Helping a Broken-Down Biker!

[SanPete_imp]

Figured I share this experience with you fine gentlemen. I was riding out of my neighborhood this afternoon when I noticed a motorcyclist stranded by the side of the road. The site of this man cought my attention, not so much for the look of dispair and confusion of this man's face. Nor the dripping sweat inflicted by a hot afternoon in the Sunshine State, but because of his bike. I recognize that motorcycle I say to myself. I have one just like it in my garage which also happens to be broken down. I stopped to ask him if he was ok, but from where I was standing all I could hear was a mumble. Obviously having ear plugs did not help either. I make a U turn to meet him. He tells me his battery is dead. He doesn't have jump cables either. What to do? I asked him where he lives. He tells me in the nearest appartment complex just down the road. I can see the building from here. We are talking 300-400 ft tops. I am sure he can push it there, he is a big fellow. I know I have pushed my bike before many times for running out of gas, and I don't remember anybody stopping to help me either. So I tell the guy "it is not that far, you'll get there". "BUT WAIT" he shouts, then asks me if I could help him push start the bike before I take off. Mind you this is a Honda VF1100C Magna V65 (1982). Dry weight 246 kg / 545 lb, and the rider at least another 240 lbs give or take. No way I can push this fellow! It is not like he is making an attempt to get off his saddle. Even if he did, he couldn't manage to jump back on the bike while in motion? Oh well! I stopped, so let me finish the good deed. It occurs to me that perhaps I could place my foot on his rear pegs and push him with my mighty CB1100. That did not work. He was too heavy and on top of that he had a gear enganged ready to release the clutch when needed. Having the gear enganged offers some resistance to the rear wheel preventing it to roll freely. Enough of this, let me park my bike and just push the dude. Here we go, I grab the sissy bar, bite my teeth and give it a good push down the street. Say about 25 feet. Hooray! The bike starts and the dude takes off... Yes he is gone. There was no turn around to say thank you. No friendly hand gestures as he departed. Nothing! He just took off. Fine, that's ok. I don't need a thank you. After all I volunteered. Needless to say, tonight, I have a sore back. A painful reminder of my Samaritan gesture, and questioning if I should ever stop to help a fellow rider in need again.

Lesson learned: I am not saying I will never help another motorist again, but my pushing days are over. Next time I will be the one on the bike being pushed if that is what it takes.

As my fellow Australian friends would say... Cheers!