Thursday, November 28, 2013

5 best ways to enjoy your motorcycle breakdown

Lets face it, we want to ride, not sit by the side of the road, but sometimes Murphy's Law will alter your plans no matter what. Suddenly your motorcycle doesn't make vroom vroom noises anymore or makes new funny ones or perhaps something just broke because an animal wanted to take a high-speed look at your ride. The number of things that can go wrong are as endless as the things that can go right on a motorcycle trip. Before you max out your credit card to drag your ride home always remember the old phrase, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Breakdowns don't have to end your trip
The best way to not have a breakdown ruin your entire trek is to prepare for as much as you can before hand. That said we all know things don't always go as planned. Suddenly you are by the side of the road. I've found the more prepared you are to deal with problems determines if this little side stop might not just turn out to be fun. Here are a few ways to ensure the event is not a disaster and may just become a great story to tell your pals.



1- Take care of yourself first.
You can't solve a problem if you're hungry or thirsty
Unless your bike is in immediate danger the FIRST thing you need to do is relax. If you bike is safely off the road take a break. It seems odd but you'd be amazed how a bad situation can escalate if you rush into fixing it.
Always have a bit of food and water with you. Beef jerky, granola bars and trail mix keep for long periods without refrigeration and can be enough to stave off the hunger angers.
Ask any long distance rider about breakdowns and many times they'll tell you it happens just before your planned meal stop. A bit of food and water will boost your energy and improve your mood while you ponder the situation. Trying to deal with a breakdown while hungry and thirsty rarely ends well. You'll be upset, maybe a bit shakey and not thinking clearly. Take a break, the problem isn't going anywhere. Sometimes help arrives while you are having your snack and you may just have a cool photo opp to share when you get home.

2- Know your bike and don't be afraid to wrench on it.

 












We live in an information world. No matter what you ride their are online forums and groups that are dedicated to your brand and at times even dedicated to your specific model. Before heading out, take time to search those forums and groups. Looks for threads on problems others have incurred. Should you develop the same gremlins on the road some knowledge gleaned from the forums may help you narrow your trouble shooting areas. Even better you may discover a potential problem  and take care of it at home before it halts your trip. Simple things like wires that are frayed due to rubbing and vibration can be very easy to fix while still at home, instead of roadside after they've shorted out.
You don't have to be a red-seal mechanic but a bit of basic understanding of the gizmos, doodads and thing-a-ma-jigs, what they do and how they are attached, will come in handy. Check with local shops. Some put on workshops that cover basic maintanance. If they don't suggest it. In my city of Calgary Universal Cycle has such workshops and even has one just for the ladies.
Get a service manual that can help you learn how to do some of the work yourself and save you money. Just know your limits before you decide to attempt something like a top end rebuild for the first time. However, if you need to know the proper way to access things on your bike service manuals are worth their weight in gold. For travel I have a digital version in PDF form which is easily stored in a laptop or tablet for easy access on the road.
Before you pull out that credit card for that oh so expensive tow to a dealer, plus repair bill, why not diagnose it yourself? You may just be able to MacGyver a way to get the bike running and ride to a dealer and at least avoid the tow bill.
Sometimes a break down can be as simple as something that worked its way loose due to vibration. I've stopped to reattach many parts I was sure were bolted down proper.
I had a friend that learned his sport-touring bike was prone to voltage rectifier failure and with very little warning when it did fail. On long trips he'd carry a spare just in case it decided to quit in the middle of nowhere. 


3- Strangers can be friends
When ever I have been on the side of the road, with a bike that isn't going anywhere, I am amazed at how complete strangers just stop and offer help, tools, fuel or at least make sure you are okay. You may make lasting friends due to your mishap.
Enroll in motorcycle groups. I belong to the BMW Owners of America (BMWOA) and they have a special book they publish of fellow riders that offer places to stay, garage space, advice, tools, directions to repair facilities or just a friend to chat with.
There are many owners groups out there to consider buying a membership from and they are even more valuable when they are brand specific to what you ride. The worse that can happen is you meet a new riding pal that steers you in the right direction of a good shop or, great roads once your problem is solved.
If you have an uneasy feeling about someone who is offering help trust your instincts and don't hop into a car with them to go and fetch parts, fuel etc. A true biker friend will know you wish to stay with your ride and will return with items needed.

My friend Keith who helped when my fuel pump quit- Antigonish NS



4- Bring some extra gear
Besides the usually pathetic tool kit most manufacturers include with your motorcycle you should always bring some of your own. If you've done some of your own wrenching you'll soon learn the commons sized bolts that you may need to adjust. A small socket kit with a variety of heads is handy. I string the sockets on a pipe cleaner so they are easy to pack and are always together. Fuses, wire connectors, pliers and small lengths of wire are always handy. Spare nuts and bolts are always good to include as well.
A tire repair kit can be the difference of riding to the next shop or having a very expensive tow truck take it there for you. Can you tell I don't like seeing my ride on the back of a tow truck yet?
A roll of duct tape and zip ties can be enough to patch broken fairing pieces back together should you have an animal impact or drop your bike.
Being able to add more clothing is a plus especially if the temperature starts to turn. I live near the Rocky Mountains so, even on short day trips, extra layers are with me as our weather can change drastically in a short time. If you are not a tenting type you may still want to consider a small nylon tarp in case you have to set up a small lean-to or cover over your  bike to fix a problem while its raining. Its much more enjoyable when you are dry, trust me.


5- When the break down is you
Sometimes the reason you're parked at the side of the road is due to injury or health issue. We've all had that lunch special in a greasy dinner that just didn't sit well. Maybe it was the excessive fresh fruit you pigged out on yesterday but for what ever reason your body is telling you to find a toilet and fast. What if you're in the middle of nowhere? 
I see the men's room right behind those trees!

A small roll of toilet paper, or collection of napkins from eateries, can be the difference between answering the call of nature or throwing out some stained clothes. Plus they are always handy just to blow your nose when the ol' sniffer gets congested.
Maybe your intestines and gut are doing just fine but you've taken a bug in the eye and need to rinse it out. If you've got water you can solve this. Perhaps you've had an allergy sneezing fit or just got stung from an angry wasp that flew into your jacket or, worse yet, helmet. Antihistamines are great to have on hand for such occasions. Swelling of the sting can be reduced by taking one immediately. This is extremely important if stung on the face. You don't want an eye to swell shut if the sting is near there. If you have a cold beverage use it as a cold pack to further take the effects of the sting away.
You should also never leave on a trip without a small first aid kit. Painkillers are a must for all sorts of aches that can make you unsafe to ride. Migraines, back ache and other distractions can stop the trip. I also like to travel with packets of electrolytes for extreme heat when sudden muscle cramps can set in due to dehydration.
Items for all sorts of situations















Remember, just because your bike is not working does not mean your trip is over. Nor does a small health issue need to end your ride. With a bit of preparation and knowledge you'll be able to beat Murphy and his Law of "What can go wrong, will." to "When things go wrong I can beat this!"
There's nothing quit like that feel-good moment when you stomp a problem down just by being ready. Enjoy your next roadside breakdown and make it a fun event. Don't forget to snap a pic.
- Daryl Makk and The Planet Tour

1 comment:

  1. Well, As far as my concerned, People should be aware of this breakdown and should be prepared for it.
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    Thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete