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!

[Jayimpalaman_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!

I know how you feel SanPete. I help a guy with a flat, I went to my house and got everything needed to change his flat and when i got back (20) mins, he was gone!! He lied to me. Hurt my feelings. I always help other riders when I can!! Jayimpalaman

[Powerdogg55]

Some people never cease to amaze me. This is simply rude and inconsiderate of someone nice enough to stop and take the time to assist someone and they can't even respond with a simple thanks....this guy's attitude is simply a part of a much larger problem in today's society. SanPete if you see me broke down on the side of the road somewhere please stop....I'll buy you lunch.

[Cormanus]

SanPete, we all know how you feel. What a grub.

In the brilliant film A Fish Called Wanda Kevin Kline played a not-very-smart character called Otto. In that circumstance he would have relieved his tension by yelling "AS%*HOLE!" after the receding biker.

Powerdogg is right. It's part of a much wider problem. It's like letting people into to traffic. All it takes is a wave or some form of acknowledgement and you're glad you did it. When you get nothing, you wonder why you bothered.

[rboe]

The fellow was very rude. But you made Karmah points.

[Pterodactyl_imp]

Geezaloo (yeh, must be infectious). If I had known that all those blokes who have pushed my bikes needed was a wave I woulda done it. Ah well, too late now. Maybe next time.

Cheers

[gossman_imp]

We shouldn't do things for others expecting a thank you or acknowledgements, we do them to make ourselves better people. You are a better person for it. Yes, I believe this.

[SanPete_imp]

Thank you all for the kind words and display of support. I am over it for now. Maybe my back will be too after a good night sleep.

I also have to agree with Powerdogg statement of this being "part of a much wider problem." I grew up with values like being polite and respecting your elders was the thing to do. Unfortunately I don't see this in our society anymore. It is all about "Me Me Me", this self-centeredness that has plagued us like a religious cult.

Listen! I don't want to open a can of worms here (ain't that right Cormanus?) This is all about the broken-down biker dude. Maybe he was having a really bad day and couldn't wait to get home. God bless him, and I hope he gets his bike fixed. I also hope the bike wasn't stolen and I became part of a crime.

[Cormanus]

Mate, I'm not sure whether you should test your mighty command of the Australian vernacular with me or Pterodactyl. But, you're right, it would be much better not to open a can of worms. Aside from anything else it would draw the attention of the moderators and we'll all be in the sh*t.

[lola_imp]

Never Offer to hop on a strangers bike to jump start just because you don't want to be the one pushing.. he might just ride off with your bike instead, just a tip. Good on you for helping though.