Spring of 1986, working as a wrench/sales guy in a shop I order a Fuji Series V touring machine. Before it arrived I took 2 weeks to run my motorbike out to CA and back, visiting family and friends along the way. I told the gang "DO NOT TOUCH MY BIKE WHEN IT COMES IN."
I get back and there is my bike, all built up and hanging on the wall. Was not thrilled, but hey I can let it go. Then I saw the scratch in the head tube ( I am looking at it as I type this). What happened?
The bike fell off the rack it was perched on and the head tube got scratched. What made it so bad is that the bike was never ridden, just built and put on display. Jim offered to order a replacement, but I turned him down accepting that the scratch is part of the history of the bike, and I know exactly how it got there. The bike now sits on display in my office with all the scratches and dents from the years of use it experienced. Each defect has a story, and I know them all. Kinda neat in a way.