07-06-2015, 02:13 AM
Well, at 15/16 yrs old I "learned" to ride on a 1964 Sears Allstate scooter. (Vespa copy). This was 1969/70 and the scooter was all beat up even by then. The very large parking lot was two miles from my home and if the fuzz were around I'd push it there and back.
--- This is where I crashed while attempting to set the land speed record for a Sears scooter, and MG's story reminded me of the agony of having the E.R. nurse using what I swear was a bristle brush to scrub large amounts of asphalt bits from my open back wounds. ---
About 4 years ago I bought a used 2004 BMW RT-P police bike that had been completely serviced and was in top shape, no issues at all with the battery. So I take it out on the highway for a short 30 mile test ride to feel things out. Suddenly, just ahead on a curve, a large SUV was going too fast and rolled over and into the divider. I hit the brakes hard and downshifted like a maniac in order to make the exit ramp to my right to avoid the crash as well as the inevitable traffic jam. Well, I was in a gear higher than I thought I was in and stalled it out on the ramp. And a no start due to a low battery. There was a slight downhill ahead of me and I tried to push start it. But I didn't go fast enough and failed. Then I had to push it on an uphill to get to another slight downhill. Did I mention it was about 92 degrees and humid? So I was pulled over trying to catch some breath before I tried it again, and wondering if I was going to have a banger right here on the dirt shoulder. And a local police officer pulls behind me. I'm thinking he will call a tow and I'll be glad to pay to just get home. To my surprise, he says he will push me fast enough to push start it. He did so in that heat, not with his car, but with his own self! We got it started and I made it home.
So, contrary to the cable news networks and Rev. Al, not all U.S. police officers are sadistic homicidal maniacs.
--- This is where I crashed while attempting to set the land speed record for a Sears scooter, and MG's story reminded me of the agony of having the E.R. nurse using what I swear was a bristle brush to scrub large amounts of asphalt bits from my open back wounds. ---
About 4 years ago I bought a used 2004 BMW RT-P police bike that had been completely serviced and was in top shape, no issues at all with the battery. So I take it out on the highway for a short 30 mile test ride to feel things out. Suddenly, just ahead on a curve, a large SUV was going too fast and rolled over and into the divider. I hit the brakes hard and downshifted like a maniac in order to make the exit ramp to my right to avoid the crash as well as the inevitable traffic jam. Well, I was in a gear higher than I thought I was in and stalled it out on the ramp. And a no start due to a low battery. There was a slight downhill ahead of me and I tried to push start it. But I didn't go fast enough and failed. Then I had to push it on an uphill to get to another slight downhill. Did I mention it was about 92 degrees and humid? So I was pulled over trying to catch some breath before I tried it again, and wondering if I was going to have a banger right here on the dirt shoulder. And a local police officer pulls behind me. I'm thinking he will call a tow and I'll be glad to pay to just get home. To my surprise, he says he will push me fast enough to push start it. He did so in that heat, not with his car, but with his own self! We got it started and I made it home.
So, contrary to the cable news networks and Rev. Al, not all U.S. police officers are sadistic homicidal maniacs.