I'm NOT Stranded in Western PA

"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
03/22/2020 at 19:30 • Filed to: Two Wheels Bad

Update: Alrighty, I didn’t want to do it but I had to, I got out of the little hellhole I was in. Did it by doing a similar thing that AMGtech did and I rented a truck. However, I wasn’t about to leave the scooter in PA, so I got a U-Haul.

Sadly, the smallest available within 40 miles was a 15 footer. Oh well.

Here’s where I was stranded for roughly 4 hours:

I’ve passed Lordstown, nearing Cleveland:

I’ve learned a lot of lessons, no particular order:

1. Even if a bike is mechanically sound, think about everything that can go wrong, prepare for them. When I was with atfsgeoff and chuckles, they asked if I needed any tools, somehow tire repair never crossed my mind. In this case, had I picked up a can of fix-a-flat this would have been a much happier and much cheaper post.

2. While taking advantage of an emergency for a deal seems like a win win, don’t. Stay home, wait for things to calm down. While travel isn’t restricted, you can still infect people.

2A. Even if you don’t care about whatever the emergency is, remember that services like towing, recovery, and roadside assistance may not be available. Or worse, police will ignore you.

3. Buddy system. If you must buy a vehicle long distance and bring it back with you, bring a friend. Even if that friend ends up as helpless as you, at least you won’t be alone.

4. Have a backup plan. This is the first time I’ve ever been stranded so far from home and so far away from my support system that literally nobody could help me. Thankfully I had just enough money to swing this U-Haul.

The sale of my carby Suzuki and the Vespa project should cover the truck and then some, so I should be just fine.

Thanks to Chuckles for their awesome generosity and Oppo Discord for the U-Haul idea! <3

Perhaps annoyingly, my work sent out an email an hour ago that effective Monday, coming into work is optional. You can opt to not work and still be paid. No actions will be taken against you for doing so. I could definitely have waited until Monday for a proper repair, but such is life.

ETA: New n ew email just out. They’re retracting the “you’ll be paid matter what” thing. It’s now “you’ll be paid until you run out of PTO”. Someone must have performed a cost analysis. lol

Finally, I’ll probably be going quiet here once I get home. I spiraled so bad last night I legit felt like I deserved to freeze on the side of the highway to do everyone a favour. That’s a feeling I haven’t had in a long while. So, I need to take a break, try to be better to myself.

When I come back you’ll hear all about how the Burgman is the coolest big two wheeler I’ve ever owned.

Peace, and take this post as a reminder: Don’t be me. Stay home.

—— Original ——

I wish I had a witty title but the truth is a harsh reality.

I bought atfsgeoff’s girlfriend’s Suzuki Burgman 650 yesterday. I made it over a quarter of the way home before I noticed the scoot felt really “wobbly”. Pulled over to check it out and it was a flat rear tire. Unfortunately, the place I happened to pull over at was 5 miles from the nearest town with any services.

Commence panicking. I first examine the tire. I see a really deep crack, but no clue if that’s where the air came out.

Next, I realize the place I pulled over is extremely dangerous. It’s the crest of a hill with a narrow shoulder. I decided to get to safety by limping to the nearest exit, 2 miles. Bad move.

PA state trooper does a slow roll by me. I flag him down with my lights and horn, he doesn’t even hit the brakes.

I call up my insurance, they tell me they can’t help because my roadside coverage hadn’t kicked in yet. I call a couple tow companies, they tell me they can tow me or give me a ride, but they won’t touch the bike.

The effective date on my coverage is 3/22, so I just decide to wait the two hours until my coverage kicked in. Called insurance again and they say I have to have the coverage for 24 hours before I can use it. Bad move.

Fine, I’ll just pay for a tow. Spent an hour blowing up the phones of a list of tow companies, either no answer or I was told they were “too busy” to help me. I guess towing stops being a thing around midnight?

Another PA state trooper passes by going a few mph, I flag him down, he ignores me.

At this point it’s 1am. I’m cold, I’m tired... and apparently I’ve waited too long to get help. “24 hour” emergency roadside assistance apparently isn’t a thing in the world of COVID-19.

I limp it to a hotel 3 miles away. 5 miles limping the tire was enough to shred it. If the tire was recoverable when I first stopped, I definitely screwed up.

And now because my series of stupid decisions trying to save money, I’m stuck in the middle of nowhere. Nearest friends are several hours away, can’t rent a car, and no motorcycle shop is open until at least tomorrow, if not Tuesday, if at all. There aren’t even Gambler 500 teams here. I’ve never felt so alone.

At this point, the only way I’m getting home in anything resembling a timely manner is by renting a U-Haul. It’ll set me back every dollar I have in the bank, but it gets me home.

I hate myself. I should have never done this. Was supposed to be a fun weekend with an epic road trip. The opposite has happened. The trauma this will inevitably leave behind will ensure I never buy a vehicle from across the country ever again.

DISCUSSION (28)

pip bip - choose Corrour > Mercedes Streeter
03/22/2020 at 08:20

cheer up, consider it an adventure

f86sabre > Mercedes Streeter
03/22/2020 at 08:37

This sounds extremely difficult. Rest, eat something and review your options. What town are you in?

CalzoneGolem > Mercedes Streeter
03/22/2020 at 08:39

The trauma this will inevitably leave behind will ensure I never buy a vehicle from across the country ever again.

Nah you’ll just be better prepared next time. Or you know ... not do it during a pandemic type situation.

dumpsterfire! > Mercedes Streeter
03/22/2020 at 08:43

at least you are currently safe. hope the daylight and some time to breathe away from the roadside presents you some new options. good luck

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Mercedes Streeter
03/22/2020 at 08:43

I've been in worse automotive places....and they have made for great stories in hindsight...

Mercedes Streeter > CalzoneGolem
03/22/2020 at 08:43

Best friend suggested a buddy system. Bring a buddy with whenever I buy something out of state.

Weird thing is that you'd think emergency services would be operating right now. There's no excuse why two cops ignored me and tow companies blew me off.

Mercedes Streeter > f86sabre
03/22/2020 at 08:45

DuBois, PA

I’ve r ested enough to realize I made some dumb decisions last night. If I just stayed where I was I probably could have found someone to put air in the tire. Then limp it to somewhere I could seal the leak.

But, would you trust a patched motorcycle tire 600 highway miles? Hmmm..

TheRealBicycleBuck > Mercedes Streeter
03/22/2020 at 08:52

These things happen. You’ll learn from it and be better prepared next time. No big deal.

My truck died when we were moving to Arkansas. It was a Sunday morning and w e stil had several hundred miles to go. I was lucky to find a uhaul place that had a truck and a tow dolly. We were even luckier to get my truck onto the dolly. The whole excursion drained my bank account and we had a month to wait for my first paycheck at my new job. It was another month before we could afford the repairs. Thankfully, we were a two-car family and my wife wasn’t working. Anyway, lessons learned and we think through the what if scenarios a little more carefully now.

You will too.

Nibby > Mercedes Streeter
03/22/2020 at 09:03

call pterodactyl service, they’ll give you a free lift, including bike

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Mercedes Streeter
03/22/2020 at 09:50

Wow, two S taties ignored you? Nice job PSP, those’re some fine officers you’ve got out there on patrol. Real iconic examples of serve and protect...

Crazy...

Sorry this one went so sideways on you :/ hopefully you’ll be able to get a tire, or a transport home in a way that doesn’t completely break the bank and the timeline.

Tire dry rot is the bane of buying old bikes without a hauling plan... Almost everything else can be fixed on the roadside with an appropriate small tool set and decent mechanical aptitude, but if a big dry crack blows out and you don't have a spare tire (or at least a tube to stuff in it) you're in SOL-land :/

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Mercedes Streeter
03/22/2020 at 09:51

Yeah, that’s kind of... alarming. Call their non-emergency line when you’re safe perhaps and file a complaint? If someone was in more dire straits and a patrol drove by at a few mph, worse could have happened.

Best of luck getting home. Stay safe.

My bird IS the word > Mercedes Streeter
03/22/2020 at 10:04

Not on the highway I wouldn’t. . I live in Pittsburgh but I don’t have a truck or I’d offer to help.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Mercedes Streeter
03/22/2020 at 10:31

Check local Facebook moto and scooter groups for hello. Maybe someone has an extra laying around and tons to install it for you. Check Craigslist for shade tree mechanics who could install a tire for you. Check to see if there are any cycle gear stores near you that are open, they might have a tire in stock.

Sorry for your troubles. I hope it works out.

atfsgeoff > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/22/2020 at 14:29

Tires are only 3 years old, not dry rotted. They've held air over the winter only losing 2 psi over 3 months. I'm guessing it was a small puncture that you'd need soapy water in a spray bottle to find

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > atfsgeoff
03/22/2020 at 14:42

Double bummer.

Just Jeepin' > Mercedes Streeter
03/22/2020 at 19:38

Glad you’re safe and mobile again. Take whatever time you need, and hopefully Oppo will be here waiting for you, herbs notwithstanding.

cmill189 - sans Volvo > Mercedes Streeter
03/22/2020 at 19:39

It honestly doesn’t matter at this point but why were you buying another vehicle out-of-state when you don’t have any money?

Glad you’re safe. Mistakes are how we learn but you gotta be more careful.

Mercedes Streeter > cmill189 - sans Volvo
03/22/2020 at 19:44

I mean, I did have money, I just didn’t want to spend it all on getting tows then a U-Haul. The truck will set me back an additional $800 but I’ll get it back. By not getting a tow I saved some coin.

boredalways > Mercedes Streeter
03/22/2020 at 20:10

Get some rest and be safe, Miss Mercedes!

cmill189 - sans Volvo > Mercedes Streeter
03/22/2020 at 20:13

Thankfully I had just enough money to swing this U-Haul.

If 800 bucks is gonna put you out, you don’t have any money.

This is not me being mean. It’s more of a be more mature about things criticism . I’ve enjoyed reading your comments and contributions for years. I’d like to continue to and I know many others would as well.

Longtime Lurker > Mercedes Streeter
03/22/2020 at 21:43

I’m glad you’re safe and on your way home. I hope these lessons you learned stick with you and everyone reading. Get some rest, get your head cleared up.

WilliamsSW > Mercedes Streeter
03/22/2020 at 22:17

Glad you escaped- and tbh driving a Uhaul is better than a bike in the snow today! Welcome back to Illinois!

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter
03/22/2020 at 23:13

Wow. I missed some action last night.

For what it’s worth, when I wrecked the Roadmaster in that first rallycross, I said “I’ll never again ...,” too. But with time and reflection I realized that sometimes the things we screw up, are really good opportunities to learn and get better. Don’t make any rash decisions. Just take some time to think and reflect. You’ll come out the other side stronger and smarter.

I’m glad you’re ok. Take care of yourself. Don’t hesitate to reach out. You know we love you here.

stars-pulse-like-venom > Mercedes Streeter
03/22/2020 at 23:35

The best thing one can do is not make the mistake.

The next best thing is to learn from it.

Proud of you for doing that, and we’ll round 13/14/??? tonight cause it sounds like neither of us are workin tomorrow.

CalzoneGolem > Mercedes Streeter
03/23/2020 at 07:16

Yeah there’s no excuse for those two cops just passing a young lady stopped by the road all by herself.

Fuckkinja > Mercedes Streeter
03/23/2020 at 09:26

I have a friend in the Detroit area that just got a 650 Bergman parts bike on trade. The parts fit 07-11. Needs fork tubes and some plastic. No title. If you want the whole bike cheap let me know.

Mercedes Streeter > Fuckkinja
03/23/2020 at 17:32

Not so much a parts bike, but I am looking for parts. Rear tire (or whole wheel) and windscreen.

Fuckkinja > Mercedes Streeter
03/23/2020 at 18:50

You can give him a call. He is an old guy with limited shipping skills. Big Bob 734 732-1207