In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
I wrecked a motorcycle
jimdeere
Member, Moderator Posts: 26,150 ******
About a year ago I bought a 1975 Honda xl250 to fix up and resell. A young fella nearby bought it. I was going to load it onto my trailer to deliver it this morning. I rode it up onto the trailer and right off the front end.
Fortunately the bike didn't land on me. I skinned my shin pretty bad but otherwise I'm OK.
I did have enough sense to put a helmet on prior to loading.
It dinged the tank and broke three turn signals off.
The fella still wants it, but I have to knock $250 off the price.
Nevertheless, mrsdeere is not happy with me.
Comments
I'm glad you are alright. At least it was just the turn signals.
Mrs Deere has every right to be VERY upset.
"Independence Now, Independence Forever."
John Adams
Bummer... but stuff happens.
Close call and all things considered very fortunate.
Glad you’re OK.
I rode it up onto the trailer and right off the front end.
🇺🇲 "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." - Thomas Jefferson 🇺🇲
Did the young fella know there were no brakes? 😁
Glad you just got scuffed up and it wasn't more serious. Bob
That really stinks Jim. Glad it was only a hurt motorcycle and some hurt pride. I'm deafly afraid of riding my bike up on the trailer. I usually have two people spot me. What is even more nerve racking is, Driving the quad up onto the bed of the pickup, on those two small ramps. I'm always afraid they will either mover or collapse. Hope you heal up soon. I wish I had parts for you, but that bike is a classic. I bet you could find the turn signals cheap on Fleebay. Oakie
Accident waiting to happen, you got off easy.
I got them out of my system years ago and I lucked out. Too many deer around these parts.
You were able to walk away from it on your own, that’s what counts. Could have been worse.
“They say that God watches out for children, drunks and fools. Simply put, this means I stand a two-thirds better chance for divine intervention in my life than most other people. ”
― Lenny Castellaneta, No One's Even Bleeding
Be careful!! Things go awry way more quickly and hurt way worse for way longer for us old guys. Glad it was not any worse.
The best accidents are the ones where it's really only your pride that succumbs to any major damage.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
The tragedy here is the tank cause it's the most visible part of the bike and the hardest to paint. I've loaded many, many motorcycles onto trailers over the last 60 years but I've never ridden one onto a trailer and this is why. Doesn't matter how many times you've done it or how good you are at it, schimitt happens and folks get hurt and .... on the right bike a tiny dent in the tank could be worth thousands.
Glad you weren't seriously hurt and still able to sell the bike.
I have always pushed them onto trailers.
"bet you could find the turn signals cheap on Fleebay. Oakie"
There is no such thing as cheap parts for classic Hondas, as a matter of fact there are almost zero OEM parts for them and the few that you can find cost as much as the bike did.
My brother had a '74 XL250 and he took the turn signals off and never put them back on. I looked in the shop and I found one. I think he gave the others to a friend who broke theirs. You can have it if it will help.
Thanks, kannoneer. That's very generous. But it actually broke the aluminum pieces where the stem attaches to the headlight bracket. ( upper right in the picture)
Sorry to hear about your accident Jim. Hope you heal up quick without any after pains from this!
Better three turn signals than three appendages....
Very happy it did not turn out worse for you !!! Just a good story now...
Hope all heals up soon for you..
I would say that is fairly cheap. 165 or best offer. I bet a 125 bucks gets it done.
It's a Honda, unless it burst into flames and burned to the ground, it ain't wrecked.
Betcha don't try that stunt again for a decade or so.
I also found your tank for under a 100 bucks on facebook market place. One in NY for 80 bucks and another for 75. There are quite a few on ebay for around 100 bucks. Facebook market place is great. I buy stuff off there regularly. I just bought three brand new metal bar stools for 50 bucks, for our one rental house. New they were like 250 a piece. Some great deals on there for anything you can imagine.
PS, I called my brother in law, because he has parts to a lot of bikes. He does that for a living. He didn't have that tank , but had several others. We looked it up and none would fit your bike. Let me know if I can help. Oak
Thanks, Oakie. The young man and his brothers are in their late teens/early twenties and very smart. I have no doubt they will have that bike fixed and roadworthy in a short time.
Their dad knows vintage bikes, also.
I hate this happened, but I am richer by meeting this family. They're good boys.
That's awesome Jim. As long as everyone is happy with the sale. I'm really glad you didn't get hurt bad. It must have been really scary when you fell.
All I could get out was "Oh, God...!"
Good call. :-)
It's good that you're ok Jim.
None of us can "bounce"........or bounce back......the way we use to.
These days.....or years.........anytime I get off of level ground, I'm on high alert......and should be.
I love the old Hondas. I had a 1971 Honda 175 Scrambler, with the high pipes, good for street or trail.
Loved the way those Honda wings looked on the gas tank.