[bbuckley]

I thought it would be a good idea to get a couple of guys together for a late fall ride around the area of the Great Smokey Mountain National Park. My brother-in-law, who has ridden but currently doesn't have a bike, joined us and I loaned him my Bonnie to ride. At the end of the first day, after about 150 miles of curvey mountain roads, he hit a bump in a curve near the end of the Blue Ridge Parkway (around MP 470). He lost control and high sided. The Bonnie slid on it's right side for about 50 feet. He separated his shoulder and will be OK. The Bonnie has quite a bit of cosmetic damage. I had it set up as sort of a cafe racer look with the Corbin Smuggler seat, etc. My brother-in-law has agreed to pay for the damages, and I'm thinking of going with the Scrambler look with some high pipes, etc. Any thoughts?

Buck

 

[meatwagon]

Back to cafe ,and no more loan outs! Rent him a Harley for the day! .Seriously tho...glad he wasn't badly hurt.

 

[bbuckley]

I've already made up my mind - no one else rides my bikes.

 

[merlin]

Congradulations - you now, like OWN your brother in law.
Family life should now be very smooth...

 

[357Bob]

Yeah. Don't let him pay for it. He will never ask you for another thing ever.

 

[bobw3592]

Did they repair the pavement inside that last tunnel going south yet? That one will catch your tire as well. Hope he is mending okay. Why not sell him the Bonnie. Make it a shotgun wedding, he f*%^# her so he may as well have the pleasure of doing repairs to make her his own. I was looking at a clean 04 red Thruxton to make a project bike, but a scrambler set up has a good look too. I would get a more "true" dual purpose mid size bike if you really wanted to enjoy some dirt roads and trails in the area. Bummer it happened, but nice to have a reason for a new project.
Three things you never loan out; your bike, your tools and your girl. lol, you never know if you'll get them back or how they were used.

BobW
:-g :-g :-g

 

[PA-guy]

Buck posted:I've already made up my mind - no one else rides my bikes.

-----------------
Buck


As much as I would like to share one of my 2 bikes with my friends, I have to agree with Buck.......No one else rides my bikes. There are just too many negative scenarios that could happen and no matter what you think now, you and the borrower will always have a bad memory if they have an accident. And imagine how everyone would feel if your good friend is killed while riding your bike, especially if he/she was riding it because they couldn't afford one of his own.

CC

 

[ChuckofTahoe]

Brothers in Law will Be Brothers in Law.

 

[bbuckley]

I just took the wrecked Bonnie to my dealer. Got a close look at a new Scrambler. Very cool. This may work out that the old Bonnie is disposed of and a new Scrambler ends up in my garage.

 

[walt]

Right now I can't imagine loaning my Bonnie to anyone, just for the reasons previously mentioned. Plus there could be a lot of resentment afterwards. You get upset because someone all of a sudden won't, or can't pay for the damage. They get upset because they do pay and then something comes up where they wish they had the $ back. Or even if you have insurance, now your rates will go up. All the scenarios are bad. And any other rider is not that familiar with your bike to start with.
Meatwagon has the right idea - rent a bike, but in addition to that, have him sign for it.
But for the REALLY important part, glad your Brother-in-law was not badly hurt.

Walt

 

[alfacliff]

I have a brother in law too, would you like to borrow my fireaxe?
cliff

 

[bbuckley]

On 2006-11-06 06:48, bobw3592 wrote:
Did they repair the pavement inside that last tunnel going south yet? That one will catch your tire as well.

BobW
:-g :-g :-g

We only rode the last stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway from US 19 to Cherokee. All of the tunnels have rough spots in them, and a couple have ice. Nasty. The site of the accident has apparently caused many others. The ER people at the Cherokee Hospital knew exactly where it was. They said they've pulled guys and their bikes out of the trees there.

 

[bbuckley]

On 2006-11-06 14:27, walt wrote:
Right now I can't imagine loaning my Bonnie to anyone, just for the reasons previously mentioned. Plus there could be a lot of resentment afterwards. You get upset because someone all of a sudden won't, or can't pay for the damage. They get upset because they do pay and then something comes up where they wish they had the $ back. Or even if you have insurance, now your rates will go up. All the scenarios are bad. And any other rider is not that familiar with your bike to start with.
Meatwagon has the right idea - rent a bike, but in addition to that, have him sign for it.
But for the REALLY important part, glad your Brother-in-law was not badly hurt.

Walt

You are right about all of the above. Fortunately, this b-i-l is a great guy, a good friend, and has the money (and willingness) to pay for the damages. This one isn't going through my insurance.

 

[kliff]

At least he has the money to pay for the damages, and isn't trying to side step the matter.
Hope he heals, and all is well.

 

[bbuckley]

Just found out the bike is totalled. Too many damaged vital parts. Looks like a new black and red T100 is going to have to take its place.

 

[sweatmachine]

well, sucks that it's totalled, but hey, new bike for you!

I'd keep the old one though. or sell it to me cheap!

 

[OldTimeBiker]

If the bike is totaled, that lets your Brother in law off the hook. Take your settlement money and buy the bike of your dreams and don't loan it to anyone unless you are willing to accept the responsibility of the aftermath of a mishap.
I have to ask, If your brother in law had been seriously hurt, would you have expected him to cover your loss? Your situation visits me at home, I don't have any problem loaning one of my bikes to trusted friends that I know are experienced riders. The understanding is that you treat my bike with respect, no drinking , and don't worry if something goes wrong, that's why I have the bike insured. I would never expect someone to whom I loaned my bike to be responsible for major damage, even if they offered to pay. Sure, something minor like a broken mirror, or a bent handlebar or minor dent in the tank, you know, something that my deductable would cover, then I'd accept an offer to cover it, but major get off damage? No way, that's why I have insurance and my main concern would be the well being of my friend.
But that's just me.