I would like to share a problem I am having regarding an insurance repair that has been going on for months. In mid-April this year I put my 2010 Aprilia RSV4 factory (my pride and joy) in a ditch and I informed my insurance company immediately. The bike was collected by BLD after 3 days, and I was fairly convinced that I would not see it again due to its condition, but consequently my insurance company deemed it repairable.
Little did I know the grief that would be coming my way regarding the parts for this bike and the unhelpful and arrogant nature of Aprilia. It became apparent that some parts were in the UK, but some (a frame, a swingarm and many panels) had to be sourced from Aprilia in Italy. BLD appointed Fowlers Motorcycles to source the parts from Aprilia UK, who in turn sourced all unavailable items from Aprilia Italy.
It took five months to receive the parts from Italy, and when they arrived the front fairing was broken, and the swingarm was 11mm narrower than the original at the axle, so the rear wheel would not fit! Aprilia were contacted by BLD over the swingarm issue, but they denied there was a problem with the part for 6 weeks even after BLD had sent photos of the two swingarms. (It would appear that Aprilia made a batch of swingarms incorrectly).
I have complained to my insurer about the time this is all taking, their response has been that it has been a combination of manufacture faults, Italy’s summer shut down, an earthquake in Italy and a general back log of parts orders.
I recently read in the MCN that Aprilia now have a 95% success rate with parts picking and that Aprilia have made huge leaps and bounds according to John Caughlan, owner of Bikers World in East Grinstead, but this has not been my experience.
The latest update from BLD is that a new swingarm is due to arrive on 1st December. BLD inform me that this situation is par for the course when dealing with the Italian manufacturers (they currently have a Tuono in the workshop which is in the same situation).
I am hoping that someone can offer good advice as to how to speed up this painful process. I have now been waiting for my bike back for 7 months. This is unacceptable by anyone’s standards. I am also curious as to where I stand legally regarding compensation due to the inordinate amount of time this has taken.
Am I entitled to any compensation for the length of time the bike has been off road?
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
