Mechanic failure hundreds of miles from home

[texasnh]

I'm just wondering what the scenario is like if my bike breaks down due to a serious mechanic problem while I'm riding thru a small town in the middle of nowhere. What is that like? How much is the cost to tow a bike hundreds of miles to home? Did that ruin the day of your riding buddies also? etc.

[Ajax]

Good question, I've often wondered that myself. It might be cheaper & less hassle to just rent a UHaul truck for a one way trip home. If there's a UHaul place in town of course.

[TwoLane]

Never forget, in the larger community of riders in all these websites, there may be other options. It's not unheard of to see someone come to another's rescue.

[CaroleAnn]

I didn't have a mechanical failure although I had a very bald tire. I hit weather I wasn't willing to ride through any longer. I had already done days of cold and some rain. I rented a Uhaul in Platt NE to haul the bike home to Austin. It cost a small fortune but I didn't feel I had a choice. I could have waited a day for Ike to finish and find a new tire and ride home. It would have been cheaper but I needed to get home.

[Windsor]

AAA is a pretty good option to get you to the nearest un-small town, also.

[Abby]

My buddies and I went to Big Bend a month ago. Two days into a four day ride a clutch cable breaks in Marfa at 5:00 pm , we were told about a shop in Alpine. Took off and the shop was closed. Several of the locals stoped to see if they could help out. Come to find out three doors down was another shop. The owner fabricated one that would hold us over. We all had a good laugh and went on our way.
If you cant find help , bite the bullet and call for help. Thats the cost of playing.

[gixxerjasen]

Last big trip I did, I told the wife to make sure the keys were handy for the truck and left her with maps just in case...

[texasnh]

Originally Posted by Ajax

Good question, I've often wondered that myself. It might be cheaper & less hassle to just rent a UHaul truck for a one way trip home. If there's a UHaul place in town of course.

That is brilliant. I forgot the fact that motorcycles are not like cars. The former doesn't have to be towed by professional. Just throw it into the back of a Rent-a-Wreck pickup or Uhaul, and off we go on our merry way.

[kurt]

Rental truck is the way to go.

[Goat Trail Green]

My friend was coming from Tuscon to Dallas via the southern part of Texas

http://www.twtex.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29450


Mike Green

[dfwscotty]

Towing or hauling is always a 100% solution but sometimes costly. Sometimes it's easy to get it set up or sometimes it can be a pain. The good thing about sites like these is the sense of community. If you can get to a computer or call home and ask the spouse or friend to post up in here(or whatever your fav. forum may be) and ask if anyone knows of anyone in the area. I have read tales of riders reaching out to help those in mechanical need.

[John Bennett]

Like Kurt said, my plan has always been to rent the smallest truck possible and haul the thing home.

Motorcycle adventuring can be an expensive hobby.

A cheaper option is set your bike on fire, push if off a cliff, report it stolen, and take a Greyhound bus home. Not that I would actually do that, but with my low deductible, it would be cheaper.

[bmcdonau]

Originally Posted by Abby

My buddies and I went to Big Bend a month ago. Two days into a four day ride a clutch cable breaks in Marfa at 5:00 pm , we were told about a shop in Alpine. Took off and the shop was closed. Several of the locals stoped to see if they could help out. Come to find out three doors down was another shop. The owner fabricated one that would hold us over. We all had a good laugh and went on our way.
If you cant find help , bite the bullet and call for help. Thats the cost of playing.

We had a flat tire (harley, tube) at the McDonald Observatory at about 7 pm and the cops there locked the bike up for us. Then we doubled up to Alpine and told the manager of the highland inn what had happened. He got on the phone and after several phone calls, an old guy came out with a trailer the next morning and picked up the bike and brought it to a closed shop in Alpine. The guy who ran it was a mechanic with the border patrol and he took off from work and put a new tube in the tire. All very mayberry like. I've broken down a couple of times and usually there are lots of people willing to help.

[flb_78]

NEVER break down in Fort Sumner, NM. 8 mile tow job cost me 90 bux. I lost the belt on my Roadstar. Had them tow it into "town". Called a buddy in Amarillo to pick up my Suburban and a trailer to come get me. Had a 8 hour wait so rented a motel room for the low low cost of 90 bux.

[Greasemonkey]

Little off subject but I always wave to the people I pass and be nice[arrrggg]
when dealing with people.

Had a few times that we pulled in to use a battery charger or welder.
Homes and small shops,usually free and good conversation to boot.

Just part of the adventure.

[Kidder]

This really only affects big BMW GS'. They always carry a spare final drive with them.

Oops, sorry, I thought this was advrider.com.

[Jack Giesecke]

Ryder, U Haul. I don't know, ask Scott. Do you ride a BMW, perhaps?

I've thought it over, being as I ride an antique a lot. I'd just rent a truck and drive home. I'd have to have help to get that heavy POJ in a truck, though. I have been in some rather remote places out west with it, though, where there were no towns, trucks, etc, even cell service.

I blew a head gasket on it a year or better ago. I'd been in a pickle if I'd have been in BF Aridzona, but fortunately, I was on the outskirts of town and just rode it home as it was and ordered the part when I got the head off and verified the problem. It was down about a week and a half.

I dropped 1/4 on my old Suzuki in Arkansas once. Was the cheap aftermarket Taiwan built ignition point's i'd installed before the trip, lost a contact, just fell out. I'm limping along on 2/3 with wife in the sidecar and ride right up on a Suzuki shop outside Little Rock. Points were about 12 bucks, replaced BOTH with OEM Suzuki parts, rough timed just by sound of the engine, made it home to my timing light. It was almost spot on. Dang, I'm good.

Worst, though, was blowing an oil seal in the middle of the night on the way to my friend's place in College Station, out on FM362 almost to Hemstead. Called my friend. He brought a trailer and took me on home. I can't remember how I got to a phone. Were no cells then, was about 1980. I think I recall hitching a ride into Hemstead and calling from a pay phone at a restaurant there.

[texasnh]

Originally Posted by Jack Giesecke

Do you ride a BMW, perhaps?

If I have one of those, I would not go out of town unless there is a support vehicle with a trailer and a mechanic. haha.

Originally Posted by Jack Giesecke

Were no cells then, was about 1980. I think I recall hitching a ride into Hemstead and calling from a pay phone at a restaurant there.

I guess back then, it was much safer to hitch hike. What is the world coming too.

[FJRMike]

Originally Posted by texasnh

If I have one of those, I would not go out of town unless there is a support vehicle with a trailer and a mechanic. haha.


I guess back then, it was much safer to hitch hike. What is the world coming too.

Oh, so you have owned a H-D before, right?

[Hairsmith]

When I travel I keep a copy of my BMWOA Anonymous book in a water proof bag inside my tank bag.
And yes I ride a totally unreliable brand of motorcycle that pukes its final drive every third time It leaves the driveway. If you believe that, it is also for sale and I ride it very gently and I am always polishing it.
I have never had to use the anonymous book but have talked to and herd tales or riders who have. Most were stories of grand adventures and almost always of new friends that were made.
Almost 30 years ago I was on a trip to Road America and the roller bearing on a rocker arm let go. leaving one valve closed and bearing and race species floating around in the valve cover.
U-hall was not an option, and there was races to be watched any way. So in a motel parking lot repairs were made using some grease and tin foil. Another 30 miles to the race track, and I hit the pits. Found some racers that were willing to juggle there race bikes around and make room for me and the bike. They got me with in 100 miles from home, and I limped it in the rest of the way after 2AM at 1,500 RPM in top gear.

It only a trip until the problems begin, then it becomes an Adventure !