How did you scratch your bike?

[dantama]

For those with new bikes and perfect paint, lets start a thread of what happened to our paint, so they know what to watch out for.

Of course that would mean admitting to some daft thinking at times, but tell us what happened to your bike to get those scratches ;)


I've had a few Nomads, so I'll combine them all.

One time, I pulled into my garage and did the whole muscle memory, don't even have to think habits. I put the side stand down and leaned the bike over all in one motion. Only this time, the stand wasn't fully down and the bike slid off the stand and laid over with a saddle bag up against my rototiller. Got a good bag scratch on that.

I was parked in slot in a row of parking spaces, big 4x4 came later and left sooner. Didn't see my bike and cut the wheel too soon, big ass 44 inch tire knocked my bike onto its side. At least the guy stuck around and gave me his insurance info.

Had a bag strapped to the passenger seat on a camping trip, didn't notice it starting to droop and it rubbed the paint on the top of the saddle bag. Just dulled it up in a very small spot, but I've watched out for that ever since.

Misc off road adventures has caught me up against some brush that has put some light scratches a time or two.

Perhaps one of the easiest to avoid was when I scratched my windshield (dulled it more than scratched it) by slipping a card with directions behind my windshield bag so that I could see them on the fly. I only had to go a few miles, but the vibrations dulled the finish up. A great idea, that didn't work.

How did your bikes get scratched and dinged?

[dogdoc]

Luckily I have not scratched mine yet in the 4 yrs. :-)

[Cajunrider]

Dropped a small socket onto the back fender while bolting my trunk down onto the bracket. Only a small chip between the brake light and saddlebag but it still ruined my day. I'm now a firm believer in a big towel between my clumsy fingers and my paint.

[chapi0351]

I sometimes don't lift my big old heavy leg high enough and slide the toe of my boot over the top of the saddle bag. Got a few of thoses that could be corrected if I would spend the money to purchse the top chrome.

[blowndodge]

I have several (3) small chips on my front fender (Green/Silver best color combo) from crap tossed up from cars in front of me.

After I put my risers on I hadn't tightened up the handlebar clamps yet and for some insane reason decided to push my Nomad to a different spot! I lifted it up from the side stand and the handlebars flew upward and hit my windshield from the cap on the clutch reservoir putting a small 1/8 inch gouge on the extreme left side of my shield http://s2.images.proboards.com/angry.gif:(" title=">:(" border="0"/>

[Todd]

Dropped the freekin' socket!!!!! I had that memory repressed until now!!!!! You therapist kill me!!!!! Now I need a drink!!!

[rewindgy]

Nomad: I should just have smashed the damn bike when I got it new! Socket flipped up in air - 2 chips in paint on tank - rock chips ( many) on front fender & lowers - right side got sandblasted in Mini tornado ( rocks / debris / small children blowing all over place - they claim 125 MPH winds) ole lady drug boot heel on tank & right saddlebag.
Drifter: rock chips everywhere ( front forks are painted / powdercoated black) - tank chipped, guy spins gravel when leaving parking lot

[refugio]

Only chips in the front from road debri (small rocks...ect.)

[phenrichs]

My biggest scratches are from my wife's boots scraping across the seat and top of the bag on the opposite side.

[cactusjack]

I have a scratch across my chrome nacelle where my torque wrench slipped and swung across it when I was installing risers. I have been looking for an emblem or something I can mount on there to cover the scratch.

[garydup]

I have a chip on the front fender from a rock, and a chip on the corner of the right saddle bag , compliments of the shop door.

[blowndodge]

At least once you've done the dirty deed you seem to be not as anal over it anymore. The first ding you scream, swear, kick the dog and swear some more. Then when the next one hits you have more of a "oh WTF" attitude.

Dropped a socket eh Toddster? Wanna talk some more about it!? http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[dandolfn]

I routinely hit the right bag with my foot when I put my leg over the bike. So far, only scuffs, but it's still a pain to have to buff them out.

[mrcid]

I commute just about every day with the Nomad. Put about a 2 1/2 inch scratch in the top of my right saddlebag with a hanger while putting my rolled up garment bag inside, and talking with someone admiring the bike at the same time.

Had made the maneuver many, many times before, but got caught in the "why, thank you" moment, and didn't pay full attention to what I was doing.

Felt it as it happened, and thought I was about to puke with disgust afterwards......

[jamiep24]

You couldn't find any scratches on my bike, even though I've only had her for 12 weeks and 4,400 miles, unless you got down on your knees and looked under the crash bars (I haven't looked, but I'm sure they're there) from dropping her 4 times. I do fine as long as I'm on the road, I'm most dangerous just sitting still in my gravel driveway. Jamie

[ringadingh]

I had a screwdriver slip and scratch the tank and two stone chips in the fairing. There are a couple other small marks, but I bought those with the bike.

[dantama]

This is how I'm going to scratch my right mirror.

I have to pull in front of my car to park. Remember that going in it's not leaned over like it is on the side stand. As you can see, I turn the mirror up, otherwise it would drag on the wall the whole way in. Then I have to miss the electrical box with the windshield and mirror.

One of these days it's going to get me :)

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/dantama/motorycle%20posts/IMG_4624.jpg

[Jared]

There is a chip on the tip of the rear fender from the previous owner. Looks like he must have backed the bike into something. When I can afford it, I'll put a fender tip on to cover it up.

There are a few nicks here and there from the road.

[papat]

Installing the saddle bag rails put a nice scratch on top of one bags.

[samkjr]

Only two real scratches for me.
1. Someone scraped/scuffed me in a bass pro parking lot last summer. Very abrasive scratch is more of a big scuff in a 1 in X 2 in oval. clear down to the plastic

2. happened just last week. I was backing my bike out of the shed and a gust of wind blew the door shutt on me as I was coming out. About a 1.5 in scratch on the other saddle bag door.

If they both would have happend on the same door, I would pay to repaint it. I got a quote at from local body shop at 120 with my own paint.

[cnc]

[quote author=dantama board=general thread=11318 post=184617 time=1243358645]For those with new bikes and perfect paint, lets start a thread of what happened to our paint, so they know what to watch out for.

This thread is 2 months and a couple of thousand kilometers too late!
Rubbed the saddlebag door up against the corner of my snowmobile trailer turning the bike around after backing out of my garage. Mileage at the time 72 kilometers and in my possession about 48 hours.
The foot long scratch did not go all the way through the clear coat and buffed out. I am now very aware of how wide the nomad is in the rear compared to my old bike.

CNC :-/

[jamiep24]

Thanks for the advice, Dan, I'll have to try that one. Jamie

[pagemastr]

First ding on mine two days ago standing beside the bike, set the helmet on my seat and in the time it took to reach for my gloves the helmet rolled down onto the back crash bar hitting squarely with a snap on the helmet putting a small dent in the bar and two tiny scratches in the chrome.

I was surprised that was all it took to put a dent in a crash bar and scratch the chrome but it had to have hit just the one way it could have to do that. Just glad it's barely noticeable and it didn't roll onto the bag!

[ridemslow]

Well, I got 2 small chips in the front fender from gravel being thrown up on me. The top of my right bag has been thru hell with my wife's club feet making several good scratches. http://s2.images.proboards.com/angry.gif:(" title=">:(" border="0"/> I put on top rails to prevent this, didn't help any. Those are gonna come off soon as I can get money to have the holes in the bags plugged and have them and the front fender touched up. As for my saddle bag handle, I got tagged in wal-mart's parking lot and have a deep gouge on the right side handle. If I am unable to find someone to re-chrome it, or another one cheap, I will have them both sanded down and painted the same dark green as the tank, and tops of the bags. ::)

[ells]

One dropped socket, it must be going around

And the time a Harley parked so close to me on the right side that I couldn't quite straighten up the Nomad enough to leave (other owner no where in sight and I chose not to touch his bike.) In maneuvering it away I got a scuff in my right-side bag door that mostly buffed out but if I look close enough the evidence is still there. Probably should have moved the other bike but was not comfortable with that at the time, it was a weekend day in major metropolitan area.

[lonewolf]

misc. rock chips on front fender, chip on tank from tools when i installed my fairing. worse one and dumbest one i had was on my 06 nomad. was camping and went to get water with a plastic water jug. set the jug on the ground when i was filling it, then proceeded to put it on my tank, and kinda hold it between my legs. ya, forgot about the gravel on the bottom of the jug. ouch!!!!

[glwilson]

This is how I'm going to scratch my right mirror.

I have to pull in front of my car to park. Remember that going in it's not leaned over like it is on the side stand. As you can see, I turn the mirror up, otherwise it would drag on the wall the whole way in. Then I have to miss the electrical box with the windshield and mirror.

One of these days it's going to get me :)

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/dantama/motorycle%20posts/IMG_4624.jpg

Strictly from an non-professional, observational stance... I would think a scratch is more likely to occur on that bike from climbing bridge support struts... or climbing to the edge of a cliff... or possibly some other death-defying feat -- more so than your electrical utility box. ;) :)

[jamiep24]

Yeah, Dan, how the Hell did you get that bike off that bridge?

[glwilson]

My bike doesn't have one single scratch on it...

OK... that's not true.

Dropped the bike in gravel... several bag scratches. Lugguage scratches on the chrome luggage rack; and paint on the bag from a strap whipping in the wind.

Moral of the story... If you are riding it... no one can see the scratches anyway. I certainly don't think about them when I am riding... so, keep riding and the scratches disappear.

My hope is that someday my Nomad, grouped among many bikes, will intrigue the largest crowd with its stories revealed only in the imagination of the beholder from its age and scars. (Maybe some of you will know what I mean.)

[skeeter]

How? It happened so fast it took quite some time to sort out all the possibilities.

We were giving rides to some kids and along the route was a muddy ditch across the pavement. Rather than take the dip I skirted the edge off the pavement.
Same routine 4 or 5 times about 20mph. Next thing ya know we low-side then high-side.
Scratched the engine guards which are expendable and save paint, scratched the edge of the windshield, the edge of the right mirror, edge of the brake reservoir, tweaked the right handlebar and gouged the right saddlebag handle.

20mph? The only reasonable explanation I can come up with is;

As I sashayed right around the ditch, I applied throttle too soon while in a less than upright position and still on the wet verge or shoulder. Rear of bike went right as my butt stayed left and as I hung on I probably gave it more gas.

Oh... the teenager on the back landed on his feet as we went over. He thought it was fun. I scraped my hands and severely wounded my pride.

Lessons?
Opt for the more straightforward approach when dealing with slippery stuff
Straight up is good, leaning is not so good.
Sudden moves aren't good on the brakes or throttle.
Smooth and balanced better.
Sometimes slower is better.
Don't let your guard down.

Since pride is pretty well shot, I only replaced the bars and sanded out part of the handle. Left some of the less conspicuous marks alone even though I am quite capable of fixing or replacing. Nothing wrong with a few scars. They remind me of where I've been.

[jmorrow]

I got a scuff on the back of my right saddle bag. while in Hot springs, Ar. a couple year ago I was stopped at a signal light (left turn) and a couple teenage kids came up behind me on a couple of scooters.
They were behind me horse-playing, hitting the kill switch on each other's scooter, I was sitting there thinking hurry up light when one of them let his hand slip of the clutch and smack, right into my saddle bag he went. http://s2.images.proboards.com/angry.gif:(" title=">:(" border="0"/> Needless to say we had a talk and they both apologized forever. When the light changed for some reason they decided to go straight instead of turn left. :)
I have a few other dings and scratches that i haven't any idea how they got there.

I had bought a couple motorcycle windshield wipers for my and my wife's Nomad about a month ago. We store them in the left saddle bag where we have a shelf for smaller items. I got my wife's wiper out and had it on her windshield trying it out while in the shop. I was sitting on her Nomad and was dismounting. I threw my right leg over the back and came down right on her open left saddle bag door. ??? :-[ My weight broke the straps holding the door up and slammed the door against the concrete floor. My first thought was (OH hell you dumb-ass you broke her door off) but it didn't. It put a nice scuff above the handle about and inch wide. Needless to say I polished, buffed, and touched up the spot and repaired the two straps. I was hoping she wouldn't notice, but that weekend we were going for a ride and that was the first thing she noticed. Soooooo, I told her what I had done and told her It could have been worse if I had of broke her door off like I first thought. All she said was, your Nomad sure would look ugly with a busted door..... ::) :(

[Kawhead]

I dinged mine the first day I got it! Me and a friend while unloading it let her get away and made a helluva noise, but only dinged the starboard saddle bag in a few places. There's a rubbed place under the sissy bar where I had my tool roll.

[ruruson1]

just a few rock chips on the front fender and a scuff I cant buff out behind the seat. Not sure where it came from or when but it puzzles and ticks me off every time I wash the bike and every time I try to buff it out with polishing compound and wax. I'll getthe paint wore off some time.

[dantama]

My hope is that someday my Nomad, grouped among many bikes, will intrigue the largest crowd with its stories revealed only in the imagination of the beholder from its age and scars. (Maybe some of you will know what I mean.)



I've looked at some 60 year old Indians etc. and wondered where it had been in its life. Unrestored and looking it's age, scratches, dings, and faded paint. They for sure tell a story to me, I would like to know the details of the story.

I buy my bikes to ride and enjoy, not fret and worry over. Sure there are some scratches I wish weren't' there, but I'd rather have the enjoyment I've been having more than a pristine bike.

If I ding it in the garage, I didn't get the value in fun that I needed out of that one. But if I'm in a remote, not very accessible place and get a scratch...That one was worth it. That is part of the fun of owning a bike, seeing where you can go, and what you can see. And sometimes you get a scratch.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/dantama/IMG_1143.jpg

[davidjones1]

I have two nice digs in the door on the right side from the first and only time my bike was on a trailer I released the strip on left to fast and it almost jump off the trailer I have not fixed them yet and don't know if I will. just goes to show you they don't like to be trailered. :-*
ride safe.

[ballast]

The infamous Montana Ditch.
Putting the tank bag on and off.

[peterdarby]

In the four weeks I have had the bike I don't think I have scratched it yet. But give me time. I've heard it said that you should drive your bike home from the dealer. Pull intothe driveway and get off and let it fall over. Then you don't have to worry about when it is going to happen.
I once went to pop my BMW up onto the center stand and it fell away from me right onto a Marines HD. He was so pleased that I left him a note telling what I did. Where to find me and that I owed him a new fender that he forgot to be mad.

[egetaseb]

Pulled into the garage next to the snow thrower. I opened the saddlebag and allowed the door to drop down on its own. Apparently, between the time I pulled into the garage and when I unlocked the saddle bag, the snow thrower had moved itself closer to my bike and introduced itself to the left door as it swung open. I am ashamed to admit how much every single scratch bothers me.

[flatlander]

I was cleaning my new 2009 with 802 miles on it before leaving on a long trip over Memorial Day weekend. Was using a brand new new can of Honda Cleaner. I laid the can on the rear seat and before I knew it, it slid off and chipped the rear fender just above that really cool Transformer looking taillight. Chipped clear to the metal about 1/4" long. Said a few things that shouldn't be repeated in mixed company! Probably wouldn't have caused so much damage if I'd used the last of one of the other half dozen cans that only have a few squirts left!