The old mans 'blade ended up being a cat C writeoff 16 years ago (2 years after the bike was made, most of it was probably fairings, headlight, mirror, indicator e.t.c) although he didnt know when he bought it.
the resale value has gone from £2500 to £1500 as any bike/car with a history of damage is less desirable as a 'straight' one, so even if your bike is repaired even as a Cat D you may find the resale value is affected, definately worth checking with the insurance company (in this case, sheilas) to check the status.