Riding on Hwy 26 from Baker City back to Portland a couple of years ago, one of the guys I was riding with had his chain break not far past John Day. I was right behind him. He has an '03 (I think) America. Fortunately, it hit his saddlebags as well as his fender (he does have a chain guard). It took a small chunk out of his fender. It could have been the back of his leg.
He has traveled a lot on his bike, and said it was the first time he had ever been stranded. Unfortunately we had no cell service, but some kind people in a farmhouse let us use their phone. He was towed to Bend (the closest "real" town), and fortunately a Yamaha or Honda dealer was able to fix him up the next day. Of course, since it was a Sunday, he was stranded in Bend over night. I imagine that was a heck of a tow cost too, about 200 miles, plus another night in a hotel. He seem to take it all in stride though. I would have been fuming.
~Brent
