09 Mar 2008, 10:32 am

I'm the helpful type as well. Now, I have to admit, I don't think I'm jaded when I say that it's smarter to keep a cell phone and have a tow service available ( I use Allstate, and they've bailed me out a few times I must admit) than to rely on the hope that another friendly biker with the right tools will stop. IN fact, the few times that I was stranded, including the time I was on a HOG sponsored run, I didn't get much help...Mayvbe owning an Indian had something to do with it, I dunno. thing is, I didn't actually expect folks to help me out. It was my bike, my problem. I'm not saying I would refuse help...I'm not much of a wrench, and any wise advice I take heed, but I also do not expect it.

Now, I'm like you in that I have stopped for bikes on the side of the road. The few times I've had to the bikers were friendly and "Had things under control" but they did appreciate me stopping. However, I found out the hard way that not everybody appreciates my concern. It must've been, I dunno, a year ago I was out for a putt and I saw a crotch rocket pulled over and the rider all decked in croth-rocket leather was of his bke and looking for something in the ditches. I pulled off thinking I'd help him recover whatever he was looking for but when I did he pretty much gave me the stink-eye and said he was fine, leave him alone. while I wouldn't say he was aggressive, I would say he was blunt and I could tell, slightly irritated that I stopped. I thought it peculiar, and my gut told me he may have been up to shenanigans, or maybe he just didn't like old school bikers, or didn't trust me...I dunno, but I gave him a smile, told him "good luck" and left, shaking my head the whole time, and yes, I thought he was a dickhead, but, whatever, life is too short to worry about it.

I'm not saying I'm jaded, and i"ll still help a bike in need (as much as my limited wrenching knowledge CAN help, anyway, but I also think it's a pretty good idea to protect yourself as well- either be capable of doing your own wrenching, which is the wisest approach, or have a reliable cell phone and 24-hour towing service.

respectfully submitted.

08 Mar 2008, 12:05 pm

Glad to see there are some old timers left, Good Job, My Friend.

07 Mar 2008, 5:55 pm

Good on 'ya Jim, don't give it all up... them that don't stop for a break down usually ain't in it for long- they come and go. They almost never ride again after their first crash either. Been watchin' it for years, tho' I haven't got as many behind me as you, all respect. Sometimes, when I'm in a good mood, I even carry metrics. I'll stop, and I've been embarrassed a few times when I needed a stop and got it- learned a lot from that.

Here's a kicker- last summer, late at night, I took a beach ride. Everything was closed up and the 3rd shift gendarmes were at the coffee shops. I saw a broke down couple and stopped. Fancy new "billet barge" chopper, one 'o them 50-80K custom jobs. As soon as I started to walk up to them, the woman got on her cell phone and said she was dialing 911!!! ...I never thought I was THAT ugly. So I turned around and mounted up, and rode away thinking how much the world had changed. For about 5 minutes. It was a really nice night, near full tank, mild beer buzz, full moon, sea grass whispering in the wind just loud enough to tell stories over an easy 2600 rpm, waves crashing, road clear, and a good woman waiting for me about 2 hours up the shoreline. What was I talking about again?

07 Mar 2008, 8:14 am

Pay-it-forward

I always check on the bike on side of the road even if it looks like they are taking a break.

The benefits of that are clear, two weeks after hurricane Katrina ravaged our area I stopped for a biker on the side of the interstate. He needed gas which was is short supply with most stations damaged and ones that were open would run out within an hour of recieving a truck load.

Two years after the stop I had need for fill dirt at my home, while signing the dray ticket the truck driver asked if I knew him, I said no but my memory is not what it used to be, he said he was the one out of gas on the interstate two years ago and that he has never forgotten that. He went on to say his father had fallen trying to cut down a tree at the family home in Mississippi and had he not arrived there when he did he may have died there.

You never know what kind of impact your stopping to help may have. It may even cause you to make a new friend.

BTW,

The load of dirt I needed came at no charge due to the driver refusing payment.

07 Mar 2008, 7:40 am

Jim, It's not all doom and gloom...while I have experienced sitting on the side of the road...in the desert...40 miles away from anywhere...and 53 motorcycles passed me by...(yes, I counted em...and even tried to wave em down...guess they thought I was just being friendly...) there are one...two...oh yes, more than just a handful out here who still remember what it feels like to be broke down, somewhere in the middle of no where...no cell service...traveling alone...with the wrong size wrenchs...and we do stop Jim.  Even when they don't look "distressed." 

It's not as many as when we were younger, but...people like you do exist...and I'm sure the ones we stop to help out will pass the good gestures forward...and ck on a stopped biker...I know I have never forgotten my own experience...and will never pass a stopped biker without at least getting a tumbs up from him/her...before continuing on my way.

Chessie