OPEN QUESTION !!!!!!
Where was the worst location that you've had to spend a night (or number of hours) due to a bike problem?
A few years ago, I travelled down to the south of France (alps) to visit a friend who had had a very bad (life threatening) accident, so it was up sticks at a moments notice & go.
I rode my despatch bike, (BMW K100rt luckily) as it was in the middle of December, during the French truckers blockade of the motorways etc. As I made my way down the minor roads thru snow & slush (snow clearers were on strike too). On the second day I set myself a steady pace taking risks all the way, but as there was not much traffic about, made very good progress, & eventually had to stop at a (trying the motorway now) services, were I had a good meal etc. but couldn't face going out again for a number of hours. Anyway, it was dark now (early eve) & some of the (now not on strike) truckers had told me the motorway was clear a few K's further down. So kitted up, fueled up & set off (it was bloody cold!). Pitch black, empty (really empty) motorway, & the snow had dissapeared, so the pace quickened & soon found myself travelling at just below 100 mph to make up a little time. No problem for about 20 miles & flew past a slow moving big BMW trail bike?, a bit further on & noticed the steering feeling very very light, instinctivly (still doing 90+) I put down both of my boots to touch the road surface, SH*T!!!, the road was solid ice! with wheel tracks built in to both lanes. Not wanting to touch brakes or even to change down gears I kept it dead straight & slowly eased off the throttle. The stopping distance being measured in Kilometres instead of metres.
I eventually came to a halt, still in the outside lane of an empty motorway, & gingerly paddled the bike (with great difficulty) across to the hard shoulder, & put the bike on it's main stand whilst slipping all over the place on a surface thet Torville & Dean would have been at home on. Let my heart settle down to a normal beat & thought of what to do next?
Nothing for it!, no traffic, no sign of help, no gritters etc., I just had to wait! So I set up my plastic sheet over the bike (bike cover) & climbed aboard, settled down in a comfy position, feet on the bars & laying back on the top box (still dressed in full gear including helmet) & waited, even getting a few hours kip on & off, for around 8 hours. Eventually, at around 3am, the snowplow/gritters arrived, followed by all the traffic, & the motorway started to clear enough to get under way again (slowly).
A very scary night, very lonely, very cold, & coupled with not knowing how long I was going to be there?
