 Dropped, bent and dimpled
Well, it finally happened. Had my first real wreck. After two years and 10,000 miles, I found myself and a passenger too hot and out of road in a series of consecutive downhill curves. I don't know the grade, but the bike slid downhill on its sidestand without applying the brakes. Probably left the road at 30 mph or so. Having been appropriately attired and pretty damn lucky, we escaped with only bruises and my shattered ego. The condition of my C50T is another story...
Managed to get both sides in one go. After a bit of a slide on the soft forest floor (that luck!), we parted ways with the bike, which promptly stood back up before catching some vegetation that finally put her to rest on the other side. All things considered, still damn lucky. A mangled engine guard, bent handle bar and bar end, broken mirror, two dimples on the gas tank, some maladjusted parts and minor scuffs. No leaks, no pressure drop in the tires, no noticeable fork or frame damage. A bit spooked, but we limped home on her.
My question is this...rather than purchase an outright replacement, can the handlebars and/or engine guard be bent back into place? And the dimples in the gas tank...nickle sized, so shallow you need to watch light reflect off of them to know that they're there. What can be done? Finally, am I in my right mind to keep riding it without putting it in the hands of a professional for a thorough check-up?
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