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BUYER BEWARE -- www.HAULBIKES.com -- Bike Breakers

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Witsend

Witsend

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Sep 15, 2024
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Los Angeles
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Bike
R18 Classic 2023 and Vulcan S 2020
6 months hunting the perfect Dream bike base to build out --poof.

A pristine R18 Classic 2023 / 300 miles I bought from a dealership in IL. was collected by www.haulbikes.com a "professional" bike transport company, still in transport I get an email this morning saying it was damaged. A worker dropped a motorcycle on my bike's header. They're trying to pass it off as slight" --I'm saying hell no, and having it delivered directly now to the BMW dealership for assessment because that damage could have been deeper than "cosmetic" and knocked everything out of alignment internally.

However, cosmetic or not, in any case my feeling is I do not want a bike that now has a collision attached to it's VIN number thereby killing any resale value. I bought a bike that had no VIN strike --I am NOT accepting one with it.

(n):mad:
 
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Shyt happens huh?.. there's other ones out there. None that were like this model though.. that I've seen.
 
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I can understand your frustration, but it sounds like you already own the bike. I’m guessing the carrier’s insurance will pay the claim, and you will need to decide whether you’re going to keep it. We don’t get to choose when accidents happen.
 
The accident was not in my possession. I'm not taking a bike with a strike on its vin, that did not have it when I bought it. However that manifests.
 
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happened to me to purchase an r18 from a dealer in Illinois had the bike delivered to me in ny when it arrived the frame at the seat had paint damage from hold down straps to make matters worse they denied doing it
 
Sorry to hear that.

Seems you're one of many. On reading horror stories of haulbikes and other transport companies online... I'm beginning to think transport companies are about as greasy as some used car salesmen.

In this case I have full 360 detailed pictures taken right before loading by the seller dealer. Supposedly haulbikes takes their own pictures on preloading too. I have the admission of fault email thread between me and haulbikes. I will also be there during unloading with myself and the receiving dealership recording. I'm retaining a top tier lawyer today. :confused:
 
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What's even more annoying is also affected now is my investment of another 5k-6k in parts I've been special ordering to assemble it into the customized color scheme that compliments the specific colors (titanium) of this bike. So now a new R18 will have to be custom ordered in the same titanium color. I wanted this a showpiece --dream bike work of art, for potential a client. I obviously can't resell a client a motorcycle with a strike on the VIN.
 
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Witsend said:
The accident was not in my possession. I'm not taking a bike with a strike on its vin, that did not have it when I bought it. However that manifests.
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I’m just curious as to who is going to buy you a new bike? I think any insurance company involved will pay to have the bike repaired.
 
I don't know the answer to that sir. I guess it depends on if the repairs are limited to cosmetic. And then too, if the repairs are paid --not-- through insurance companies whom I'm assuming are the ones that'd add a strike on the VIN. IF the repairs are cosmetic and IF its paid not thru the insurance companies --great. All is good.

If the repairs are such that the engine header casing or internals and/or frame was bent or knocked out of align and it requires a new engine --the cost of that plus labor would (I'm told) likely be more than the cost of a new bike and at that point the adjuster would likely total the bike. So at that point I guess because I have comprehensive insurance on it --my ins. would payout and then bill their insurance company. (?) I don't know. Bottom line is I just know I'm not having a strike on a VIN. Whether that happens bc of cosmetic or deeper repairs. That's why I think it's best to involve a lawyer because they have the expertise.

Who knows... maybe that's over reacting, maybe everyone will play nice, but based on reviews out there I don't think my fears are unjustified. And if it results on everyone being accountable, of course, I'll be happy to report that outcome too.
 
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I've even gone to ordering special titanium colored, bronze tipped croc. hide leather to accent the saddle bags, (or I'll remake them entirely by hand myself) --and the same leather can be used for belt and wallet and the center gas tank protector strip and seat cover accepts. As well as retro bronze logo replacements for the engine tank sides. So the colors are black on black with titanium and bronze.

Like this but more gray base

20241031_125703_resized.jpg

20241031_130209.jpg
 
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Have they sent you any pictures of the header damage and such?

Have they actually delivered the bike to you at this point,.or is it still in transit?

Maybe it isn't as bad as you think; perhaps, you can have the HAUL BIKES folks cover all necessary repairs outside of insurance. I get why you don't want a "strike" against the bike's VIN, especially if down the road you decide to sell it, and especially if the damage is only cosmetic ...

Take lots of pictures and such, especially if you decide to keep the bike and perhaps you decide to sell it - the next buyer might need to understand why there is a strike against the bike.
 
Just got off the phone with my insurance company and lawyer and got good clarification.

Bottom line. So as it stands as hard fact: any claim filed through any insurance company will be recorded and available for any VIN number, and be part of that vehicles history for all time. Period.

While that is different than an actual Salvage strike on a VIN --it's still just as detrimental to that VIN number.

And THAT is precisely what's not going to happen and the reason I'm in touch with lawyers. I bought a perfect motorcycle with zero strikes or history I will settle for nothing less.

So IF the damage is proven, irrefutably cosmetic and handled outside insurance company --Great.

However even IF only cosmetic and yet handled through insurance companies thus, becoming part of the motorcycle's history --I will not be taking ownership and this lands in a lawsuit until I am relinquished from owning this motorcycle, and ALL costs of lawyers and transport and dealership evaluation cost, and punitive damages for the stress and time wasted and I have a new one of exactly the same build.

And thank God for top tier lawyers!
 
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The dealership. Recouping lawyers fees would be part of the suit, so nothing comes out of my pocket in the end. I'm not paying anything out of my pocket for someone else's negligence. I have to be accountable for my mistakes in life --well, so shall they
 
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Witsend said:
The dealership. Recouping lawyers fees would be part of the suit, so nothing comes out of my pocket in the end. I'm not paying anything out of my pocket for someone else's negligence. I have to be accountable for my mistakes in life --well so shall they.
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Not sure how it works where you are. Is there any documentation you need to sign as you take delivery? I bought a car from the other side of the state that was delivered to me and would have been able to refuse to sign if the vehicle wasn’t as expected.

It sounds like you’re further in or it’s different in your state. Just interested in the nuances.
 
Dunno how that works now, since the moto is now being delivered to a BMW dealership for detailed inspection, I'm not signing anything. My being there is not/was not, been stated as mandatory -- it's more my option, if schedule allows, for me to be there.

Luckily the dealership covers their behind with the standard (very smart) procedure of taking pictures anytime unloading any motorcycle from any transport co. The mechanic told me it's a policy put in place bc damage was such a frequent event.
 
It looks like the dealership is on the hook to make this right; either, they refund your money or pay the other dealership for their time and service to make the repairs outside of an insurance claim. The dealership must have some sort of a relationship with the transport company; perhaps, the transportation company will refund and or credit the dealership against future business or transportation cost and such in order to avoid an insurance claim?

Again, maybe the damage (if any) is just some cosmetic work which can easily be repaired 100% with a replacement part or parts; keep in mind, the cost of a part that "we, the people" pay vs what a dealership pays for that exact part..

Keep it positive, it can be worked out..

I'm curious, did the dealership disable the Reverse feature prior to shipping the bike and if so; who got the $1,000 compensation credit..
 
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