which is worse? cracked frame or thunderstorms?

[DarkDucati]

I'll go with a cracked frame. 

So, a friend and I were all ready for two days of Sierra riding fun, when the weather reports were predicting thunderstorms. Crappo!  We decided to go anyway, as the morning of, it was looking better (who needs weather reports). 

I arrive at said friends house to find him in the garage, head in hands, he says his rear suspension on his ST2 is shot.  Off the stand the bike is dropped as low as it will go, and up on the stand doesn't change much. We inspect the rear shock and can't seem to see anything wrong, no visible leaks, spring is fine, it's all attached fine, WFT?!

Then we notice a tiny problem with the engine bolt and frame.


Just a little frame crack that sheared off the bolt on the other side.



After breakfast and several bloody mary's for my friend, he's off to research what the F to do about not having a frame and I'm off to make the best of a solo ride.

Weather seems fine at Donner lake.


The condo hasn't burned down and the scotch is still there.


Sunset still works. Let's see what tomorrow brings.


Donner lake still looks good early AM.


My tail bag kludge still works. Rock solid. Who says you can't put bags on an 848.


All quite along the Truckee river.


The roads all to myself.


Really, I do have arms, despite what the shadow says.


All quiet at Lake Tahoe. Where is everyone. Scared off by thunderstorms I guess. Or maybe they had cracked frames too.


Too busy riding to snap any more photos.  Wentworthsprings Rd and Ice House Rd were deserted and spectacular. No thunderstorms. Just lots of dead squirrels getting eaten by Ravens.  Perfect.

[mostrobelle]

Looks like a great trip--sans cracked frame.  

[Michael Moore]

Ouch. That frame looks ugly.

FWIW, on my Streetfighter, which has pretty much the same tail setup (albeit with much less underseat storage) I use a Kriega US-20 bag, with a US-10 strapped on top, and it is remarkably stable and compact.  Just in case you're looking for a replacement for your current setup.

(You can get the Kriega bags locally at the BMW moto shop in SF.)

[Desmostro]

God that was so nice to read/see.  It's 12:30 AM after a 16 hour day at a Chinese factory. Part of my completely surreal life as Dr. Who.
I need more Sierra trips and scotch in my life. Want to go again in two weeks?  

Sorry about your friend's bike.

FWIW, on my Streetfighter, which has pretty much the same tail setup (albeit with much less underseat storage) I use a Kriega US-20 bag, with a US-10 strapped on top, and it is remarkably stable and compact.  Just in case you're looking for a replacement for your current setup.

(You can get the Kriega bags locally at the BMW moto shop in SF.)

I used 3 bungies from 7-11 and an old back pack last ride to the Sierras. I want to see your set up Mr. M.

[DarkDucati]

God that was so nice to read/see.  It's 12:30 AM after a 16 hour day at a Chinese factory. Part of my completely surreal life as Dr. Who.
I need more Sierra trips and scotch in my life. Want to go again in two weeks?  

Sorry about your friend's bike...

He's looking into what can be done, and the local dealership said for $100 they will do an evaluation of the frame and submit to DNA to see if it's something they will replace as considered a defect. 

Would be nice if it worked out, but I'm not so sure about charging him $100 to do the evaluation.  Hope they'd refund it if it does turn out to be a defect, but based on the pictures and what I saw, how could it not be a defect. The tube split into two pieces.  Don't want to even think about what could have happened if it did that while riding hard.

[Speeddog]

He's looking into what can be done, and the local dealership said for $100 they will do an evaluation of the frame and submit to DNA to see if it's something they will replace as considered a defect. 

Would be nice if it worked out, but I'm not so sure about charging him $100 to do the evaluation.  Hope they'd refund it if it does turn out to be a defect, but based on the pictures and what I saw, how could it not be a defect. The tube split into two pieces.  Don't want to even think about what could have happened if it did that while riding hard.

I'd say the engine mount bolt broke just under the nut, and then the nut and bolt piece jumped ship.
Not knowing the bolt was broken, your friend kept riding.
This overstressed the left side, cracking the tube.

[DarkDucati]

I'd say the engine mount bolt broke just under the nut, and then the nut and bolt piece jumped ship.
Not knowing the bolt was broken, your friend kept riding.
This overstressed the left side, cracking the tube.

Interesting theory, sounds very possible.  We'll see what the dealership/DNA "evaluation" yields.  If that's no go, hopefully my friends welding neighbor can do something to get him back up and running. 

I need more Sierra trips and scotch in my life. Want to go again in two weeks?  

I try to go at least a couple times of year, by motorcycle, to our place on Donner lake and it's really a great trip by way of some non-freeway back roads via the delta and other roads near Folsom and up into the hills like Wentworthsprings Rd, Ice House Rd and then around Lake Tahoe etc.   A multi-day trip allows for extra side routes off Tahoe so there's a lot of options. For rides and sights and food.

I'm surprised nobody has done a version of the "Ducatis in the Rockies" thing around Tahoe, but maybe I missed that posting or it's done on the down low.

I would be up for hosting something based out of Donner sometime, but being socially challenged as I am, I can't picture me organizing such.  I've mostly lurked on this forum since TOB, and have yet to actually meet anyone here. Who knows, maybe someday there will be a DIT or a DAT (Ducatis in Tahoe or Ducatis around Truckee) or a DIT-DAT.

[MendoDave]

Those Kriega bags look like a nice setup. Much better than strapping things on with the worn out elastic net that I need to throw away.

We should organize some sort of Ducatis in the sierras sort of event, it would be cool, I like the idea.