Got bumped in traffic
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 531
Likes: 1
From: Quebec, Canada
Got bumped in traffic
So yesterday we're sitting in bumper to bumper traffic and this teen girl decides to make it really bumper to bumper. I suddenly feel the bike lurch forward a bit, as if I just let go of the clutch while forgetting to put it in neutral (yeah, that still happens to me sometimes...). Takes a second to realise I'm still holding the clutch in so I turn around and see the car right behind me and ask my girlfriend "did she just bump us". Poor girl in the car is motioning us to pull over so I guess so.
I check out the rear of the bike, and except for a turn signal out of alignement, I see nothing. I quickly just turn it back into place, the bolt had loosened. There's no cosmetic damage on it. The relocation kit bracket seems slightly bent on that one too (hard to tell). She seems to have hit more tire than anything else (thank god for the Bob's short fender).
Poor girl was shaking wildly and nervous, and for once, I don't call her every name in the book like I usually do in these situations. I tried to calm her down a bit, took her name and phone number down and told I'd call her if we need to write it up since there was no apparent damage and everyone is alright (I've had worse impacts from potholes than this).
Riding the bike home, everything seemed perfectly fine, bike doesn't pull, doesn't vibrate more than it used to at speeds, no wobbling. I'm wondering what kind of damage a slight tire bump like this could do ? Misaligned wheel ? Bent wheel ?
I'm taking her in for the 5000 miles tomorrow anyhow and I've had a bearing noise from the rear wheel for a few weeks now, should I even ask them to check anything or would taking off the wheel for the bearing put everything in straight if it wasn't already ?
I check out the rear of the bike, and except for a turn signal out of alignement, I see nothing. I quickly just turn it back into place, the bolt had loosened. There's no cosmetic damage on it. The relocation kit bracket seems slightly bent on that one too (hard to tell). She seems to have hit more tire than anything else (thank god for the Bob's short fender).
Poor girl was shaking wildly and nervous, and for once, I don't call her every name in the book like I usually do in these situations. I tried to calm her down a bit, took her name and phone number down and told I'd call her if we need to write it up since there was no apparent damage and everyone is alright (I've had worse impacts from potholes than this).
Riding the bike home, everything seemed perfectly fine, bike doesn't pull, doesn't vibrate more than it used to at speeds, no wobbling. I'm wondering what kind of damage a slight tire bump like this could do ? Misaligned wheel ? Bent wheel ?
I'm taking her in for the 5000 miles tomorrow anyhow and I've had a bearing noise from the rear wheel for a few weeks now, should I even ask them to check anything or would taking off the wheel for the bearing put everything in straight if it wasn't already ?
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,260
Likes: 5
From: Batesville Ga
I'd guess that any hit to the tire hard enough to bend a wheel or swingarm would have tossed you and the gf right off. But since you're taking it in anyways, I'd mention it to the service writer and have them tell the tech to give it an extra "look over".
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
From: NC
its always a teen girl isnt it? nearly got speared by one the other day in downtown raleigh. she was going wrong way on a one way street.
anyway, if you tell them what happened that can know what to check for. loose bolts, buts etc. sounds like its fine though. you are lucky.
anyway, if you tell them what happened that can know what to check for. loose bolts, buts etc. sounds like its fine though. you are lucky.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 302
Likes: 8
From: Huddersfield. U.K.
I would think the wheel and frame/swingarm would be fine. Just think of the forces that are exerted on the wheel when you hit a bump at high speed. Certainly if the wheel had been buckled, you would feel vibrations at speed.
Harleys are look as though they are built to last, but if it was me I would take it to the dealer for a look over.
Harleys are look as though they are built to last, but if it was me I would take it to the dealer for a look over.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 718
Likes: 1
From: Downtown Chicago
Glad you're ok. Sounds like only a hard bump that the tire took the most impact energy. I probably wouldn't have been so kind....well, unless she was 18 and cute. But I'm a married man so, talking is the limit.
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 531
Likes: 1
From: Quebec, Canada
Like I said, at first, it didn't even feel like I was bumped, she must have not completely had her foot off the brake. This was on a take-off, we were completely stopped right before and traffic was backed all the way to the previous light. She was just stopped too close behind, classic mistake for a young driver.
Anyway, I'll know for sure tomorrow, I'll ask the dealer to give it the once over while checking my rear bearing and some rust spots I've noticed on the frame.
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Advanced
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
The same thing happened to me the other day but in reverse.
Pulled up to a red light. The guy in front of me pulled to far out and decided to slowly back up.
Into my front tire. When he asked me why I didn't just back up also.
I told him I forgot to install the magic reverse button on this bike.
Urrrrggggg.
Pulled up to a red light. The guy in front of me pulled to far out and decided to slowly back up.
Into my front tire. When he asked me why I didn't just back up also.
I told him I forgot to install the magic reverse button on this bike.
Urrrrggggg.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Auburn, Alabama
I wouldn't worry about it, me and my riding buddies here mess with each other all the time by bumping each other at the red light when one stops. We will ease and nudge them fairly good. I would ask but would bet $ it's fine, remember it's a harley. Built like a rock.