bummer

[Barney]

well, it finally happened.  my ride got tipped over, both ways. 

one of my late dad's best friends just got his license and asked to borrow it for a couple of days, and I obviously couldn't say no. I've literally known the guy since the day I was born and he'd do anything for me.  he's bailed my dad out more times than I can count. 

all in all, it's not too bad.  banged up bar end mirror that he already replaced, nicked up my rizoma grips, bent the shifter and brake levers, and put a dime sized scuff on my black werks exhaust.  dont know if he noticed the exhaust, I didn't even until a few days later - he def. didn't see the levers...

I dont have the heart to ask him to repair such minor things knowing how much it'd cost to make it all right...I can live with the little scratch on the grip and bend the levers back, but that roughed up exhaust gets to me more than is rational.

what is it about these stupid machines that make them mean so much?  i've owned and loved many cars, and been bummed when they get dinged up, but this thing is different. 

[Skybarney]

Sorry to hear about your bike.  Tough spot to be in.  I do not envy you one bit.  Also you are likely a much nicer guy than myself.....

[ungeheuer]

I feel and understand your pain.

You did a good thing.  Your Dad's friend is a significant person and you gave him your pride and joy to use... knowing that he'd do the same - or more - for you.

Sorry that your bike came back with some minor but annoying damage.  You know you coulda avoided the damage if you'd said no to the guy in the first place.

But that was never gonna happen, because of who he is and what he means and because you understand the importance...

of people.

Good on you mate, good on you.  .

[BoDiddley]

Dues for life, livin and family paid in full.  Good call.......

[muskrat]

You're certainly nicer than I would be.  I was taught that if you borrow something it's your responsibility so I never borrow anything I can't afford to fix.

[ungeheuer]

I was taught that if you borrow something it's your responsibility so I never borrow anything I can't afford to fix.

+1

My previous comment notwithstanding.

[Steve.In.Atlanta]

I was taught that if you borrow something it's your responsibility so I never borrow anything I can't afford to fix.

That's why I don't ride my friend's Vincent when I'm offered. The hell with that.

[spolic]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24Vlt-lpVOY&feature=player_embedded

I could give you my thoughts about what the guy did or should have done but opinions are like trash cans, everyone has one an they all stink.

What it is about these machines is an interesting question though.  I'm going to go with the amount of freedom that you get from your bike. You're free from the cage that beloved car has. You're also free to flick the bike from corner to corner instead of fighting the forces that push your body into the bolsters of your car seat when you round a bend. You become much more involved with the machine and making it preform than you be with a car.  

[Barney]

Ung, you hit the nail on the head, and put the thing into words better than I was able to.  I appreciate that, and it's put this in a better perspective for me.

It would be different if there was something seriously wrong, but I think I'd feel worse taking money to get the thing patched up. I think half of the problem is that I'm bummed that I'm so bummed, if that makes any sense... I had no idea I liked the thing so much

Spolic, I'm buying everything you're selling about the joy of riding it, but I wouldn't have guessed a little scratch on it would've gotten to me so much.  Part of what I like about riding it is that i literally don't see any part of it if I don't want to. It feels like flying
over the road

Also, don't want anyone to get the wrong idea, all I'd have to do would be say the word and everything on the bike would be better than new, I knew that when I delivered it.  I just can't justify doing so.  And lastly, I may or may not have talked him into getting his license in the first place  

[seevtsaab]

In many ways a beat up Monster works for me. As my 620 approaches 50K miles it is covered in ugly.

Lots of scratches, nicks, dings, gouges, chipped paint to go along with my ghetto seat cowl mounted top box.

It has the heart of a champion though and runs like a dream, rain or shine, and I'm past worrying about a minor mis-hap.
It means a lot to me but it's also just a finely arranged bucket of bolts.

It's good for you in this instance to learn to move on, a valuable lesson for your kids.

[Howie]

Sorry to hear.  Seems the predicament might be as bad as the damage.  Maybe a compromise is in order, at least in your mind.  Collect what you think is fair.  Even $0 is fair, if that is what you think.  Repair what you want, add your own dollars as needed.  Your Dad's friend does not need to know the true cost.

[beethoven]

Sorry to hear Barney
I had a similar issue when my long time mate came to Perth from Sydney for a visit. He introduced me to bikes in 1970 by giving me the keys to his 250 cc Suzuki Hustler to get home one night. No licence and no riding experience.  I was shit scared but managed to both get home in one piece and caught the motorbike bug. Needless to say when he arrived in Perth I lent him my Monster and I rode the Trumpy. Well he dropped the Monster. Similar damage to yours but bars and a tank dent.
He went home promising to pay when I fixed it. After new bars, gear lever and mirrors and a new tank repair and paint job I decided it was just as much my bloody fault for lending and I had this lifelong debt to him for getting me into bikes. So I told him nothing owed by him and no big deal and not a lot of money for me. He didnt believe me and a week later a carton of my favourite Margaret River Cab Sav arrived in the mail.

Barney as Ung said mates are mates and debts balance out over time.

You did right and should feel good. I still have a small scratch on one exhaust but I dont even see it now.
  Al

[Barney]

Got myself a paint pen and was able to clean it up to the point where you need to look for it to see it, so it doesn't jump out at me so much anymore and in anything less than direct sunlight you can't even see it from more than 3 feet away.  Took her out for a rip over the weekend and forgot all about it.   

Life goes on.

[duc_fan]

You made the right call, not getting bent outta shape and demanding anything from him.

People are more important than things.

I understand your feelings on the bike, too.  I do engineering for a living... everything has to be quantifiable.  But in that, I have learned some things cannot be quantified.  The warmth of a real wood stove.  The sound of vinyl records.  The "personality" of an old Volkswagen.  The feelings we develop towards our Ducatis.

While it can make me irrational at times, I have stopped trying to overanalyze, and learned to just revel in the feelings such things bring.  It's an experience, and it's part of life, and it makes life interesting.

But yeah... good on you for putting people first. 

[Barney]

Much appreciated, guys. My little pitty party thread did the trick, glad to see I'm not the only one who'll choose to take the high road