| Author | Message | ||
     Dr_greg |
Taking Ulysses in for Repair Estimate Friday morning Mrs. Greg drove Uly and I up to dealer for repair estimate. Here are both of us fresh off the pickup (forgot my camera, so pics from iPhone...lower quality, sorry):  To my surprise, Ulysses wouldn't roll! Rear wheel would lock up for a few feet, then roll, then lock up, etc. So maybe more damage than I thought... Front end bent enough so tire left a big skid mark on the lower fairing. Note new oil cooler hoses: nice and dry.  Since Uly won't roll, lift him onto a pallet:    The Replacement Bike! Fellas, you know from this saga (if read in all of its many lengthy parts) that at numerous times I've been more than a little frustrated with the Uly. So now that it's possibly totaled, I have to give it some thought. Of course most of my pointy-headed professor colleagues are aghast that I would even CONSIDER ever riding a motorcycle again...typical. So...here's what I'm thinking...  HEY! How did that get in there? That's what I get for typing with my stupid right index finger. What I meant was this...     This 2006 Uly (S/N 564) was the dealership's former owner's personal bike (I bought my Uly from him personally and did some riding with him). It has 9,900 miles (hey, just in time for the 10K service---I can do that!) and is even in the color I originally wanted. I plan to switch my black stock seat over since the '06 regular seat is my favorite (even at 5-9). And the price: sales manager (buddy of mine and a fellow '73 RD350 rider) said "we'll sell it to you for what we have in it," which he led me to believe was WELL below the "NOW" price shown. Cases and all. What a deal. No matter what happens (bike totaled or no) I'll buy #564 and keep ol' #44 for a parts bike. After all, ya never know when a spark plug might blow out and a set of heads might come in handy! Of course, now that I own the "Time-Sert" kit I can do a repair for about $5.00. I plan to have my son test-ride #564 just to check it out, but I doubt there'll be any issues. I'll keep ya posted... | ||
| 4_pete_sake |
CONGRATS!!!! Now I think I can skip a day or two from BadWeb... now that we all know your still one of us... in more ways than one... Cheers Doc!!!! -pete | ||
| Ourdee |
Doc, In the list of bike I've had, there was an RD250 and an RD350. I can't remember the years. They were Early 70s. That 250 was great as I weighed less than 100 pounds back then. At anything over 90 the front end would lift as I went over any kind of rise in the road. The RD350 fed a piston through the exhaust out in the desert near Vegas. Still made it home on the remaining one. | ||
| Armymedic |
Excellent! I love happy...beginnings! Get well quick Doc. | ||
| Treadmarks |
Way to go Doc. I almost hacked up a rib on the beemer pic. | ||
| Sekalilgai |
Allllright doc! glad to see that big smile | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Oh Doc, you are an inspiration. I have to get off of my ass and reassemble my decrepit '79 sporty. (ride to leak, leak to ride!) | ||
| Ulykan |
I love a happy ending.  Way to go, Doc. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Fresh canvas and all new farkles! | ||
| Armymedic |
Maybe you can fit one of these on the front of the new ride?  http://www.jbodenmann.com/american/cowcatcher.jpg (Message edited by armymedic on December 15, 2008) | ||
| Thetable |
Wow, is really all I can say. Your whole story is really an inspiration. To deal with all you have gone through, and still, be in good spirits overall. Godspeed with the recovery! | ||
| M2nc |
Looks great Dr. G. I can't wait for one of your ride reports on the new stead. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I hear deer are afraid of orange:  | ||
| Froggy |
The slower orange Ulys are so slow that the deer will be able to finish its tea break before jumping out of the way next time | ||
| Xbimmer |
Go Barricade!  Congrats Dr_greg! And do what you can to keep Uly too, you've both earned it. If nothing else but for a place in the stable. Damn, there I go imparting souls to machinery again... I'm hopeless. | ||
| Gs750t |
Way to go, Doc!!! | ||
| Dr_greg |
In the list of bike I've had, there was an RD250 and an RD350 I courted Mrs. Greg on my '73 RD350; she knew what she was getting into. Well, guys, I go under the knife in about an hour. It's a day surgery, so presumably I'll check in tonight. I test-rode the GS back in 2006...didn't like it. No worries. If I'm an inspiration to anyone, you guys (still no ladies?) are equally one to me. Maybe I can hook up with some of you in the future. Winter storm here (and about everywhere else, I guess), and roads are snowpacked and icy. Hope all the medical folks get to work on time... --Doc | ||
| Jlnance |
It has 9,900 miles I've finally got more miles than Dr Greg! Congrats on the new used bike. | ||
| Jphish |
Geez Doc - That first picture had me a bit concerned. Apparently the deer event has not affected your sense of humor. Gotta say the irony of you standing there with 'your new aquisition, arm in a sling & a big smile on your face is one for the books. You are the epitome of a BWB ! Buell should use that pic in their next advertising campaign - "Down... but never done" You're also a walking testimony to the value of riding gear. Good to see your spirit is undaunted. You'll be back by riding season. 'Chow' j | ||
| Svh |
Great story and I too loved the pic of you all banged up next to the new steed. My brother went down this summer and unfortunately his wife and our mom are trying to steer him away from another bike. He crashed a 2003 Goldwing at about 45 into a ditch by standing the bike up in a corner instead of leaning harder. Too much speed and not enough time on a bike. He was wearing gear and that saved his life. He landed on his back atop a 2" diameter broken off and pointy tree. Luckily it hit directly on the back pad in his jacket. No jacket and he would be skewered rather than having a chipped spine, 7 broken ribs and a cracked shoulder blade. I have more pics of the bike if anyone is interested. I am sure this holiday season the Dr Greg family will be much like our family, thankful for an ok outcome to a horrible accident. The best pic of a wrecked bike is the one with the rider standing next to it.  | ||
| Svh |
Sorry for the size. Trying to learn how to change photos better.  | ||
| Ejc |
Congrats Doc! I suggest you celebrate with a nice venison stew and your favorite IPA. | ||
| Wademan |
SWEEEET I am happy for Dr. Greg! Looks like you will make out on the deal! | ||
| Chadhargis |
Wow! You had me with the GS. I had a GS years ago, and I have to say, I really loved the bike. I love BMWs in general. They don't seem like impressive bikes on paper, but they do perform better than you think they will. Sort of like Buells. I ended up selling my GS because it had a nagging issues with carbon buildup on the pistons that the dealer couldn't solve. I sold it after it had a complete top end rebuild at 8500 miles. My Uly just celebrated its 3rd birthday, and it's still going strong. Never kept a bike this long, so I'm in uncharted waters while I wait for the 1125 Uly (and the money to buy one!). | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
The oil on the piston thing: was it on both? I heard of an issue that BMWs have that if you leave it on the sidestand for too long, the oil creeps past the rings on the "downhill side". | ||
| Hughlysses |
I've finally got more miles than Dr Greg! Jim- Do you mean your new/used bike has more miles than his new/used bike? I think you should both reset your odometers to zero to be fair...  | ||
| Chadhargis |
No, it wasn't the "oil on the piston" thing. It was a baked on coating of hard carbon on the piston which raised compression and caused it to ping, ate up the valve seals, and pitted the valves thing. Hence the top end rebuild at 8500 miles. At 13,000 miles, the pinging was back. BMW mechanic told me "some of them do that" and the only way to fix it was to "put a thicker base gasket on". I didn't like that idea. The day I got passed by a Dodge Neon, I decided to sell the GS. (Message edited by chadhargis on December 16, 2008) | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Passed by a noble gas has to suck. Better to be passed by an alkali metal I think. | ||
| Ourdee |
Chad, Did it pass you in Indiana. To be honest the 4th neon I had was quick. It was fast blue too. Smoked them in 4 outa 5 gears. | ||
| Etennuly |
Congrats Doc! Good to see you now have the color of choice.....Faster BARRICADE ORANGE!  |
