Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Scratch on the Tank

Well, it finally happened. I got a scratch (chip) taken out of the top of my tank, right in the center. It's small, about 1mm x 3mm but it's through the paint, and down to the bare metal. Long story short. I wear (now, wore) a "I Proudly Served" pin, which was presented to me by the Special Olympics when I volunteered to let the athletes sit on my bike on behalf of the American Legion I belong to. Well, at 65mph today, while passing a truck on the slab, I heard "ping-tang-clank" and felt a sharp needle in my thigh between it and the tank. I was able to recover the pin before it made its way onto the slab but only after it did its damage.

I called Triumph and ordered the paint kit. Should be here next week. A buddy of mine is a professional custom motorcycle painter so he's going to fix the chip and re coat the entire tank, free. What a PITA for a little chip.

Hmm, for all this trouble, maybe I should just have him paint the whole bike?...

So, you "volunteer for the Special Olympics", and then, THIS happened to ya, huh?!

Well JEEZ Matt, HAVEN'T you EVER heard the ol' sayin': "No good deed goes unpunished"????????

WHAT?! Have you lived under a ROCK all your life or SOMETHIN'?????????

(...just tryin' to help ya feel better here with a little humor ...and, good on ya for your service to that fine organization!)

Thanks Dwight. I needed that.

It's funny to me. If I get a chip in the paint of my Jeep, I think: "Oh well, it adds character." If my wife gets a scratch on her car, I think: "Oh well, at least I didn't do it." If I get a scratch on my America, I think: "Crap (keeping it polite for the forum)!!! I can't believe this happened! Really? I wonder how much this is going to take to fix?" It's funny how the mind works.

The first one is the hardest. After I repainted my bike, I was like that too. Then the paint would get a rock chip or a little scratch, or a not so little scratch. I'm to the point now where I just have to ride it fast just so you can't see the blemishes. Yeah, that's why I go fast!

Sometimes the blemishes add character and tell a storey. It shows age which is not such a bad thing.

You gotta throw the whole bike away now.

By the way I know a place in Houston, its the only place in the world you can throw one away.

I agree.As you say,the first one's the hardest.When the lower fork legs on my '07 started to get chipped and a little dinged up I fussed and worried over it. Now I think,"Oh well,I'll get them polished some day."

If its in the middle area put a raised Bonneville America emblem from Fast Eddy over it. They look fabulous on the tanks.

Blemishes do add character and a story. I guess since this is the first "chip," as opposed to a scratch or other blemish, I'm taking it kinda hard.

Chad, where do I have to deliver the bike? (My fee for delivery is KBB value of the bike plus $0.51/mi.)

After I told my wife my sob story she felt really bad and wanted to take a look at the tank. Now, you have to understand my wife. She can spot a defect in a woman's nail polish from 30yds away on a cloudy day so I was certain this would stand out. Yet, to my amazement she didn't see the chip (right in the center of the tank) so I had to point it out. She laughed when she saw it and said "THAT'S IT?! Really? Come on. You're going to get the whole tank repainted for that?" Her reaction coupled with the idea that blemishes tell stories means that I'll probably just dollop on some touch up paint, put the clear coat on it (supplied in the kit) and call it a day!

Now I can tell all the folks wearing pins to be sure they secure them permanently or not ride with them at all! (Yep, I'll be that guy..."Forget riding w/wo helmets, proper technique, Etc. JUST SAY NO TO PINS!")

Nice writeup there, Matt!