Can't decide whether to post this here or on my own thread. Here goes: This would have been my 4th trip to Galeana. I got a 95 BMW R1100gs about 6 weeks ago and have done a lot to it, but rode it every day to work without issues, to learn to trust it. I was going to ride all the way to Galeana so if it were going to break it would break in Texas instead of Mexico. But my buddy Dale and I decided to drive from DFW to the border (glad I did). We got unloaded in Mission, got our papers, and met everyone at dinner. A couple of them had been on prior trips and one or two I already knew, like Shadman, Mark (Subcomm), Vinny, Dale, and a couple of others, and a couple looked familiar like I saw them in Big Bend. Anyway, we headed off for Galeana, and everything was going very well. I knew the bike was a big one, and I planned to do Class I's and maybe lead some VStroms on some easy rides that I've done before, at my usual not-blistering pace. Everything was going fine, and I did not have any problems at all on the more difficult part of the Reyones-Galeana road. About 8 miles from Galeana, all of a sudden, the Blackbird dies as if struck by
Thor's hammer. Started a couple of times, then died again. We attempted a tow, but the big girl didn't like it. So, about this time, around the corner comes an old Mexican in an old truck. I more or less blocked his way, and hollered "Ayudame!!" and he nodded. He patiently removed his welder and a bunch of stuff from his old 70's truck and then Nick and a couple of others helped hoist my big bird into the old truck. The old dude, Gerrrrarrrrrra, took off to Galeana, and drank a coke and smoked a Camel type cig all the way. Of course, when we ground on into town he pops me with the back of his hand and says "Donde?" I say "El Centro". We unload the bird and she starts right up (of course). I rode to the square and parked her and came back and asked Gerrrrarrrrra "Quantos?" He says "No, no, no necesaria" I forced $20 on him for Cervesas and Cigarettes and he reluctantly took it. I have seen this happen several times with rural Mexicans, all help and no cost.