I just went to the local Wal-Mart and purchased a few things. When I walked out I noticed new damage to my beloved Silverwing. This type of thing really gets me upset!!!

Having owned a show bike and noteing some people kick, use their shoe or boot toe to point out what they like or dislike on a bike while their hands are in their pockets.

This damage looks like some sorry bastard kicked my scooter. I called Wal-Mart and they are reviewing the security tape.

What does this look like to you?

Looks very small and deep Dennis.
Unless you are absolutely sure that it happened while you were in Walmart,
my first thought would be road debris.

Dan

Hi Dan,

1 1/4" long x 1/2" an entire chunk is gone. I washed the scooter with in the week and it's only been 3 places in the last 2 days.

Regardless of what caused this, I feel for you. I'd be sick if I saw this on my SW. Even though it's in an area that seems unlikely for road debris, I would have to agree that they could be possible. Hopefully the security tape will confirm either way. If a walmart customer did this, I say we tar and feather the bastard.

Dennis,

Doesn't it make sense that if the damage had been done at Walmart, the chunk would have been lying on the ground near the scooter?

Seems like someone deliberately doing damage, would not have been interested in taking the chunk with him... that would be bizarre.

Anyway, like you've said, perhaps the video camera will show something.

Hi Dennis. Definitely the damage was caused by a forced blow to the side. Following the line of the fairing, comparing that to the footboard rubber, [vinyl?], I dont think this was a rearward motion, glancing blow, like something thrown up off the road.
How's the handlebar end on the left hand side? Could someone have sat on it, dropped it, sat 'er back up and ran? Well whatever happened......I'm glad you weren't on it when it happened. If some Hippy kicked your Silverwing........I'd be baking you a cake with a file in it right about now, or taking up a collection to bail you out of jail for assaulting a tie-dyed incense sniffer. [ No offense to legal, tax paying, tie-dyed, incense sniffing hippies.] Jeff.

Guys, This one is going down as unsolved. Wal-Mart called and said their security video does not show my scooter, it's to close to the building. GEEEE

OK...now for the repair, looks like around $61.00 plus tax. It's just going to have to wait for now.

To look at my beloved Silverwing.....Sad.

Dennis......$61.00 for the lower fairing? Painted? I would have thought more. Do you use a Honda dealer, or an OEM internet supplier, and who.? I have yet to order a Honda part from anyone other than " Dick " , behind the counter, at the local Honda shop. ? Bikebandit? Take care....Jeff.

Hi Jeff,

Honda Dealer here in Tulsa. When you purchase a body panel from Honda it comes painted to the color of you year scooter.

Could it have been hit by a runaway shopping cart? Large parking lots like those at Wal-Mart are notorious for shopping cart damage, especially if it is windy. I bought mine pre-damaged, so I don't have to worry about dings.

Rather than buying a new panel, I would use something to cover it like a rubber/ polyeurethane bumber(both sides). If someone did this damage on purpose, it would be like pointing the finger next to the index finger straight up at them.

Or apiece of epoxy

Thank you one and all for your support and idea's. I just need to fix it. I just wish the Honda parts wer'nt so darn costly.

Dennis, I feel for you. It really is a inditement of life when you leave a belonging and someone takes to damaging it and doesn't have the balls to own up. Sickening.

To me it looks like similar damage a friend had when some cage driving moron decided to move his bike and under estimated the weight and dropped it.

All the same, it sucks when things get damaged outside your control.

I don't think the bike fell over. There would be a lot of ancillary damage: the side of the left fairing, the left mirror, the outside of the final drive cover, you get the idea. I agree about the runaway (or pushed) shopping cart. Order the part, replace it, and it will be forgotten.. $hit happens to all of us. Sorry Dennis.

Dennis,

I'm sorry to hear about your scoot. I hope you are able to take care of it and I bet your heart sank when you saw it. You are so meticulous with your SWing that this is some bad news. When my SWing was about 6 months old an old lady backed up in a parking lot about 60-70 feet and knocked mine over. She was very nice but it isn't a good feeling walking out and see your SWing on the ground. It's too bad they can't find that guy.

Hi Jeff,

When I walked out of the store and saw the damaged area, I was in disbelief and then mad, then sadness set in. Now, the only thing I want to do is fix it and get this event behind me and get the scooter back in top shape again. Looks like the Tulsa Honda Dealer is going to get a vist from me soon.

Any chance the piece is inside the plastic? It really looks unlike what one would expect to see if it was hit but a foot or shopping cart, I'd expect to see the plastic cracked not a chunk out of it. Is there any way something could have impacted the piece from the inside? It really looks more like a piece was knocked out from the inside. If a small rock got under the rubber floorboard right above the edge of the plastic and someone, likely the rider put some weight on that spot it could have chipped out a piece too. It just doesn't look like a chip that could have been caused by an outside impact.

Hi,

Right now the scooter is still rideable so I will look when the new skirt comes in and I get a chance to make the panel switch-out. This hole sure looks unreal. I just hope a larger crak does not develope in that area before then and causes the skirt to break into two pieces while I'm on the road. Best this problem gets repaired ASAP.

I don't think that you will get a larger crack in the plastic...I have the same type of "hole" in my 'Wing for 2 yrs now...I think that I got mine from possibly a rock being kicked up and hitting the skirt...I have to ride about 1 mile on a dirt/gravel/unimproved road until I get to pavement...and I haven't had any problems doing so, even though the 'Wing is my first motorized cycle that I ever bought and driven.....

DaveR

Based on the location of the damage - I'd be curious to know if the heel of your foot is in that location when / if you adjust your position on the bike? It would seem to me that the plastic would not hold up well if you place a good deal of pressure on it such as would be applied when lifting your self off the seat and shifting around a bit. The resulting damage may be similar as what you show and describe.

Thank's Guys,

I think every one is correct. Either UFO or Big Foot...it just needs to be fixed and until I get my hands on some extra cash it's just going to need to wait. Sad to say is every time I look at the bike my eyes fall on this blemish.

But Dale........Think of the lovely Kim. Would you say to her words like " Great deal of pressure"....."lifting yourself off the seat"....."shifting around a bit"??? NO! She'd punch you in the kidney's, and then give you such a pinch! We upper 50 yr olds are sensitive about our figures..... but you....who are less than half our age can eat Nacho's and not switch from belts to suspenders. Oh...the pain...and it's Dennis B's 1,000th post day. An apology may not suffice.......but if you Fed ex'd him a case of O'douls, that might smooth it over. Jeff

Dennis
The skirt area where your damage is located is well known for developing hair line stress cracks.

There was similar damage to my lower skirt but I was able to reinforce the area before things got as bad as yours.

I used ABS plumbing cement, purchased at Lowe's from the plastic plumbing pipe section. It's used on the black plastic plumbing pipe, not the white PVC pipe.

On the inside of the panel I smeared a layer of the ABS Cement over the cracked area, followed by a layer of fiberglass drywall joint tape. About 15 minutes later, after it set up, I applied another layer of ABS Cement & Fiberglass tape. It all sets up relatively quickly and dries (cures?) completely in 24 hours.

I've used this technique several times with great success.

The down side is that the ABS Cement is black, though I understand it is also available in 'Clear'. Also, in many communities ABS Plumbing is no longer legal, so ABS cement can be difficult to locate. I finally located some in New Jersey, after being unable to get it in Pennsylvania, Delaware & New York.

Also, ABS Cement is basically ABS plastic 'powder' dissolved in Acetone. I've read elsewhere that nail polisher remover (acetone) can be used to fuse ABS plastic panel
cracks.

You can also get clear ABS cement / acetone as well as small sheets of ABS plastic at a well supplied Hobby Store.

Tim

My 03 was broken in the same location when I purchased it. It was hauled on a trailer from PA to VA (not by me) and could have happened then but could have been there prior to that. I replaced mine rather than go for a fix. Good luck with yours Dennis...
Dick

Well, I just ordered the replacement skirt for my SWing. Thanks Dale for the thread to Servicehonda, you saved me ten bucks.

Thanks Bill and Tim. When the part comes in I'm going to take the time to reinforce that area so breakage will not happen again.