Like most people, when I feel I've been treated unfairly I tend to yell and scream and tell everybody I know. Likewise, like most people when things go right I swear I'm going to tell everybody, start to do just that, and then kind of forget all about it. Well, here's a belated kudo.
I was on my way home from Eau Claire on May 15 when I heard a "POP", my exhaust got very loud and the bike got kind of mushy like it would with a flat tire. I pulled over to the shoulder, (Interstate!) and looked things over. My rear subframe had broken a weld just above the exhaust pipe. When it dropped it broke one of the three exhaust pipes on that side. Since I was alone and on the Interstate and in a pouring rain, I decided to nurse it about 7 miles to the Highway B exit instead of waiting for road service. That of course, made me brave so I also ran it the final 9 miles to the house.
I had a trip planned to my grandson's confirmation so I parked it and let it be until I got home on the 24th. Evidently the nut holding the subframe to the kickstand mount had vibrated loose and I didn't notice it. The flexing caused the subframe to break at a weld. The subframe breaking dropped the weight of the sidecar onto the exhaust pipe which broke one pipe and an exhaust hanger.
Before anyone starts worrying about Dauntless subframes, I want to add that even though the subframe was mounted to the bike 22,080 miles ago and it was my fault for not noticing a loose mount, Jay immediately offered to repair the damage at no cost to me. I was grousing about being off the road for the SKUNK Rally so he also offered to sell me a replacement at less then half price. I made it to the Rally in plenty of time. Well, actually the part came at 3:30 Thursday afternoon but I was on the road by 9!
I just wanted to say THANK YOU, JAY!
