Author Topic: Touring with a brick and service/repair shops on the way  (Read 6153 times)

Offline pinhead

  • ^ Proficient Motobricker
  • Posts: 123
Touring with a brick and service/repair shops on the way
« on: July 09, 2016, 03:16:45 PM »
I am thinking about going on a long tour from Sacramento, CA up to Washington and maybe Canada.  I was wondering if anyone has ever composed service and repair shops for people who tour if they get into mechanical trouble.  I like touring long distance but the question of what I would do if I ever broke down nags me.  It would be nice to have a list of shops that work on these bikes in case I had trouble and no tools to do repairs.  Anyone know of anything like that?
  • sacramento, ca
  • 1985 RT 100

Offline The Dude

  • ^ SuperNatural Motobricker
  • Posts: 509
Re: Touring with a brick and service/repair shops on the way
« Reply #1 on: July 09, 2016, 04:12:38 PM »
I like touring long distance but the question of what I would do if I ever broke down nags me. 
Since I have never broken down in a quarter of a million kms,my concerns focus on not crashing.This is the most likely failure mode after you've done your due dilligence.Get breakdown insurance with a transport home policy,maybe?Take puncture repair system and a  way of securing the bike whilst you go off for "help".Wing the rest as part of the adventure.Nagging like yours takes the freedom away.Enjoy the ride. :riding:
  • Auckland, New Zealand
  • K75s
Current.
TR6R 1973 from new.
Moto guzzi 850 III .1983 from,almost, new.
K75S 1986 from new.vin-0103141
On my second millionth km.give or take a hundred k Kay's.
"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there."
All the best!

Offline Laitch

  • Faster than a speeding pullet
  • Administrator
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 10120
Re: Touring with a brick and service/repair shops on the way
« Reply #2 on: July 09, 2016, 05:15:56 PM »
Anyone know of anything like that?
The Dude's breakdown insurance policy suggestion is a good one, pinhead. Also, this benefit of BMW MOA may interest you. Maybe someone here has an anecdote to offer about that benefit.
  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles
I wept because I had no radials until I met a man who had no splines.
https://tinyurl.com/RillRider

Offline Martin

  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 4437
Re: Touring with a brick and service/repair shops on the way
« Reply #3 on: July 09, 2016, 05:38:52 PM »
Emergency essentials beside breakdown insurance and a tyre kit and some spares, a credit/debit  card & cash hidden on the bike. A good mate with a trailer who will recover you. And the best one is a friendly polite attitude . I've had a farm couple keep a mates bike in a shed for a week while he chased parts. Another mate had an over night stay with a farmer, help repair his car with parts supplied from a wreck the farmer had. And was told to come back and help himself to the whole wreck. This is just a couple of incidents of many. By the same token be prepared to help others, what goes around comes around. :clap:
Regards Martin.
  • North Lakes Queensland Australia
  • 1992 K75s Hybrid, Lefaux, Vespa V twin.

Offline The Dude

  • ^ SuperNatural Motobricker
  • Posts: 509
Re: Touring with a brick and service/repair shops on the way
« Reply #4 on: July 09, 2016, 06:27:53 PM »
By the same token be prepared to help others, what goes around comes around.
Regards Martin.
For sure.The adventure can really take off with this approach.Just be alert.
  • Auckland, New Zealand
  • K75s
Current.
TR6R 1973 from new.
Moto guzzi 850 III .1983 from,almost, new.
K75S 1986 from new.vin-0103141
On my second millionth km.give or take a hundred k Kay's.
"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there."
All the best!

Offline Martin

  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 4437
Re: Touring with a brick and service/repair shops on the way
« Reply #5 on: July 09, 2016, 06:29:57 PM »
Be a lert the world needs lerts.
  • North Lakes Queensland Australia
  • 1992 K75s Hybrid, Lefaux, Vespa V twin.

Offline Quiltzig

  • ^ Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 99
  • K Guy
Re: Touring with a brick and service/repair shops on the way
« Reply #6 on: July 14, 2016, 09:31:38 PM »
Emergency essentials beside breakdown insurance and a tyre kit and some spares, a credit/debit  card & cash hidden on the bike. A good mate with a trailer who will recover you. And the best one is a friendly polite attitude . I've had a farm couple keep a mates bike in a shed for a week while he chased parts. Another mate had an over night stay with a farmer, help repair his car with parts supplied from a wreck the farmer had. And was told to come back and help himself to the whole wreck. This is just a couple of incidents of many. By the same token be prepared to help others, what goes around comes around. :clap:
Regards Martin.

Good advice from our mate across the ditch !!

we have found people to generally be extremely helpful. One tour that we did last year a couple loaned us their car to go get groceries in town because the weather was so bad and we were on a bike (and we are not fair weather bikers - we have all the wet weather gear) - there are just a lot of great people out there!
  • Hamilton - New Zealand
  • K75S
1987 K75S - cafe racer project
2016 R9T (wifes ride)
2004 K1200RS

Offline beemrdon

  • ^ Proficient Motobricker
  • Posts: 469
Re: Touring with a brick and service/repair shops on the way
« Reply #7 on: July 14, 2016, 10:38:58 PM »
I pulled this off of a Riders Warehouse ad because of the K LT.  :2thumbup:

Get the idea?

  • The South West... best motorcycling in the US! Longest riding season = 12 months per year
  • 1996 K1100 LT SE, Aspen Silver - Now with 159,xxx miles.

Offline stokester

  • ^ SuperNatural Motobricker
  • Posts: 802
Re: Touring with a brick and service/repair shops on the way
« Reply #8 on: July 15, 2016, 09:11:21 PM »
I am thinking about going on a long tour from Sacramento, CA up to Washington and maybe Canada.  I was wondering if anyone has ever composed service and repair shops for people who tour if they get into mechanical trouble.  I like touring long distance but the question of what I would do if I ever broke down nags me.  It would be nice to have a list of shops that work on these bikes in case I had trouble and no tools to do repairs.  Anyone know of anything like that?
I've taken a couple of summer trips on my K-75S without incident...  well, except for one.  The clutch cable broke on me not but 10 miles from the house after a 4500 mile trip.  I had one with me and was back on the road in less than an hour.  I carry along with the factory tool kit; a jump pack, spare clutch cable, light bulb kit, tire plugger with inflator, tie-down straps, numbers for AMA towing and my MOA Anonymous Book along with the Airhead directory.

I've found that knowing how my brick works and keeping it well-maintained has given me many thousands of mile of trouble-free travel.
  • Yorktown Virginia
  • '94 K75S Dakar Yellow - '93 K75S Seiden Blau - '91 R100RT Bermuda Blue- '78 R100S Smoke Red

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