The Crimson Couch had spent most of her time with me on the street since I purchased her in April. I didn’t have to move cars to get her out of the garage to ride and the garage was a mess to begin with. So there she sat until about three weeks ago.

When room was finally freed up to get her in the garage, Mrs. Bald Rider moved her SUV and in she went. Left behind where she once sat was a small oil stain in the road. First thing I did was check the badges. Yep, I had a Honda, not a Harley. Oil leaks are not generally a feature included on Hondas as far as I am aware. I remembered that I had recently changed the oil for the first time with her in my possession. I must have pinched the DCT filter cover o-ring when replacing it as is known to happen.

Now you’d think I would have seen damage to the underbelly of the beast when I looked it over prior to purchasing or when changing the oil for the first time. I didn’t. I’m going to blame the road debris caked on the metal that obscured the damage from view. This time I looked a little closer and something did a number on that filter cover.

Now I don’t know what the previous owner did to cause this damage. Nothing else under the bike appears to be scarred like that filter cover. The lip is the lowest-hanging part under the bike. Either he had an altercation with road debris or high-centered on a speed bump, curb or other protruding surface. I know this wasn’t the cause of the leak but a new one is around $40 and buying a fresh one means I can damage it for the first time myself.

I replaced the cover and bolts ($2ea…what?) after installing a new o-ring on it and the leak is gone. The old cover is in the trash and Scarlett is sleeping in the garage…for now.

Disclaimer: I purchased the OEM cover plate and screws through Revzilla. I have no association with Revzilla and am not sponsored in any way by anyone.