Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Hit worst pothole EVER!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 27, 2009 | 10:59 PM
  #1  
andrewj's Avatar
andrewj
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From: naples fl & niagara falls
Default Hit worst pothole EVER!

Ok..so riding along this evening. my '09 Ultra, beautiful evening, going 30 mph, slow cruise, and in unlite developped area, without warning the worst deepest ugliest pothole ever...hit it right on..couldnt avoid it, car on the left, felt like the bike was going to be swallowed up, sounded like the frame went right into the pavement, large noise..lots of cursing by me..I mean we have all hit ruts, railroad tracks, small potholes and bad road..but this was CRAZY! Someone should sue the city...no lights, no markings...!

I thought I had damaged the bike, that's how bad this mother pothole was...
I drove home...checked around, seemed ok, tires still good, no visible fender damage, frame, as far as I can tell is ok...will have to look more in the daytime tomorrow...and the muffler piece under the bike seemed intact...the only thing I felt was a slight more vibration from the bike..while riding...but that could just be my imagination from this jaw breaking experience..

So, was wondering, if anyone else had this experience...could there be other damage or problems that are not readily visible..anything I should be looking out for.?? Hopefully..not!??
thanks
andrew
 
Reply
Old Jun 27, 2009 | 11:16 PM
  #2  
realmccoy's Avatar
realmccoy
Tourer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
From: coatesville pa.
Default monster pot hole

the only thing i would keep an i on is your fork seals.
friend of mine hit one a few weeks back.
then noticed a little oil seaping around top of sliders.
about a week later
 
Reply
Old Jun 27, 2009 | 11:17 PM
  #3  
riteway's Avatar
riteway
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 13,023
Likes: 989
From: Just Outside Chicago
Default

Man VERY sorry to hear that Pot hole $hit!!!!! We have them so big in Chicago they will swallow a VW... I got caught in a pot hole groove between lane change doing 40-45 but pulled out of it....Thought i was goin down!!!! Just dont get it..City has a 1-800 line to report them and also a program to fix you damage to your car if you hit a reported p-hole but what are they gonna do to our bikes and bodies if we dump!!!! WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Reply
Old Jun 28, 2009 | 12:02 AM
  #4  
1931jamesw's Avatar
1931jamesw
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 6,682
Likes: 12
Default

Ive seen the top side of front fenders get caved in from smashing into the passing lamp bar.
 
Reply
Old Jun 28, 2009 | 02:17 AM
  #5  
hpfatboy's Avatar
hpfatboy
Banned
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 11,436
Likes: 13
Default

Gotta love those big pot-holes that take your spinal cord from approx. 2 1/2 ft.long down to 2 ft. in a split second!
 
Reply
Old Jun 28, 2009 | 02:17 AM
  #6  
6 gun's Avatar
6 gun
Seasoned HDF Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 9,384
Likes: 1,776
From: Central Texas
Default

I hit a pot hole one time back ih 04 so hard
that it broke the lower tripel tree on a dyna wide glide
 
Reply
Old Jun 28, 2009 | 03:03 AM
  #7  
leohd's Avatar
leohd
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,716
Likes: 13
Default

Originally Posted by riteway
Man VERY sorry to hear that Pot hole $hit!!!!! We have them so big in Chicago they will swallow a VW... I got caught in a pot hole groove between lane change doing 40-45 but pulled out of it....Thought i was goin down!!!! Just dont get it..City has a 1-800 line to report them and also a program to fix you damage to your car if you hit a reported p-hole but what are they gonna do to our bikes and bodies if we dump!!!! WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IN chicago they won't do nuthen, friend hit a pothole about 3 weeks ago and got 39 stitches in his head, can't fight KING Richard Daley
 
Reply
Old Jun 28, 2009 | 05:56 AM
  #8  
Jrsess's Avatar
Jrsess
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,907
Likes: 69
From: Wesley Chapel Fl.
Default

Call the Dot and give them the location so they can get it repaired. Get the name of who you talked to.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 28, 2009 | 06:01 AM
  #9  
Ram's Avatar
Ram
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,893
Likes: 2
From: USA
Default

Roads here in Tidewater VA are so full of pot holes its just not safe to ride a motor cycle on most.

Going home from work two weeks ago, up over the Hi-rise bridge in the on I-64W, driving my convertible hit this pot hole it bottomed out on to the frame.

I called V-DOT and complained and told them to fix it now, it would be a fatality if a motorcyclist hit that in the dark at any speed.

Had to spend yesterday morning getting that car a complete new 4 wheel alignment it was pulling to the left so bad. The last one was in Feb 09.

Additionally they have had the over head signs up on 664-E going into the Monitor Merimac tunnel stating "Motorcycles Use Left Lane Only" in tunnel.

And they have the nerve to FORCE more taxes on you in this state.

Drive safe.
 
Reply
Old Jun 28, 2009 | 06:09 AM
  #10  
dgriffith's Avatar
dgriffith
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,440
Likes: 0
From: Columbus,Indiana/ Arecibo,Puerto Rico
Default

That is the fact of life here in Puerto Rico. I feel lucky if I don't hit at least a dozen a day here. I've hit a couple so hard that the CD player skipped and the bike suspension bottomed out on both ends. Now I'm starting to understand why people drive 45 on the toll road when the speed limit is 65. It's not safe. If Harley needs a test rider, I know where they can send their next bike and I'll help them out. Maybe it will give mine a rest.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:17 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE