A Long Day In Fresno
The 1997 camping trip to Kings Canyon was memorable, perhaps due to the extra excitement of Helmut’s flat tire. Maybe that is part of the reason even the few who like to camp were all busy for the planned 1998 camp-out. That’s OK… I was going anyway and, due to Bern’s fit of generosity, my brother Rob joined me on Bern’s bike. What a nice dad!
We left from the usual spot at 7:00 AM on Saturday. I thought one or two others might join us at least as far as Hollister for breakfast, but we were alone. We headed down 101 with the sun in our eyes through San Jose. No Rich – he said he might join us – so it looked like it would just be the two of us. We continued on to highway 25 into Hollister, turned onto 4th ave and stopped at the Cozy Cup Cafe for breakfast. So far so good.
Rob
Marc
After breakfast the sun was high enough in the sky to cease being a problem. We gassed up and headed down highway 25. Very little traffic; it completely disappeared within 10 miles of Hollister. Conditions were perfect and the 60 miles or so to the 25/198 junction were over all too soon. I arrived at the junction first and pulled over. Rob arrived and we both decided to take a short break. The temperature was rising and it was time to remove another layer of clothing.
10 minutes later it’s time to get going. Start up the bikes and… click…click……..click……………….
Rob can’t get the bike started. Hmmm, lights are working, but the battery voltage is down to 11 volts. Bern’s BMW R100RT has euro style controls on the left grip that include a light switch. We turn the headlight off. The battery voltage rises to 11 1/2 volts. After figuring which direction is down hill (mostly flat) I push while Rob tries to bump start the bike. It starts, but the battery voltage indicator still reads 11 1/2 volts. The battery is not charging.
Coalinga or King City. Coalinga is closer to our goal and I was stuck in King City once in 1969. We head east on 198, Rob keeping the headlights off. We stop at a gas station in Coalinga – without turning off the R100 – and are told that the best bet is to continue to Visalia… but wait: there is also a bike shop in Hanford 1 block north of 198 on 11th street. Back on the bike and off to Hanford.
We pull off of 198 at 11th and the R100 dies less than 1/2 block from the Yamaha/Suzuki dealer. It is just about time to fill up and it is possible that the bike died at an intersection before Rob could switch to reserve. At least he didn’t have to push it far.
The folks at the Yamaha shop (damn, I didn’t get their names) were great. They suggested heading to the BMW shop in Fresno, let us use their phone to call ahead to make sure that a mechanic was available, put a quick charge on the battery, and put a couple of gallons of gas in the bike. Rob asks them how much: no charge!
We head off to Fresno, me leading with the written instructions on top of the map in my tank bag. Rob is keeping the RPMs up so the bike wont stall until we make it onto highway 99 heading north. There is one slight problem: I don’t know if I have enough gas to get to Fresno but don’t want to stop (because I don’t want to have to push Rob if the R100 stalls again). My low fuel warning comes on before we hit Fresno. Once in Fresno we have to go from 99 to 41, then across town on 41. I’m imagining the whine of the fuel pump sucking air as gas sloshes around in the tank. Once we pull off of 41 I pull into a gas station, waving Rob on. The BMW shop is only a block or two away.
It’s 1:00 PM and the shop closes at 3:00 on Saturday. The mechanic has a bike up on the rack that will be finished in 10 minutes or so, the R100 will go up next. Rob and I head walk down the block for lunch, the conversation turning to what could be wrong, how long is it going to take to fix it, and how much is it going to cost. When we return from lunch the mechanic is still diagnosing the problem. About 30 minutes later we get the news: it looks like the diode board is toast. The good news is that they have them in stock. The bad news is that normally you have to pull the lowers off and pull a timing (?) gear to do swap the part. The good news is that he thinks he can get at what he needs without doing that and that they’ll stay until the job is done.
We wonder around the shop, talk to the owners wife (the owner is at the roll-out event for the new K1200LT), read the sales literature, etc. 3:00 PM comes and one of the sales people leaves. The closed sign goes up but there are still 4 people there in addition to Rob and me. 4:00 PM comes and the old parts have been removed. Yep: the diode board is toast. The mounts were partially melted which may explain why (no ground). The new board is going in and we’re thinking that if we get out by 5:00 PM we can take the fast way into Kings Canyon, saving the slow (but fun) route for the return trip Sunday.
5:00 PM. Something is wrong. We’ve heard the bike fired up for short intervals several times. The problem is that even with the new diode board the battery is not charging. Keep looking for problem. Rob and I look at the new R1100S and the R1100LT based police demo bike (the skunk) for the umpteenth time.
6:00 PM. All static tests pass, but the battery still isn’t charging. We’ve run out of time. The next step is probably to start swapping parts but it’s already 3 hours after their closing time. We can leave the bike, but they are closed Sunday and Monday. Also, it’s a pain to return to Fresno to pick the bike up once fixed. We decide to rent a truck and bring the bike back to the bay area.
Rob is given a ride to U-Haul while I settle up the bill. Rob gets the smallest truck available with a ramp. When he returns with the truck they help us load it up and provide the tie-down straps needed to make sure the bike is secure. It is almost 7:00 PM. I can not thank the kind folks at Fresno BMW enough. They made our stay as pleasant as possible under the circumstances, four people stayed over 4 hours past their closing time, let us use their phone, provided transportation, and only charged us for 2 1/2 hours of labor!
Truck
Bike in truck
The sun was just about to set; much to late to enjoy camping. We headed north on 99 and turned west onto 152 just as the sun dipped below the horizon, red fading to orange as the deep blue of night caught us from the east. The miles went fast. At a quick stop in Los Banyos for diesel fuel we decide to stop at Andersen’s, just north of 152 on I5, for dinner. By the end of dinner it’s 9:30 so we decide to stay at the local Motel 6 and head back in the light of day. Brandy in the pale light of TV news was not the original plan, but one must make do.
The next morning we’re up before 6:00 and are on the road before 7:00. One gas stop, then I leave Rob at 280 and 92. He’s going directly to Bern’s house with the news. I don’t envy him that task.
So – who wants to go camping with me in 1999?
Update: Rob’s comments
Might I add that my stomach was turning into a knot after you departed leaving me all by my lonesome to face the “Big Daddy”. Here was my once in a lifetime opportunity to ride Bern Hyman’s Beemer and sure enough, there’s problems. I had to think of a way to approach him without appearing distraught. (Even though I was) Should I walk up to the front door with all my gear on? That sounded good. Yeah park the U-Haul away from the front door and greet him. I did and in less than 20 seconds there it was…………
Oooohhhh $#@!.
About 4 cups of coffee later I departed knowing I would never get the use of this bike again. Later I figured out how to get the bike to the shop on Monday even though I am quite busy at work. I was at the shop at 10:30 AM to be first in line to talk to the mechanic. The mechanic’s wife showed up at 11:00 AM and the phone was ringing off the hook. Guess who it was? I dropped off the bike and then proceeded to return the U Haul. After this I took a cab home so I could pick up my van and get to work. I feared my boss would inquire where I had been on a busy Monday when I am suppose to cover the real estate office. I handled it though and even made my afternoon appointments.
About 4:00 PM I come out of my clients condo and my van won’t start. After the tow to Daly City, I rented a car so I could pick up Eric from school. I was late of course. Got home finally and had a very large bourbon and soda. It worked. Decided to catch the ball game at the stick with Eric and finally got to relax a bit as the Giants kicked ass over the Pirates.
Hope tomorrow is easier.
Update: Bern’s response
Dear Sir,
Your concern over lack of attendance at your camp out trip is easily
explained. Any failure of man or machine will be instantly posted on
your G.D. interweb.
Sheila came down stairs laughing hysterically, showing me the printout
of your web site report just hours after my poor sick bike is
delivered home in a rental truck. Does ones dirty laundry have to be
aired before God and country? I didn’t even have the fun of sex out of
it.
In over 50 years of riding, 30 of which have been on a BMW, never, never have I been unable to ride or limp my bike home. “No good deed goes unpublished” most appropriate: first time I lend out my bike and it craps out.
As for you, I will strenuously urge your getting the size 12 boot preferably in either one of two orifices.
This note is being sent snail mail as I don’t know how to use a computer gadget and I can’t type.
If this note is also published it will slightly ease the humility [editors note: humiliation?] and $$$ of this incident.
Your loving father
Bern Hyman