Triumphrat

bbuckley · 11-05-2006

I thought it would be a good idea to get a couple of guys together for a late fall ride around the area of the Great Smokey Mountain National Park. My brother-in-law, who has ridden but currently doesn't have a bike, joined us and I loaned him my Bonnie to ride. At the end of the first day, after about 150 miles of curvey mountain roads, he hit a bump in a curve near the end of the Blue Ridge Parkway (around MP 470). He lost control and high sided. The Bonnie slid on it's right side for about 50 feet. He separated his shoulder and will be OK. The Bonnie has quite a bit of cosmetic damage. I had it set up as sort of a cafe racer look with the Corbin Smuggler seat, etc. My brother-in-law has agreed to pay for the damages, and I'm thinking of going with the Scrambler look with some high pipes, etc. Any thoughts?

Buck

meatwagon · 11-05-2006

Back to cafe ,and no more loan outs! Rent him a Harley for the day! .Seriously tho...glad he wasn't badly hurt.

bbuckley · 11-05-2006

I've already made up my mind - no one else rides my bikes.

merlin · 11-05-2006

Congradulations - you now, like OWN your brother in law.
Family life should now be very smooth...

357Bob · 11-05-2006

Yeah. Don't let him pay for it. He will never ask you for another thing ever.

bobw3592 · 11-06-2006

Did they repair the pavement inside that last tunnel going south yet? That one will catch your tire as well. Hope he is mending okay. Why not sell him the Bonnie. Make it a shotgun wedding, he f*%^# her so he may as well have the pleasure of doing repairs to make her his own. I was looking at a clean 04 red Thruxton to make a project bike, but a scrambler set up has a good look too. I would get a more "true" dual purpose mid size bike if you really wanted to enjoy some dirt roads and trails in the area. Bummer it happened, but nice to have a reason for a new project.
Three things you never loan out; your bike, your tools and your girl. lol, you never know if you'll get them back or how they were used.

BobW
:-g :-g :-g

PA-guy · 11-06-2006

Buck posted:I've already made up my mind - no one else rides my bikes.

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Buck

As much as I would like to share one of my 2 bikes with my friends, I have to agree with Buck.......No one else rides my bikes. There are just too many negative scenarios that could happen and no matter what you think now, you and the borrower will always have a bad memory if they have an accident. And imagine how everyone would feel if your good friend is killed while riding your bike, especially if he/she was riding it because they couldn't afford one of his own.

CC

ChuckofTahoe · 11-06-2006

Brothers in Law will Be Brothers in Law.

bbuckley · 11-06-2006

I just took the wrecked Bonnie to my dealer. Got a close look at a new Scrambler. Very cool. This may work out that the old Bonnie is disposed of and a new Scrambler ends up in my garage.

walt · 11-06-2006

Right now I can't imagine loaning my Bonnie to anyone, just for the reasons previously mentioned. Plus there could be a lot of resentment afterwards. You get upset because someone all of a sudden won't, or can't pay for the damage. They get upset because they do pay and then something comes up where they wish they had the $ back. Or even if you have insurance, now your rates will go up. All the scenarios are bad. And any other rider is not that familiar with your bike to start with.
Meatwagon has the right idea - rent a bike, but in addition to that, have him sign for it.
But for the REALLY important part, glad your Brother-in-law was not badly hurt.

Walt