Life can be crazy. We fill up our schedules with doctors appointments, riding with friends, meeting up with family...the list is endless. We live in a go, go, go society. As a result, we are often thinking about what we're going to do next instead of fully living in the present. We can fill our minds so fully with the future (or the past) that we miss out on what is happening in front of our noses right here, right now ("Hey, there's no tomorrow!")
It's so easy to fall prey to this way of thinking while out on the road as well. Many of us take rides for the expressed purpose of getting away from the mundane, routine and all the thoughts and pressures that weigh on us. All too often, however, we find ourselves dwelling on the very things we seek to escape and miss opportunities to see what's around us.
For example, how many times have you, or any other rider, sped past a motorcyclist on the side of the road? At best one might think, "I hope they're ok," as they fly by on their way to another commitment. But what if your fellow rider is having mechanical failure or a flat tire or they're feeling unwell?
I know what you might be thinking: "Yes, but I can't stop for every motorcyclist on the side of the road. They're probably just taking a break. And anyway I do have places to go and people to see."
To which I say, "Fair point you make there."
At the same time, as we've established before, as riders we are all in this together, right? Sure you have your priorities and schedules to keep, but so does your fellow rider on the side of the road. Imagine with me, for a moment, that you have found yourself broken down and stranded. I know, it's hard to believe since you likely ride a Gold Wing. But hey it happens. Imagine you're in a spot without cell service (which always seems to be the way), miles from civilization and everyone simply passes by without a thought. If that were you, wouldn't it make your day if a fellow motorcyclist stopped and offered to help? It would for me.
While it's certainly not required, it is considered good etiquette to pull over when you see another rider on the side of the road and make sure everything is okay. It can be as simple as slowing down next to them and flashing them an ok sign or asking, "Everything ok?" If everything is ok, well then good. You're on your way. But if it isn't, here's your opportunity to be the "Good Samaritan". After all, it's the right thing to do.
Samaritan Member I have stopped half a dozen times to check on a rider that was alone and looked like he may welcome help. Most of the time they were either fussing with something on the bike, or just taking break. One rider said he already had help coming. I continued on hoping that someone might show me the same courtesy someday if I was in that situation.
WingStuff Team
10.25.2023
Exactly! Yes, you are certainly a Samaritan Member. It's great to hear that you continue to take the time to stop and offer help even though the lone rider is usually ok.
Carol
10.24.2023
Yes! Love this article. I have stopped many times for fellow riders. And, I was with a friend once who broke down and 2 young guys on sports bikes stopped for us. One of the guys was a motorcycle mechanic and was able to fix the problem on the side of the road to get my friend back home. I could not thank them enough. So for those of us that stop for fellow riders… Thank You!!!
WingStuff Team
10.25.2023
Perfect Example! Thanks for sharing that story. It very encouraging to hear. How fortunate that one of the guys who stopped was a mechanic!
a sign or indication. we could start a signal or sign that you have need of assistance by possibly putting your helmet on ground behind rear wheel but in obvious sight. Something that a rider could notice in time to stop.
Maybe some one has a similar better idea.
WingStuff Team
10.25.2023
Love This! I think you're on to something, Blue Rhino. We're curious to hear from other riders...
Helping Hand Years ago I was riding the back roads home from work on my 2006 GL1800. I saw a guy off the side of the road and he appeared to be working on his nice looking Harley. I stopped and asked the young man if he needed help. He said: "Yes, but you probably can't help riding that metric bike. I need a standard Allen wrench to tighten up my gear shift so I can get home." I am just an Ole geezer that enjoys every ride and wishing the best for all riders. I told him I would check the tools I carry and see if we could find something that would work. Note: I carry metric and standard Allen wrenches. He found one that fit and as he was tightening the Allen screw for his shifter with my allen wrench; he told me that he doesn't carry tools on his Harley because he never works on his Harley when he is on the road. I just smiled, wished him a safe ride and rode home. Someday he will know. 😉
WingStuff Team
10.25.2023
Great Story What a great story of a Good Samaritan...thanks for sharing!
Fixation I was riding home from work one evening on the back roads riding my 2006 GL1800. I saw a motorcycle in the ditch, a GL1800 on a wide spot in the road with it's flasher on and a man and a young woman on the side of the road. The accent must have happened just before I arrived. We talked to the young lady and she could move without hurting. Then the GL1800 rider that was first at the accident ask the young lady if it would be OK if we got her Triumph out of the ditch and check it out. She said, yes. We teamed up and got a nice looking Triumph out of the ditch. It had a bent shifter but it appeared to be rideable. The GL1800 rider that was first at the accident asked her if he could ride it down the road aways to see if it was tracking straight. She readily agreed. While he was gone I asked the young lady if she had become Fixated on the ditch that she rode into. She said: "Yes, I saw the ditch and did not want to ride into it but that is where I went." I talked to her about always look where you want to ride because if you focus on something off the side of the road; that is where you will go. Fortunately, the young lady was not hurt and got back on that Triumph and rode home.
WingStuff Team
10.25.2023
Well Done That's a great point about fixation. And it's so cool to hear about an experienced rider helping out and sharing knowledge with a younger rider. Well done, Fiddlefoot! Ride Safe!
Another Samaritan On an Iron Butt ride a few years ago, I had a similar experience to what @Fiddlefoot (above) wrote. We were in the parking lot of the Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania. The Harley rider was a local - my wife and I? We're 2500 miles from home in Arizona.
I recommended he invest in a small tube of thread-locking fluid so this repair wouldn't need to happen again.
WingStuff Team
10.25.2023
So Great To Hear! It's very encouraging to hear these stories of Goldwing riders from all walks of life encountering other riders with Harleys or Triumphs or sport bikes and offering assistance. Thanks for keeping the Good Samaritan mentality alive and well...ride safe!
While still fresh on my mind.. I have stopped a couple of times to check on bikers or slowed down so they could gesture that they were all right. Once was a young man and his lady friend who had broken down. He had already called a friend and had a trailer coming as it was an electrical issue on a recent purchase he had made. I have also had a couple of people stop to check on me when I was beside the road. Once when I stupidly ran out of gas on an interstate in Indiana, a man and his sons stopped to offer assistance but I already had roadside assistance on the way. They did leave me with an ice cold bottle of water which was greatly appreciated. But it doesn't have to be a rider only. Just today, my wife and I were returning from a run to the mountains and we were about 150 miles from home. We were on my old Kawasaki Voyager and making a left turn in a small town when a young man on a car came up to the stop sign at the intersection where I was turning and pulled out as I was turning directly in front of his vehicle. I hit the brakes and was able to stop and he stopped a couple of feet from me. There was gravel on the highway and I lost my balance and dropped the bike, me and my wife in the side of the intersection. I got up and pulled the bike up enough that it was resting on the crash bars and helped my wife get out from under the bike. I looked around and the driver was just sitting there in his car. Didn't bother to get out and see if he could help us. After I had the bike on the crash bars, I told him that if he wasn't going to help me get the bike up to just go on....which he did. Another gentleman pulled around us and got out to help. He was right behind me when it happened. Said he couldn't believe the guy didn't even say anything. He said the young driver told him when he walked past his door, "I didn't hit him, I didn't hit him". He said he told him that he still needs help lifting the bike but the young guy just drove on off without offering any assistance. The guy that stopped to help was a Godsend as the roadway was sloped enough that it would have been all I could do to lift the bike without help. He looked like a bodybuilder and was a former motorcyle rider himself. He waited until I was able to start the bike and followed me a few miles to make sure everything was working on the bike. Just broke a highway peg and twisted the clutch lever out of position when it layed down. Think my wife and I will be a little sore tomorrow as we are both 68 yrs old but all in all it was a good trip. 825 miles and some beautiful mountain fall foilage viewed, so all is well.
Good Samaritan When I crashed into the ditch on the Tail of the Dragon, I needed help getting my Goldwing back up and onto the pavement. A young man stopped to help my friend and I get it out. I will be forever grateful for his assistance.
KINDNESS IS NEVER WASTED To offer help to someone on the side of the road, reminds me of the quote:- Kindness is never wasted, if it has no effect on the recipient, at least it benefits the bestower.
Carol
01.09.2024
Please Check I always try to check with the rider on the side of the road to make sure he/she is okay. They are a fellow rider. And, I’ve been on the side of the road with a friend who has broken down and 2 x-military young guys stopped and helped and got us back on the road. So, for those that stop… Thank you!
Cell Service The point about the cell service is very true. There are many dead spots for service with T-Mobile that often times have service for Verizon and vice versa. You never know if someone just needs to make a quick phone call to not be stranded on the side of the road anymore.
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