Desert Spyder
New member
Trying to get an early out of Durango at 0530 on Saturday and my Spyder crapped out on Poop Out Hill on Hwy 160, 10 mi west of Durango. My pressure plate gave out. I was towing a trailer in "trailer mode", downshifted a gear and it gave out. No error messages, RPM went through the roof when it gave. At first I thought it was the shifting arm that gave out which I had trouble with a month ago. So I took off the plastic on the left side, PITA, and reset the arm. Didn't help. In all my years on this forum I don't recall this happening, the pressure plate, to anybody but obviously it has to have.
Got towed to Fun Center (thank you AAA) where all the Spyders in the parking lot resembled an ER waiting room. They had FIVE Spyder mechanics on duty to insure everybody got out of town OK. Talked with Doc and Paul from Florida C2C, SRA-SRA-SRA and many others. About 2 hrs later the verdict came in that it was the pp. Parts on order but may not arrive till Tuesday at the earliest, maybe Wed with customs, even with air freight. So the bike may not be repaired until Friday. I called AAA again to help out on a rental car which was available at the Durango airport. Lyle at Fun Ctr arranged for transportation to the airport. Transferred what I could into the little car, Nissan Vespar, which is not much bigger than the Spyder LOL.
My wife and I were ryding with another couple from San Diego. They had come to Durango via a very hard ryde through Yuma and Phoenix, AZ. Spyder temp 120. It was very hard on his wife so she rode with us to Barstow in the air conditioned car. This was a God send for her I am sure. Even in times of discouragement the ryde to Durango and back to Barstow was a lesson in God's blessings, adventure and fellowship. An expensive one to be sure but still the same. About a dozen or more Spyders passed me while I was stranded on the side. Most were ryding independently and none pulled over, or slowed down, save two...who I knew: my friend Danny, Spyderflyer, from Barstow who was on his way to Utah, and Marcianne and hubby from SRA-San Francisco Bay chapter from Carson City.
I asked Lyle, the owner of Fun Center, how many Spyders they worked on during the week? About 170 with an astonished look, which included oil changes, etc. How many were worked on in the Tech Tent at the fairgrounds I am not certain. There were about 500 Spyders at the event from what I hear. If these numbers are good then about HALF of the bikes at the event were touched by the techs for one reason or another. Hmm.
I do not know why the PP gave out. I praise God it happened where it did and not out in the middle of the hot desert with my wife. I praise God I was ryding with my SRA friends Dave MacLeod and wife Deb. They stayed by us, including an extra night on the road, till we arrived home. This is perhaps THE #1 reason for joining a club, like Spyder Ryder of America (SRA) or another Spyder club. Many owners simply are not groupies which is understandable but still a shame. It was kind of discouraging to see so many bykes pass me, from an owners standpoint, while I was broke down. Granted, another bike was with me and other ryders simply did not know what was going on but still... Perhaps a universal sign of distress can be created save from flames coming out. Too many flames in the area anyway. Durango may not have fireworks on July 4th I hear.
Now I must make a 2nd trip to Durango this week to return the car and pick up the bike. I just pray the temps come down because this trip will be done solo I'm sure. Not much choice there I'm afraid.
See ya soon Durango....I hope.
Got towed to Fun Center (thank you AAA) where all the Spyders in the parking lot resembled an ER waiting room. They had FIVE Spyder mechanics on duty to insure everybody got out of town OK. Talked with Doc and Paul from Florida C2C, SRA-SRA-SRA and many others. About 2 hrs later the verdict came in that it was the pp. Parts on order but may not arrive till Tuesday at the earliest, maybe Wed with customs, even with air freight. So the bike may not be repaired until Friday. I called AAA again to help out on a rental car which was available at the Durango airport. Lyle at Fun Ctr arranged for transportation to the airport. Transferred what I could into the little car, Nissan Vespar, which is not much bigger than the Spyder LOL.
My wife and I were ryding with another couple from San Diego. They had come to Durango via a very hard ryde through Yuma and Phoenix, AZ. Spyder temp 120. It was very hard on his wife so she rode with us to Barstow in the air conditioned car. This was a God send for her I am sure. Even in times of discouragement the ryde to Durango and back to Barstow was a lesson in God's blessings, adventure and fellowship. An expensive one to be sure but still the same. About a dozen or more Spyders passed me while I was stranded on the side. Most were ryding independently and none pulled over, or slowed down, save two...who I knew: my friend Danny, Spyderflyer, from Barstow who was on his way to Utah, and Marcianne and hubby from SRA-San Francisco Bay chapter from Carson City.
I asked Lyle, the owner of Fun Center, how many Spyders they worked on during the week? About 170 with an astonished look, which included oil changes, etc. How many were worked on in the Tech Tent at the fairgrounds I am not certain. There were about 500 Spyders at the event from what I hear. If these numbers are good then about HALF of the bikes at the event were touched by the techs for one reason or another. Hmm.
I do not know why the PP gave out. I praise God it happened where it did and not out in the middle of the hot desert with my wife. I praise God I was ryding with my SRA friends Dave MacLeod and wife Deb. They stayed by us, including an extra night on the road, till we arrived home. This is perhaps THE #1 reason for joining a club, like Spyder Ryder of America (SRA) or another Spyder club. Many owners simply are not groupies which is understandable but still a shame. It was kind of discouraging to see so many bykes pass me, from an owners standpoint, while I was broke down. Granted, another bike was with me and other ryders simply did not know what was going on but still... Perhaps a universal sign of distress can be created save from flames coming out. Too many flames in the area anyway. Durango may not have fireworks on July 4th I hear.
Now I must make a 2nd trip to Durango this week to return the car and pick up the bike. I just pray the temps come down because this trip will be done solo I'm sure. Not much choice there I'm afraid.
See ya soon Durango....I hope.
