nklr: amarillo, nearly didn't get back!

[njtc@mail.ocis.net]

I still cannot find reference to a procedure for the lubing/maintenance of the Uni Trak bits and pieces........can anyone help??? Gromit A13

[bmgecko]

Totally unrelated KLR, but I felt the need to share it. So there I was! Headed home after a weekend of great punk rock bands, and a lot of Thai food! (Yum, yum!) I was headed out of Clovis, NM at about 65-70 MPH when I felt the back tire go weird on me. How weird you ask? Well, I knew from an experience in the past that it blew out on me. MSF Training kicked in, I didn't brake at all, I let off the gas. I was slowing down, but the ride was getting really wobbly. I went into the fast lane (where the bike took me) and managed to actually come to a stop. A pickup truck pulls in behind me, and a "biker" looking guy hops out and helps me get it off the road. Well, he suggested I put it in neutral, and then across the road to the actual shoulder. He tells me that he thought I was gonna go down for sure, and complimented me on my riding. I blamed it of course all on the MSF Basic Rider Course which I took in '91. He smiled and commented that he was a MSF instructor! I guess he was happy to see me "blame" some good riding skills on something he taught to folks in the past. He commented that he also used to be a Navy Corpsman, and was happy those skills didn't come into play! We weren't able to get the Y2KLR into the back of his truck (Oh, did I mention he said he'd get me back into town to get the tire fixed?) so he went home, got his ramp and tie-downs, then we loaded it up in the truck and headed for town, got it to the shop, and went for lunch. All the while we talked at length, and I found out a bit about this Good Samaritan, and after I went to the bike shop, we parted ways. Before that, he let me have his phone number, and told me to call him if I needed help, or if I passed through again. (OK readers, this is what they call FORESHADOWING) Pulled out of Clovis, and I was headed down the road. Rain started kicking in, so I pulled to the side to put on a 'lil wet-weather gear, smoke a cigarette (well, two really) and see if the clouds would clear. I decide to pull out, and I feel a strange wobble in the back... I pull over immediately to find (horror of horrors) the back tire was going somewhat flat. The town of Elida is just 2 miles down the road. I think I can make it. Fortunately I do make it. Unfortunately, the first gas station don't have an attachment that will work to fill the tire up (it's made for cars, ya see?). I push the bike to the Allsups (like a 7-11) up the road after first going there to see if they might have an air hose that will work. It's 'bout a quarter mile, and I nearly died. Well, I broke a good sweat! o make a long story short, I couldn't fix it. I'd fill up the tire, and though the stem was in all the way, the tire was geeked, and air was coming out underneath the stem. What do I do? I'm 200 miles from home, 60 miles from the city I came from, and 90 miles from the closest city in the direction of home. I called the Good Samaritan. And you know what? He offered to make the hour drive to come pick me up. He offered to make the 200 mile trip to my hometown. I delcined, saying it would be a lot easier to go back towards his city, and get it patched up the next day. An hour later, Greg shows up, and we get the bike in the back of his truck. He once again asks if I would rather just go home instead of back towards his place. I say I really would, but it would be a lot easier if we went towards his house. He says that we'll just go the 200 miles to my town, just to be on the safe side. As an afterthought, he asks if I can put in for gas. (I am now nominating this man for sainthood!) We stop in Roswell, NM (home of the aliens) for a bit of chow at Denny's, and ride on, into the dark New Mexican night. After midnight, we get to my town, we unload the bike at the dealers, and he takes me home. He is now 200 or so miles from home. He was going to stay at a hotel the night. (It was OK with his wife, he called her from Denny's to tell her where he would be since she was visiting relatives in Nebraska). I ain't the best paid person on the list by a long shot, but after I thanked him for all, I handed him 60 dollars ('bout the best I could do...) He shrugged it off, and said, "Oh, I'll only need $20..." I know this sounds incredible, but it actually happeded to me today. I nearly got seriously hurt, and only got utter help and kindness from a total stranger who went more than 200 miles, and quite a few dollars out of his way to help someone he could. Oh, that's one-way, it don't count his trip home tomorrow. I sure as heck ain't bragging, but I think I just got the best motorcycle story there ever was. Heck with that, I just got a story, a friend I'll keep for life, and a whole lot more hope for the whole human race than I did in my 29 years so far. Life really is grand. Maybe it was chance, maybe it was Providence that Greg saw me nearly wreck, and went farther than ANYONE could be wished to do. I'm babbling, and I'm gonna go to sleep now! Just has to share this wonderful story with all of you! Chris Astier