Hey Ladies/Gents,

I'm an owner of a 2011 Monster 796 ABS that I purchased for $8500 OTD.

After hurricane Sandy, the bike took on some water(1/4 way up the bike) but was ridable afterwards.  When it got cold, the bike eventually stopped starting(unsure of cause).  I reported it to insurance and they saw fit to write it off as totalled due to potential water damage.

Now my options:

1. The insurance company will dispose of the bike and write me a check for ~$9.7k.
2. The insurance company will let me retain the bike, give me a salvage title and write me a check for ~$8.1k.

Which option would you guys go for?  I honestly don't think that the bike took a significant amount of damage.

If not ridable, would I be able to split it up for parts i.e. swingarm, wheels etc..

Thanks in advance for your time everyone!

So:  You can get a slightly water-logged, salvage titled M796 w/a potential non-starting issue for $1600?

Get the bike & $8,100.  I'm *sure* you can get way over $1600 in parts if you do part it out...

Keep the bike and the money. You won't regret it one bit. Even you you decide that its too much work to fix, you should be able to make twice the difference parting out the good stuff.

No water in the engine?  Grab the $8.1K and keep the bike.  Just clean and pack with dielectric grease any electrical connector that was under water.

Another vote to keep it.

Never take the first offer from an insurance company.

Do you have pics of how high the water reached?

I'm no expert but saltwater destroys things in a very methodical way. It won't show up right away but believe me, it's coming.
If I was looking for used parts I would avoid those coming from a moto that has been totaled because of water damage, especially saltwater.

Tough call.

Thanks for the responses guys.  I'm leaning towards keeping her.

FYI the water came from the Hudson river so it was most likely fresh water.  I have a sneaking suspicion that the reason it won't start is unrelated to the immersion.  I'm no mechanic unfortunately.  Hopefully I can speak to the service tech soon.

Easy choice.  Take the money and with fix it and use it for track bike or stunt bike :-)

If it got up over the brake calipers and wheel bearings I'd definitely disassemble those, clean them, and reassemble with fresh fluids.  I'd probably take suspension apart and clean and fill with fresh fluids as well.  Clean off every nook and cranny with soap and water and change the oil.

Echo the clean any electrical terminal that may have been under water too.

Water rushing up the Hudson from a storm surge very well could have quite a bit of salt water in it.

Quote from: 0612Devil on January 24, 2013, 04:35:38 PM
FYI the water came from the Hudson river so it was most likely fresh water. 

YEA AND UNICORNS EXIST!!!! 


Ive driven my bike into water deeper than 1/4 height of the bike!  Take the money and laugh your way to the bank!

Quote from: 0612Devil on January 24, 2013, 04:35:38 PM
FYI the water came from the Hudson river so it was most likely fresh water.

There is nothing fresh about the Hudson south of Yonkers.  Salt is the least of your concern.  Did you check the exhaust for body parts?

[Damn it! Just saw He Man beat me to the Hudson joke.]

you know what casued the bike to stop workign right? The water touched the motor and it grew an extra piston ;\

or take the 9700 and buy a brand new bike and have no worries at all