush on my claim, and the dealership I bought it from is booked for a month. So I decide to take it to a dealership up North about 60 miles. Beside I was due for a 4000 mile service.
Everything goes fine, I thought, until I go to pick it up. The guy tells me, "Um, let me show you something ..."
He shows me the following:
Acid Damage Photo One
Acid Damage Photo Two
Acid Damage Photo Three
"That wasn't there when I left it!", I exclaimed, about ready to go postal. He starts on about how he thinks the battery wasn't serviced properly, because the cap was not securely tightened. and the acid my have dripped due to my accident.
I don't think so, I drove it for 2 weeks after my accident, and no acid! So I call Suzuki Customer Service to make sure everything was documented so I wouldn't get screwed and driver it directly to my dealer. (after paying $250 for my service, niiiice.).
Once I get to my dealership, the service manager (a great guy by the way) takes a look. He tells me that the story doesn't fly because these maintenance free batteries don't contain liquid acid that can drip, the acid is absorbed into the plates. Also upon further inspection it was quite apparent that the battery was "bulging" like an egg. It was quite apparent that someone had hooked it up to a charger too long and cooked it, making it explode. Which would also explain how the acid was everywhere, no just directly below from dripping.
At this point I would have gone back and knocked some heads, but there is no way to "prove" that's what happened, and to help avoid a further mess, he offered to rebid my estimate covering the acid damage as unforeseen damages caused by my accident earlier. That way my insurance will cover it all. Looks like on top of my original damage, I will need a new chain, new screws and hardware, new pipes, a new swing arm and a new left rear set and what ever else he finds in there. The acid really did a number ...
As much as I would like to make the dealership own up to the responsibility, I'd rather just have it taken care of. Besides, with all that damage, and being able to get a lot of my stuff close to cost, I'm going to get some shiny new accessories for my baby. Although, I'd much rather have not had any of this happen in the first place. Worst of all, I won't be able to make it to the Suzuki Cycle fest in Colorado now. That makes me bummed.
I didn't have photos at the time ... here they are:
Damage Photo One
Damage Photo Two
Damage Photo Three
Ok, I can live with that, it's still ridable. The insurance is going to cover it. However the insurance company seems to be in a bit of a rush on my claim, and the dealership I bought it from is booked for a month. So I decide to take it to a dealership up North about 60 miles. Beside I was due for a 4000 mile service.
Everything goes fine, I thought, until I go to pick it up. The guy tells me, "Um, let me show you something ..."
He shows me the following:
Acid Damage Photo One
Acid Damage Photo Two
Acid Damage Photo Three
"That wasn't there when I left it!", I exclaimed, about ready to go postal. He starts on about how he thinks the battery wasn't serviced properly, because the cap was not securely tightened. and the acid my have dripped due to my accident.
I don't think so, I drove it for 2 weeks after my accident, and no acid! So I call Suzuki Customer Service to make sure everything was documented so I wouldn't get screwed and driver it directly to my dealer. (after paying $250 for my service, niiiice.).
Once I get to my dealership, the service manager (a great guy by the way) takes a look. He tells me that the story doesn't fly because these maintenance free batteries don't contain liquid acid that can drip, the acid is absorbed into the plates. Also upon further inspection it was quite apparent that the battery was "bulging" like an egg. It was quite apparent that someone had hooked it up to a charger too long and cooked it, making it explode. Which would also explain how the acid was everywhere, no just directly below from dripping.
At this point I would have gone back and knocked some heads, but there is no way to "prove" that's what happened, and to help avoid a further mess, he offered to rebid my estimate covering the acid damage as unforeseen damages caused by my accident earlier. That way my insurance will cover it all. Looks like on top of my original damage, I will need a new chain, new screws and hardware, new pipes, a new swing arm and a new left rear set and what ever else he finds in there. The acid really did a number ...
As much as I would like to make the dealership own up to the responsibility, I'd rather just have it taken care of. Besides, with all that damage, and being able to get a lot of my stuff close to cost, I'm going to get some shiny new accessories for my baby. Although, I'd much rather have not had any of this happen in the first place. Worst of all, I won't be able to make it to the Suzuki Cycle fest in Colorado now. That makes me bummed.
