Getting the Batta la Strada to Atlanta - NOW WITH PICTURES!

[Pinocchio]

your insurance covers you on this?  if not check into the transport company insurance rates for additional piece of mind.

That would be part of the long, sad tale, which I will scare my grandchildren with someday. The short answer is, not unless I sue them for it and somehow win. I'm thinking that writing the expense off as a capital loss on my 2010 Federal taxes would be an easier way to recoup.

[muskrat]

a capital loss eh?  good luck on that one but if you find that loophole let us all know.  I have multiple toys I can use that on. 

[Pinocchio]

a capital loss eh?  good luck on that one but if you find that loophole let us all know.  I have multiple toys I can use that on. 

No loophole. The Casualties, Disasters, and Thefts Pub 547 for 2009, page 2, defines Casualty: "damage, destruction or loss of property"; examples include car accidents, and therefore should apply to any motor vehicle accident:
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p547.pdf
I'm still researching, but I know I have seen elsewhere that expenses to recover personal capital losses due to casualty are deductible, subject to an AGI factor limitation. I have all the documentation from the accident and subsequent claim denial, so I feel more prepared to stand up to possible audit than to stand up in court against experienced insurance company shysters. I'll get something out of this.

[muskrat]

you might check the limitations on recreation.  typically you can't write-off something after two years unless you carry over a 5 year loss from cattle and the like. 

[Pinocchio]

I'll look into that. Cattle are usually not involved in my recreational activities.

[muskrat]

moooooooooo.  give Betsy give.

[Pinocchio]

OK, due to the DFWM forum's TTIUWP rule, here is the best I can do with my wife's EasyShare. (don't laugh at my crude technique, you Ansel Adams wannabees! I'm still not convinced these won't somehow steal the soul of my poor 'strada...):

Exhibit A: Here is the evidence of abuse, your honor!

Note the clever re-shaping of the rear plastics, sort of a Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing look.

Looking straight up at the tank/seat pads, they have been moved several millimeters forward from where they were happily rubbing the fresh paint off the tank when all was new. Left side looks the same.

The Batta la Strada after a "crash diet" (ouch, I said "crash"! ); ready to crate.

"You could look slimmer, too, and lose 60 pounds of ugly, unwanted fat!" Hmm, some turn signals, CRG bar ends, and a headlight are all it needs. I could even put the ExBox back on....

60 pounds of ugly, unwanted fat. Well, GMDATL doesn't want it, anyway. I suppose I need it.

It's still ugly, though....

[RED]

Can't view the technique at all! Must re-read posting pics thread....

[Pinocchio]

I will be happy to discuss matters of technique with you today at TresGatos' place. For instance, the technique of draining the B la S's tank when I have no siphon pump.  I'm consulting the workshop manual now to see whether I can remove the fuel lines from the throttle bodies without taking off the tank.
See you there, I hope!

[Pinocchio]

The frame guy in Atlanta just told me the Multistrada's frame measured well within the factory specs. He talked to a Ducati tech he trusts, and found out from him there is a known issue with the plastic Ducati tanks swelling from contamination with gasoline additives. That would account for the problem I've been experiencing with the body plastics not fitting correctly on the bike, which I thought was due to the crash - aha, tripped up by the old post hoc logical fallacy! It only cost me  $1000 bucks and three years of aggravation to find this out!

There should be a recall for this, because it would affect all Ducatis with plastic tanks made by Acerbis, which is all of them. Dimensional problems are probably more obvious in the MTS and the Hypers, because their tanks are more integrated with their bodywork mountings than other models. Even if there is no active recall, I think I can  get a dealer I trust to help me document the dimensional disparities to Ducati North America to help me get a new tank. I will at least have the computer frame measurement data to make my argument.

[webspoke]

The current sbk tanks are plastic and have the swelling problem too.  Can't say that I have noticed it on the hyper yet, but the only pieces mounted to the tank are a couple of loose skins and the top cover.

[muskrat]

I've seen tons of Monsters with tanks that don't sit on the grommets well.  SHITTY!!!!!

[Pinocchio]

You made me go out and look at my S4RS, damn you! Sure enough, the rubber tank pad on the right side doesn't line up on the frame tubing, and the tank latch is wedged tight between the front of the tank and the igntion switch housing when I try to unfasten it. Ohhhhh Noooo! My Monster has the dreaded Tank Bloat, too!!!!

[webspoke]

That dreaded tank bloat gets to most of us eventually, I wish mine fit my frame like it used to as well   . At least on the bikes a few new parts will resolve it, for a while.

[muskrat]

 

I think everyone should send DNA an email on this shit.  It's crap.