Not a ride report 3/4/12

[Gary]

Not ride report 3/4/12
For only the second time, in hundreds of thousands of miles ridden, one my bikes broke down and stranded me on the side of the road. The day started on a positive note, after Saturdays violent weather, with crisp and clear conditions. I rode my F650GS twin to Morganton to meet with the Knobbies who have a few MSTA members in their ranks inclubing Brick. Breakfast was great with talk of the up coming bike week in Daytona and who has traded bikes and what farkles were being added to who's bike. Brick was riding his Tenere, Phil Hazel had his V Strom so the F650GS was a good choice for the ride. After deciding that Pilot Mountain State Park was the days destination, and drafting a leader, we left Timberwoods Restaurant with 40° temp and clear skys. It was just a perfect ride and then I had that "is the bike missing" moment which escalated quickly to a "this machine has died and is coasting off the road" experience. After several attempts the bike restarted, running poorly as if firing on 1 cylinder and then it cleared up and ran perfect. OK, let's go and in less than a mile the bike cuts off again, only this time it fails to restart. My brother Keith volunteers to return home and return with a trailer to haul me home, I thank everyone and encourage them to continue with the ride. My bike is now setting on a trailer in my driveway a will have to wait until Wednesday or later for a warrenty visit to the dealership. When I have a diagnosis I will post an update.
My other break down was in the late 80s while returning from the West coast on a HD Electroglide, the transmission engaged several gears at once when the nut holding the drive sprocket came off letting the shaft move laterally. This happened in Louiseville, KY and it was a lot more trouble getting home. Over the years I have had a lot problems on the road but these were the only times that I had to trailer the bikes home.

Gary

[TN2Wheeler]

Yeah, that really sucks. Unfortunately the days of fixing modern bikes on the side of the road is gone. I still have a couple of oldies that can usually be resurrected without computer diagnosis but, like modern cars, nearly everything built in the last few years requires high-tech equipment to diagnose and repair. Your beemer's problem is likely something simple but good luck finding it without the dealer's help.

Modern bikes are generally very reliable but simplicity is actually one of the things I like about older machines. It is why I choose to ride a dual sport bike (DR350) that has a gravity-fed carburetor rather than computerized engine management. A breakdown in the woods is not the same as one on the asphalt and if you can't ride it out of some of the places I go, the only way to get it out is to push it or tow it with another bike or ATV.

[HawkGTRider]

It could have been much worse. If you had an R1**0 GS, it might have been a final drive failure after the expiration of the warranty.

[Gary]

Hi Hawk, I dodged a bullet on that one, after returning from AK on an 06 GSA I thought there was excessive noise coming from the rear of the bike. They assured me it was normal and not to worry. The bike was nearing 40K miles and I traded for a new Adv. (I trade my bikes as they near 40K) A couple weeks later while the dealer was demo'ing the 06 the final drive failed. I like BMWs; however, I didn't drink the koolaid. They are not the most reliable bikes on the road - I know that I am getting in trouble here - I find that my Harleys are more trouble free. I did not say better, only more trouble free. My first trip to AK in 90 was on an Electroglide and I visited the Article Circle. I made three trips on Harleys and three on GSAs. The GS is a lot more fun once you are in AK, roads that I survived on the Harleys are fun on the big dual sport. I also went once on an Interstate Valkryie and had a true case of sticker shock when I had to have tires air shipped to Whitehorse, YT. I think all major brands are good but the Japanese still set the standard for dependability, reliability, and value.
Gary

[Brick]

Gary,
Sorry about your bike crapping out on you Sunday! I thought you had just pulled over to hook up your heated jacket or something. I didn't find out that you were left beside the road until we made the first stop.

You missed a very cold ride... it was supposed to warm up some but never did. Also as you know when wearing a heated jacket liner you don't really have that much warm gear on. So when we got to Pilot Mtn State Park and went to the picnic area to burn the hot dogs the wind was still kicking up and well most of us including me were cold. The restroom was warm and then back on the bike the Gerbing jacket liner and heated gloves sure felt good. Then as we got close to Lenior is started to snow flurry! And as I got closer to Morganton and home it was snowing harder. The snow was not sticking up non the less it was still COLD!!

Glad your bike is in warranty. And it does look good sitting on the trailer!
;-/

[leonardlloyd]

Interesting approach to securing your bike to the trailer. I gather you do not have difficulty with the bike tending to lean over with the tether straps low as you have them?

[Gary]

Hi Brick & Leonard
It was cold waiting roadside for 2 hours, a burnt hotdog would have warmed my hands. Glad you got home without frost bite. Some of our friends did not feel that way about the trailer photo.
I think the camera angle makes the front straps look flater than they are.
Gary

[stevegrab]

Being stranded sucks, after almost 15 years without a problem, it happened twice this past year. The mechanical problem (Honda VFR charging issues, which I thought dealer had resolved once) were not terrible but couldn't be overcome by road side repairs. In both cases I was lucky to not be alone and have good friends willing to come pick me and the bike up.

[Brick]

Gary,
You didn't have to wait on the side of the road you could have ridden on the back of your brothers bike to get the trailer. :D IF you got your bike somewhere it would be safe...



Hi Brick & Leonard
It was cold waiting roadside for 2 hours, a burnt hotdog would have warmed my hands. Glad you got home without frost bite. Some of our friends did not feel that way about the trailer photo.
I think the camera angle makes the front straps look flater than they are.
Gary

[Gary]

I did not have a spare wheel to hold while setting on the back so that everyone world know that I had a break down!

[Brick]

So you were more concerned with how it would look... two guys on one bike! :D
Sorry Gary... just picking on you today.

Last September I took a friend Chris to Asheville to pick up his new Tiger 800CX and he rode on the back of my FJR. He is a big guy all muscles and probably the most weight I've ever carried on the back of any bike. He had never ridden on the back of any bike before and said it was very interesting. I didn't want to drive him there in my truck then we couldn't ride back together. Getting a new bike is cool.
Brick



I did not have a spare wheel to hold while setting on the back so that everyone world know that I had a break down!

[nail24]

Gary, Bubba here. Sold my F650GS Thumper to a Canada lady. It had the Ohlins and Race Tech forks. Had to make room in the garage. I'm lovin' my R1200GS with the DOHC engine. Picked it up in Austin,TX and rode it back. The ESA is really nice for asphalt. I've got to get it ready for a long trip.

[Gary]

Hi Bubba, Welcome to the MSTA forum. Thought about you Sunday before last, on the Knobbies Sunday ride we ate at the Hare and Hound in Landrum. You will enjoy the GS. C U soon. Dee Jones and I are riding to Ohlins in Hendersonville in the morning. Gary

[Gary]

I trailered the F650GS to Eurosport Ashville this morning and they worked it into their schedule without an appointment. WATER IS NOT A GOOD FUEL! Several people bought gas at the same location with no problem. Maybe they only topped off and I was almost completely out of gas and took a tank full???? Any way the bike now runs good as new.
Gary

[Brick]

Whoa!! Darn, I'm glad I didn't get gas there!
Glad it wasn't more than that.



I trailered the F650GS to Eurosport Ashville this morning and they worked it into their schedule without an appointment. WATER IS NOT A GOOD FUEL! Several people bought gas at the same location with no problem. Maybe they only topped off and I was almost completely out of gas and took a tank full???? Any way the bike now runs good as new.
Gary

[stevegrab]

I trailered the F650GS to Eurosport Ashville this morning and they worked it into their schedule without an appointment. WATER IS NOT A GOOD FUEL! Several people bought gas at the same location with no problem. Maybe they only topped off and I was almost completely out of gas and took a tank full???? Any way the bike now runs good as new.
Gary

So the gas was watered down? How much?

Not that it will help with your problem but have you alerted the gas station to this issue? Or contacted your local authorities (weights and measures maybe?) to have them look into it?