Stopping for bikers.

[saltydog]

Got the leg out of a cast at the end of last week.
Saturday cranked the R1 for its first spin in 2 months. So off to the servo to fill up. Get 2kms from the gas and she splutters and dies on a straight bit of road with a bit of traffic.FUCK.
I cant push her, legs still dodgy, so hunt around for a stone or something to stop my stand sinking into the mud and a see a light in the distance.
A Trumphy pulls up and without hesitation dumps his girlfriend off the back to look after my bike and we are off to the servo for some gas.
Unbelivable, and in less than 5mins I'm back pouring the precious into the tank.
Restores my faith in all things biking.
So the moral of the story?
Always stop to make sure a fellow biker is OK, because some day it may happen to you......

A big thanks to LES and his lady at the locksmiths here in Whakatane ....hope burger fuel in vegas was yummy!

[tigertim20]

you know, funny thing I have found, in a cage when im on the side of the road, it can often take well over an hour before someone even stops to ask if you are ok, on a bike, the first or second bike to go whizzing past usually comes back and says whats the prob mate?
Its like the first rule of bikerhood, if you dont help out stranded brothers, you aint biker!!

[Maha]

Saw one about 15 mins ago in the Dome Valley (top of the passing lane) didnt stop as he had company....:Police:

[skidMark]

Ran out of ghas on a country road once, about 30 k from a gassy... started pushing it got about 2-3 k and a fella in a van came past.... GAVE me the fuel in a 5 litre fuel can in the back of his van... i tried to give him 20 bucks for it but he wouldn't accept it, theres still some good sorts out there.

[duckonin]

Stopped a few times for bikers one wanted a smoke in the middle of knowhere, the other between Queenstown and Lumsden he was on the side of the road looking at his bike so we turned around after a k or so feeling guitly, we got back to him only to have him tell us he was going to do a spot of fishing..Hmmm oh well we shall keep waving I guess, but really if a bike is stopped and by it's self on the side of the road pays to check, as it really is a prick of a position to be in....:eek5:

[Ixion]

What goes round comes round. Tip for novices - if you are broken down, take y' helmet off (you'll want to anyway) , and walk back down the road fifty metres or so (not out of sight of bike though) and put helmet on ground beside road. Biker coming along will see it, know that you've not just stopped for a smoke or a chat, and it also gives him a bit of warning so he can slow down. Especially valid if there's a group of you but y' still need help - otherwise a passing biker may think "Lots of people already stopped , don't need me" he doesn't know you have no toolkit, or no mechanical knowledge or whatever. BTW even in this age of cell phones , STILL STOP. Not every road has signal, you may be able to help by calling through a message once you readh civilisation.

[steve_t]

What goes round comes round. Tip for novices - if you are broken down, take y' helmet off (you'll want to anyway) , and walk back down the road fifty metres or so (not out of sight of bike though) and put helmet on ground beside road. Biker coming along will see it, know that you've not just stopped for a smoke or a chat, and it also gives him a bit of warning so he can slow down. Especially valid if there's a group of you but y' still need help - otherwise a passing biker may think "Lots of people already stopped , don't need me" he doesn't know you have no toolkit, or no mechanical knowledge or whatever. BTW even in this age of cell phones , STILL STOP. Not every road has signal, you may be able to help by calling through a message once you readh civilisation.

Sweet. Is that a universal sign for "little help please"? Good to know!

[Ixion]

Certainly is in my world. Alternative to helmet, seat, pack or whatever. Course, I'll stop anyway , especially if the rider is sitting on the bike with that puzzled "wotz wrong" attitude : or hunched down fiddling.

[Maha]

Certainly is in my world. Alternative to helmet, seat, pack or whatever. Course, I'll stop anyway , especially if the rider is sitting on the bike with that puzzled "wotz wrong" attitude : or hunched down fiddling.

If its a 'he' hunched down fiddling, best you keep riding....;)

[Gremlin]

I stopped for a car in scenic drive one saturday night around 8pm a few weeks back.

Of all the odds, it was an ex mechanic of AMPS, who was trying to change a front wheel by the light of a mobile phone. My headlight was most useful for the chap.

Worst thing was, several cars had passed by before I came past, none had stopped... You really gotta check in those less populated places, as help can be far away...

[HenryDorsetCase]

Sweet. Is that a universal sign for "little help please"? Good to know!

of course in some worlds what happens is some prick stops, steals your pack/helmet/significant other, then drives by, not stopping, giving you the fingers and shouting "I stole your pack, loser".

maybe I'm unlucky that way.

[cruza]

Hell yeah , you have to stop . What goes around comes around;) . I always go out of my way to help , as I have had some real good bastards stop and help me when I've been on the side of the road. Last rescue was a fellow kb'er , first person that I've actually known.

[CookMySock]

I always stop if something doesnt look right. Sometimes I'll stop for a sleep, but not on a highway.. no one has ever come along and woken me up thank goodness.

Steve

[steve_t]

Probably not so relevant to bikers but I'm really getting fed up with people who are trying to see if everything's alright getting the shit kicked out of them. I know the guy in Hamiltron who went across the road to see if a screaming maori chick was being attacked by her dropkick boyfriend. The chick started punching the good samaritan guy who decided he should leave. The chick's boyfriend punched the guy in the back of the head and knocked him out. 8 other people then proceeded to lay the boot in. He has 2 fractured eye sockets, broken jaw, broken nose, and other bruises all over his body. This dude is nearly 40 years old and a really good guy. I don't think he'll ever try to help someone again and I'm pretty sure he'll never go out drinking every again. It's sad and disgusting.
Another mate tried to prevent a fight ie no punches were thrown yet, only a bunch of idiotic words, and he got a broken bottle slashed across his arm/wrist which severed the nerves and cut down to the bone! He has only recently regained feeling and control of his fingers but will never have feeling in his arm again :angry2:

[klingon]

I always stop. As a female on my own (and given stories like steve_t's above) you might think it would be unwise for me to stop and offer help, but I have done and always will do it.

Of course you have to be a bit sensible about it, especially if you're in an isolated place. As always when stopping your bike, think about how you're going to get moving again - don't nose in somewhere that you're going to have to back out of. Keep your helmet on, engine running & in gear until you've assessed the situation and are confident there's nothing sinister going on.

I've only been riding for a couple of years but at a quick guess I suppose I've stopped six or more times to check on a fellow biker stopped on the side of the road. One guy I just waited and minded his bike while he went to the nearest service station, another I stayed and chatted while he waited for his wife to arrive with petrol, another was a woman who had developed cramp in her leg (the way she was rubbing it I thought she had come off and injured herself - a relief to find it wasn't that!) another couple of times they just said they were fine and waved me on.

The guy who was waiting for his wife to bring a can of petrol really summed it up for me. He didn't need my help, but I just hung out with him anyway. He was feeling a bit self conscious standing on the side of the road by himself and a bit sheepish to have made such a newbie mistake - he was probably in his late 60s and had been riding his whole life. I used 10 minutes of my day standing beside the road, talking about bikes. I believe we both benefitted from the encounter - it brightened both our days. :yes:

[YellowDog]

you know, funny thing I have found, in a cage when im on the side of the road, it can often take well over an hour before someone even stops to ask if you are ok, on a bike, the first or second bike to go whizzing past usually comes back and says whats the prob mate?
Its like the first rule of bikerhood, if you dont help out stranded brothers, you aint biker!!

Great story.

Bikers do look out for each other.

IME - Most people are good and we shouldn't allow the odd outrageous exception to spoil it for everyone else.

[CookMySock]

I know the guy in Hamiltron who went across the road to see if a screaming maori chick was being attacked by her dropkick boyfriend. Ah yeah bro, thats a really daft thing to do though. :nono:

I don't condone it, but if people want to bash the piss outa each other, it's not anyones' problem but their own.

Steve

[howdamnhard]

So the moral of the story?
Always stop to make sure a fellow biker is OK, because some day it may happen to you......



Agreed :yes:

[denefoster]

I stopped for a cage crash today on SH2 near Upper Hutt.. one other cage driver did, only to move a trailer off the road. Annoying. Then the whole line sped along. Two cars were absolutely munted and there could have been bodies. But nah, why stop. People suck.

I stopped, rang the rozzas, made sure nobody was going to fall over from shock, or a punctured or anything. Waited for coppers then belted off.

[Usarka]

Could be the trumpy rider i stopped for late last year.

:scooter:

[ManDownUnder]

100% agreement... and make this a "just do it" thing. Don't wonder do they/don't they need help. Stop, check, meet someone and help if they need it.

They might not... so what's that... 2 mins lost?

[MIXONE]

I thought it was one of the unwritten rules.
It is in my house!
And hate to disagree with you DB but I just can't walk past when a female is getting the bash from Male.It's cost me a bit of abuse and threats over the years but I know I've saved quite a few bruises too.

[Creeping Death]

Waited for coppers then belted off.

Really?Couldn't you wait till you got home to do that?:eek5:

[Mom]

We saw a young fella pushing his bike a while ago. He was heading in the opposite direction to us, it was SH1 busy weekend traffic situation. We U-turned (eventually, it takes forever to find a safe place sometimes :dodge:) and went back and stopped to see if he was ok. We could have been no practical help to be fair, though we had cell phones with credit, and cash if he needed gas, but had to make sure he was ok.

He was young fella too. He said he had rung his Dad who was coming to get him, he thought he would push it closer to home.

Biker code and all that.

[caseye]

I thought it was one of the unwritten rules.
It is in my house!
And hate to disagree with you DB but I just can't walk past when a female is getting the bash from Male.It's cost me a bit of abuse and threats over the years but I know I've saved quite a few bruises too.

On ya mate,I too have risked all and stopped some intelligence defficient fools beating on their girlfriends.It's definitely worth it.
Same as for stopping for bikers on the side of the road.Haven't ridden past one yet.
It goes around aND IT comes around.

[McJim]

Never yet needed to have anyone stop for me but have some good stories of pulling strangers and friends out from ditches, carting bikes back from bins and punctures.

It's a good way to make new friends. Until they get to know me of course then they realise I'm a cunt. :rofl:

[klingon]

Ah yeah bro, thats a really daft thing to do though. :nono:

I don't condone it, but if people want to bash the piss outa each other, it's not anyones' problem but their own.

Steve


I thought it was one of the unwritten rules.
It is in my house!
And hate to disagree with you DB but I just can't walk past when a female is getting the bash from Male.It's cost me a bit of abuse and threats over the years but I know I've saved quite a few bruises too.

I have to agree with MIXONE here - while I acknowledge there is a personal risk involved, I will always at least make an attempt to help someone out if they're "having the piss bashed out of them."

A few years ago I saw a couple outside a pub having a go at each other (physically). I arrived in time to see him push her to the ground and swing his foot to kick her. I ran up and shoved him in the chest so he stumbled backwards and couldn't complete the kick.

Then it got interesting - the woman got up off the ground and had a go at me - I remember her screaming "leave my boyfriend alone!" So I did. And they stumbled off with their arms around each other.

But there is absolutely no way I was going to let that kick land on a woman who was lying on the ground. And I would do exactly the same again, and hope that any decent person would do the same for me.

[steve_t]

I have to agree with MIXONE here - while I acknowledge there is a personal risk involved, I will always at least make an attempt to help someone out if they're "having the piss bashed out of them."

A few years ago I saw a couple outside a pub having a go at each other (physically). I arrived in time to see him push her to the ground and swing his foot to kick her. I ran up and shoved him in the chest so he stumbled backwards and couldn't complete the kick.

Then it got interesting - the woman got up off the ground and had a go at me - I remember her screaming "leave my boyfriend alone!" So I did. And they stumbled off with their arms around each other.

But there is absolutely no way I was going to let that kick land on a woman who was lying on the ground. And I would do exactly the same again, and hope that any decent person would do the same for me.

I still agree with helping people and will continue to do so, but how would you feel if the chick had punched u in the face and broken your jaw?

[cs363]

Really?Couldn't you wait till you got home to do that?:eek5:

Meh...maybe he's got a thing for uniforms?! :yes:

[klingon]

I still agree with helping people and will continue to do so, but how would you feel if the chick had punched u in the face and broken your jaw?

That was a risk I was prepared to take. It is a risk I will continue to take if such situations arise in the future. In part I think a lot of this stuff is like biking - calculated risk, situational awareness, deciding life isn't worth living if we spend all our time completely avoiding all risky situations. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't intervene at a time like that.

[steve_t]

That was a risk I was prepared to take. It is a risk I will continue to take if such situations arise in the future. In part I think a lot of this stuff is like biking - calculated risk, situational awareness, deciding life isn't worth living if we spend all our time completely avoiding all risky situations. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't intervene at a time like that.

Yeah, fair enough. How crap would you feel just standing there watching some chick get booted in the face? I agree, just keep your wits about you at all times... but still sad that you have to

[BMWST?]

Last rescue was a fellow kb'er , first person that I've actually known.

you must be a scary looking barsteward

[Philip Mc Cavity]

I was stranded on the North Western for over an hour last week when my bike blew up. I pushed the bike behind the armco, retreated to the top of the bank and called for help. Help was going to be a while...

Thing is that while I waited no less than 32 bikes (of all kinds) rode past, some looked others stared straight ahead.

In the space of an hour only two people stopped, a kindly cage driver, and the feds! The feds asked why I was stopped there and I told them why and that help was on the way, and just for fun I was subjected to a rego and license check and 20 questions about how I came to be at that exact spot (most of which I declined to answer)!

I've stopped many times in the past to offer help, but I have to say I was bloody disappointed by my 2 wheeled comrades indifference.

[Blackshear]

I was stranded on the North Western for over an hour last week when my bike blew up. I pushed the bike behind the armco, retreated to the top of the bank and called for help. Help was going to be a while...

Thing is that while I waited no less than 32 bikes (of all kinds) rode past, some looked others stared straight ahead.

In the space of an hour only two people stopped, a kindly cage driver, and the feds! The feds asked why I was stopped there and I told them why and that help was on the way, and just for fun I was subjected to a rego and license check and 20 questions about how I came to be at that exact spot (most of which I declined to answer)!

I've stopped many times in the past to offer help, but I have to say I was bloody disappointed by my 2 wheeled comrades indifference.

Keep on keeping on, brah.
Still help people, hopefully you don't end up helping the ones who never stopped.

Only stopped for 3 people in my years riding, the only 3 I saw.
Some real old codger pushing his equally old Guzzi or sommat on the footpath. Just needed gas, and the petrol station was only 300m down the road, but still.

Some dude on a racing decal sprotsbike, blue with yellow detail. Something muffled about 'friends bike - - - not used to this clutch - - rollstart'

Lastly, some young whippersnapper on a FXR150 whose fuel line had magically detached from his tank halfway around the back of Albany's scenic bush roads. Had an empty V can in my bag, so I pulled off my line and lent him some petrol. He was pretty stoked, 20 minutes of pushing/waiting and noone had even come past. Had to barter him down to a Crunchie bar at the servo!


Incidintally, I have been 'rescued' 3 times on my voyages. I think about 10 people are still owed a glass or two of their chosen beverage!

[TOTO]

What goes round comes round. Tip for novices - if you are broken down, take y' helmet off (you'll want to anyway) , and walk back down the road fifty metres or so (not out of sight of bike though) and put helmet on ground beside road. Biker coming along will see it, know that you've not just stopped for a smoke or a chat, and it also gives him a bit of warning so he can slow down. Especially valid if there's a group of you but y' still need help - otherwise a passing biker may think "Lots of people already stopped , don't need me" he doesn't know you have no toolkit, or no mechanical knowledge or whatever. BTW even in this age of cell phones , STILL STOP. Not every road has signal, you may be able to help by calling through a message once you readh civilisation.

That is cool. We learn something every day I guess :) Thanks Ixion.

[klingon]

I was stranded on the North Western for over an hour last week when my bike blew up. I pushed the bike behind the armco, retreated to the top of the bank and called for help. Help was going to be a while...

Thing is that while I waited no less than 32 bikes (of all kinds) rode past, some looked others stared straight ahead.

In the space of an hour only two people stopped, a kindly cage driver, and the feds! The feds asked why I was stopped there and I told them why and that help was on the way, and just for fun I was subjected to a rego and license check and 20 questions about how I came to be at that exact spot (most of which I declined to answer)!

I've stopped many times in the past to offer help, but I have to say I was bloody disappointed by my 2 wheeled comrades indifference.

Well, I'm surprised and disappointed! :pinch:

Were you in a spot that made you hard to see in time to stop? (Ok now I'm looking for excuses - but 32 bikes passed you by?! Something is not right there!)

[saltydog]

Was on the back road Turangi to Tokaroa. I'd been following the 1000 mile challenge crew for a while and we came across shitloads of bikes on a run and a pub on the route. I ended up fanging the yammy and running short of the gas station by about 8km.
As I was coasting to a silent stop a hilux and a elderly couple came into view. They were fixing up thier front gate with a bit of wood and chainsaw.
Not only did the old guy not let me use the shitty gas out of his saw can, he drove me down to his workshop and filled up 5l of good stuff and refused any payment.
Gota love that!

[steve_t]

I guess the trend does seem to be that rural folk are way friendlier and more helpful that city folk... but that's not really a surprise to anyone is it?

[Blackshear]

I guess the trend does seem to be that rural folk are way friendlier and more helpful that city folk... but that's not really a surprise to anyone is it?

The whole 'not my problem' mentality, I guess.

[mowgli]

Always stop to make sure a fellow biker is OK, because some day it may happen to you......

Bloody nice thread. I´m not religious and I don´t believe in fate but I´m a very big believer in karma. Hasn´t let me down yet.

[Conquiztador]

Have stopped more times then I can remember. Once rebuilt a Ducati clutch from scratch on side of the road. Once between Taupo and Napier to rebuild carbies on a Triumph for a patched up guy. Often petrol, a couple of weeks ago for a V-rod. And will keep on doing it.

I blame the commuter mentality for the ones not stopping. They are not really bikers, just ppl who use the bike from A to B as transport.

[HungusMaximist]

Always stop and always will for bikers, and even for cars in trouble.

Just the right thing to do.

Reminds me of a story couple of weeks back about a lady involved in a crash and getting stuck in her car in the middle of the road. People blatantly swerved their cars and avoided her, so she was stuck inside her fucked car for hours.

Just do the right thing and help.

[saltydog]

I blame the commuter mentality for the ones not stopping. They are not really bikers, just ppl who use the bike from A to B as transport.

I totally agree, had I been on a M/way in the city it might have been a different story. They all would be late for work and not see anyway!

[crash harry]

I totally agree, had I been on a M/way in the city it might have been a different story. They all would be late for work and not see anyway!

That's about the only time I won't stop - on the motorway on the way to work.
Because I'm ususally late. Other than that, I've stopped for a lot of folk, cars or bikes, and will continue doing so. Usually there's not much I can do but you never know.

My car went flat on the motorway the other night (it has an interesting electrical fault which I haven't got around to looking into yet) and I needed a jump to get going. Traffic was almost stopped, so I sat on the side of the motorway waving my jumper leads at the traffic and looking pathetic. Some dude stopped after about 10 minutes and helped me out - fucking legend that man - but the number of people that look at you and then quickly look away and pretend they didn't see you is a bit disheartening...

[saltydog]

but the number of people that look at you and then quickly look away and pretend they didn't see you is a bit disheartening...

That is the nail on the head bro. They'd be like, "did he see me?", "cant stop late for work", "hell be right"
Waving jumper leads for 10mins, classic!

[steve_t]

That's about the only time I won't stop - on the motorway on the way to work.
Because I'm ususally late. Other than that, I've stopped for a lot of folk, cars or bikes, and will continue doing so. Usually there's not much I can do but you never know.

My car went flat on the motorway the other night (it has an interesting electrical fault which I haven't got around to looking into yet) and I needed a jump to get going. Traffic was almost stopped, so I sat on the side of the motorway waving my jumper leads at the traffic and looking pathetic. Some dude stopped after about 10 minutes and helped me out - fucking legend that man - but the number of people that look at you and then quickly look away and pretend they didn't see you is a bit disheartening...

Sounds like your alternator

[The Stranger]

Must admit I did curse the code stopping on the north western for a somewhat "ugly" bloke riding modified hardly in the middle of a fooken wet miserable night, especially when I'm on a jappa. Interestingly, I didn't realise you could fit so many skulls on a single bike.
Still he was appreciative and wouldn't have sorted it without the decent jappa tool kit.