No matter how hard I tried to keep my bike pristine, damage happens.

I made a special corner in the garage and created a ZONE where no one was allowed to enter carrying heavy, sharp or destructive objects like bicycles, hammers, baseball bats, etc. I bought a cover and called the family to the garage and declared this a "restricted area". I did this with my most serious voice and look. I thought I made my point very well...after all, I am the head of the household.

A few weeks later when I uncovered my bike for a ride, I had a dent in the front fender and a chip out of the gas tanks paint down to the metal.

After a brief interrogation of the most obvious terrorists, I discovered that a fishing reel was dropped on the fender and a bicycle fell over into the gas tank.

It's just amazing...

 

I just grab a hammer and put the first ding in it as soon as I get it home. Then the rest are no big deal.

 

I'm my own worst enemy, No kids, Wife dosen't even go out to the shed. Always careful as can be working on it but... Sometimes I don't cover tank,fenders like I should. Tools slip/drop nuts and bolts. The worst one was I dropped the outer fairing and put three permanent scuffs in the paint, Doh!...

 

Dont sweat it. if it dosnt happen in the garage its gonna happen on the road. Its not a show piece its a rider and sh** happens. Grab some touch up paint that matches and your good. U should see my brother in laws bike. Nicks and scratches and even some rust. His fat bob was pristine a year ago. Not anymore but man the guy rides and rides and thats what its for. Have fun and ride and ride some more.

 

Day after returning home from 14 day, 6,600 mile ride, discovered a rock chip in leading edge of front fender. Size of a finger nail. I look at it as a battle scar. People notice and ask... Excuse to talk about the rides.

 

This lady I know has a 2003 1200 sporty and was in her garage working on it while her 3 yr old granddaughter watched. A few days later she goes out to the garage and every tin on the bike was hammered by the three yr old helping grandma fix her motorcycle. Honest story can't remember the cost,but she now has a beautiful lipstick red sporty.Whatya gonna do.

 

I find the majority of my paint dings happen when some inconsiderate A-Hole passes on the left at a high rate of speed, usually on a road with loose gravel. Those people with mud and snow tires or knobblies are the worst cause they hold all kinds of rocks in the deep treads.

 

I'd vomit on sight.

 

A thread like this makes me appreciate all that much more that my bike is being painted by a world class painter that will do me right in such a case. Sorry for your misfortune but makes me want to watch the movie "Kill Bill".

 

My riding buddies undisciplined brat !

First ride on new to me bike, stop by my riding buddies place and his daughter is riding close to bike, I ask her repeatedly to stay clear of the bike and she proceeds to use it like a pylon on a road course and hits my saddlebag with her pedal and takes a chunk out of the bag and a long gouge looking scar!

She crashes and starts to scream like she was gutted, brat is about 7 at this time.

I take a look at my "new" bike, discover the damage which at first appeared a lot worse but a serious buffing erased most, say some naughty words and point out damage his brat just did to my bike.

My "buddy" says nothing, I get on bike and leave and actually have never been back to his place except to swing by for a ride.

Bag was already damaged but it was the principal of the thing.


Same bag 2 yrs later never fixed and notices serious rub marks low down and a tweaked bag guard, discover it is paint from another vehicle that hit me in a parking lot !

Love those bag guards.