So, some of you may remember my unplanned wilderness adventure back in early September, wherin I stranded myself 65 miles up the Squamish/Elaho valley forest service road network, slept in the dirt, and hiked 25 miles, not seeing a soul for 21 hours, before finally flagging down a gravel truck.
I maintain that this occurred on what passes for a public road in BC. It is, after all, the main access road to the Glendinning Provincial Park. That said, it is somewhat of a non-standard road. This becomes important when you realize that there are cross-ditches on parts of this road, and cagers have layed wood into some of them so their cars can clear.
Based on re-construction only (I did not see/feel this happen) I believe that when I crossed one of these cross-ditches on my V-Strom, one of these pieces of wood flipped up, striking my oil cooler (see photos), and loosening an oil line banjo bolt, eventually resulting in loss of engine oil (all without me realizing it at all) and seizure of my engine.
Skip four months into the future. ICBC has so far accepted my engine damage as covered, but insists this is a collision claim and not comprehensive (technically that piece of wood was "airborn" when it hit my oil cooler, albeit sent flying by my front tire). Between my $500 deductible, a "betterment tax" they wish to charge me because, yes, some other parts were replaced while the engine was in pieces, and ~$1,700 in increased premiums over five years for having filed a collision claim, this will cost me ~$3K over time. A friend has done the work via the professional shop he manages, but I've signed absolutely nothing (nor been asked to).
So, I don't want to be a sucker. Should I suck it up, pay the money and get my bike back and be done with it? Or should I try once again to argue this should be considered a comprehensive claim?
Thanks.
I maintain that this occurred on what passes for a public road in BC. It is, after all, the main access road to the Glendinning Provincial Park. That said, it is somewhat of a non-standard road. This becomes important when you realize that there are cross-ditches on parts of this road, and cagers have layed wood into some of them so their cars can clear.
Based on re-construction only (I did not see/feel this happen) I believe that when I crossed one of these cross-ditches on my V-Strom, one of these pieces of wood flipped up, striking my oil cooler (see photos), and loosening an oil line banjo bolt, eventually resulting in loss of engine oil (all without me realizing it at all) and seizure of my engine.
Skip four months into the future. ICBC has so far accepted my engine damage as covered, but insists this is a collision claim and not comprehensive (technically that piece of wood was "airborn" when it hit my oil cooler, albeit sent flying by my front tire). Between my $500 deductible, a "betterment tax" they wish to charge me because, yes, some other parts were replaced while the engine was in pieces, and ~$1,700 in increased premiums over five years for having filed a collision claim, this will cost me ~$3K over time. A friend has done the work via the professional shop he manages, but I've signed absolutely nothing (nor been asked to).
So, I don't want to be a sucker. Should I suck it up, pay the money and get my bike back and be done with it? Or should I try once again to argue this should be considered a comprehensive claim?
Thanks.
