It’s been about a month and a half since I picked up my delicious Honda PCX 125. The dealer was great, the price right and I’ve been really happy with my little scoot. I followed the break-in procedure, and while I was not getting the 140mpg I’d hoped for I was still enjoying the ease of filtering and manoeuvring that the tiny bike brought. I’ve almost worn down the chicken strips on the rear tyre, tested the top speed (~70mph indicated) and crammed a silly amount of stuff under the seat. I’ve even ridden extensively with a passenger and am thoroughly impressed with both the front suspension and the brakes (although hitting bumps at speed could do your backside an injury.)

I’d just booked the first 600-mile service (which Blade Honda, Reading were not only doing a same day job on, but were picking the bike up and dropping it off, from my office, same day, for free!) when Winter decided to ruin my week and slid it down the road just outside my house at around 25 mph. Right into an oncoming 4×4.

Now the good news is that the PCX crashes really well. The integrated indicators and rounded chassis meant that it rolled, rather than dropped, and the damage as it slid was relatively minor. The 4×4 had come to a complete stop by the time I hit the front bumper with the underside of the PCX, crushing the right fairing and undertray with a sickening crunch. The first word out of my mouth was a four-letter one I shall not print here.

I was OK, the 4×4 was fine, and I was able to pick myself and the PCX up and ride to work with no mechanical issues. Nothing was bent (although I believe the centre stand might be slightly closer to the engine than it was…) but I knew even as I rode in that I was going to need a full set of fairing on an almost brand-new bike. I was gutted.

The prices above come courtesy of Mark from David Silver, who specialise in OEM Honda parts. They’re about two thirds cheaper in the USA, but shipping and import would be silly, and while I did find a supplier offering them locally, I had my doubts that they were original Honda parts and not imitation Chinese.

Once I’d stopped raging and dusted off the black plastic shavings, it turned out that the damage caused by the slide wasn’t so bad – and duct tape is holding the right together. Blade were very sympathetic and quoted me for replacing the two shattered right panels, but the time-consuming job would’ve cost me more than £220 just to sort two pieces out, so I had to decline.

After Christmas I’ll start ordering the pieces I need, as I’ll be damned if I’m going to ride a brand-new scooter with busted fairing around forever. It’s a vehicle that really trades on its stunning, futuristic sci-fi looks, and duct-tape really doesn’t fit there. But I may be able to cheat on some of the black metal bits – it’s amazing what Hammerite will do.

Now the only question remaining is – when are R&G going to offer bits for my little Honda? I’m waiting…