Helping Out A Fellow Biker
Discussion
Took the kids to school today and saw a young biker across a nearby farmer's drive - he runs a big business from there so there were lots of cars squeezing past
I stopped on my way back to offer a hand - turned out he'd come off and was a bit shaken up
I said first lets move it to the side of the drive, he said he couldn't as he couldn't find neutral - he almost kicked himself when I pulled the clutch and moved it back
The short version is, I got him going again and mostly what he needed was a bit of reassurance (and a cable tie on the gear linkage)
It made me think back to the times when others have done similar for me - riding a DT175 with (unknowingly) no back lights and a guy flagged me down and fixed them, when I was stranded in Wales on a 950 SM and loads of bikers offered to help
He brightened my morning as much as I, hopefully, brightened his
Bikers - helping each other, its one of the best things about riding
I stopped on my way back to offer a hand - turned out he'd come off and was a bit shaken up
I said first lets move it to the side of the drive, he said he couldn't as he couldn't find neutral - he almost kicked himself when I pulled the clutch and moved it back
The short version is, I got him going again and mostly what he needed was a bit of reassurance (and a cable tie on the gear linkage)
It made me think back to the times when others have done similar for me - riding a DT175 with (unknowingly) no back lights and a guy flagged me down and fixed them, when I was stranded in Wales on a 950 SM and loads of bikers offered to help
He brightened my morning as much as I, hopefully, brightened his
Bikers - helping each other, its one of the best things about riding
Evanivitch said:
Well done! Always useful to stop and offer help where it's safe to do so (rule 1: don't increase the casualty count) be it car or motorcycle.
A lot of folk might think, "I couldn't be useful if I tried"... you never know, they might only need to borrow a 'phone, push the vehicle to a safer spot or need a second hand to hang onto something whilst they wrap a bit of tape 'round it. spoodler said:
A lot of folk might think, "I couldn't be useful if I tried"... you never know, they might only need to borrow a 'phone, push the vehicle to a safer spot or need a second hand to hang onto something whilst they wrap a bit of tape 'round it.
Yep, I agree. Sometimes people get so flustered they forget the basics. OP's example is case in point.A few years ago I spotted a biker broken down at my local lights while I was walking my dog.
I said that I live about 5 doors down and have lots of tools and can help with a jump start.
As soon as he took off the saddle the problem was obvious. He had recently fitted a new lithium battery and had not tightened the connector bolts.
Think he was relieved and slightly embarrassed at the same moment.
I said that I live about 5 doors down and have lots of tools and can help with a jump start.
As soon as he took off the saddle the problem was obvious. He had recently fitted a new lithium battery and had not tightened the connector bolts.
Think he was relieved and slightly embarrassed at the same moment.
I was able to help out a few weeks back. What turned out to be a perished hose meant fuel was leaking and I ran out on the M4 on my old ZXR (no fuel gauge and there should have been loads in there, and sadly nothing in the reserve).
I rang my Mrs and she came out with a fuel can and just before she arrived a guy pulled into the same emergency area I was in with his mate behind him on another bike paddling his legs as he had also run out of fuel.
My Mrs pulled in about 1 minute after he did and I shared the fuel so we could both get home. Very lucky timing for him as he wasn't stopped more than 10 minutes whereas I had been waiting half an hour.
Bikers should always look after each other.
I rang my Mrs and she came out with a fuel can and just before she arrived a guy pulled into the same emergency area I was in with his mate behind him on another bike paddling his legs as he had also run out of fuel.
My Mrs pulled in about 1 minute after he did and I shared the fuel so we could both get home. Very lucky timing for him as he wasn't stopped more than 10 minutes whereas I had been waiting half an hour.
Bikers should always look after each other.
Edited by Jules Sunley on Tuesday 28th November 11:36
other day stopped to offer help to a guy pushing his Honda DCT scooter, said his battery is flat but he is only pushing it round the corner.
offered to push him to jump start it but he said not possible as its an automatic, i didn't know enough about it to offer more help so left him to it.
i guess that is a big disadvantage if you cant jump start an auto.
offered to push him to jump start it but he said not possible as its an automatic, i didn't know enough about it to offer more help so left him to it.
i guess that is a big disadvantage if you cant jump start an auto.
Daniel T said:
other day stopped to offer help to a guy pushing his Honda DCT scooter, said his battery is flat but he is only pushing it round the corner.
offered to push him to jump start it but he said not possible as its an automatic, i didn't know enough about it to offer more help so left him to it.
i guess that is a big disadvantage if you cant jump start an auto.
You've just reminded me of another time I was helped, two older bikers stopped to help me and tried to bump start my speed triple 1050 - bloody thing just locked the rear wheel even in 5thoffered to push him to jump start it but he said not possible as its an automatic, i didn't know enough about it to offer more help so left him to it.
i guess that is a big disadvantage if you cant jump start an auto.
They insisted to keep trying, I thought they were going to have a heart attack
In the end I had to call my wife to come out with the van. I still very much appreciated the effort
I've helped and been helped......
Tipped off my Explorer whilst almost stationary taking avoiding action from a speeding Freelander at a T junction, van driver behind me jumped out and helped me lift it up. I could probably have done it but flappery steps in and I was glad of the hand.
I had a chap looking a bit nervous in front of me on a maxi scooter in the wet, parked his back wheel on a smooth man hole cover at a T junction, gave it the beans to pull away and the inevitable happened. I'm sure he could have managed but like me in my incident was in a flap so welcomed the help to get it upright.
Tipped off my Explorer whilst almost stationary taking avoiding action from a speeding Freelander at a T junction, van driver behind me jumped out and helped me lift it up. I could probably have done it but flappery steps in and I was glad of the hand.
I had a chap looking a bit nervous in front of me on a maxi scooter in the wet, parked his back wheel on a smooth man hole cover at a T junction, gave it the beans to pull away and the inevitable happened. I'm sure he could have managed but like me in my incident was in a flap so welcomed the help to get it upright.
Nearly 30 years ago I was late for college and travelling down some cold wet, leaf strewn rural backroads at an unwise speed on my ZR50. I came off, and performed a text book slide down the road, no significant harm done and the bike went into a ditch.
Then some idiot in a gold Mitsubishi Shogun ran me over, fracturing my arm. They didn't stop, nor did anyone else, until a chap on a CX500 pulled over, pulled my bike out of the ditch, calmed me down, and followed me the couple of miles to college and got a first aider out to help.
I didn't get his name, but if that was you on a winter backroad who helped me get to Braintree college in 1994, I'm forever grateful.
Then some idiot in a gold Mitsubishi Shogun ran me over, fracturing my arm. They didn't stop, nor did anyone else, until a chap on a CX500 pulled over, pulled my bike out of the ditch, calmed me down, and followed me the couple of miles to college and got a first aider out to help.
I didn't get his name, but if that was you on a winter backroad who helped me get to Braintree college in 1994, I'm forever grateful.
I remember something like 30 years ago I snapped my chain doing about 90mph on the M5 in Worcestershire. Somehow the chain lodged without locking the wheel up. I was about 5 miles from the next junction and had no breakdown cover or much money to get the 100 miles to home. I started pushing and numerous bikers stopped and offered assistance but short of having a spare chain link on them there was little anyone could do. Eventually, 4 miles later and completely knackered (A Kawasaki Z650 isn't that light!) another biker stopped and offered me his RAC membership card. I accepted gratefully and eventually got recovered home so sent his card back to him with a generous sum enclosed as a thank you. I'd probably still be there now if it wasn't for him! God bless bikers.
Fair play OP, there isn't enough of this around right now.
95% of the time I will stop and help (or at least try to), there's always that 5% where I'm just in too much of a rush. If someone has actually come off though and not broken down I will ALWAYS stop regardless of what is happening. No worse feeling than that after an accident when you're trying to come to terms with what has happened and you feel all alone.
95% of the time I will stop and help (or at least try to), there's always that 5% where I'm just in too much of a rush. If someone has actually come off though and not broken down I will ALWAYS stop regardless of what is happening. No worse feeling than that after an accident when you're trying to come to terms with what has happened and you feel all alone.
I put my ZZR600 and me through a hedge many years ago as the road had a sharp left bend with a small track bearing to the right. I couldn't decide which way to go arriving far too quickly so split the difference and took the scenic route.
After pulling it out the hedge a lorry driver stopped and asked if I needed a hand. I was so embarrassed and probably looked like Worzel Gummidge that I declined and sheepishly rode off .... Slowly !!
After pulling it out the hedge a lorry driver stopped and asked if I needed a hand. I was so embarrassed and probably looked like Worzel Gummidge that I declined and sheepishly rode off .... Slowly !!
Unless they look vulnerable or in a dangerous scenario I never stop for cars but will always stop for a biker just to check-in they're all good or if i can be of assistance.
Never had much opportunity on the road to do anything though and when I have stopped they've been fine and just stretching their legs or awaiting a friend to return with petrol etc. but usually grateful for stopping to check.
Never had much opportunity on the road to do anything though and when I have stopped they've been fine and just stretching their legs or awaiting a friend to return with petrol etc. but usually grateful for stopping to check.
I've stopped to help a couple of times, both times in the car park where I leave my bike when commuting on it.
Once, I got back to the car park to find someone glumly waiting for the RAC after flattening their battery by leaving the sidelights on all day. It was a big twin Aprilia, no point even trying to bump start one of those, especially when the battery is so low that the electronics and fuel pump don't come to life when you turn the key. However, in my topbox is a Noco jump pack, so we just attached the cables and turned it on, and the bike fired right up.
Another time I got back to the bike to find someone with a flat tyre - nail in the middle, guess it must have been picked up in the morning and then slowly deflated all day. As well as the jump pack, I carry a Stop'n'Go plugging kit and a tiny 12V compressor. We got that tyre plugged and pumped up in about 15 minutes - guy was amazed by how easy the process was. I've fixed my own punctures at the roadside a few times as well, such a useful bit of kit.
It's nice to be able to help.
Once, I got back to the car park to find someone glumly waiting for the RAC after flattening their battery by leaving the sidelights on all day. It was a big twin Aprilia, no point even trying to bump start one of those, especially when the battery is so low that the electronics and fuel pump don't come to life when you turn the key. However, in my topbox is a Noco jump pack, so we just attached the cables and turned it on, and the bike fired right up.
Another time I got back to the bike to find someone with a flat tyre - nail in the middle, guess it must have been picked up in the morning and then slowly deflated all day. As well as the jump pack, I carry a Stop'n'Go plugging kit and a tiny 12V compressor. We got that tyre plugged and pumped up in about 15 minutes - guy was amazed by how easy the process was. I've fixed my own punctures at the roadside a few times as well, such a useful bit of kit.
It's nice to be able to help.
mikey_b said:
I've stopped to help a couple of times, both times in the car park where I leave my bike when commuting on it.
Once, I got back to the car park to find someone glumly waiting for the RAC after flattening their battery by leaving the sidelights on all day. It was a big twin Aprilia, no point even trying to bump start one of those, especially when the battery is so low that the electronics and fuel pump don't come to life when you turn the key. However, in my topbox is a Noco jump pack, so we just attached the cables and turned it on, and the bike fired right up.
Another time I got back to the bike to find someone with a flat tyre - nail in the middle, guess it must have been picked up in the morning and then slowly deflated all day. As well as the jump pack, I carry a Stop'n'Go plugging kit and a tiny 12V compressor. We got that tyre plugged and pumped up in about 15 minutes - guy was amazed by how easy the process was. I've fixed my own punctures at the roadside a few times as well, such a useful bit of kit.
It's nice to be able to help.
Top biking chap just there! Once, I got back to the car park to find someone glumly waiting for the RAC after flattening their battery by leaving the sidelights on all day. It was a big twin Aprilia, no point even trying to bump start one of those, especially when the battery is so low that the electronics and fuel pump don't come to life when you turn the key. However, in my topbox is a Noco jump pack, so we just attached the cables and turned it on, and the bike fired right up.
Another time I got back to the bike to find someone with a flat tyre - nail in the middle, guess it must have been picked up in the morning and then slowly deflated all day. As well as the jump pack, I carry a Stop'n'Go plugging kit and a tiny 12V compressor. We got that tyre plugged and pumped up in about 15 minutes - guy was amazed by how easy the process was. I've fixed my own punctures at the roadside a few times as well, such a useful bit of kit.
It's nice to be able to help.
Not ridden for quite a while, but I did stop a few times when I was, and have stopped since then while in a car. Given petrol, tools and somewhere warm to wait for the AA man. But the one time I actually needed help myself, on a Friday night just before Heston Services, on what was then "Bike Night", not one person stopped 
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