Malicious Mischief Kills My Mean Streak

[Daniel Smith]

I dont know if any of you will remember, but back in November of 2006 I posted that the engine siezed on my 2004 Vulcan Mean Streak 1600. The shop said it had only 15 ounces of oil in the case when it was towed in. I couldn't believe it, I had topped it off two weeks before it blew up.

After 4 months of research and haggling with Kawasaki, the dealer, the "Good Times Protection Plan" (extended warranty), my insurance company and the Police, this thing is finally resolved and you are not going to believe it.

THE BIKE WAS VANDALIZED. It has been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt. My insurance policy called it "Malicious MIscheif" and they covered it as a total loss and I basically got back all the money I had in the bike, including $1750 extra for custom parts I had on it. I never would have thought of it myself, although I knew a couple of parts had been stolen. A very smart service technician finally looked at and said "Hey buddy, do you have any enemies?" He was right on target. The Police, Kawasaki, and the Insurance company all have agreed. Based on all the evidence, there was no other possible answer, I had service records for my oil changes which were done on time, and the bike only had 8500 miles on it.

The police found out that while it was parked AT A CHURCH on a Saturday during a rainstorm (left it for the day, my wife gave me a ride), a vandal popped the toolkit cover, removed the oil plug, let the oil drain and put the plug back in. He stole a couple pieces of chrome easily removed with the toolkit, and stole the toolkit itself. I picked the bike up after dark so I didnt see the oil on the ground. He left enough in it that it didn't die until it went over 3500 RPMs. The oil PRESSURE light never went on, because it is not an OIL LEVEL light, and the poor dying cruiser never lost pressure.

I want to thank the people in this group for helping me when this problem happened. One guy said "something just doesn't add up here", you were right, my brother!

Somewhere there is a real sick puppy out there and I hope he gets caught. Meanwhile, I'm lookin' at new bikes with my insurance money. KEEP THOSE SERVICE RECORDS!

[visual]

Oh man, that is just flipping sad that some a$$ hole has to get his kicks out of killing a living breathing work or art!!!! That just sucks. I'm glad your Ins company is giving you the replacement cost on it. Good you found out what it was and didn't have to eat any of it!!

I hope the vandal gets his nuts tacked to a stump and pushed over backwards!!

[stevebtx12]

Man, that totally blows, really sorry to hear about that. Just glad they figured it out, and reimbursed you for it!

[Daniel Smith]

I look at pictures of the bike and it hurts. It is weird how the thing becomes an extension of yourself. I used to walk by it in my garage and pat the seat like it was a dog. I thought I would have it until I was too old to ride it.

[visual]

Originally Posted by Daniel Smith

I look at pictures of the bike and it hurts. It is weird how the thing becomes an extension of yourself. I used to walk by it in my garage and pat the seat like it was a dog. I thought I would have it until I was too old to ride it.

I know that feeling!!! I don't even like selling stuff that I owned. It's hard as hell to even let them go!!

[skid lid]

some people just have no respect for the property of hard working individuals.you put money and time in getting it just like you want it then this guy skrews it up cause he aint got nothing better to do . anyway im glad your insurance covered the loss.

[2WheelFun]

Who would have thought it would boil down to some idiot doing dirty work on your bike?

Lets hope he gets his!!!

[Spok]

wow, what a suprise turn. you made out in the end. what kind of bike you gonna buy now?

[Th33nforcer]

Can I ask how they determined it was in a church parking lot? That's damn good detective work...

[G]

"Wow" what a low life the dude that done that to your bike , i hope he get's caught red handed doing the same to a Hell's angel's bike ..

[Classic]

So, just to recap. While you're MS is parked at a church and it's raining, someone who hates you prys open the side cover, removes the toolkit and uses something in it to pull the drain plug. He then allows enough oil to drain out so as to cause the engine to seize up yet not enough to cause the oil pressure light to illuminate. He then reinstalls the drain plug. All this is done during a rain storm? He even helped himself to a couple chrome doo-dads that may only fit another MS? Then, somehow, you didn't bust your *** when you walked through the oil slick, got on the bike and rode it some distance without ever noticing all the clatter and racket the oil starved engine was making?

The police bought this scenario?

[bautieri]

Man that really sucks about your bike. I'm happy that you were able to get the insurance company to pay up. The new meanstreaks are pretty slick if you feel you can ever love another meanie again.

i hope he get's caught red handed doing the same to a Hell's angel's bike ..

That would be interesting, I'll bring the popcorn.

I hope the vandal gets his nuts tacked to a stump and pushed over backwards!!

I just cringed and had to reassure my boys everything was ok when I read that.

[bautieri]

Originally Posted by Classic

The police bought this scenario?

Thats some mighty fine detective work there boys.

[pitchinguy]

Glad you finally came out on top....if that's possible! I like the nut n stump thing best!

Another meanie? Perhaps a red & black one? Or maybe a 2K! Or a killer 1600? Well??!!!

[jukief]

I wouldn't put anything past people. What a crazy story. Glad you got reimbursed for your bike!

[rbentnail]

This is why I pay a little extra every year for the "fire, theft and malicious mischief" clause in my policy......I wanna send some cops I know to your town so they can get edjumacated too!

[bigjohnyeti]

[quote=Daniel Smith] I used to walk by it in my garage and pat the seat like it was a dog.

Geez-I thought I was the only one who did this...
Good to hear the insurance is covering the loss of the beauty....who is your insurance company ?
John

[SilverEagle]

Sucks it had to happen to you, but glad your outcome was so good. Again excellent homework keeping all those records.

[Daniel Smith]

Answers:
Progressive was my insurer, and they had to have PROOF. They denied the claim at first.

New Bike? I'm sticking with Kawa, I loved the bike.

The bike was parked in back of the Church in the sand between two trees, so that nobody would hit it. I thought I was being smart "hiding" it. In hindsight, it was a stupid move, I can admit that.

The people who say they dont believe anyone would do it, I didnt believe it at first either. I asked myself if I let the bike run out of oil? Let's say I never topped it off. The Mean Streak holds 3.7 quarts, 118 ounces of oil. It had 15 ounces left in the engine. That means 105 ounces of oil disappeared only 2500 miles after the last oil change. Tell me, non-believers, does a bike in good condition burn 103 ounces of oil in 2500 miles? Don't think so. There were no signs of it leaking or burning oil. If you dont buy the vandalism, what is the explanation?

And unfortunately, I'm no f'in angel and although I have have lots of friends I've made a few enemies (like I guy I had to fire at work) who would have been overjoyed if the bike had locked up and introduced me to an oak tree.

As for the oil on the ground, a videotaped test showed that 103 ounces of oil drains in less than 3 minutes and is fully absorbed in wet sand in less than 10 minutes.

[CheriAnn]

Oh man.....I am SO sorry!
This really hurts....OUCH!!! These bikes really do become a part of us, and someone actually committed "murder" to your "buddy"!!!!!

I hope you end up with another great bike to pat the seat on when you walk by