First the good news...

[geechie]

...apart from a bit of stiffness in my left hip and right elbow, I'm O.K.

And of course the bad news would be that I dumped the bike last night (more like early evening, really) on my way home from chorus rehearsal. Damn! Damn! Damn!!!

I had just crested the Wappoo creek bridge and was going to turn right onto Maybank highway. Of the four lanes coming down off the bridge, the rightmost lane turns right, the two leftmost lanes go straight and the second lane from the right can either turn or go straight. The turn onto Maybank is less than a 90 — more like a 45 — and so can be taken with a fair bit of speed. I was in the pick and choose lane and coming up outside of a white pickup... who failed miserably to hold his line. As he drifted over into my lane, I made the decision to turn back to the left and go straight. And I would have made it too... were it not for the inch or so deep patch of sand in that triangular area where no vehicles usually travel. I was leaned back to the left and honestly can't remember if I was carrying any brake or not, when I hit the sand. BANG!! I was down so fast I couldn't believe it. I slid to a stop in front of the two lines of traffic waiting at the light to turn left off of Maybank. Thanks to my Cortech Magnum jacket and FirstGear pants, I bounced right up fired the bike up and rode off to examine the bike in the parking lot of a nearby bank.

All things considered, the bike didn't fare too badly. It seems to have hit on the left side rocker box cover and the left saddlebag. The bad part is that it hit right square on the lower valve cover bolt and broke it. I haven't had the chance to pull it out and check, but I suspect it's broken right where the threads begin. I can't afford (nor do I trust) to let the local BMW, Honda, SeaDoo shop work on the bike, so I'm hoping my Porsche buddies at Autometrics will be able to help me get the broken off bit out of the head.

As I mentioned previously. Damn! Damn! Damn!!! Damn! Blast! and Bugger!!

And yes, I may well have been riding too assertively.

George

[1MPH]

Glad that you came out of it O.K. Good luck getting bike fixed. I'm sure you will. Again glad you are doing so well.

[DarthRider]

Damn! Damn! Damn!!! Damn! Blast! and Bugger!!

George, I'm glad you are (relatively) OK.
Very sorry about the crash and bike damage and hope the Porsche guys can fix that broken bolt. I had a pristine left side valve cover I would happily send you, had I not traded it away a while back.
I haven't done this but I've read of several guys getting good results fixing scuffed BMW bags by working the scuff with extra fine steel wool & Armor all.
Or spray it with bedliner material a la Patrick Rhys...Not!
You're getting too old for that shit Geechie!

Dave

[GPM]

George,

So glad to hear you're ok. Two lanes turning always worry me. Its amazing how many people either have no concern for staying in their own lane, or don't pay enough attention and at the last moment realize they're in the wrong lane and suddenly jump across a couple lanes.

I suspect you fared better because you saw him encroaching on your lane and were able to get out of his way. Kissing off a pickup's fender at speed would no doubt have yielded a worse outcome.

Good to hear the gear work as intended and that you're in good shape. Good luck with the repairs.

[Promethean]

Glad to hear you're okay, George. Damn! Crap! Bugger! about the crash!

[Tipstall]

George,

Very glad to hear you are OK. I sounds like it happened very quick.

Ken

[supermotoC]

Lane discipline is all but nonexistent in the US.
The bike can be rebuilt from almost nothing, you cannot.
The good news really is that you are none the worse for the wear.
It will be an adventure (of sorts) making your bike "whole" again - search eBay for case covers - they pop up often - even valve covers, too.
Try not to second guess your "alternatives" in the constant "replays" in your head - it is what it is... and you are OK. Many people wouldn't get up after a crash like that, your skills & gear did their job.

[Road Dog]

I have a couple of friends that have sprayed their bag covers with spray on pickup bed liner. They look great.

Bill

[arkline]

George,

As I sit here all stiff and sore from my last couple of days experience, I thank those lucky stars that the Master of Bon Moterie is no worse for the wear of having a get off. There is a lot of treachery out there on the ground pretending to be pavement and I'm glad that you were in ATGATT mode. The bike can be and will be fixed. Those side cases make dropping the bike a little less damaging, kinda. 'Cept the landing points are case and cylinder head.

Again, glad you're okay.

[DJ Down Under]

George..What a bummer...glad you're not hurt...bugger!

DJ

[Dallara]

Wow, Geechie!

Bad news on having a get-off, but great news to hear you're okay!

I have a barely (and I do mean barely) scuffed valve cover (came on my bike when I bought it used), but I can't remember which side it is... Let me dig it out and see, and if you need it then it's your's for the price of shipping.

Take care!

Allan (the unmighty duster Dallara - NACD)

[Bones]

George,
Glad you are OK. I is impossible NOT to replay the incident over and over again in your head, I know. Sounds like you handled it as well as it could be handled.

I would be happy to send you a bunged up right sided cover from my 1150R if that would help create symmetry.

The broken off bolt issue is a PITA, for sure. Hope that goes well and the briuses fade quickly.

Jeff

[BobFV1]

Brother George - so sorry to hear about your spill! Really glad you are okay - and I am pulling for you to be able to get that bolt fixed PDQ - hopefully just a drill-out and a time-cert!

Sounds like it just wasn't your day - that's what happens sometimes. It sounds like a classic "swerve to avoid" manuver which you executed - right in to another hazard which you had no way of anticipating.

Sometimes you bite the dog and sometimes the dog bites you.

Hope you feel better. Ride safe.

[Wild Will]

I'm very glad you're OK. Fixing the bike will be a piece of cake. Hang that old valve cover on the shop wall. Proof of life, all these roadrash mementoes! I have a set of stainless crash bars on my GS, because the valve covers are pretty thin. If one travels anywhere remote, two part epoxy is a must have. So is some spare oil. A pal just returned from Copper Cyn. on his 1200 GS and sure enough, crashed on the crappy road surface, broke a hole in the cover, and sat there for hours (he rode solo!) awaiting help to lift the bike. Protection isn't a bad idea for any machinery whose heads stick out. The ones on the Adventure look swell. Wonder if they'd adapt? I know, ruins the LOOKS!
Cheers, Bro.

[Gord]

George - a damn shame it is, but as you say, the good news is you are okay. And it sounds like your bike is not a write off. So it really is double good news under the piss poor circumstances. (Sorry - but I tend to be an optimist).

I agree with Collyer's comment about lane discipline - or lack of it. It is the same here in Canada. On the highways you find people caravaning in the middle lane, poking in the left lane, and avoiding the right lane. All mixed up. And try to get people turning left to turn into the left lane and people turning right to turn into the right lane. Damn impossible. And 50% of the time, none of them signal.

It would almost be to the insurance companies' benefit to pay for and field their own private cops to help enforce some traffic rules and restore driving discipline.

Sorry for the rant George. But I feel way better knowing you are okay and getting that off my chest.

[socalrob]

Damn George, I sur5e you consider it a pretty bad day, but of all the possible outcomes of a get off, if I were in your boots, I'd consider myself pretty lucky indeed.

Hope that cager that caused it feels guilty as sin.

[Ed K]

Crap George, hate when stuff like that happens... Concur with Socal... you're very lucky indeed... We're all glad you're ok...

[jamming]

Damn, damn, damn....
George, glad to hear your ok. Your the 3rd member in as many weeks to have a little git off.
Take Advil and Bourbon.....worked for me.
Lets all be careful out there.
Roger

[geechie]

Thanks one and all for the kind words of support and empathy/sympathy.

Sage advice, Collyers, about replaying the alternatives, but as Bonesy said, it's impossible not to run the replays time and time again. Every decision has its consequences. I made a split second decision that had some negative results. There are others I could have made that might have had disastrous consequences. WTF. Ya pays yer money and ya takes yer chances. I'm O.K. (well, the left shoulder is more than a bit sore this morning) and I was able to ride the bike the rest of the way home. It coulda been worse.

Now as for the bike. Thanks guys for all the offers of spare parts, but even though I work for one of the poorest (and cheapest) states in the nation, I'm not destitute. I'll be placing an order to Chicago BMW later today for two new rocker box covers and various bolts and seals. Near as I can tell, the abraded left side cover is still functionally sound, so I'll keep the new ones in the box until BMW releases the 1200R and I have to sell this bike.

Damage update is as follows: The head cover bolt is not broken. But is was smacked hard enough to bugger the threads. I will be revisiting the "steel bolt, aluminum threads" discussion shortly. I've heard about Helicoil Inserts for many years now, but have never had occasion to install one 'till now. I would appreciate any advice and/or reccomendations any of you might care to offer on the subject.

Thanks again,

George

[DarthRider]

So how you doin' George?

Dave

[fganger]

George,

Not the best way to end the day. What did the old pilots use to say, “Any landing you walk away from is a good one.” The best part is that you are, for the most part, whole.

Will's comment about “hang that old valve cover on the shop wall,” makes sense to me. We all learn from natural, logical consequences. Some of us (me) are in the slow learner category. I find having a reminder hanging around helps the education process last without “needing” another lesson.

Live long and prosper - Frank