If you have read the stories on the webboards about Goldwings being damaged from flying debris ..........

Damaged oil filter

On the first day of our West Virginia ride, I found out that the problem of the underbelly of the Goldwing being exposed was true.  The new Goldwing has less than 1000 miles on it, and I go and hit a big rock that flips up and smashes the oil filter .  The real irony of this is that I ordered a belly pan the previous Monday and it had not arrived by Friday morning when we departed toward West Virginia.

I struck a rock that had fallen down from a cut bank. My front tire stuck and flipped the rock which struck the underside of the Goldwing. The rock shattered and felt like someone struck the bike with a baseball bat. I immediately saw the blue smoke and knew I had to stop the engine and get off of the road fast.

After the curve there was a business parking lot which I rode into and I hit the kill switch coasting to a stop. The result of the rock damage is shown above.  I thought of the belly pan I ordered the previous Monday night, but I had not arrived by Friday morning when we departed Manassas.

The rock also put three deep grooves in the grey plastic housing that holds the fog lights. A passing motorist stopped and offered a pair of gloves and an awl that I used to remove the filter. There was very little oil remaining in the bike. I rode the another riders bike back to the NAPA store in Marlinton WV and obtained another oil filter and 4 qts of oil.

Back at the bike, I installed the new filter and started the bike. Thanks to Bob and Mary Sue for trusting me with their Goldwing after I dinged mine. Thanks also to the unknown passing motorist for his help. We proceeded to the motel and checked in. The rest of the three day ride through the West Virginia mountains was uneventful after this rough start.

The belly pan was waiting for me when I returned home. I installed it the following evening.