Radioman Rides the World.......

[Tall Mike]

Radioman said:

Got my leg iced, solid internet connection to get photos uploaded and comments posted, just had a pizza delivered, cold adult beverage, and even some english TV with spanish subtitles, and in the middle of a good novel also.

Well there ya go!! Even if you are taking a little forced R&R, It still beats caging it back to the grind back here in the 20 degree Orygun winter...You'd be all sorts-of stove up! (like us still-here-uns!)


Keep the feet up! The bikes getting fixed! (and enjoy the freedom to catch up your RR!)

[petefromberkeley]

DOH! Be careful out there brudda! I came real close to getting squashed a bit north of where you are now and it slowed me down a lot for the rest of my long trip. I had another few close calls along the way and to this day I ride much more slowly than I did before gallivanting around all those dangerous places with questionable (if any) medical care around. So BE CAREFUL!

Well, it sounds like Frank is hooking you up. Great. I love Guatemala. They have problems but the people are mostly so nice. Really lovely people there.

Hey! Something just occurred to me as I am writing (hope it's not 205). You had planned on slowing down for additional Spanish language lessons right? I suspect you will have your fill of Guatemala City by necessity doing what you need to for your bike, but you are only about an hour (probably less) by public bus from Antigua which is not only a MUCH more pleasant place to pass the time (if you have to wait for parts or something), but it is one of the centers for Spanish schools in Central America. There are lots of schools there and the competition among them keeps prices down and quality up.

Everyone says your brave or crazy for riding your motorcycle around the world because they think it's dangerous. But they all think it's dangerous because of things they read in the newspaper- politics or whatever. The danger is all in those slippery curves and drunken truck drivers though. I'm not the least bit worried about you getting mugged, kidnapped, held hostage or accused of spying for the Kremlin, but slippery corners.....watch out for the slippery corners and donkeys and stuff. THEY are dangerous!

Glad you're OK Mark.

[BeachGuy]

I have been lurking and following your ride from the beginning. To bad for the new delay in your trip, but it can’t be all pretty girls in 2 piece beach attire with cold beer and hot sand. Some fecal matter must interject itself.

Had my own little get off in Costa Rica a short while back. I can guarantee that it will hurt the next morning. Enjoy the people and experience. Every rider needs a war story; this will make a good conversation piece.

I am willing to bet that it won’t take much to stop the hemorrhage on your motor.

Buen Viaje

[Bob]

Originally Posted by towpro

Search on JBweld Guatemala city brought up this place.

Nuevos Almacenes, S.A. (ace hardware)
Blvd. Los Proceres 4-96 Zona 10
Guatemala City
Guatemala

Maybe they might have it. But as other said, JBweld is just one flavor.
But I have read (on JB weld advertisements) where some guy fixed a cracked cylinder sleeve in a Cat diesel with the stuff :)

Amazing place, the internet!
Never used it on a bike YET, but used it on an old vw with cracked case and it worked 99% (slight wet spot, it worked for about 5 years)
Whatever happens, good luck and have fun!

[rjmorel]

Well now your no longer a "virgin" Mark. Got the battle scares to prove it. I kinda did same thing in Yellowstone this summer. Came around a corner about 25-30mph just fine then hit a wet spot where mist was going across the road. Made it as slick as ice. Went down so fast I couldn't even pucker up. Then it spun a 360 which pitched me off into the ditch with warm sulfer water running down it. I smelled like rotten eggs. Some people helped me get bike up. Nothing major broken on bike or me. Just bent the bars some.
What surprised me Mark was how long it took me to gain my confidence back. I didn't trust the tires any longer. Michelin Pilot 2's. I rode the rest of the 3 days home being cautious . It wasn't till I went to the Gorge Rally in Stevenson a few weeks later that I started to feel my confidence come back. I rode the Mary Hill twisties up and down 6-8 times and it seemed to help. I'm not an aggressive rider but when you go down for the first time on pavement, it shakes you cause "It shouldnt have happened, I wasn't even going that fast" .All is great till you throw a little water in the situation then its a different ball game.

I'll be praying for you Mark for a quick heal and how to get the bike up and running. Just another crossroad in your adventure. rj in Walla Walla

[terryckdbf]

Cudos Frank, thanks for taking care of Mark.

Terry

[Radioman]

First! Thanks to Frank I am in Guatemala City.

I just arrived at my hotel after the 4 hour drive with my bike in the back of a Pick Up that BMW Guatemala set up for me. Richardo and his family got up really early drove to Coban to pick me and my bike up, then return to Guata.

The BMW dealer took a brief look, and will not be able to really take a look until Monday. The engine case is certainly cracked, we will see if they think it can be welded..... They have done others and have a really good welding shop.

So now I need to wait until they have a chance to take a look. Then see what decisions I will need to make. Frank also has some thoughts about another shop if BMW cannot fix it..... There are options. Have had more than a few suggest JB weld or the like, and that might be my fix for now.

So with time on my hands.... I had already planned to be in Antigua (that is where I was riding to when things changed)

Originally Posted by petefromberkeley

Hey! Something just occurred to me as I am writing (hope it's not 205). You had planned on slowing down for additional Spanish language lessons right? I suspect you will have your fill of Guatemala City by necessity doing what you need to for your bike, but you are only about an hour (probably less) by public bus from Antigua which is not only a MUCH more pleasant place to pass the time (if you have to wait for parts or something), but it is one of the centers for Spanish schools in Central America. There are lots of schools there and the competition among them keeps prices down and quality up.

So thanks Pete, That is my plan. Get to Antigua tomorrow. Frank is setting something up for me......

Have a hotel set up, and will check out Spanish Schools and hopefully will start on Monday... there are a few other things to see and do in the area as well. Time will not be wasted for me.


"Stayed tuned to "as the world turns......."

[petefromberkeley]

Originally Posted by terryckdbf

Cudos Frank, thanks for taking care of Mark.

Terry

+1. I love to see the world wide motorcycle community in action.

[BOBaloo22]

Hey Mark, been folowing from the get go, sorry to hear about your spill. Glad you're going to be ok.
Via Con Dios
Bob

[bsscooter]

Mark,
I have really enjoyed your report and am glad you're ok. A get off close to home is bad enough but in Guatemala! Wow! Your are an inspiration to us here in the cold of Mid-America. Keep in mind, "we know that all things work for good......"

[RAGBrian]

Mark, glad to read that you are OK from your get off. Crashing just isn't any fun, and while mine have been on bicycles (not yet on the moto - and I am not planning anytime soon), it's good to see that your injuries are minor. The time off in Antigua sounds like a wonderful idea. I have been kicking around the idea of learning more Spanish and luckily I have a personal tutor - my college aged daughter who is getting a degree in Spanish!

Good luck on the repair of the BMW. As others like to say here..."That'll buff out!"

[Radioman]

Originally Posted by oregoncoast

weird having that huge rock right there. Are you sure you didn't target fixate on that huge thing


And it may have been said, but it looks like the crash bar is the thing that punctured your case..maybe not the best design. Are those BMW or aftermarket?

Have been replaying the get off in my mind. Target fixation... Do not think so as I was into the deep ditch prior to the rock.

I spoke with Frank today as he picked me up at the dealer. He said the roads in that area are made with crushed rock from the area that is very slippery and with a downhill left hander, sloping toward the ditch....... I probably did not "throttle out like I normally would".

It all happens very fast. I have 175,000 Miles of street riding in the past 6 years.... Never gone down on road until now

Yes I agree that the engine guard attach points into the lower engine block is a really bad design, but the F800 has no frame down low to attach to..... If you hit your crash guard, BMW or Aftermarket, the same thing happens. the rock was in the right place at the wrong time :eek Of course if it covered the ditch, I would have much more bike damage, and maybe more Radioman damage as well. Will get things sorted out in the next week on the bike....one way or another.

The lower engine case is certainly damaged ...... We know how long that could take, but I am hoping that once it is taken apart.... someone will be able to weld the breaks and get me back on the road. Will not know until next Tuesday.

Time to get started on more Spanish classes

[arraflipper]

I have enjoyed your posts and the pictures, sorry about your accident. Hope you get things sorted out soon, but sounds like you are making the best of it. Never hurts to learn a little more language that you can use, on the rest of your trip. Good luck keep your good attitude, that is the most important thing. It is an experience, so make th best of it.

[GoinPostal]

Mark, after reading Franks comments about tires and road condtions in Guatemala I was wondering what you plan on doing about that sliced tire on your bike. Are you going to try and replace it with a street or dualsport/ offroad tire? What about road conditions further south?

[wjpjump]

Heal up. Good luck with the bike. Glad you weren't more severly injured