I just got off the phone with my Geico claims adjuster. In order to keep the duqette (my 01 rrrrred Monster 750) from being totaled out, I agreed to have the tank dent repaired and painted (they'll paint the fender, too). Geico wants it to go to this place "Old School Customs" for the work.
http://oldschoolcustoms.com/
I expressed my concern at a completely NON-Ducati place doing the work. Not that I don't like Buells, but....
I have no issue with the tank being repaired; I just want it to look good when it's done. Any thoughts or suggestions? Should I go ahead with this place? If I do call them to check them out, what kind of questions do I ask?
Should I insist on the work going to a Ducati specialist?
The bike is at Nichols. They'll be doing all the other repair work (handle bars, etc).
Thanks for any input!
I wouldn't worry about going to a Ducati specialist for dent repair.
Ducpainter would be a good one to PM and ask for anything specific. If it's just making a tank dent go away, I wouldn't be terribly concerned.
Long as they're going to pull it properly and not just fill it with ten pounds of bondo :P
Ask Geico to cut you a check for what it was going to cost http://oldschoolcustoms.com/ to do it, then take it to where ever you want.
go to bobby kieth at cyclefinish (http://www.cyclefinish.net/motorcycle/tank-and-plastic-repair.html)
Quote from: someguy on July 17, 2008, 05:49:15 PMLong as they're going to pull it properly and not just fill it with ten pounds of bondo :P
Bondo? Maybe at
New School Customs. At
Old School Customs, all the fixing's done with a stick of lead and a torch!
Quote from: x136 on July 17, 2008, 06:55:51 PM
Bondo? Maybe at New School Customs. At Old School Customs, all the fixing's done with a stick of lead and a torch!
Oh no. What does that mean?
All those custom Harleys are nice, if that's your thing, but would they have any idea what to do with a Duc tank?
I'm going to ask to have Bobby Keith do it. That's the place recommended by everyone.
These guys should be experienced in working with metal tanks and you may even wind up with a nicer paint job on your fixed tank than you had before. Not that I know these guys from experience or even reputation, but you should drop by their shop and talk to the guys before you discount them--you may be pleasantly suprised.
How could the CGI lizard be wrong? ;D
This may be a moot point, because Bobby Keith is "overbooked" and not taking any new work. :'(
I talked to a guy at Old School Customs, and it's not like they're some sort of fly-by-night operation. I can't get down there to check the shop out myself, so I asked him to send me some pics of Ducati tanks they've worked on. He's going to have to "go back through the archives." [laugh] Ah well, truthfully, I'm not that picky; I'm sure it will be fine.
And if it's not, they'll make it good, 'cause Geico said so. So there. [cheeky]
Quote from: sally101 on July 18, 2008, 10:07:30 AM
How could the CGI lizard be wrong? ;D
Y'know, I don't watch TV, and I feel I've missed some great cultural event. Lizard? What does a lizard have to do with auto insurance?
You tell us!
(http://www.autoinsurancequotes4free.com/images/article_images/geico.gif)
Quote from: TCK! on July 18, 2008, 11:01:56 AM
You tell us!
(http://www.autoinsurancequotes4free.com/images/article_images/geico.gif)
I'm having a really hard time reconciling this image with the Geico radio ads featuring a guy with a (fake) Cockney accent. Maybe the lizard is a Brit? Why would a British lizard be shilling American insurance? :-\
My brain hurts. [bang] I go sew a hem now.
Yeah the "guy" on the radio is actually the lizard, which is a Gecko.. Get it Geico Gecko :D
Quote from: TCK! on July 18, 2008, 03:09:21 PM
Yeah the "guy" on the radio is actually the lizard, which is a Gecko.. Get it Geico Gecko :D
Ah, I see.....
nothing.
Why is a British gecko hawking insurance in California? Does this make sense to anyone? Is it just me? Do animals just happen to make good insurance shills? Isn't there a duck that's working for some other ins. company? (Aflac?) I wonder if the duck and the gecko have the same agent?
Do I need a vacation? or at least a beer? [bang] [laugh] [laugh] [drink]
^^ You definitely need a beer! ;D [drink]
- those guys are down the street from me (san jose vespa). They are good guys.
We take our paint to Mt. View Cycle Paint. (650) 619-3966 Jeff does an incredible job on bikes.
Quote from: bosco on July 23, 2008, 12:15:24 PM
- those guys are down the street from me (san jose vespa). They are good guys.
I hope so, 'cause they've got my tank and fender now! ;)
I chatted with Rob (?) on the phone a couple times. Agree, he's a nice guy, very tolerant of me giving him the seventh degree over the phone.
Just make sure it doesn't come back looking like this:
(http://thekneeslider.com/images/ducatibobber.jpg)
[laugh] [laugh] [laugh]
I know! I feel like I should tell them, No flames! No flames!! Just plain red. Du-ca-tee red.
hey! What's wrong with flames !! [cheeky]
Quote from: Kaveh on July 24, 2008, 09:35:42 AM
hey! What's wrong with flames !! [cheeky]
On my li'l red 750,
everything. I'd never be able to show my face at the 'geist again....
My bf (Harley owner, no flames) jokingly suggests maybe just a little tiny skull or two.... or how about a pilot light instead of an actual
flame. [laugh] [laugh]
Quote from: duqette on July 24, 2008, 10:46:40 AM
On my li'l red 750, everything. I'd never be able to show my face at the 'geist again....
My bf (Harley owner, no flames) jokingly suggests maybe just a little tiny skull or two.... or how about a pilot light instead of an actual flame. [laugh] [laugh]
My bike is a li'l 750 too >:(
yer diggin' yerself a big hole! [cheeky] [laugh]
Quote from: Kaveh on July 24, 2008, 03:47:19 PM
M<Y bike is a li'l 750 too >:(
Yeah, but the flames give you 3, maybe 4 miles an hour on her bike ;D
Quote from: desmoquattro on July 24, 2008, 04:29:09 PM
Yeah, but the flames give you 3, maybe 4 miles an hour on her bike ;D
which we all know is equal to at least 13 hp [moto]
Quote from: Kaveh on July 24, 2008, 03:47:19 PM
My bike is a li'l 750 too >:(
yer diggin' yerself a big hole! [cheeky] [laugh]
Just hand me a shovel, there's no limit to how deep I could go....
I think flames and chrome and Louis Vitton seats and the like are best left to heavily customized, metal tank, V-twins...
[bang]
Quote from: desmoquattro on July 24, 2008, 05:46:58 AM
Just make sure it doesn't come back looking like this:
(http://thekneeslider.com/images/ducatibobber.jpg)
GAHHHHH!!!! :o MAKE IT STOP!! IT'S BURNING!!!! [puke] [puke] [puke]
(http://a985.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/92/l_acf0a53a722f5f7d9784dd1b64555c08.jpg)
i would trust a harley paint and body shop ... after all, if their work is sub-standard, i am pretty sure their typical customer shoots and/or stabs first, then files a complaint with the BBB 8)
Well heck, that sort of bike is a garage queen, so the paints gotta be good. ;D
Quote from: johnc on July 25, 2008, 04:03:57 PM
i would trust a harley paint and body shop ... after all, if their work is sub-standard, i am pretty sure their typical customer shoots and/or stabs first, then files a complaint with the BBB 8)
Or sues, since the ones that aren't thugs are almost always lawyers.
Update!
Nichols just called me this morning to tell me that Old School Customs is now saying they can't pull the dent on the tank.
Something about the metal is too thin we can't do it blah blah blah blah....
<sigh>
Bobby Keith is "booked."
Who else does tanks?
Norman Engineering in Oakland does the leaky tank repair but might give them a call if they do the dent repair.
Happy Ending: (for me at least, maybe not for Old School Customs)
Geico pays for new tank. :D
Moral of story:
Ducati (and it's riders and mechanics ;)) really are more sophisticated, technically superior, and more skilled than H-D (and it's ....) [cheeky]
I'd just like to add, the guys at Nichols have been FANTASTIC during this whole process, have dealt with all the varying numbskulls (including me) with aplomb. I'm sure it wouldn't have turned out as well as it is without them. [thumbsup]
Quote from: duqette on August 01, 2008, 07:26:52 AM
Happy Ending: (for me at least, maybe not for Old School Customs)
Geico pays for new tank. :D
Moral of story:
Ducati (and it's riders and mechanics ;)) really are more sophisticated, technically superior, and more skilled than H-D (and it's ....) [cheeky]
I'd just like to add, the guys at Nichols have been FANTASTIC during this whole process, have dealt with all the varying numbskulls (including me) with aplomb. I'm sure it wouldn't have turned out as well as it is without them. [thumbsup]
Great! I'm glad it all workoutfor you. Now you call relax..
Quote from: duqette on August 01, 2008, 07:26:52 AM
Happy Ending: (for me at least, maybe not for Old School Customs)
Geico pays for new tank. :D
nice! [thumbsup] :)