Finally made it home

[markclark57]

My additional 3K journey after the Kanab rally ended in disaster and a bit short of my goal.

Had a nice ride/visit with family after the Kanab rally that took me through parts of Idaho, Montana, and Washington. On the return home, I started to notice a new noise a few towns short of Kanab. I stopped in Kanab for fuel and looked the bike over but found nothing that I could identify. Headed down 89A to just past the road to the North rim. Pulled the clutch for a down shift and it was super soft Went to shift back to 5th NO CLUTCH

I was already pointed toward Flagstaff, so I just figured I'd take it easy and see how far "Grace" could take me on her fresh tank of fuel. I remembered reading on several threads that the "sweet spot" for milage is about 50-55 mph, so I made that my maximum speed. A couple of down hills later I got another new sound. Now every time I decelerate I can hear the transmission gears trying to grind their way through the case. The noise stops at float speed to acceleration so I keep going. Use the brakes and slight throttle to slow for turns and down hills. On the way across the long rolling upper desert I can tell Grace is running hot, way hotter than on the same stretch of road a few days earlier with Rally Riders.

I managed a couple of down shifts without the clutch to zip through the stop sign onto south 89 to Flagstaff (at just the right time to be the only traffic at the intersection). Got back into 5th and kept it to 50-55 mph. 162 miles from Kanab my speedometer and odometer bit the dust and Grace started smoking like a proverbial "crack whore". I was still moving so I kept going. I got 182 miles out of that tank of fuel, just enough to die in a parking stall at the very first Chevron station on the way into Flagstaff. Poor Grace sat there dripping oil like a Harley and whistling like a tea pot for about 5 minutes before we both cooled down a bit.

I called Patricia who was waiting for me at the Flagstaff Super 8 and gave her the news. We got a tow truck from our insurance (GEICO) to get me the other 8-9 miles to the Motel. They wanted $600 more to go all the way to Phoenix, so we waited till morning and rode Patricia's bike 2 up to Phoenix to get our pick-up and trailer. Drove back to Flagstaff, strapped Grace in, and headed home.

I'll call North Vally Kawasaki in the morning to see when I can get Grace in for an estimate/repair. I Can't wait to see what that's going to cost.

[blowndodge]

ouch!!!

[Yellow Jacket]

Sorry to hear about this but glad you got her home!

Sounds like it could be the front bevel gear bearing.

Hope it turns out well for you.

[Jared]

New noise from engine, no clutch, over heating, oil leaking... Yikes!

Good luck, Mark! Hoping for the best!

[usranger74]

Mark - sorry to hear about your bike but gald to see you are home safely.

[schoeney]

Sorry to hear it Mark. Be thankful you got home OK. Could be worse.

[Rasta]

Sorry to hear that. Glad you are safe though.

[Idaho]

I know you will keep us informed what the autopsy finds. Good luck.

[markclark57]

Thanks Y-all.

I've never heard of this sort of issue with a Nomad of any year. The tow truck driver said that he has been towing motorcycles (Salt Lake City to Phoenix areas) for many years and has never had a Nomad on his truck before mine. Not much consolation when it's mine on the truck, but I thought folks on the forum would like to hear that part.

[cnc]

Ouch that is going to cost by the sounds of it.

[minst7877]

Sounds like it's time to start looking for a replacement engine. That has got to hurt when you know your bike has something terribly wrong.

DC

[landman]

a stroke of bad luck for sure.hope it is not to badly damaged.

[Sin City Stan]

Mark, sorry to hear of your bad fortune. Sounds like you did all you could do. Hope it's not serious.

[chainsaw]

Wow, bummer. Maybe your extended warranty will cover it.

[skiman]

lesson learned don't ride after hearing new noises