Topic: Ride stopper

[jacquesleclochard]

Hey guys, I'm working up something for a movie, and I'm trying to get this one particular scene done where a motorcyclist runs into a problem. His bike goes bad, he loses half the power, but still limps it home on half the power. Next thing is him ordering some parts to do the repair, and this is the tricky part, which he then proceeds to do himself with the flick of a wrist.

Spark plug goes bad? That's an easy issue to overcome. But it's a bit minor; I'm trying to get him to order a few parts that'll get him going again.
Hole in the piston? That would work, he would make it home, but the repair is more intensive.

What else guys? What are those ride stoppers that won't kill your ride completely, but that force you to perform repairs to two or more parts?

[70CB750]

Clutch cable or throttle cable. You can get home with it broken but parts are needed to fix that.
Or coil to loose two cylinders.

[Killer Canary]

ordering some parts to do the repair, and this is the tricky part,

That's always the tricky part!

[754]

Coil wire coming off would do it.

[mono]

unless your film is about motorcycle repair, is it important for the audience to know what he's fixing?  just a thought.

if it is pertinent, maybe the points?  those will cause a sputter and are easy to replace.

[jacquesleclochard]

Those are good suggestions, and f.y.i the audince is you guys, so yeah, they know what's up (right?  )

I'm looking for a cycle of events, so that the repair requires several parts. I know this isn't possible, but it is what I'm looking for. Just per example:

Part of the electric system goes bad. Half the wiring is fried, including one coil, one half of the points, half the rectifier. That makes for quite a basket of parts, a logic basket of parts, needed in order to get back on the road.

[jacquesleclochard]

unless your film is about motorcycle repair, is it important for the audience to know what he's fixing?  just a thought.

if it is pertinent, maybe the points?  those will cause a sputter and are easy to replace.

What would be needed for a fix? I replaced my points with an electric a long time ago, and never had to replace the points. File them, sure, maintenance. But if the point goes bad? Wire, plate, points, and?

[mono]

if the points get out of adjustment or one of them breaks, the bike will run very poorly or not at all.  adjusting/replacing them is pretty simple - anyone who's done it once can do it "with the flick of the wrist"

and i'm glad to hear that WE are the audience! that's exciting!  let me know when to start popping the popcorn 

[Gordon]

+1 on the points.

If the little rubbing block that rides on the cam breaks off you'd be down to two cylinders but should still be able to limp home, and it would be a relatively easy fix for someone who knows points.

[TwoTired]

The coils are controlled/powered by two wires.  Part one of the wires (or unplug it) and the engine only operates on two cylinders.  Reconnect the wire and varroom.

Some models have two fuel lines, which then feeds two carbs each.  Kink or block one of those fuel lines, and two cylinders run badly if at all.  Replace or unkink the fuel line and varroom.

[BobbyR]

Start with a Dyna type system and have it crap out. Now he has to get points from somewhere and then he has to find someone who knows how to install and work on them. He ten has a bunch of mishaps breaking things as he tries to do the job.

[70CB750]

Ride stopper - that would be cop, wouldn't it?

[dave500]

how about a rod poking through the bottom of the block?and its a downhill roll all the way home?are you doing a comedy?

[scrapvalue]

Wobble in the front end, find bump in tire.
Doesn't stop you, but slows you down and makes you paranoid the rest of the ride.
You order new tire and tube.
When they finally arrive and you are replacing the tire, you find it needs wheel bearings and the brake pads are really wearing thin.

Order more parts.

After the new parts arrive and you get it back together, you finally go for a ride.  You find that the steering stem bearings are played. 

[754]

 How about test riding with no point cover... Or it falls  off while riding ..then rides true puddle or other vehicle does and splashes the bike....starts missing.rider gets off. Spit tests the pies, then tears a corner off a business card or ciggy pack..gives points a wipe..and rides off into the sunset with a busy wench...

[cougar]

LOL +100 BobbyR   "Dyna Ignition"   Love my points !  ...cougar...

[754]

 He stops somewhere and his buddies prank him...remove points cover, stick piece of card or match cover in one set.

 He rides off, runs like crap, he phones his buddy to come get him. They either;

 Fess up, and he pulls. Cover, removes paper..with flick of a wrist. And she runs fine..

 OR, his buddy shows up, pulls cover, removes with flick of the wrist, then says..Try it now...