My 06 was nearly STOLEN, now its time to REBUILD!

[Lansonfloyd]

I usually post over on ST-N forums, but I do try to help out here at VFRworld too! That said, here's what happened (it is a long post, but hey, you're bored right? Plus there's a happy ending!):

About a month ago, I caught someone trying to steal my bike while I was inside at work. I saw them out of the corner of my eye outside the window, and I ran outside to confront him. He was loading up the bike in a MINIVAN! Looks like he dropped it about 4 times trying to get it in, and there were broken parts EVERYWHERE, and the bike was truely scratched and dented to hell. Anyway, he fled, the bike (which was halfway in the van) slid out and slammed to the ground one last time, and I was left with a busted bike, and not much else.

Fast forward to the near present: The bike was deemed repairable by the insurance company, not totalled as I had assumed. The damage was $4650. I am still seeking restitution from the criminal (Oh yeah, I should mention that he was caught with his van tailgate up on the road, cops pulled him over and he was I.D.'d as the guy!), but for now the insurance paid everything but my deductible. Therefore, I got a $4150 check.

I was not pleased with the fact that the dealer wasn't going to cut me a break on the parts cost, as I wanted them to match or get close to www.ronayers.com, a place I've dealt with before with great success and happiness. They wouldn't do it, but they offered to install any parts I got from any place else, and they'd do the labor without any issues. This seemed the best solution, so thats the plan as all the parts are coming in in the next few days. What this means is that a ton of money was left over for aftermarket goodies, so I decided to splurge, and rebuild this bike MY WAY. Here's whats coming:

All new O.E. plastics, tank, right side metals, etc.

Remus Titanium exhaust

Zero Gravity Double Bubble, smoke

Throttlemeisters

Sargent seat

Heli-bars

Pazzo levers

BMC intake

New Avon tires

So, I'll post pics, sound clips, maybe video, of the finished machine as soon as its going back together. I'll also keep all the scratched but still workable parts, so if anyone needs a spare or something, just say so!

[WhiteKnight]

SOrry to hear that some idiot tried to jack your bike, but am glad to hear he was not successful and yuo got enough money + to be able to fix it. If you had had a bike like a gixxer 600 or soemthing similar he might have ade off with it. But with the heavy VFR, it was not an easy task. That'll teach him to steal a viffer. I, for one, look forward to seeing the finished product.

[R.W.]

I remember that post from SY-N, that use to be my site till I became hooked on this one, VFRworld has been good to me and the only adjustment I had to make was getting use to the PG-13 vibe instead of the R rating that ST-N has.

I would just go medieval on some one if they touched my bike, it had to be a nightmare to watch that unfold. It seems like it will work out the for the best at the end, but it sure F-up your summer ridding season.

[Lansonfloyd]

summer riding season isn't so great when you live in VEGAS! LOL...

I'm actually itching to ride again REAL bad, as you might expect, but thats mainly because the temps are cooling down a tiny bit now, its averaging 99 deg.

Before this incident, I rode every single day, even in the 120+ deg. days, so yeah, even being without the bike for a month has been crappy for me. I'm just glad its getting upgraded for the same price as normal repair. To me, that makes the incident a blessing instead of a bitchin...

*EDIT* BTW, here's the pretty PAZZO levers! I got mine from www.supersquidracing.com ; they have a silly name, but they have FANTASTIC customer service, and the deal of $159 was also with free shipping. Very nice! I highly reccomend these guys...I just wish they had more parts for me to buy.

[reg71]

Originally Posted by Lansonfloyd

summer riding season isn't so great when you live in VEGAS! LOL...

I'm actually itching to ride again REAL bad, as you might expect, but thats mainly because the temps are cooling down a tiny bit now, its averaging 99 deg.

Before this incident, I rode every single day, even in the 120+ deg. days, so yeah, even being without the bike for a month has been crappy for me. I'm just glad its getting upgraded for the same price as normal repair. To me, that makes the incident a blessing instead of a bitchin...

*EDIT* BTW, here's the pretty PAZZO levers! I got mine from www.supersquidracing.com ; they have a silly name, but they have FANTASTIC customer service, and the deal of $159 was also with free shipping. Very nice! I highly reccomend these guys...I just wish they had more parts for me to buy.

I checked out their site after your reccomendation, but I didn't see anything for 5th gen VFRs. It funny because the bike seems brand new to me. Most people that I tell it's a 98 think it looks very modern... Oh well.

[WhiteKnight]

I got a set of Pazzo levers from motoworld.com and I love them.

[mgtx73]

So, do you know what's happening to the bastard that tried to steal your bike? Glad they caught him. Personally, I would have "caught" him myself and then waited for the police to come.

[falcon186]

That was good you where around the window to see the fool who tried to steal your bike ...I think I would have made sure the damage he did to the bike would be equally the same damage I would do to him.good luck on the repairs ........

[mello dude]

Good luck with your rebuild, but since the bike was rolled out of a moving van, I'm suprised the bike wasnt totaled. I've seen them totaled on less. Be careful - the frame and forks may be bent.

MD

[reg71]

Originally Posted by falcon186

That was good you where around the window to see the fool who tried to steal your bike ...I think I would have made sure the damage he did to the bike would be equally the same damage I would do to him.good luck on the repairs ........

Looking at those pictures you have to wonder how the thief thought he was going to get any money after doing all that damage... I guess he was just planning on selling the engine. that's a crying shame to do that to a bike much less a brand new one...

[Lansonfloyd]

Originally Posted by mgtx73

So, do you know what's happening to the bastard that tried to steal your bike? Glad they caught him. Personally, I would have "caught" him myself and then waited for the police to come.

Well I was subpoena'd to court, as was a few other witnesses...and he never showed up! Turns out he jumped bail, and likely fled the country.

I'm sure thats why I have a Glock pistol in my budget along with a CCW permit planned too...

[TX_03_VFR800]

Originally Posted by Lansonfloyd

Well I was subpoena'd to court, as was a few other witnesses...and he never showed up! Turns out he jumped bail, and likely fled the country.

I'm sure thats why I have a Glock pistol in my budget along with a CCW permit planned too...

I have a CHL and carry my weapon most of the time...It would have taken a lot of self control for me in that situation not to shoot the bastage...but I would not have (I would have held him at gun point but would not shoot)because I would be then one to end up in jail.

One of my co-workers and a buddy of his were on a ride (a number of years back) and stopped to rest when two individuals jacked both bikes (his and his buddies).

People come up to me all the time because of the bike and I am sometimes weary of those who do....you never know what their intentions are.

You should read my post the other day on Concealed Handguns...

[canib]

Yeah, the Vegas riding season is great :) Just remember to bring a camel pack for long rides, you loose water quick.

That's totally lame about the attempted theft. Two guys tried to steal my Nighthawk but one of my coworkers caught them and they made stuff up about 'just checking it out becuase they wanted to buy it'. The coworker didn't notice the jacked up keyhole... looks like they went at it with a screwdriver. Duh. I've been thinking of getting a pager type alarm for my VFR. I mostly keep it in the garage or in the covered parking at work, and we have a roving dufus security gaurd so it's not my highest priority. Vegas people like GTA apparently.

[ZonaMan]

I think you need to see my post and pictures about my paging alarm install!!!

http://vfrworld.com/photos/showgalle...r/2247/cat/500

[steve.ski]

I'm a new guy around here, but I am familiar with the awful feeling of having some bas**** rip off your bike! You are so lucky to have caught the guy. Freakin' minivan! Inbelievable.

Two of my GSXRs were stolen from me never to be seen again. I will be installing an alarm on my VFR for sure...

Please keep us up to speed on the rebuild.

[hfam95]

Im remember this thread from ST too. Did you ever go after the security company for helping the guy load the bike?
Did they help out any?

[btt]

Boy! I was hoping the story ended with a baseball bat stuck on his head.

[Lansonfloyd]

Yeah, I've gone after the security company, and they have been in subrogation with my insurance company and their insurance company. Both companies are actually part of the same insurance group, so subrogation is how they will deal with it. I already got my check (less my deductible ) from my insurance company, and if my company is successful at pulling the money away from the (guilty) other party, then I will get another check from my insurance company. In actuality, this is taking LONGER because the bike was repairable. If it were totaled, it would have exceeded the amount necessary for subrogation, and went quicker! That's just mean.

Now, onto better news:

I'm tracking 8 FedEx shipments from North Carolina (Ron Ayers store) to Vegas, and with those on their way, the bike will be ready soon. I already received the Titanium Remus exhaust, and this morning I pick up the Throttlemeisters and Heli-bars that were delivered to my work yesterday on my day off.

Here's pics of the Remus, and their light weight!

More pics of course to come as the bike comes together...