Death of a Beemer

[Gone in 60]

This morning, Mrs. Gone and I witnessed the catastrophic end of a BMW.

We were heading north on the 101, north of Los Angeles proper, on our way to hike in the Ventura area. We were nearing the exits for the roads that drop down into the popular twisty roads above Malibu, and being a beautiful Sunday morning, we had been passed by several fast sports cars and bikes headed for the area.

This is a wide, fast part of the freeway, and we were going around 80 with prevailing traffic. A rider on an S1000RR passed us on the right and swept across us to the left, weaving through traffic. Based on our speed, I’d estimate his at 100-105. Since my wife is planning to take her basic riding course soon, she’s more aware of motorcyclists and their behavior than ever, so she was asking me why he was riding so fast and seemingly unsafe. I was mulling over why his back tire looked a little skittish as he crossed lanes in front of us.

Just as she was asking about his riding, and he had disappeared into traffic several cars ahead of us, there was a huge cloud of smoke ahead of us as wide as the whole freeway. “Oh no, he crashed!” she shouted.. but I wasn’t so sure. Traffic wasn’t slowing much, and I saw an oil trail in the left lane that was drifting across the freeway to the right. At the end of that trail, there he was, on the shoulder, standing next to the BMW, whose rear tire was coated in oil. The bike was upright.

Mrs. asked me what had happened, and I said that his engine had just blown up, and he was extremely lucky not to have crashed. It would have been a few miles before we’d be able to exit the freeway to turn around, and it would have taken a long time to get back to where he was. Plus, his spectacular display must have prompted someone to call 911, as a CHP unit with lights and sirens blazing was heading toward him from the other side of the 101.

I’m thinking that either his chain snapped and blew a hole in the engine, or that the engine shattered significantly enough that there wasn’t enough of it left to seize the drivetrain. At triple digits in freeway traffic, he’s lucky that the bike is the only thing he lost.

[Cormanus]

Thank you for sharing that cautionary tale, Gone. Sounds like he is a very lucky bloke.

[cookiemech]

Must have been a poorly maintained bike, as that model isn't terribly old (not that that would be any excuse for poor maintenance). If you're going to ride at 9/10, the bike needs to be 4.0.

[GoldOxide_imp]

Solid drama Gin60 - well written.

Thankfully, good news for the rider even though he sounds like a dink.

Hopefully the bike wasn't stolen, although it does not matter anymore.

[LongRanger_imp]

Great write-up, G60. Nicely crafted. I’ve not heard of chains snapping but I suppose it could happen. I’m guessing it was oil starvation.

I left SoCal for Colorado twenty years ago, and the traffic stories I hear continue to amaze me. 80 mph on the 101 without consequence? Around here, you’re quickly nabbed for having the audacity to go 10 mph over.

[Obleo]

That’s one good reason that I don’t like freeways and speeds that high, stuff happens too quick .

[Gone in 60]

Good point about maintenance, Cookiemech. His slightly wobbly back end got me thinking that maybe the rear wheel was loosening up, allowing the chain to fly off. If you’re going to ride at triple digits, weaving in and out of cars that are all going 80, you’re probably not the brightest bulb on the tree as it is.

There is a noticeable police presence in the area due to the fast cars and bikes headed for the canyons, so there were groups of sport bikes riding with the flow of traffic, trying not to attract as much attention as this guy.

[Rocky_imp]

Wow, that was quite an episode!

[redbirds_imp]

That fellow is lucky to be alive.