EXCITEMENT AND DISAPPOINTMENT

It was a mid morning departure June 28, 2018 for the flight to Lexington and drive to HANNIGAN MOTORSPORTS in Murry, Kentucky.  It had been a month since it was shipped from Texas.  Really had not seen the Indian other then the brief moment I saw it at the dealership.  Looked at the BMW R1200GS and saw the Indian as well.  Retuned home and called the dealer buying the Indian.  Never have even ridden an
Indian.  Always been a BMW rider.  I guess in honor of my father, who rode Indians back in the 1920's; thought I'd give one a try.

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.Arrived late morning at the HANNIGAN shop.  Was told  that a mishap had occured and a tool was dropped on the fender requiring to be repainted.  Well as they say "Stuff happens."  They were kind enough to put me up for the night in a hotel.  

​Next morning picked the bike up at around 7AM and hit the road for a trip back via the Blue Ridge Parkway.  It was the worst week for a road trip due to extreme  heat and humidity.

Was I in for a surprise!  The photo at left is the morning departure forecast.  I was at the 106 degree area.

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Wasn't to bad at speed.  The wind keep it resonably "comfortable".  I headed out to the Kentucky "outback" and take the scenic roads to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

There was no BANG  or  BOOM  -  NOTHING!  In the middle of the road the bike just stopped! Dead!
Guess you can say it was a monumental WTF moment.    Wouldn't start.  

I pushed it to the side of the road.  At about 8:00 in the morning it was already HOT the HUMIDITY
stiffling!   It was to get worse.   After trying to assess the problem to no avail.  I called Indian Roadside Assistance.  The cell phone connection was sketchy; but was able to make contact.   Was told they would try to find a tow truck; had to be a roll off since it was a sidecar rig.

There are good people in the world.  Just so happened a lady that lived in the area was driving by and was kind to stop when I flagged her.  At this point I was already feeling the effects of the heat.  Indeed
the beginning stage of Heat Exhautstion was setting in.  She turned around and went back to her home
and within several minutes returned with chilled bottles of water and let me sit in her car - air conditioning!  I honestly think if it was not for her, I may have had a medical issue due to the exposure to the heat and the humidity.  Thank you Deb for your kindness!

  
I waited for "Indian Roadside Assistance"  to get back to me and found out through my own searching for a tow truck that a company named S&S Towing had indeed been contacted BUT Indian was shopping his rate!   Leaving me to sweat in the heat!  I told S&S that I'd pay for the tow.  POLARIS/INDIAN a four billion dollar company and they are shopping to save a couple of bucks!  Really?!   Hey Polaris  - I could have died out there!  Five long hours later the tow truck arrived and $350.00 later was dropped at JPM PERORMANCE POWERSPORTS in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.  I had called these folks with updated arrival time and they assured me they would stay open to fix the problem.  What a great company!  Thank you!

Unbelievable the problem that left me stranded in the heat and humidity was due to a known problem
and yet Indian did nothing to elert the owners/dealers of the issue.  The part was the Volt Regulator.
As of this writing POLARIS INDIAN has yet to assume responsibility!   They are passing the buck to Hannigan.  This inexcusable!  The FAILURE IS AN INDIAN ISSUE!  If they don't step up and do what is right, well guess will have to litigate.

The honorable company is HANNIGAN.  In a conversation with Dave Haningan he has taken complete responsibility for the damages suffered while in their shop.  It is unfortunate that there were issues, but they are making it right.   Life (ride) goes on.

I was so tired and worn out, only got down the road about eight miles from JPM.  Checked into a hotel around 6PM.  Took a cold shower and crashed.  To beat the heat of the next day, left at 2:38  AM CST.

The drive to my jump off point for the Blue Ridge Parkway was Maggie Valley.  Bike ran strong and it was a great ride.  Got in  late afternoon found a great eatery and motel.   More on this and the Blue Ridge Parkway in the next post. 

See You Down The Road