07-06-2015, 04:01 AM
The last time I pushed a bike was my 2001 Kawasaki Vulcan 750. There is a long uphill grade where SR522 merges into I-405 south in Woodinville, WA. Traffic always backs up during the morning rush and I have to merge across 4 lanes of stop n go at the bottom of the hill to reach the carpool lane. Once I hit the carpool lane I jumped on the throttle only to find the engine reving to redline while I was going nowhere. It turns out Kawasaki failed to properly lubricate a batch of rear drive splines at the factory and I owned one of the affected models.
So, I found myself at the bottom of a 0.9 mile long steep hill before I could get to the next exit on the inside lane of the freeway. Luckily, traffic being at a stand still allowed me to push the bike back across 4 lanes of traffic without getting flattened in the process. I didn't want to leave the bike in a bad location so I decided to give it a try pushing up the hill to the park-n-ride at the top of the hill.
Halfway up, an officer pulls in behind me. I figured he would ask if I needed any help and be on his way when I declined. That was not the case. He wanted to escort me from the freeway and was persistent that I leave the bike behind. I reluctantly agreed. He gave me a ride to the next exit and dropped me off at a gas station on the far side of the freeway then went on his way. I proceeded to walk back to the bike and finished pushing it up the hill. I managed to get a ride home to pickup my truck once the bike was safely parked.
So, I found myself at the bottom of a 0.9 mile long steep hill before I could get to the next exit on the inside lane of the freeway. Luckily, traffic being at a stand still allowed me to push the bike back across 4 lanes of traffic without getting flattened in the process. I didn't want to leave the bike in a bad location so I decided to give it a try pushing up the hill to the park-n-ride at the top of the hill.
Halfway up, an officer pulls in behind me. I figured he would ask if I needed any help and be on his way when I declined. That was not the case. He wanted to escort me from the freeway and was persistent that I leave the bike behind. I reluctantly agreed. He gave me a ride to the next exit and dropped me off at a gas station on the far side of the freeway then went on his way. I proceeded to walk back to the bike and finished pushing it up the hill. I managed to get a ride home to pickup my truck once the bike was safely parked.