So I attended my first BMW MOA Rally in Hamburg, NY. The ride up from NJ on Thursday went well. Even met another MOA member on the way up and we rode up together. Friday was a great day. Started with a demo ride, and then I rode up to Niagara falls for a few hours. Came back to the rally site for some food and music to end the night. Then back to my hotel for the evening.
Saturday is when things went bad. Showed up early Saturday morning for the street riding course that I signed up for. I thought a little training would be a nice way to spend the morning. The K1600 was doing great until we ended up on some tight turns with gravel on the road. During a sharp right turn all was good until I hit some gravel. The bike ahead of me had his back tire slide out, but he was able to save the bike. I wasn't so lucky. One second I was enjoying the turn, the next second me and the bike were sliding on the ground.
I got up and felt pretty good except for what felt like a sprained ankle. The Motoport gear performed as expected. Didn't have as scratch on me. I was able to ride the bike about 30 miles back to the rally site. I brought the bike over to my dealer Max BMW. Max was great. He checked out the bike for me, and even test rode it. He said it was OK to ride home. I wanted to pay him something for all the work and time he put in, but he wouldn't take any money.
I put some ice on the ankle, but it just didn't feel right. Decided to ride over to an urgent care facility in Orchard Park where the X-Rays showed a broken leg.
Now the story gets interesting. And where in the end MAX BMW really saved me.
Now I am in a strip mall, with a pretty banged up bike and a cast on my leg. I do not know anyone in the area and I have no way of getting me or the bike back to the hotel, let alone back to NJ. Multiple hours on the phone with my insurance company (including towing coverage) was nothing but frustrating and useless. They were no help. They wanted to tow the bike to the nearest auto repair facility.
Remember the friend I met on the ride up to the rally on Thursday? Well I had his cell phone number. I contacted him and asked if he could let Max (of MAX BMW) know what was happening. He was able to contact Max. After several emails and some logistics, Max and his crew drove over to the urgent care location, made room in their trailer, and loaded up the bike. Max asked me how I was getting back to the hotel. I told him that I was going to call a taxi. He insisted that he take me back to the hotel. So Max loaded me and my gear into his van, and he drove me 10 miles to my hotel. Then Max and his crew even carried all my gear up to my room and helped me get settled. Again, they refused my offer to compensate them for their time and effort.
In the end, my wife came to pick my up and I made it back to NJ. Broken leg will take about 6 weeks to heal, and the bike is totaled (scratched engine case).
The real hero here was MAX BMW. Max went above and beyond what I would expect any dealer to do. He really saved me. I am a customer for life.
Saturday is when things went bad. Showed up early Saturday morning for the street riding course that I signed up for. I thought a little training would be a nice way to spend the morning. The K1600 was doing great until we ended up on some tight turns with gravel on the road. During a sharp right turn all was good until I hit some gravel. The bike ahead of me had his back tire slide out, but he was able to save the bike. I wasn't so lucky. One second I was enjoying the turn, the next second me and the bike were sliding on the ground.
I got up and felt pretty good except for what felt like a sprained ankle. The Motoport gear performed as expected. Didn't have as scratch on me. I was able to ride the bike about 30 miles back to the rally site. I brought the bike over to my dealer Max BMW. Max was great. He checked out the bike for me, and even test rode it. He said it was OK to ride home. I wanted to pay him something for all the work and time he put in, but he wouldn't take any money.
I put some ice on the ankle, but it just didn't feel right. Decided to ride over to an urgent care facility in Orchard Park where the X-Rays showed a broken leg.
Now the story gets interesting. And where in the end MAX BMW really saved me.
Now I am in a strip mall, with a pretty banged up bike and a cast on my leg. I do not know anyone in the area and I have no way of getting me or the bike back to the hotel, let alone back to NJ. Multiple hours on the phone with my insurance company (including towing coverage) was nothing but frustrating and useless. They were no help. They wanted to tow the bike to the nearest auto repair facility.
Remember the friend I met on the ride up to the rally on Thursday? Well I had his cell phone number. I contacted him and asked if he could let Max (of MAX BMW) know what was happening. He was able to contact Max. After several emails and some logistics, Max and his crew drove over to the urgent care location, made room in their trailer, and loaded up the bike. Max asked me how I was getting back to the hotel. I told him that I was going to call a taxi. He insisted that he take me back to the hotel. So Max loaded me and my gear into his van, and he drove me 10 miles to my hotel. Then Max and his crew even carried all my gear up to my room and helped me get settled. Again, they refused my offer to compensate them for their time and effort.
In the end, my wife came to pick my up and I made it back to NJ. Broken leg will take about 6 weeks to heal, and the bike is totaled (scratched engine case).
The real hero here was MAX BMW. Max went above and beyond what I would expect any dealer to do. He really saved me. I am a customer for life.
