First attempt at SS1000 - failed but good anyway

[bgross]

"Experience is what you get when you don't get what you planned."

Thanks for sharing your experience! I imagine that Teresa & her family are also telling stories about the nice young man who interrupted the monotony of their busy week.

Always glad to hear of an "experience" in which the only injuries were to insects!

"Plan your ride. Ride your plan. Adapt, improvise, overcome. Repeat."

 

[Shane]

Hey Don,

This is the kind of experience that lifelong memories (good ones) are made of.

Good on ya' for going for it, the journey is the reward.

All the best,

Shane

 

[nankoweap]

You meet the nicest people on a Yamaha, right? Every time I hit the road and travel, I always come into contact with a lot of good folks. They're out there. Just tough to see them and bump into them from a chair.

Glad your ride worked out the way it did. Could have been worse, for sure, and it turned out really well. Congrats.

 

[Wesseld]

Thanks for all the nice comments and advice folks. I will be making the attempt again, just not sure when though.

My wife asked me why I didn't have some kind of roadside emergency service that I could have called when I had the flat tire last weekend. Then she asked me what I would have done if the flat was in the middle of nowhere with no cell service. Good questions. Do any of you have AAA or similar that you can call for help? In my case last weekend, I was able to plug the large hole in the rear tire (with two plugs) so I could slowly ride it to the motorcycle shop, but it was nasty, lumpy, and squirmy. Unfortunately, the sidewalls on the tire were deformed because I had to ride so far on the tire with no air in it, so I needed to buy a new one since it was ruined. Essentially, a non-fixable problem.

How do you folks handle breakdown situations in remote areas?

Thanks!

Don

 

[DeweyIsgod]

Sticky strings and either a cheap air pump or C02 cartridges easily fit under the seat for a tire roadside emergency. I also have AMA roadside assistance (free with auto-renewal of $39/yr membership) if a tow is necessary.

 

[gixxerjasen]

I added it on to my insurance. But seriously, next time you change a tire, spend some time with the string kits. There's some technique to doing it and it will usually be fine soon after for simple holes.

I've plugged my share of tires in my riding time. It seems that new tires find nails faster than old tires for some reason. Found a nail in the middle of my back tire on my brand new bike as I was changing out the temp tag....that made me mad. So I've plugged several and ridden on them and the plug wears down and flattens over the hole and isn't too bad, so long as you don't leave a huge hunk hanging off of the tire.

That said, those were simple small punctures. Even without the sidewall damage, I'd have replaced yours. That looks like a puncture and a tear...not the easiest to get a long term safe fix on.

Out in the middle of nowhere? Make sure you have power bars and water and wait to flag someone down. Otherwise a spot tracker would be your ticket. You can send a message to your friends to come get you or if you need to it can essentially dial 911 for you. Service is pricey but if you are on roads less traveled, or off the road, it's well worth it.

 

[nankoweap]

Out in the middle of nowhere? Make sure you have power bars and water and wait to flag someone down. Otherwise a spot tracker would be your ticket. You can send a message to your friends to come get you or if you need to it can essentially dial 911 for you. Service is pricey but if you are on roads less traveled, or off the road, it's well worth it.

If you're really out in n BFE and in need of non-emergency help, SPOT provides roadside assistance service...

https://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=114

 

[Intech]

Hey Don,

One of the other things to do is plan it where you can meet up with some others to ride along or meet you to witness. I just did an SS1K 9/11- 9/12 on my way to CFO. Met 4 people on the way that were going to CFO. All of them fashioned their ride around mine. talk about support. Funny thing was that my 1000 was done well before La Crosse and they were all worried about how I felt. After stopping for a real meal we got the hell off the highway for the next 200 miles and had some fun!

Definitely get a compressor and some plugs. As with everything else there are differing opinions on what works best. Sticky strings are one of the top choices, but different circumstances produce different results with different products. I once plugged a trailer tire with 3 tire plug strings (not sticky strings) that had a sidewall puncture. Don't know how far that got them, but they were able to get their skid steer on the trailer (landscaping contractor that did the yard work when I built my house).

 

[Intech]

And get a Spot!

 

[SFCJCA]

Sticky strings and either a cheap air pump or C02 cartridges easily fit under the seat for a tire roadside emergency. I also have AMA roadside assistance (free with auto-renewal of $39/yr membership) if a tow is necessary.

+1

 

[bgross]

+1 for the OP's phone call home to alert the home front when his progress halted.

As to the questions about preparedness:

I have AAA with RV/Motorcycle roadside coverage. Only used it once - 5 miles from home with a dead battery - and got a tow right to my driveway!

I carry Slime compressor & two types of plugs/strings, water, food, first aid kit, etc.

I also carry a 2m/440 HT for emergencies and/or when out of cell range.

 

[painman]

I like stories with good endings. The ssk 1000 completion will come. That's icing on the cake. I read some where some manufactures allow a rear tire we use to be plugged up to twice from the inside with up to a half inch mushroom type plug for a permanent fix. This of course will not be done by any dealer or shop I know of because of all the liabilities nowadays. Don't ask me how I know this....but it can be done instead of buying another new tire.

There are some on here who have gone in together and bought the right type of tire changing and balancing equipment with good results. And then there are those who would rather just buy another tire or just leave the temporary fix in place also with good results if done right. pm.

 

[Hollywoodgt]

This story could have had a lot worse of an ending with any type of flat on a bike.Love your story and would love to read some more of the adventures some of the guys on this forum have done. Chalk it off to a learning experience and start planning for your next one. Like they say it's not the distination but the journey that counts.

Congrats on the attempt !!!

 

[HelzBelz]

Sounds to me like you're describing mormon crickets....

I was thinking they were suicidal crickets.. They sound better than the Prairie dogs here in Montana, that run out in the road to eat their dead squished friends, then stick their heads up just in time to get squished themselves.

Great story. Good luck on your next SS1000.

 

[Bugnatr]

Great story, way better memory than just riding 1K miles in 24 hours. Send them a Christmas card this year.

There are still lots of good folks out there.

Your next attempt at your Saddle Sore will go smooth now.

 

[HotRodZilla]

Well let's see...Your tire was cut less than two minutes from my house. You passed Under which was an easy exit, and ended up 7 minutes from my house...Where there are tools, a garage and a rear tire, that would have gotten you home, sitting in a box.

Next time you plan this, download the FJR Assistance list, and post something up. If you would have called, we could have had you going.

As far as those black things, they are some type of grasshopper but not sure what. Those Mormon things look about right. They showed up after our record August & September rains.

Glad you got home safe, and sorry you had issues. Hopefully next time is smoother.

 

[txvoyager]

Well done, sir. I too loved your "ABQ 12 hours later, yada..." comment. You do realize, don't you, that to most of the moto-world, you had already accomplished something Herculean at that point!

The SS1000 will come soon enough, but I can hardly imagine it having a better story! Cool...

 

[Wesseld]

Well let's see...Your tire was cut less than two minutes from my house. You passed Under which was an easy exit, and ended up 7 minutes from my house...Where there are tools, a garage and a rear tire, that would have gotten you home, sitting in a box.
Next time you plan this, download the FJR Assistance list, and post something up. If you would have called, we could have had you going.

As far as those black things, they are some type of grasshopper but not sure what. Those Mormon things look about right. They showed up after our record August & September rains.

Glad you got home safe, and sorry you had issues. Hopefully next time is smoother.

I knew I saw something on here from a person that lives in ABQ, but couldn't remember who. I will definitely get the Assistance List for this next time. I'm planning on going again on the same route on Friday of next week 10/18/2013. Here's the Google map of my route https://goo.gl/maps/DRAr6 with my planned stops, leaving Phoenix at 3:00am heading south towards Tucson. Last time, I did make a few extra stops to pee, and just rest a bit after fighting some winds.

My original estimate of around 19 hours was pretty close, if not for the flat. I was at about 12 hours when the road teeth bit my tire, then another 7.5 hours the next day to get home.

Funny you mention sending them a Christmas card. Theresa (angel) texted me the other day and asked if they could use the account of my story that I posted here as an entry on their Facebook page. I said sure. I'm hoping to be able to make a bit of time to stop by and say hello to the Southwest Cycles folks when I breeze through next week.

 

[Wesseld]

Well done, sir. I too loved your "ABQ 12 hours later, yada..." comment. You do realize, don't you, that to most of the moto-world, you had already accomplished something Herculean at that point!
The SS1000 will come soon enough, but I can hardly imagine it having a better story! Cool...

Thanks Kevin! That means a lot to me coming from a LD rider such as yourself.

 

[HotRodZilla]

Well let's see...Your tire was cut less than two minutes from my house. You passed Under which was an easy exit, and ended up 7 minutes from my house...Where there are tools, a garage and a rear tire, that would have gotten you home, sitting in a box.
Next time you plan this, download the FJR Assistance list, and post something up. If you would have called, we could have had you going.

As far as those black things, they are some type of grasshopper but not sure what. Those Mormon things look about right. They showed up after our record August & September rains.

Glad you got home safe, and sorry you had issues. Hopefully next time is smoother.

I knew I saw something on here from a person that lives in ABQ, but couldn't remember who. I will definitely get the Assistance List for this next time. I'm planning on going again on the same route on Friday of next week 10/18/2013. Here's the Google map of my route https://goo.gl/maps/DRAr6 with my planned stops, leaving Phoenix at 3:00am heading south towards Tucson. Last time, I did make a few extra stops to pee, and just rest a bit after fighting some winds.

My original estimate of around 19 hours was pretty close, if not for the flat. I was at about 12 hours when the road teeth bit my tire, then another 7.5 hours the next day to get home.

Funny you mention sending them a Christmas card. Theresa (angel) texted me the other day and asked if they could use the account of my story that I posted here as an entry on their Facebook page. I said sure. I'm hoping to be able to make a bit of time to stop by and say hello to the Southwest Cycles folks when I breeze through next week.

This time, send a PM...I'll send you my number in case you run into anything...

Also, if you leave your house on time, it will keep you out of Albuquerque rush hour traffic. Really, it's not that bad, but people here drive like crap, and LOVE to crash during the busiest times of the day, which can stop traffic forever. On Fridays, it starts a little early around 3:15 and continues until around 6...

Depending on how close you have cut your mileage, and if you are going to go by Southwest Cycles, you may want to short cut your route there. There are two ways to do that.

The most direct route from the south is to exit I25 just north of Los Lunas onto highway 317. That will take you .5 miles east and then you would turn north onto Hwy 45, which is South Coors Rd. You would follow that north past Blake, where you will run right into SWC on your left.

A little longer, but still shorter than taking Coors south from I40 would be to exit I25 at Rio Bravo. You would drive approx. 2-3 miles west on Rio Bravo until you hit Coors and then turn right, again going north. You would again pass Blake Rd. and find SWC on your left.

There is gas just north of SWC at Coors/Arenal, or you could hit I40 and stop at any of the truck stops or casino.

Those routes won't cost you more than a few miles, less than 10, but will save you a huge amount of time from backtracking and dealing with traffic lights.

FWIW, I took an old Kawasaki Vulcan 750 to them years ago. It had been salvaged and the fuel line was rotting. The rubber pieces were getting into the carb and blocking the needles, so the bowl was backing up, filling with fuel, and flooding the bike. Like you, I found them on a fluke, but for about $100, the mechanic fixed the problem, which never happened again. This was 1996, so I don't even know if it was the same people, but I appreciated that guy as he was nearly $100 cheaper than everyone else I called.