Hi all,

Im in Iran tring to find a new tranny for my 88 r100 gs, gonna take a while so with a bit of time to kill i thought i might start this thread. Im looking for stories or anecdotes from any of you intrepid travellers who have found yourself like i did.

First i lost all power to the rear wheel, thinking it was the driveshaft. This happened about 400km from Tehran, 65 km from Zanjan. I somehow managed to lift the bikie with another Iranian guy into a pickup i flagged down. Arriving in Zanjan we got the bike down with the assistance of two other Iranians who offered their home to me. Lock up bike, jump in a cab, get pulled over by the police. Sit around for two hours. Get pulled out of cab and put in Police car not allowed to get luggage, cab drives off in another direction police car drives into what seems like the middle of no where i am told to get out, police car drives off i am left with one police man (maybe) and a whole heap of darkness. Ahh i think, this is the bit i get robbed. It happened crossing the border but was more bakeesh this was more midnight express. Into a concrete bunker i am questioned for 6 hours in Farsi. Eventually an interpretor turns up and after more ridiculous questioning i can leave it is now 3 am, however they keep my passport. I now am in the middle of Zanjan and have no idea where my bike is. Eventually i find it in a cab. The following day i have to return to police station for more questioning. Eventually i can go, off to check bike out. After two mechanics pull my bike to pieces a cracked gearbox cover is revealed, stuff every where i think it was prayer time and in a couple of seconds everyone disaperas and there i am. My bike looks as though it has been dropped into the grand canyon. The following day the mechanics after much hammering and the use of a BLOW TORCH!!! manage to remove the transmission and little bits of ball bearings and cogs spill out onto the ground. I had the bike serviced not two weeks prior by BMW Ankara, they failed to check transmission oil. And i failed to read the sign, Speedo went haywire just before breakdown.

No probs i say, i will just pop down the road and pick up a new tranny for my 88 gs shall I NOT!!!

" is that opium your somking, yeh id love some thanks i seem to have a bit of a headache coming on"

I