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Glendale, AZ United States | A few months back I was heading to work on my VV and noticed two motorcyclists parked in an awkward spot a stone throw from where I work. I saw the Alaska plates on the VV so I figured they were taking a serious road trip and were far away from home and stranded. I headed over there thinking one of them had a mechanical issue to see if they needed assistance.
They left California two days prior and the VV was having electrical issues (A ton of electrical upgrades on the VV by the way, which goes to show you  ). They randomly selected a VV dealer/repair on their GPS and managed to milk the VV over there. Apparently they were told the problem was fixed and headed out the following morning only to get stranded again a short time later. They called the shop and were told someone would be out out within 30 min from the shop to pick the bike up, which turned into four hours! He told me the name of the shop and I immediately cringed knowing the reputation they had locally. I remember thinking if they just would have called me I could have either directed them to a good shop for service or if they were mechanically handy just milk the VV to my house and utilize my garage for whatever they needed.
The reason I am mentioning this is my BMW buddy was showing me his BMW Nationwide Anonymous book, which is updated every year prior to our ride this am. He never leaves without it if he's riding out of state. It's broken down by city/state, no names, just phone numbers of who you can contact as a resource for where to take your bike for service/lodging/restaurants/ or if you have a garage they can use to do the service themselves. His phone number is also listed by the way. He said not long ago he was contacted by someone from Canada passing through Arizona that needed access to a garage for service and my buddy obliged. He stopped by, they picked up parts, did the service, went to dinner and compared trip stories, went back to the house hung out and he slept in the spare bedroom and left back on the road the following morning after breakfast. My buddy said this doesn't happen frequently where he is actually contacted, but 2-3 time/year for sure. He said he has met a lot of really cool folks over the years as a result.
When he was telling me this I immediately thought "How cool is that! It would be neat if we had something like this for Victory owners since there are only two Victory authorized repair shops in the state of AZ I can recommend not to mention I would ALWAYS be willing if able in any way to help out another rider irregardless of what they choose to ride. Thoughts? |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 44
| The VMC.com has a listing for this very reason. It is called the rescue riders database and members sign up and provide their contact information along with the type of support they can provide.
It is a neat program. |
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Tourer
Posts: 341
West Salem, WI United States | Tex - 2014-04-14 4:44 AM The VMC.com has a listing for this very reason. It is called the rescue riders database and members sign up and provide their contact information along with the type of support they can provide. It is a neat program. It's a bit of a cobble though, not sorted well and the only way to "download" it is to printed it (as a PDF if you want). I wish it was available as an app for iphone/android or at the least as a spreadsheet so it could be sorted/filtered by state etc. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 215
W'ford Tx | It wouldn't be hard to make an app for that. I wonder if there would be any objection from Victory or any of the websites for doing this..... Really it would be VERY easy. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 215
W'ford Tx | Did some research and could offer it free but there would be adds involved and there's no telling what they'd be for or how many there would be. For about $1.99 for the app depending on how popular it could become, maybe .99 it could cover add free with GPS, SMS, hotel bookings and an offline database if you're stuck without internet connection just to name a few things. I like the idea of a emergency listing and people could rate and review the dealers around them to help stranded riders out. Could be expanded for lots of other stuff. Like I said though I don't know about the legal aspect of how Victory or other forums would feel about it. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1632
Jasper, MO | ljurgens - 2014-04-14 7:30 AM
Tex - 2014-04-14 4:44 AM The VMC.com has a listing for this very reason. It is called the rescue riders database and members sign up and provide their contact information along with the type of support they can provide. It is a neat program. It's a bit of a cobble though, not sorted well and the only way to "download" it is to printed it (as a PDF if you want).? I wish it was available as an app for iphone/android or at the least as a spreadsheet so it could be sorted/filtered by state etc.
I believe the webmasters over there are working on making it an app for mobile access.
I don't think anyone would complain if there were another database on this site.
Ronnie
Edited by rdbudd 2014-04-14 10:31 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | very neat program that I've been a part of in helping a Vicster in trouble. So Tex, what have you been up to since the Four Corners meeting four years ago. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 44
| Too much work and not enough riding! I can't beleive that was 4 years ago.
I too was able to help someone out because of the information on the VMC. |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| Vladezip
Now that you have us hanging by a thread. Did you fix his bike |
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Glendale, AZ United States | johnnyvision - 2014-04-14 5:35 PM
Vladezip
Now that you have us hanging by a thread. Did you fix his bike
Here is how I would have personally tackled his electrical issue. I would have purchased some Big League Chew bubble gum and started pasting that stuff on after it had been marinating in my mouth for awhile to help with conduction. Obviously, I would have enough sense to wear my all wood clogs I got from the Netherlands so I wouldn't get zapped. If that didn't work, I would have taken out my trusty rubber mallet and would perform and exorcism right then and there by beating the demon into submission and casting her out! The last time I checked it is only the female demons that are involved in inhibiting riding time and causing havoc on the road followed in short order with a pair of pliers and a blow torch.
Maybe his muffler bearings were worn and/or blinker fluid needed to be changed in a big way prior to his trip. Or maybe the second transmission that makes the bike go in reverse as opposed to the first transmission that makes the bike go forward needed a service?
I for one will concede that I'm no electrical guy, but maybe I would have enough sense to start with the fuse box and go from there. I have AAA with motorcycle towing coverage and offered to give them a jingle and to have the bike towed to a different shop or wherever he wanted to go, but he figured since he spent over 300 bucks there the day before they are now proud owners of his electrical problem, which makes sense. For the record, that shop is no longer in business. Vlad.
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Visionary
Posts: 1340
Gainesville Fl Home of the Gators | ljurgens - 2014-04-14 8:30 AM
Tex - 2014-04-14 4:44 AM The VMC.com has a listing for this very reason. It is called the rescue riders database and members sign up and provide their contact information along with the type of support they can provide. It is a neat program. It's a bit of a cobble though, not sorted well and the only way to "download" it is to printed it (as a PDF if you want).? I wish it was available as an app for iphone/android or at the least as a spreadsheet so it could be sorted/filtered by state etc.
With a smart phone I have no need to download anything. Just open it, find, the region I am in, and then look for someone the area. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 178
LaGrange, GA | kevinx - 2014-04-15 11:39 AM
ljurgens - 2014-04-14 8:30 AM
Tex - 2014-04-14 4:44 AM The VMC.com has a listing for this very reason. It is called the rescue riders database and members sign up and provide their contact information along with the type of support they can provide. It is a neat program. It's a bit of a cobble though, not sorted well and the only way to "download" it is to printed it (as a PDF if you want).? I wish it was available as an app for iphone/android or at the least as a spreadsheet so it could be sorted/filtered by state etc.
With a smart phone I have no need to download anything. Just open it, find, the region I am in, and then look for someone the area.
You could end up in a place where you don't have data coverage, though. Every time I'm west of you along the panhandle I go through lots of areas with no data coverage, but solid regular phone signal. That and south Alabama are the only areas I commonly go through with no data coverage though, and it's getting better every time I go through. |
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