FIRE!!!!!

Okay, here are the facts as they occurred on the day 6/17/01...

3:15pm: I go out to my barn to get my bike out and start her up. Which I did and left her running about 5 minutes and shut off.

3:30pm: At my mother's request I prepare to take a ride up to Urbana, OH to her school, that she's a principal of, so that I can fix a printer that's acting up. In my preparations I dump the contents of my computer tool kit into the tool tray, put on my leather coat, and helmet. I then pulled out of my drive and took off.

3:45pm: Just north of South Vienna, OH on SR. 54, a mini-van pulls out in front of me forcing me off of the road. Miraculously I manage to keep control of the bike in the gravel/grass and after maybe 100ft am able to ease the bike safely back on the roadway. Once control is regained, prompt hand gestures were applied, as I sped away.

4:05pm: After a construction detour, I arrive at my mom's school and dismount the bike, shutting off the petcocks, as always, and removing the key.

4:35pm: After replacing the damn printer and getting oil from the printer all over me, I sit outside in the nice day, on the ground, staring at my machine as I sip an orange soda.

4:45pm: I realize that I better move it cause I told mom I'd grill the steaks for my father's dad's day supper. I start up the bike and take off. I decided to take the long way home through Springfield, cause I didn't want to run into any more bumpkin idiots. The whole way home through light town traffic, all I can think about is how great the bike's running and that I'd really like to have the spokes re-chromed and fixed up.

5:15pm: I get home and pull into my barn into the usual spot. I dismount with the motor running, and pull the bike up onto the centerstand. At this point I turned off the petcocks and left the engine running to get some of the gas burned up, and to listen to the carbs as I often do. So I let it run for about 30 seconds and pull the key up a notch to turn of the engine. Everything looks and feels fine. Now I'm behind and quickly move into the house to start working on the steaks.

5:45pm: As I go outside to take an empty charcoal bag to the shed for disposal, I notice smoke coming out of the barn. Immediately I drop the bag and start running. As I get inside the barn I see flames about two feet tall dancing on the top of my fuel tank in a circle around the gas cap. At this point all I can think about is what if that tank explodes! So I grabbed two old leather boots, only thing close, and throw them on top of the flames in an attempt to smother the flames. But the flames were unaffected, and I was getting burned. At this point I grabbed the old seat that I had and threw it on top of the two boots to hold them in place and further try to smother it.

5:48pm: I grab a trash can and dump the contents on the ground thinking of using it as a bucket to hold water as I run toward our outside spicket. Seeing the hose attached made me realize it would take far too long to fill the trash can. So I turn on the water and run out to the barn with the hose end. I get there and water begins to trickle out, but only trickle! Now I just wanted to lay down and cry as I watched my baby being consumed by flames! But I pull myself together and run back to find the kink. I find it and straighten it.

5:50pm: I stick the hose into the mound of burning tank/boots/seat and let is pour water in, but this isn't getting the job done, and the flames are still flaming! So I pull it back out, and put my thumb on the end, creating some pressure and spray the hell out of it as it goes out. I drop to the floor in horror and want to cry.

All the pictures are big, and gruesome, so if you're faint of heart, look away. Most are 800x600 pixels. If you have any suggestions for me, as to how to get the insurance to cover it, how to sue Boyer, or how to start the repair, let me know here.

I guess the only bright side is that I don't think the engine was too badly damaged, and I guess I was lucky to have happened to catch it when I did or else my whole barn would have burned down. I'm still SUPER-PISSED though, and am without a bike to ride. :<

PICTURES***PICTURES***PICTURES***PICTURES***PICTURES***PICTURES***PICTURES***

From the Back PICTURE

From the Back, seat up PICTURE

From the Front PICTURE

With the seat Down PICTURE

With the battery in PICTURE

The battery PICTURE

With the tank on PICTURE

What's left of the Boyer PICTURE

Melted crap on the Air Filter Housing PICTURE

Top Center PICTURE

Left Center PICTURE

Right Coil, notice the wires are fine PICTURE

There's more, but this is probably enough for you to see for a website. Please note however, I do not think in any way this is reflective of Rocky Point Cycles, which is where I bought the unit. I like Stan and think he's straight, however, something is weird here and I will be trying to get in contact with Boyer. The strange thing is, everyone told me they've been using these things for years with no problems.