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Did something stupid - then luck saved the day (maybe my life)
I bought a donor 79 xs11 to harvest for parts for my 78. Took the front fender off of the 79 because it was nearly perfect and put it on the 78. Had not ridden the bike since putting on the new fender. I was working in my garage last night and had to move the 78 - with the new fender - and as I was moving it I heard a squeeling noise coming from the front. I only moved the bike about 6 feet and did not pay much attention to it. Only when I got off the bike and took a look did I see the damage. The bracket that sits behind the fender that holds the brake line had bent and had cut a groove into the tire - all the way around. With only one turn of the wheel it had already cut about a 1/16 of an inch or more groove right into the sidewall.
Now it got me thinking that suppose I would have not moved the bike and just taken off the next morning for work. I hit a divided four lane in about 5 minutes where I am running about 65 mph. It would have been a matter of time before that bracket would have punctured the sidewall. I shudder to think about a front wheel blowout at 65.
So, stupidity for not looking at the bracket and luck for moving the bike. My consolation is that I wanted to replace the tires anyway so now I am just a little more motivated. Lesson - check your work.
I bought a donor 79 xs11 to harvest for parts for my 78. Took the front fender off of the 79 because it was nearly perfect and put it on the 78. Had not ridden the bike since putting on the new fender. I was working in my garage last night and had to move the 78 - with the new fender - and as I was moving it I heard a squeeling noise coming from the front. I only moved the bike about 6 feet and did not pay much attention to it. Only when I got off the bike and took a look did I see the damage. The bracket that sits behind the fender that holds the brake line had bent and had cut a groove into the tire - all the way around. With only one turn of the wheel it had already cut about a 1/16 of an inch or more groove right into the sidewall.
Now it got me thinking that suppose I would have not moved the bike and just taken off the next morning for work. I hit a divided four lane in about 5 minutes where I am running about 65 mph. It would have been a matter of time before that bracket would have punctured the sidewall. I shudder to think about a front wheel blowout at 65.
So, stupidity for not looking at the bracket and luck for moving the bike. My consolation is that I wanted to replace the tires anyway so now I am just a little more motivated. Lesson - check your work.
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