When we founded this blog, I remarked to crashbox that I hardly fit the profile of the shadetree mechanic who took pride in his recycled machine, which was of necessity seriously dented and scraped and composed of new and used parts.

My primary transport in those days was an (almost) pristine 2007 Suzuki V-Strom motorcycle.  It was scraped in several minor places by a wind-driven tip-over in a parking lot, the radiator and fairings being shifted to one side by 3/4" by the fall.  I chose to let it bear the scars rather than repaint and replace. Other than that, it was perfect.  I kept it perfect.  And felt like a hypocrite.

Well, fast forward a few months and the V-Strom sits in the darkened caverns of CalCoast Motorsports, bits of it bent and broken, awaiting a professional's touch.  

It had been backed into in the parking lot where I work, and tipped over AGAIN.  This time, though, it was more than a few scrapes.

Broken turn signal;

seriously bent handlebar;

seriously bent end weight;

bent passenger footpeg;

scraped but intact crash bar.

Would have been far worse without the Givi crashbars which saved the tender $500 radiator from harm.

But now, I think the ol'Strom, young in years as it may be, can rightfully take its place amongst the rest of the bent and chipped machinery we're pushing here....