HELP! I think I'm completely F*#%()ed!

[twotyred]

It's a big BMW.
1/2 a dozen beer a scoop and 2 fish.

[salukikev]

Hey all-
Thanks for the continued support. Here's an update on life:
I'm happy to finally be home- though it sucked to have to go bail my Ducati from police impound, I'm glad to have it back. Apparently some presumed homeless guy was rolling it down some neighborhood with a screwdriver stuck through the ignition trying to sell it. Hopefully he's still in prison. On the upside, I found spare parts not too far out of town, and spent today working on it and re-keying the locks to the new ignition key, and re-welding a footpeg mount. So it's not TOO bad- should be roadworthy this week.

The BMW from hell, however- is still at Murray's. Two closed auctions, and two guys that have backed out, and an impending deadline from Murray of the 30th when his shop is sold. I'm worried now, and I absolutely HATE the thought of investing any more money (that I don't have) into this catostrophe, but I might buy and send over the replacement parts, as they aren't nearly as hard to find here. Anyway, sounds like some may have surfaced in NZ as well. The description is verbatim from Murray's prognosis, including the part where we disagree about the replacing the single broken gear, or the whole gearbox. In seeing the rest of the drivetrain first hand and close up- I didn't observe any damage to the gears- in fact the original machine tool marks are still evident on the surfaces, as the bike was well maintained. I believe Murray is more concerned with his liability even to the consequence of the buyer. As a mechanical engineer/bike enthusiast who services my own bikes, I'd feel entirely confident with just changing out that gear and bearing. Anyway, it may go back to auction (3rd times the charm?) or I might have to think up a plan B.... or plan C.
For now- just updating anyone interested. Thanks again for the help!
-k

[gunnyrob]

Sorry to hear your news, I too am an owner of a Big Beemer R1200GS currently in bits (Search this site for Gunnyrob's Beemer breaks again!). From the damage, it appears that someone gave it a good blast with a pressure cleaner & got water into the dry clutch. Said clutch died in a big way, taking out all the splines on the gearbox output shaft, clutch, pressure plate etc.

It's been in the workshop for the last 6 weeks, hopefully will have it sorted by the weekend, and am looking at $3.5k damage to the VISA.

Shit happens, I'm warmed by the idea that 10 minutes before I got plastered with it that I was having one of those "in the groove" moments where everything was just perfect. I hope this experience hasn't tainted your experience of NZ, and you'd recommend coming back.

(To tell you the truth, I'd love to tour the states at some stage......)

[NordieBoy]

Kev, did you offer it to the others on the auction?
There is that facility if an auction falls through.
You can offer it for the same price (or higher or lower).

[chester]

did you ever think of getting the gear repaired and replacing the broken bearing?

[OV Lander]

If it were mine I'd ship back to the states (won't be too much more than the cost posting lumps of steel this way), repair it with parts at a fraction of the price over here, swap the headlight (for one that points the wrong way!) and enjoy the beast with a smug satisfaction that I have not just lost a heap of dollars.

I'd look at failed deal as a blessing in disguise!

[salukikev]

Kev, did you offer it to the others on the auction?
There is that facility if an auction falls through.
You can offer it for the same price (or higher or lower).

I'd love to do that, but the website doesn't let me contact them. I'm sure its intentional, and I've tried not-so-subtly to indicate to them to 'google my name' to make contact (which brings lots of easy email links such as this thread). If there's another workaround way to contact bidders, please let me know!

[nallac]

on your closed auction you should be able to do a fixed price offer to the other bidders/watchers.

Bummer about your bikes dude.

not a nice way to leave NZ
or arrive home to the US

[NordieBoy]

I'd love to do that, but the website doesn't let me contact them. I'm sure its intentional, and I've tried not-so-subtly to indicate to them to 'google my name' to make contact (which brings lots of easy email links such as this thread). If there's another workaround way to contact bidders, please let me know!

Yep, go to your auction and you should have a link that lets you offer it to other bidders or something.

[ynot slow]

Could be trade me with their only residents of NZ or Australia supposedly sell on the site.If this is so give your user name and login details to a trusted friend in NZ to reoffer the bike.

[pete376403]

Got a TradeMe fixed price offer today (as I was one of the bidders on the bike) so it looks like kev was able to get around the problem. Was offered for $3k5.