| Author | Message | ||
     Ulynut |
I smoked my rear wheel bearing on I-95 this morning. But things turned out great. Going southbound on I-95 through Fairfield county in the a.m. is freaking dangerous. I was tooling along at 65-70 mph in the center lane when I felt the wobble, and I knew right away what it was. Got pulled over to the shoulder without getting myself killed and pushed it about 100 yards (wheel locked) to the exit ramp where I would be somewhat safe. In about 15 minutes, I counted 6 Harleys go by, look at me and kept right on going. So much for "brotherhood". Then a guy in a 7 series BMW pulls up and gets out to help. In a suit. It's about 100% humidity, 80 degrees, and this guy wants to help me push a broken down 500 pound bike down an exit ramp. Before he goes to the office. Cool guy. Turns out the guy is a lawyer (Bob) and his office is right at the bottom of the ramp. He said he would let me work on the bike in his parking lot. Figuring my bike would be safer in his lot than on the exit ramp, I took him up on the offer. Its a long way to push a Uly with a locked up wheel on a hot day in full leathers, and him in a suit. Got to the lot, wrestled the wheel off and was going to walk to the train station (wheel in hand) about a mile away when Bob came out and offered a ride to the train station. As soon as I got in the car, he says "you don't remember me, do you?". Panic sets in. "No". "I ran out of gas on the parkway and you went and got me a gallon about a month ago". Whew! For a second I thought I was going to die a violent death right there in that car. He rides a GS and I did help him out before. What goes around comes around. Anyway, I got on the train (you get some funny looks sitting on a commuter train in full leathers on a hot day with a motorcycle wheel in your lap and a helmet on the seat next to you), got home, changed, jumped in the truck, and off to Danbury H.D./Buell for a wheel bearing and spacer. Got to Danbury, the guys there are unbelievable. They had the parts in stock, got me right in and took care of me right away. They were even short handed today. Couldn't ask for better service. I'm glad I bought my bike there, and they will get ALL of my business in the future. Drove back to the bike, put the wheel on, drove home, got back on the train (full leathers, helmet in hand), went in and thanked Bob, and rode home exhausted. Great day. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Great story. BTW- you might want to check out this thread in BB&D regarding rear wheel bearings on the 2010 Uly: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/481993.html?1248734426 | ||
| Hammer71 |
Glad that didnt happen on the track or the run we did a few weeks ago. | ||
| Ulynut |
You got that right! | ||
| Froggy |
+1 to Danbury, they have always helped me out in jams. I had a spill a block away from them and ended up limping there 2 minutes before closing, several service guys came out and quick fixed my front brake line that blew from a hard landing on the lever. It was good enough for me to get home safely. | ||
| Ulywife |
What goes around comes around. It sure does! Thanks for sharing. Glad you got your bike back up and going. | ||
| Danger_dave |
Nice. I ran my local YMCA for a while. I was this very big biker who looked after the nerdy kids and shook down the bullies. My own private Happy Days with midgets. Turned out one of the nerdy kids, who blossomed when given a chance, was the son of the Headmaster of the good School I wanted my kids to attend. Put out - comes back. Thanks for sharing and for being a good bloke. If you had known he was a Lawyer.... | ||
| Dfbutler |
I had a good experience the other day too. I was riding on the Harbor Freeway (110)at 5:30 pm and my low fuel light came on. I thought I could make it but the engine died while I was in the left lane. I was waving my arm while rocking the bike hoping I could get the engine to catch again to get be to the shoulder. A white pickup pulled up behind me and ran interference while I coasted to the shoulder. I was surprised to see he actually followed me to the shoulder. He rolled down the window and said I assume you're out of gas. Turns out he was of the freeway service vehicles and gave me some gas. Total time, about 5 minutes. | ||
| Damnut |
That last story reminds me of a day I had last year. Riding into work on my XB12R, I'm on the highway (495N) and I notice that something isn't right with the bike. Then I see that the gauges aren't working, SHIT!!! I knew exactly what it was, f*cking voltage regulator!! I pull over and call her to get my dad's truck and come get me. While I'm waiting a CVS highway service van pulls up behind me to see if there was anything he could help with. I tell the kid no but he sits and waits behind my bike and shields me till my girlfriend arrives with the truck. I get the bike loaded, go home, grab the Maxima and off to work I go. Driving home from work I am on the on-ramp getting onto 495S when I feel my rear end getting sloppy, SHIT!!! I knew what that was as well, F*ckin flat tire!!! I pull it off the side of the highway and start changing the tire. I'm changing the tire and look up to see the CVS service van again, no way I'm thinking. A kid walks up to see if I need any help and I start laughing. I guess he didn't recognize me without my riding gear on. I ask him if he's my gaurdian angel or something cause this is the second time in ONE DAY that he stopped to help me out. He realizes it was me on the bike and laughs himself and says "not your day to be on the road, huh" nope I guess not. lol | ||
| Spatten1 |
Great story! Good charma. | ||
| B00stzx3 |
Yup!! After our 900 mile WVA backroad ride, one of our riders was checking out my bike and noticed the rear bearing leaking a slight bit. 900 miles of blasting WVA backroads at 85mph+ and the bearings ruined. Gotta order some and take it to my buddy in Essex to have it installed. He gets freaked out working on the Buell everytime though! |
