My commuter bike was a clean, well-maintained 2006 Suzuki GS-500F that I purchased from a local dealership early this year. Less than a month after purchasing it, my ex made way into our gated community, removed the bike's cover and poured about half a gallon of house paint all over the motorcycle. I found it the next morning when I went out to warm it up for my commute.
I filed a police report because I knew who was responsible and I was hoping survelliance in the complex caught it.
I spent hours trying various ways to remove the paint, but it was everywhere. Ignition, every cable, rims and tires, behind the fairings, under the seat... EVERYWHERE. It took days for it to cook off anything that got hot so that came with smoke and odor. I had an issue starting it for a while... plugs maybe, fuel system... who knows. The seat was stained. Okay... I'll attach the pics taken by police for the report. Did I mention it was baby blue? The case went cold as there was nothing but my word against his.
Then... two months after the incident, I wreck on a 5 lane highway in San Francisco while approaching the Bay Bridge. I got cut off (pretty common in the area) and still question how it all happened. I never hit the guy but laid the bike down avoiding him. I have over 20 years experience, yet I'm not sure if I over corrected or my brakes felt a bit compromised as I was 25mph under the speed limit. I broke the handle bars, snapped the shifter and pegs off and somehow jammed up the alignment so it wouldnt even roll to the shoulder. Now, because it was still trashed from the unexpected paint job it had gotten months earlier, I let the tow company have it and signed the title over. No point, in spending more than it was worth to get her running and she still looked like **** from the paint. All of this was a sign to just let her go and take the loss. It totally sucked. :-( Hell, I still have road rash. Lol.
Fast forward another 2 or 3 months... out of nowhere... I learn who was responsible for vandalising my bike and I got evidence. I took it to the police and activity on my case had relaunched. I'm a single mother that works her ass off and I will be damned if I write off that bike that I spent months saving for... especially because some ******* just didnt get his way!
Now, charges were eventually filed against him and he was arrested for vandalism (misdemeanor). I also sued him in small claims court which we have in about 10 days. I simply asked for the amount that I paid for the bike about 3 weeks prior to the incident.
HERE'S THE PROBLEM - WAIT FOR IT:
The District Attorney and City Police asked me to provide them with a repair estimate to add to the police report. Fortunately, my oldest daughter's dad was a certified motorcycle mechanic and kicked ass on body work.
He wrote up an estimate. Needless to say that the cost for parts was a lot, but the labor behind it was way beyond what the bike was worth.
IT GETS WORSE - WAIT FOR IT:
I submit the estimate to be attached to the police report... several weeks go by and we go to his criminal hearing. His lawyer tried to throw it out because my ex doesn't work at a motorcycle establishment. His certification doesn't mean he is a "licensed professional."
The courts have pushed the case out for a month so that I can get another estimate. PROBLEM!!! I NO LONGER OWN THE BIKE and all I have are photos that the police took. I cannot find one business in the San Francisco Bay Area that is willing to write up an estimate simply based off of what they see on the photos. Some of them not only required that the bike be present, but they also wanted me to pay them upwards of $150! WTF is that all about??
I just need a professional to provide me with a summarized estimate to repair and/or clean up the bike based on photos of its condition after the incident. I think just the exterior or cosmetics of it alone would be sufficient. I only paid $2k for it. And since the bike is no longer around and photos are all we have, I can shop for estimates anywhere really.
PLEASE HELP!!! I am desparate and need this for court ASAP.
Thank you so much!
