Broke down and blue in B.C.

VANCOUVER -- I'm feeling a little conflicted this morning. It is, as Dickens wrote, the worst and the best of times.

I was happily heading south through the rich farmlands of the Lower Mainland on BC Hwy. 99 to visit with my old friend and former boss Mark and his wife Kris. Both are accomplished motorcycle riders with a matched set of BMW RTs neatly stowed (military-style!) in the garage of the comfortable home they share with a pair of chows named Concord and Chimera.

I was just a few minutes out when I started feeling an odd vibration take over from Stompin’ Tom’s Second Narrows Bridge on the iPod for my attention. I pulled over and checked the new Metzlers. Nope, not a flat. That about exhausted my technical ability.

I kept on going with the vibe rising and falling in synch with my speed, but I knew the Bike-a-Lounger wasn’t happy.

On Saturday, Mark and I rode over to Pacific Motorsports, which claims to be B.C.'s leading European motorcycle specialists in nearby Richmond, where he and Kris get their bikes serviced. “No way,” said the service tech, “we’re slammed!“ He wouldn’t even test ride the bike to diagnose what might be the matter. Guess if he figured out what the problem was, he might have had to fix it.

Mark and I rode back to his house. I was a little concerned, not knowing if I was ,going to get tossed off if the wheel seized or if I was doing more damage to my sole form of transport for the next four months. Turns out, I was. The wheel wouldn't turn without considerable force when I got it on the main stand back at Mark‘s.

I called Pacific back and they said the soonest they could look at it was JUNE 21!! Nearly a full month away! Mark and Kris exhausted their contacts calling around on my behalf.

Vancouver BMW-Ducati said they would look at it on Friday, five days from now, but wouldn't guarantee they would be able to fix it any time soon. Nevertheless, I had it hauled up from White Rock on the back of a flatbed truck. At least I knew I could count on the CAA.

I've been riding all my life. This is the first time a bike shop didn't give priority to someone who comes in off the road. They didn’t even have to come get it; it was right in their yard!

I’m shocked that they would blow me off like that this. What if I hadn’t had the kindness of my friends to fall back on? What if I’d been hooped in the middle of nowhere?

I know I would happily give up a scheduled appointment -- even the first one of the year -- if some poor sod broke down. I know I'm not a regular Pacific customer, but Mark and Kris are!!

If it's not a BMW corporate policy to give service priority to stranded bikers, it should be.

Feeling abandoned as well as angry, I posted my plight on the BMW Motorcycle Owner's Association’s Facebook page. That prompted an outpouring of support, suggestions and offers of assistance.

One guy even asked me to pull the final drive out of the bike and shiop it to hiom in Pennsylvania and he’d fix it in 24 hours and ship it back to me. I might have done if I had been certain of the problem, but thanks to an uncaring service tech, I just didn’t know!! But thanks, Tom.

Some misguided Facebook posters thought I was dissing their beloved brand and nothing could be further from the truth. I bought the Beemer for its comfort and power, yes, but also because of its good reputation for safety and dependability.

I love the K and I will be thrilled to ride it again -- whenever that is. My beef is with the lack of priority a BMW dealership gave to a rider broken down in mid-ride. Shame on them!

But -- and this is the best of times part --  if the experience has taught me anything, it is that Beemer owners are a compassionate lot! Thank you all for your efforts to get a complete stranger back on the road!

Just look what mark sent me to bouy my sririts this morning! Thanks, my friend, for this and more. At least, I'm not that guy! I've got an offer of a room downtown for the duration of this ordeal.

It really is too bad one dealer has the power to throw my little old retirement ride off the rails! Whatever happens and wherever I have to go for service, I will ride on knowing you are watching my six. I am blessed!

This morning, I tried to get a sympathetic ear from BMW Motorrad's Canada office. A customer service rep provided little service and even less help. He said he didn't know if Beemer had a corporate policy about helping stranded bikers. He didn't knwo what BMW could do to encourage "an independently owned and operated business" to do the decent thing. He didn't ride and he didn't get it!   

So I’m broke down and blue in B.C., but I will keep trying to get back on the road as quickly as possible.

Say a wee prayer for me to St. Christopher, the patron saint of travellers! And remember, if you can donate to the Ride for Sight, here’s the link to my secure online donation page.