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Visionary
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Brighton, TN | thinking! |
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Visionary
Posts: 2027
Brighton, TN | still thinking
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Visionary
Posts: 2027
Brighton, TN | still thinking, almost done thinking.
Okay, like Paul Harvey would say, "Now you know the rest of the story!" Not yet, though.
Alrighty now, let me just start by saying that the Harley bash over on the other thread is getting more play than a Rooster in a Hen house, and he gets a lot of play. Obviously I don't rant enough, maybe guns and very big sticks will get your attention. I digress, lightly jilted, but nothing that twentyyearoldhottiesomethings can't take care of or a psychiatrist with a bar stocked with Dr. Pepper and Crown Royal. Ever make you wonder if the people who make Crown Royal are the same ones that make RC Cola.
On with the show. So, there I was waiting for the infamous tow truck driver to show up. I found out he came out of Jackson, TN, which, is over an hour away from my broken down location.
Let the waiting begin, by this time I could have called any of my buddies to grab my truck and trailer and come get me.
Meantime, back on the ranch, I try to make sure the tow truck can get through the gate. Go down to the guard shack and am informed that the area is a now walking zone. I ponder the question to him that since I am broke down would he like for me to roll up to his shack on my broke down bike. He redirects me to another location to figure out how to get my bike back home and off the grounds. I get on the phone with the Security Lt., she lets me know again about the no walking area and blah, dee blah dee blah. So, to get a tow truck driver on, they need company and driver name. Told her I didn't have that information due to the insurance company had not called back with that information. Well, as Murphy would have his way with me, Call waiting is now showing up with the insurance company number. I tell her, they are calling me, I gotta go. She keeps reiterating that they have to verify all this info, and that I need to get it to her immediately. I tell her I gotta answer it, she reiterates again. I finally get her to hang up and so does the Insurance company. GRUMBLE< GRUMBLE. Wait about 30 mins. to see if they are going to call back, call the ins. company back and guess who is calling on call waiting, the tow truck driver. Hang up with ins. company and also the driver. Call driver and tell him I have to have his information so it will be authorized for him to get into the facility and he tells me its all authorized. I have to politely explain to him that it is not through the ins company but through the facilities security guards. OHHH!
Now let the waiting begin again. Keep telling myself to be patient gotta go through this to make sure the service is worth it..... About an hour and a half roll by and I finally see the tow truck driver pull up to the two locked gates with no guards. I have to call him and explain that he needs to go down to the next gate. OHHH! He gets down to the next gate and STOPS!
Thirty minutes go by, finally Truck moving again, except the guards escorting him have no idea on where I am. Now, mind you, there are security cameras all around, I have been talking to at least half of the security staff and yet, they still have no idea. Tow truck driver tells them he knows where I am at, but they ain't buying. They wait some more.
Once again, moving, yeah, if they can just get close enough I will push it over there. No need they made it all the way to the bike and the security guards park in front of my bike. It takes them at least two minutes to figure out that no one is moving including the tow truck who is waiting for them to move with his bumper pressed up to theirs. LIGHT BULB, they move! Tow truck can now finally back up to me, no trailer or dolly, this should get interesting.
He wants my help in holding it and then pushing it up onto the bar which is like 6 inches wide, and barely long enough. We manage to get it close and I hang onto it until he starts getting his straps around it. He throws one over the handlebars and hooks it too itself, not without trying to just hook the bar with all the wires around it. At this point, I try to explain to him that it is not wise to tie it down via the handlebars across the fairing to the clevis on the bumper of his truck. He ignores me and tells me he is not done. I then reiterate the weight of the bike and that there is no hard supports under the fairing to support the load he is about to tie it down with. I also POINT out the tie down location under the fairing above the rear tire. He just tells me it is not a good place to tie it down. I leave him alone for a moment, he ties down the rear to the tipover locations, no problem there. Then he revisits the front by adding another strap to the handlebars.
I explain to him in great detail that he is about to bust all of the lower fairing along with the top portion of the fairing and is going to be out a lot of money. He turns and looks me square in the eye and tells me, "Sir, I do this all the time, I take care of your bike like it was mine." Oh, NO! Then the next statement "Sir, just give me a minute to tie the bike down it will be fine, I know what I'm doing, we haul antique cars all the time." I thought, none of my cars and never my bike again! As, he starts to lift the bike and it is hooked to the clevis's the front end is starting to compress but so is the fairing. He lifts again and one of the straps slides up under the upper fairing where the mirror is located and I just start yelling at him that he is destroying my bike. I get the I know what I'm doing. I have to phsically point out to him that the strap has slid under. He undoes that strap and reattaches it. I started to really lose my cool. Then he looks at me and says we'll strap it down however your want, but I know what I'm doing. Fine do it my way.
Isn't this fun, I must take intermission. I'm going to get my 9mm, I have a business call to make. |
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Tourer
Posts: 320
Savannah, GA -Year round riding!! Yay! | Much worse than Trixie issues...
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Cruiser
Posts: 226
on the edge of Los Angeles | Pollo,
Do tell more just when the story starts to gain speed we are out here wondering where the tow truck has dropped you off |
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Visionary
Posts: 2027
Brighton, TN | Everybody got their sodas and popcorn, juju beans, and their redhots, ready? I shall continue. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2027
Brighton, TN | Everybody got their sodas and popcorn, juju beans, and their redhots, ready? I shall continue. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2027
Brighton, TN | Everybody got their sodas and popcorn, juju beans, and their redhots, ready? I shall continue.
There I was deep in the jungles of Tow Truckdom, my arch enemy, with lift lever in hand ready to deliver the final blow to my poor Victory Vision. After all the popping and cracking and panels being squished, He, finally, has a LIGHT BULB of his own, go off. It might have burnt out, but I replaced it for him and he's all better now.
NOTE: No Tow Truck Drivers were hurt during the taping of this memory.
He has now, not so graciously, decided to tie it down my way. We tie it down under the airbox, where it is tied down for shipping. He goes, huh, that's pretty stable. I just said, "Ya, Think!" Then, he decides to tie it down again with another separate strap. I think for a moment he's got it figured out, that is a fleeting thought, which is immediately replaced with fear and abandonment for my own bike's safety. He attaches a hook, right behind the rear cylinder, where it attaches to the frame. Then, runs it toward the front, again, pressing on the front fairing. I reiterate again, scratches and more pressure. I get the complimentary, "We tied it your way, now I have to be sure it ain't going nowhere!" I tell him Okay, but your gonna either break or scratch that panel before it ever makes it to the house. His response, "I gotta tie it down!" Okay!
Now as he is lifting the bike, the two winch hooks are right above my front access panel, guess what starts to drag across the front of my bike. I once again have received the opportunity to yell at him again and let him know to "STOP!" Your scratching my bike up, please move those off of my bike. He lets me know, Okay, then starts to tie them up and out of the way. I am surprised at this point that I still have words left in the English Dictionary that I remember other than manly expletives. Or, that I haven't been reduced to a grumbling, hysterical, caveman whose last bit of flame just died out and I don't know how to start it back up.
We, finally get under way @ 45mph. We check along the way and all is good and it takes about an 1 1/2 hours to go 50 miles. Finally, home at last, pull down to the shop, I'm letting him know to drop it right there and I'll push it the rest of the way. He gets out and says how you gonna push it in this wet ground. I tell him, to drop it and I will take care of. We all know at this point you don't want this feller near your bike, muchless near your shop. So, we get it unloaded and he writes on the bill, "Tied down per customer instructions, no damage! Sign here!" I said do what, at this point I am closer to my 9 than I should be, considering mental state. I reiterated the above statement and then started to argue about what he had or had not done. I told him if there is any damage it won't be visible, it would be under the panels other than the scratches. I should have called somebody who would have told me to write a statement, instead I just wanted him GAWN (aka GONE)! So, I foolishly signed and said ADIOS.
I load it back up on my own trailer and no damage it incurred. It traveled like it was being shipped and I dropped it off at the Dealer on Tuesday for them to look at.
There is a another small story just in trying to get through the gate with my truck, trailer and bike. Needless to say, I couldn't bring it on and had to park out in the Visitor parking lot (UNSECURED).
I don't watch reality TV, I got plenty of my own. Thanks.
The dealer calls back on Thursday to let me know, if I can bring in my old ignition switch (which I had kept going from Street version to Tour, it comes with a whole new set of locks), they will swap them out and I can test it to see if that fixes it. I got to ride on Saturday a few hours and no issues.
Monday evening, I decide to clean it and what do I find but the lower front right fairing will move approximately a 1/2 inch or more in and out. It is busted, now what do I do. I call Progressive and tell the first guy who sends me over to Roadside Assistance who then sends me over to my claims department to start a claim. The lady calls me this morning, I give her this shortened version of the story and she tells me she will call the towing company and see what they will do. If they do nothing, then I need to come up with deductible (this will be the second time this year) and they will cover it. Then, they or I will try to get my deductible back out of the towing company. I don't see that happening, but I will wait and see.
That should be about it. I am still riding it, hate to put it in the shop.
Note: FRS I will be visiting you at some time, I need a loaner bike and the appropriate response to the loaner is, "YES!" Can do, Will do, Love to. Since you are one of my most valued customers and bring me so much repair work, it would be our pleasure. I know you are reading this, so how do I get that done. She wants me to leave it so ya'll can tear it apart and I just hate to be lonely. Maybe, I negotiate for the stage 2 exhaust, c'mon something. |
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Tourer
Posts: 496
Scottsdale AZ | Po - You have more patience than I do - There would have been "road kill tow guy at mile marker 12" in that situation with me. I am REALLY starting to feel bad for you, tissues were in each hand reading this travesty of events. OMG, how is all the bad stuff happening to you. Maybe you should JUST work on the patches for about six months and see if this "black cloud" will pass. I am in fear of your own life as well as others. Is your family OK? Maybe you could try acupuncture, I heard that could help. |
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Tourer
Posts: 320
Savannah, GA -Year round riding!! Yay! | I hate stoopid people.... they try to interfere with yer riding time. That blows, pollo........ Good thing he didn't get into your shop!
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Cruiser
Posts: 226
on the edge of Los Angeles | With all of Pollo's misfortunate issues he will probably win the Lottery |
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Visionary
Posts: 1484
LaPorte,Tx. | Amazing........!!!!  |
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Visionary
Posts: 2027
Brighton, TN | Phone call from Insurance adjuster, she takes recorded statement. Asks me If I signed anything stating no damage and of course that I should have wrote I disagree, which I didn't. She said if the tow company wants to continue to do their tows they can't treat customers like this. She said she will continue to talk with them and advised me not to talk to them. Probably good. I figures I'm out another $500 for stupidity. She said she couldn't see how this would hold up but they are faxing it over the copy I signed. Screwed again.
Me thinks, me dig hole and stick head in hole like ostrich and just hide. I too, wonder sometimes, how this happens to me and I can't dig out of it. I think I need a blog spot like PalmBeachRider. I would rather have bought a used truck and trailer to get me home than have to go through this BS. Or, just the truck, a few straps, wa la headed home. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2027
Brighton, TN | as for the Lottery, I would probably win it but couldn't find it, dog ate it, kid shredded it. Any number of things would go wrong. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1324
So Cal | JSP - 2008-05-13 10:08 AM
With all of Pollo's misfortunate issues he will probably win the Lottery
No one I can think of deserves to win more that pollo. Hey pollo!!! If you do win, can I borrow some money?????? |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 904
29 Palms California | poot, you have been thru the ringer brother! I can't believe the pain and anguish your putting yourself through. Dude, 12 dark beers, and do the German Chicken dance. High fives for not killing the knuckle dragger, or punching the security LT. in the ovaries. Has the drama ended? |
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Visionary
Posts: 2027
Brighton, TN | cjnoho, sure why not, maybe it won't instantaneously combust in my hands before it gets sent to you. I'm feeling the need to search for Soaring Eagle over the Grand Canyon.
Buckn*kd - The drama doesn't end till I take it in to find out what is busted and at the moment, I won't be taking it in until this coming Saturday. Then I can leave for a week, headed toward Varyder. Varyder, beware. Take a vacation, go to Florida or Sunny scorched Southern California. I am thinking 12 dark beers, would be good soothing, but man some of that stuff is stout. I like a good whiskey a little smooth, warm and soothing for the pains. Not familiar with the German chicken dance, but really trying to learn the KSA Rooster Dance (kickin' somebody's A??)
You know, I waited 16 years for this. What was I thinking? Anything that can cause me this much agony and irritation, I should have signed up for YEARS ago. As a wise old gent, once asked me while putting up fence in East Texas in the middle of Summer in 100 degree weather, "We having fun yet?" At that point all you can do is laugh along, sweat pouring down you and its HOT.
While talking to the insurance adjuster, she kept stating that I sure was in a laughing mode. I just tell her, with the way things go for me, that's all I can do. Laugh it off, don't do me none guud, to be pissed off. She says most people would have been hot and ranting and raving about it all.
On another note, doesn't look like I need Roadside Assistance after all, you know how it always bugs you whether or not you will ever need that service. I don't. Used truck cheaper!
Also, ever since the dealer replaced my ignition switch back to my original one, I have had no electrical gremli and no stalling, or radio hiccups. The idiot battery light stays off and the idle stays where it should. Been a week, I'll give another week of riding before I tell them to replace it. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1324
So Cal | Lesser men would be six foot under by now. GO pollo!!!!! |
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Visionary
Posts: 2027
Brighton, TN | Just to end the drama of the saga! I have bike back and all is well with "My Precious" (quote from Lord of the Rings)! Bike is back under my behind and rolling down the two-laners.
I wound up having to eat the cost of the repair! Insurance said they were unable to find anything wrong or busted, and since it was well below my $500 deductible, I was on my own. I even attempted to make a case of since I was using their service, shouldn't this be something they should cover and not my deductible. While we are at it, they weren't going to pursue the tow company for the $160 it cost me. I like a little Vaseline and a little nibble on the ear lobe just before you jam it to me. No such luck, not even a Crack on the AZZ, screaming whose yer Daddy? Thank you Progressive Insurance and Able's Towing out of Jackson, TN (they suck)!
Tissue please!
My Dealer, FRS Powersports, took it apart and explained to the insurance company, that nothing appeared to be broken, but the panels no longer fit together perfectly. They tried to help me out. But, since nothing was busted or broken, no dice! They fixed it to where the panels fit back together with bodyman magic and shims. Can't tell, so I just gonna ride and wait for the next fun occasion to occur.
They went ahead and replaced the ignition switch and all the locks. No problems, knock on anything that gives you GOOD luck.
Edited by pollolittle 2008-06-01 11:09 AM
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New user
Posts: 1
| lol, new here, goin between a vision and a hd for tourin, and if this thread is a good cross section of vision riders, count me in!
cheers |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Little Chicken I am of the belief you are running on more than just luck. You hang on in there pollo, you hang on in there. I'm going to start another thread and ask a question that brought you to mind. All good... |
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Visionary
Posts: 2027
Brighton, TN | I had to revisit this thread because I am writing up a statement, regarding getting my truck and trailer into the parking lot at work.
slowburn - missed that statement somewhere, but I see you haven't replied to anything else. Well, did you get one?
I just read through the whole thing, again, like I needed to. Dang that was a long day, just reminescing! |
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Well, boys and girls, laugh on, the tornado never stops!
