We took a trip on my Kawasaki Vulcan 900 this weekend from Alexandria and rode the entire length of Skyline Drive and were heading to a quaint little town called Monterey. It was about 4:00pm on Saturday and we were about 45 minutes away from Monterey.When suddenly,I noticed my rear tire was going flat. Of course we were in the middle of nowhere on Route 250 and I had not seen a shoulder on this road at all. By some strange stroke of luck as soon as this happened I saw a shoulder that was about fifty feet long. We pulled over and noticed that the tire was almost completely flat. I looked at my girlfreind and said, "This is not good!" I just knew were notgoing to get a cell signal here. To my aboslute suprise I had four full bars. I called my insurance company and they were able to get a tow truck to us in about forty five minutes. The big question now was where to tow it. There were only two Kawasaki dealers within a 60 mile radius and both of them were closed until Tuesday. We found out that the Harley dealership in Staunton, Shenandoah Harley Davidson, would be open on Sunday so we decided to have it dropped off there. We figured we could beg and plead in the morning for them to replace the tire even though it is a Kawaski. We had to cancel our reservations at the quaint, little Inn we had booked in Monterey and found a nice, comfortable room at the Hampton Inn. Shenandoah Harely Davidson is a huge complex that sits on top of a very high hill. From our room you could almost see my sad, lonely, Kawasaki sitting outside of the service bay door.

To put things into perspective I should provide you with a very quick and brief history. A few weeks earlier, I had tried to convince my girlfriend that we needed to trade in my Kawasaki and get a Harely. We decided that it was not the best move at the timesicne my Kawasaki is an '06 and we would have taken a beating on the trade in. I reluctantly agreed to wait a year or so before broaching the subject again. So Satuday night over dinner at Applebees, in the best semi joking tone I could muster I said, "I wonder if they would give me more for my Kawasaki here than in Northern VA." "This is the worse thing that could have happened. I do not even want to know if you are talking to the sales guy, I do not want to look at bikes, I want no part of this!", she said. "Fine! I was only going to ask and see what he comes back with for the trade. I am sure it is going too low anyway!". She just shrugged it off and we enjoyed the remainder of our dinner. The new mushroom, garlic steak at Applebees is phenomenal by the way!

Sunday arrives and we call a cab to take us to the dealership. Of course all I could think about in my overly optimistic mind is that they are going to make me an offer on my Kawasaki that I cannot refuse. Boy was I wrong! We first spoke to the service rep who very nicely agreed to replace my tire if they could find one in stock. In the meantime, I snuck off to the sales department and found a very nice gentlement who quickly dashed my hopes of a new bike when he told me how much he would give me for my trade. My girlfriend comes over and starts chatting with us. By this time the finance manager joins us in the conversation as well. He tells us that service has searched high and low for a tire but they do not have one that will fit my bike. He goes on to tell me that he would be willing to have it towed to the nearest Kawasaki dealer for free on Tuesday for us. While we are considering our next move, the sales guy comes back over and asks if we would like to borrow his car to go into town for lunch since we had been there so long. Of course we declined but my girlfriend was amazed at how incredibly ni

 

Congratulations on your new Harley and a good buying experience with a good dealer. That's how dealers should handle people, my hat is off to them. Sounds like they REALLY went the extra mile with you 2. Glad it all turned out so good. Enjoy your new bike and ride safe.

 

That was a great story, thanks for sharing it with us. How does the little lady like the Harley? It's a whole different kind of world on and off one isn't it.

 

See what happens when all the planets line-up (and the girlfriend, little lady, wife, etc. are included inthe process). CONGRATULATIONS and welcome to the touring family.

 

Good luck with the new scooter. Good luck with the name Bounty hunter. LOL

 

Great story and even better ending. Congrats on the new bike.

 

I am following in someone else's footsteps with the name Bounty Hunter? Should I change it?

 

I would. Nothing against you but he is not very popular here. It would be in your best interest i think, just to avoid confusion.

 

Well before you go and change your name...wanted to say congratulations also...(know how you feel)...winning over the ladies is no easy task, you must have patience. "Every Good Boy deserves Favour" (The Moody Blues - 1970)

 

Good for you. I hope that the two of you have many happy miles on your new bike. Funny thing. I think the original bounty hunter sold his Harley and bought a metric. LOL In any event, welcome to the forum, and the Harley Family.

Oh, and since you found this forum, it is time to post us some pics of your new bike. And your girl, hehe[:-]