Should I file an insurance claim or...?

[j2x]

As some of you may know I bent the frame crossmember that the sidestand mounting bracket bolts to by hitting a dip in the road on a moderate left-hander at about 50mph.  Don't even get me started cursing Honda out for designing a welded-in frame member that is weaker than the mounting bracket.  

Anyway, an autobody shop has had my bike for two weeks and just yesterday determined that they aren't going to be able to un-twist the crossmember after quite a bit of trying.  It's only twisted maybe 20 degrees.  So, now we're talking about cutting the member free and welding a new one in.  Presumably this will require some disassembly, painting, etc.  

The price I was quoted for the un-twist was nearly $200.  I haven't received a quote for the new job and I don't even know if they're going to want to take it on since they are not a moto shop.  My moto mechanic didn't even want to touch the frame and said he would only replace it.

WTF do I do?  I've never been in a situation with a mech who flat out couldn't fix the problem even after several hours of labor.  Are they going to charge me?  My insurance deductible is $500.  I've never filed an auto claim in my 16 years of driving and so am not even sure if this type of accident would be covered.  I'm making payments still on the bike and so have full collision and comprehensive coverage.  Shoot I sound ignorant, but I just had a baby (literally, she just turned 12 days old) and between this, being completely broke, and everything else, I'm just at the end of my rope here.  

Please, any help or suggestions would be VERY much appreciated.  If there's anything else I could add to this dismal story to help clarify, please ask.

Thanks, you all have always been very helpful.
James

[Valker]

A frame can be replaced. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Honda-Valkyrie-GL1500-INTERSTATE-FRAME_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem1e5816bd27QQitemZ130326904103QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
Have you seen this article? http://bigbf.com/bigbf_shop/crossmember_damaged/

[j2x]

yeah, I saw that article.  if I had the time, skills, or tools I could certainly do it myself.  But, the moto shop won't touch it and I doubt the autobody shop will, either.  I don't think my insurance will go for such a thing, either, but I'm waiting to hear from the body shop what their quote is going to be if they'll do it all before I file the claim and pay the freaking $500 deductible. 

It's just so ridiculous that this is even happening.  the kickstand bracket, which is what came into contact with the asphalt, is what should have bent.  This should have been a simple process of just replacing the bent part with a new one.  WTF was Honda thinking??? 

really, can anyone explain why the bracket is so much beefier than the welded-in crossmember that it attaches to?  i would actually think that the bracket would be designed to fail under an impact so as to save the frame, but that's just me, i'm just the guy left holding the bill with a wallet deep in the red already.

[TAZ]

ya know you bring up an interesting point.  my bike leans over alot compared to others, thought it was the kickstand but bought a new one and same thing. has always done it but not sure why it leans so much over.    now how did you know your frame was twisted?   is it really noticeable?  happen to have taken any pics of it under there, be interested to look at that twist in cross member.

[j2x]

the way mine is twisted (about 30 degrees) from front to back means that the kickstand doesn't even begin to function.  However, I could imagine that if it weren't twisted so much then the kickstand would actually be more vertical in relation to the bike and therefor the bike would actually stand up taller, not lean over further.

[j2x]

well i would have to guess that those morons at honda probably never took into account that someone was going to lean that far into a corner with a basic cruiser, those idiots probably thought only sport bike owners did that (silly boys) and you know what ? they probably never factored in someone putting shorter car tires on a motorcycle either. what a bunch of dumbies they are. i hope honda didn't pay them over minimum wage to design this crappy, no handling, lousy gas mileage, excuse for a motorcycle.

think i'll go out and burn mine  

WOW, I sure didn't expect such a demeaning response!  I notice you didn't explain WHY the bracket was designed the way it was in a logical sense, and instead just criticized me for a: riding a darkside tire like SO many other folks and b: for riding a motorcycle hard and fast, like it's MEANT to be ridden.  I didn't insult your mother, I pointed out the Honda seems to have made a strange design decision and wondered if anyone could explain why.  

(edited to remove inflection)

[j2x]

sorry you missed all my awesome adventure stories and pics.  This bike has been great to me.  Not sure what "bitching" you're talking about.  maybe you mean me disappointed that the clutch went.  or not knowing how to remove a bearing.  I sure have appreciated everyone's help along the way.  too bad I insulted you by questioning Honda's design principles.

and yes, you're right, I am a bit emotional right now.  so F*ing sue me and my baby for all the money we don't have.  Life can be stressful, I'm not asking for a goddarned shoulder or even sympathy, I'm asking for your opinion of what to do with a Valkyrie with a bent crossmember.  Jesus christ.

and to be clear, i'm NOT a biker.  I'm an enthusiast and a novice adventurer.  My bike is merely a tool with which to enjoy myself, not something which I identify myself with.

that said, I apologize for biting at your hook.  I should have thanked you for your non-contribution and ignored the rest.  Like I said, I am a bit emotional about this whole thing.

[j2x]

well actually i was going to offer to repair it for free, as i do have all the tools and knowledge, but i wouldn't fix it for you now if you lived next door. i put up with kids like you in the pen for years. grow up before that daughter of yours does.

Thanks!  ::HUGS!::

[timk519]

What on EARTH is going on here?

If you can't help out, keep yer trap shut....

[Valker]

Personal attacks and demeaning comments belong somewhere OTHER than on this board.

j2x, you have a serious 'ding' to your bike. I hope we can figure out a way to get it working for you...Give us more chances. Maybe someone on here lives close enough and can help you out. If that happened to my bike, I'd probably take a huge adjustable wrench to it and bend it back, but I do odd things.....

[Nogrey]

Funny you should say that Valker, I was thinking of two friends with a pipe wrench in each hand doing just that. It's just that it would be really hard to steady the bike, and she's a heavy bugger. That crossmember looks like it'd be pretty tough to bend too. Still, nothing beats a failure like a try my mom always said.

[PAVALKER]

Ya know .... looking at that crossmember I think it can be fixed......  I agree with the pipe wrench idea....  you could borrow a few larger pipe wrenches (or get em at Harbor Freight and return em the next day).  Get a few buddies together and get the bike lifted enough or leaned over enough and take off the kickstand bracket and have at it.  If if snaps, straighten out what you can and have the rest welded back in place, maybe even with a piece of angle as more support.    I did not notice how it happend... but I bet it can be resolved over a few cold ones.

As for Insurance Claim..... maybe not yet.  IF the attempts to repair it by Wrench and Buddies don't resolve the situation, then give it some serious consideration.

[Alpha Dragon]

Assuming the bent cross member isn't effecting the riding, why not just remove the kickstand, weld an addtional piece over the bent member, and then weld the kickstand back onto the additional piece?  Should be about a hundred bucks at a welding shop.

[timmer]

Sorry to hear about your problem j2x - If you can determine that the cross member is still structurally sound but just bent and you are unable to straighten it and short on funds for an all out replacement of the CM then maybe you could have the kickstand modified somehow instead of the CM to temporarily correct the problem for now until a later date down the road when funds are available for a better fix. You could get a kickstand off of ebay from one of the motorcycle salvage yards I would think fairly cheap to mess around with to make it work. Just a thought - it might not be the answer but just trying to think out of the box for ya for a simple solution........... Congrats on the new baby.

[Nogrey]

Assuming the bent cross member isn't effecting the riding, why not just remove the kickstand, weld an addtional piece over the bent member, and then weld the kickstand back onto the additional piece?  Should be about a hundred bucks at a welding shop.

That's not a bad idea. Ya know, the valk tends to lean a bit far on the stock kickstand anyway. I always thought that the kickstand should've been a little taller. This solution would actually do that.