A little bit late to the party, but here I am now. I've been too busy riding to be spending time here. So here's my tale of woe.
While in NC back in mid-May, a guy ran the red light on Hyatt Creek Road, just east of US23, in Waynesville. He said he was looking at the next light at Old Balsam Road, and never saw the one he ran (or my motorcycle that was cross-wise in his lane in front of him as I moved out slowly, waiting for oncoming turning traffic to clear). I estimate that by that time the light had been red for him (green for me) for at least 4 to 5 seconds. I wasn't quite far enough forward to dodge him, and he hit my new 2016 R1200GS (purchased at the end of December) behind the rear axle, and knocked me down.
The bike's rear frame was bent, the top case was sent clear across the road, and the right cylinder head cover was cracked, among other things. The bike was totaled, but I escaped with a pulled groin, a hip pointer, and minor rug-burn on my right elbow.
I picked up a new 2017 R1200GS Rallye at the end of May. I rode 888 miles in Michigan on it the first weekend so I could have the initial service done before STAR, and had it there at STAR (a great event, I might add, thoroughly enjoyed by me, as well as all who were there, as attested in other threads on this forum). After STAR, I rode it back home via the UP, and then to Minneapolis a week later, then to KY a couple of weeks ago, along with numerous other rides around MI.
It's just about broken in now, and has remained out of the way of other vehicles, and on it tires since. It's a great bike.
Thanks to all for the concern expressed here. Sorry I didn't see this thread sooner.
See you on the road.
Keith
