Not just tuff, champion tuff!

[pcombe]

I wanted to show you something that may help you consider your trike kit purchase?

ON july 15th I pulled up to a stop sign third in line behind two cars. The driver in front of me in a fit of road rage at the first driver threw her car into reverse hit the gas and side swiped me on the left side.

(you may want to enlarge the picture to see the damages)


She came around in a semi circle and nailed the fender. She would have hit me harder if I had not been trying to get out of her way?


She also hit the rear wheel, it appears to be scratched but it may just be rubber on the rim. Don't know for sure it isn't bent, but it doesn't appear to be?


I was in hopes that there wasn't any hidden damage to the axle,frame,swing arm etc. the belt was still tracking true on the pulleys.

I had worked out a deal with her ins. co. for me to remove the body and check for any underlying damage.

My buddy came over and was following me to his shop and out of nowhere a car side swiped me from behind on the opposite (right side)while I was making a right hand turn.

I got nailed hard. So hard that it slid the front end over nearly straight and rang my chimes.



Again the rear of the trike took a real nasty knock.


The point of this post?



( This champion trike body absorbed the shock of not just one, but two cars hitting it and I cant see any visible damage to the body ITS SELF, not even a crack!)

I still need to wait for the other drivers insurance company to get in the act so I can go in and see what hidden damage may be under there but I gotta hand it to champion.

THEY MAKE ONE DAMN TUFF TRIKE!

IT KEPT ME OUT OF THE HOSPITAL AND I STEPPED OFF THE BIKE UNHURT TWO TIMES AFTER TANGLING WITH A CAR AND AN SUV.


I will show you some of the rest of the damage from the second wreck, I'm afraid the forks were bent when the front end was knocked sideways and the crash bar took a hell of a hit.

[pcombe]

i can see that the body has shifted. I can fit one finger between the body and the tire on the left side, and two on the right. I dont know as yet what has caused this?





the crash bar absorbed allot of the inertia while the front end was being slung to the left.
As near as i can tell the frame neck is unharmed.





the deep scratches attest to how hard the front end was slung sideways.



the signal light was untouched but the force of the hit broke that thick plastic lens AND TOSSED IT TEN FEET IN FRONT OF THE BIKE.


looking at the front it appears the forks are bent even though the front end wasnt hit.
At this time i dont know if the raked tree is bent?

[Dirtydan]

Good grief man you have the luck! Glad you're ok. After all that I'd make sure they totaled it and I got a new trike. Just saying.

[pcombe]

Good grief man you have the luck! Glad you're ok. After all that I'd make sure they totaled it and I got a new trike. Just saying.

I just cant bring myself to total my 26yr. old classic tour glide it means too much to me.

I bought it brand new in 1989 and i built this trike myself, the engine etc. was replaced and only has 8,000 miles on it.

Bill Smith, owner of Champion has been doing all he can to provide me with individual parts availability and replacement part prices. So I have the Champion dealer on my side.

The plan is to rebuild it again. I have the know how and Zook (this forums owner) has shot me prices on a new raked triple tree at a great price should I find it was damaged.

I may have a hard time with insurance company's and I may have to endure the two of them in a cat fight but I'm doing all I can to save the bike.
The problem is the bike is obsolete and oem parts are hard to come by at times.
I have a line on a crash bar but not on forks as yet.
The front end of my bike was a whole lot harder to convert than the rear due to having so much involved in just getting to the point where I could work on the forks. I'm not looking forward to doing it again, but that's life.

for pics of the original build Google--pcombe library/photobucket

[skuuter]

Hope this ALL goes Perfect for You......and about Your "LUCK"....Just WOW...!!!!!...

[pcombe]

Hope this ALL goes Perfect for You......and about Your "LUCK"....Just WOW...!!!!!...

Wow is really key in describing my LUCK!

I cant decide if it's bad or good? seems to be a fine line between them right now? At least im walking upright and typing this post!

[FuzzyWuzHe]

I would agree ... looks like the forks are bent ... at least I wouldn't trust them as they are. The rake tree is probably bad too ... just my thoughts ... I will say I'm glad you are gonna rebuild it ... after that amount of time ... I'd be hard pressed to total it too. Insurance companies will probably try ... but fight to stop them.

[pcombe]

I would agree ... looks like the forks are bent ... at least I wouldn't trust them as they are. The rake tree is probably bad too ... just my thoughts ... I will say I'm glad you are gonna rebuild it ... after that amount of time ... I'd be hard pressed to total it too. Insurance companies will probably try ... but fight to stop them.

You know fuzzy, this bike is just like anybody else's classic car?
It's 26 yrs. old and obsolete.

Well so am I!

I have a bucket list for a very real reason, and my old Harley fits right in the center of that bucket list.
My bucket list wont ever be completed as it stands right now and with this circus the chances of it's completion is shrinking even more.
It has cost me this years must visit destination.

I have built some cars that were classic and I sold them years ago because I couldn't afford more than one passion. I chose my Harley, Or it chose me?

The people who hit me don't know it yet but if their insurance wont cover the cost of repair why should I allow them personally to take away my passion for living and just let the inevitable happen?

Would a classic car owner start a civil Suit for damage?

I have to keep asking myself what it's going to cost me to be right?
Also what it may cost others for me to be right?
I also have to ask myself if I have time to even make it right?
And if it's even worth making it right?

I don't know but what them or the insurance companies may win in the long run, but sometimes it pays to go to city hall?
Not often, but once in a while and right now the level in the pitcher of human kindness is kinda low.
I have no immediate solution or resolution for this problem and it's pretty much out of my hands in more than one way.
I may just have to accept what I cant change? But I don't necessarily have to accept with grace?

[pcombe]

AWW hell, I got a friend in salt lake city I met on TT. Never met him personally,who is way worse off than me and there have been many times I would like to give him a good chunk of the time I got left just for the pleasure of going on a long ride with him.

I will get this thing done with the same determination of when I built it. It's possible and there is more than one way to make it happen.

I have this bike insured for quite a bit more than it's book value so that's an option?
I hate the idea of letting other insurance company's off the hook to do it!

I'm not done yet!
My Harley and I will be in the wind again, Just hide and watch!

There is a new member I helped get signed up on TT today and I offered to help him convert his trike for no charge just to give myself a way to survive the winter and give me a reason along with my own scooter to get up on snowy days.

At least I will know his and mine were done right!

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Fight the good fight ...

[pcombe]

I finally had the chance to take off the trike body today There are no hidden cracks in the body.

I went after everything with straight edges, dial calipers and dial indicators. I checked everything for minute cracks, bends, straightness and level. The rear end didn't even get knocked out of alignment. The axles aren't bent, no damage to rotors, no damage to rims, they are still in balance. Had a scuff mark on the sidewall of the tires.
The only thing is the damage to the paint.


That's how tuff a champion trike kit is!

[Dirtydan]

I have to say you have strengthened my opinion on my choice to buy Champion.

[pcombe]

I have to say you have strengthened my opinion on my choice to buy Champion.

Well, I'm a believer!

[Dirtydan]

Now if only I can get a decent quote for a fair price.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Great news Paul ... paint is relatively easy in the large scheme of things .. Maybe you'll decide to paint it white and come over to my side of the street ... ... Just saying ...

[pcombe]

Now if only I can get a decent quote for a fair price.

I have a few secrets for that process. Lets just say I know a few people.

I will send you a private message if Champion is what you have decided on.

[pcombe]

Great news Paul ... paint is relatively easy in the large scheme of things .. Maybe you'll decide to paint it white and come over to my side of the street ... ... Just saying ...

I have gone too far on the dark side too return my friend

People keep telling me I should paint it neon orange.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

I have gone too far on the dark side too return my friend

People keep telling me I should paint it neon orange.

Go with God

[pcombe]

My raked triple tree is definitely bent so I would make a guess at the forks being bent also.

I'm trying to get it into someplace to get an estimate on it this week, Everybody so busy after Sturgis even here its hard to get it done.
Insurance company wont accept my evaluation.

heard a ball park figure of 3,000. for paint.
I'm less afraid of them totaling my bike but I just don't trust em ya know?

[Dirtydan]

My raked triple tree is definitely bent so I would make a guess at the forks being bent also.

I'm trying to get it into someplace to get an estimate on it this week, Everybody so busy after Sturgis even here its hard to get it done.
Insurance company wont accept my evaluation.

heard a ball park figure of 3,000. for paint.
I'm less afraid of them totaling my bike but I just don't trust em ya know?

Yeah if they total it you might not get much. Course you could buy it back. Trike trees are about 300. Tubes I can find you a set for almost nothing.