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 

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

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 

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? 

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."  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. 

Quote from: sally101 on July 18, 2008, 10:07:30 AM
How could the CGI lizard be wrong? 

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!

Quote from: TCK! on July 18, 2008, 11:01:56 AM
You tell us!

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. I go sew a hem now.

Yeah the "guy" on the radio is actually the lizard, which is a Gecko.. Get it Geico Gecko

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

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?  

^^ You definitely need a beer!

- 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.