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Broken down in Woodstock VA

15K views 123 replies 24 participants last post by  Ron Coleman 
#1 ·
Drive shaft about to let go. Can't ride anymore. Anyone local with ideas to get a rental car to get me home for my truck or a truck rental place open?

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#2 ·
I smashed a bike 600 miles from home 10-12 years ago. I took a taxi to a U Hall and rented a small truck with loading ramp. Bought some straps at a local auto shop and hauled it home. Around $350 If I remember. Use your phone and find a truck near you. (Yea I know. I smash a lot of bikes.)
 
#4 ·
There's a UHaul rental center just north of you in Front Royal, VA. I'm a little over an hour from you. I'm committed tomorrow morning but can come and assist NLT than 1500 tomorrow. I'll PM you my phone number.

Duane
 
#8 ·
Contact patch to contact patch is about 64". Total length of the bike is 93" or 94". A seven foot trailer might be iffy. That said, I've not tried to put my bike on a trailer that size so, the honest truth is, I don't know.
 
#6 ·
Just measured my wheel base, 7' trailer will work. I sent you my phone number. I have a good set of ramps if you need them to load up. Give me a call to discuss.

Duane
 
#12 ·
As Duane said, it should just fit. From the front of the front tire to the rear contact patch, you're looking at about 75".
 
#10 ·
@Vandaldog, I double checked my measurements. 7' will work, you'll have about 2" to spare.

Duane
 
#13 ·
@Marc11, the front fender is set back about 4/5" from the leading edge of the front tire.

Duane
 
#23 ·
The U-Haul bike trailers are pretty good, if a bit heavy.

Most of them rent local only, so no good for a one-way trip home.
 
#24 ·
The U-Haul bike trailers are pretty good, if a bit heavy.



Most of them rent local only, so no good for a one-way trip home.
I'm renting here near my house and will pull it with my truck and return it. I don't have a wheel chock for my trailer since it was used only for dirt bikes. So I thought for $20 to have a wheel chock and a longer bed would be safer.

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#25 ·
Sounds like a good plan.

On the 10-n-10 Rally, my K12GT broke down in Gila Bend, AZ.

After sleeping for a few hours, I called my wife and had her pick up a U-Haul motorcycle trailer. She'd never driven with a trailer before, but I just told her to be smooth and to make wide turns. She made it to Gila Bend, we loaded the bike, and I drove home.

I've since picked up a Kendon Dual-Rail foldup trailer, which has spent many miles both behind and beneath my Beemers...
 
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#26 ·
Sounds like a good plan.



On the 10-n-10 Rally, my K12GT broke down in Gila Bend, AZ.



After sleeping for a few hours, I called my wife and had her pick up a U-Haul motorcycle trailer. She'd never driven with a trailer before, but I just told her to be smooth and to make wide turns. She made it to Gila Bend, we loaded the bike, and I drove home.



I've since picked up a Kendon Dual-Rail foldup trailer, which has spent many miles both behind and beneath my Beemers...
I think I'll add a wheel chock to my trailer for potential future use. Well at least this happened now and not sometime in June.

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#28 ·
Drive shaft about to let go. Can't ride anymore. Anyone local with ideas to get a rental car to get me home for my truck or a truck rental place open?

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So is this on your K1600 bike? How many miles on the bike? I don't think I've heard of this problem on K1600 bikes usually other BMW configurations.
 
#37 ·
As a member of the BMW MOA organization I receive a new Anonymous book every year that lists owners willing to help out in various ways to needy motorcyclists traveling around the country. I carry it with me in my "important papers" zipper pouch. Having someone you can reach out to has helped me once with my BMW and again years ago with my Gold Wing book while riding my Valkyrie.
 
#39 ·
@Marc11
Just a heads up, the bike will fit in a 7" trailer without a rear lift up deck. I have an 8" trailer with the ramp that folds up and locks. the bike fits with the top case but just barely.
Glad you are safe and not injured AND the bike is in good shape and safe.
Good folks around here, for sure.
 
#40 ·
Thanks for that extra confirmation. My trailer has a lift gate. I was concerned I wouldnt be able to close the gate all the way with the bike on. I'm okay if it is open a few feet and strapped closed.

My original plan was to bring a few old tires and use them as buffers to push the gate against and strap the gate closed. Thoughts on this? Do you think the gate will lift enough to be in an upper position for trailering?

If so, I'll cancel the u haul and save a few bikes and a lot of time.

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#41 ·
I believe the rear tire will be just sticking over the back of the trailer which might cause the lift gate to not be able to close much. If you go diagonally, it's be a better fit BUT honestly, the UHaul option would be your best bet IMHO. That wheel chock is your friend when towing these bikes.
 
#42 ·
I wouldn't chance using a trailer I 'think' will work. Going to pick up a broken bike, out of town, isn't the time to experiment. I'd bite the bullet and bring a trailer I KNOW the bike will fit on.

Duane
 
#44 ·
@Marc11, don't know when you're coming back to recover bike, but if it's during the week (wife has weekends committed) and you have the replacement drive shaft you're welcomed to bring the bike to my place and we'll swap it out. Doesn't look like it's a big deal. I've got a pretty good setup for working on bike/tools. The is currently about an hour from me.

Duane
 
#46 · (Edited)
@Marc11: 30k isn't really a lot.
The splines look good.
I guess the only wild card would be the condition of the needle bearings in the u-joints.
You might try to contact them off eBay and express your concerns...make them a reasonable offer.
That part has been listed since Nov, 2018...they might be receptive.
Here is the link to their retail store: K1600GT GTL - K Bikes - BMW - Used Motorcycle Parts

Good luck

Joe
 
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