....now - about that turn signal....
Yeah, ok.
Late May as the temps started to really climb, parking at work got harder and harder to find a spot that wouldn't put the bike in the sun all day. Pulling in one day, I see a spot that I know will be shaded after 2 or so. By 5, I'd be able to sit on my seat without roasting my nuts. Tempting it was, and I took it.
Well, this tempting slice of pavement just happened to be right next to a big motorized automatic gate. I'm sure y'all know the end of this story. But, dammit, that gate had been inoperable for six months and even when it worked, it didn't close until 5:30!
At 3:30 I get a call from my colleague (rides an 82 Honda) with the news my bike is laying on its side. Turns out that was the day they decided to work on the gates. Well, shit.
The damage. Stella landed on her right side, immediately I saw the indicators were busted. A small scratch on the tank's already crappy paint. Switched her on, checked lamps. The indicator housings and lenses were done for, but they still worked. With my LEDs, they were even the correct color sans lens.
Hit the starter and she fires right up. Hopped on to move her over out of the driveway and when I pulled the clutch to kick her into gear, tap tap tap tap tap...uh, oh.
When she landed, the brake pedal was pushed into the right hand engine cover putting in an ever so shallow dent. When the clutch was disengaged, the pressure plate screws would hit the cover. Tap tap tap tap tap... not much clearance in there.
I babied her home ok. Massaged the indicators more or less into place and started looking at the motors I picked up last year. It's not exactly pretty, but one of those motors donated a right cover.
A bit of cleanup on the outside, a more careful cleanup of the inside. A thorough clean and basic tune up of the oil pump. A new kickstart seal. And she was back on the road within the week, more thoroughly in the category of Daily Driver condition.
One bent right headlight ear, two busted indicators, and a dented right engine cover.
My friends wondered why I wasn't more heart broken. If my bike is going to take on damage, what am I going to do? Cry about it?
Bike was damaged, I was not. All's good. Tomorrow, I ride. She's been sitting on the patio long enough.