Just had to make a u-turn

[mconlogue]

labor day monday, I had to take my son back to college. So, since I hadn't driven the Avalanche all summer, I had 4 new tires, and an alignment done. Loaded the back, and put his '03 Honda Interceptor on the trailer, with the big stuff he was taking back (32" plasma tv, and 3 computers and a laptop, XBox, and 5.1 suround sound YIKES!)

Get him to school, all unloaded, and settled in. Chris and I head back home, southbound on the interstate, with an empty motorcycle trailer.

40 miles or so later, Chris says "oh my god..." i look over into the northbound side of the pike, and see a guy pushing a harley in the breakdown lane.

now, this is out in the middle of nowhere, in rural maine. We turned around at the next exit, and went back. he had stopped on a hill, and was taking a break. I pulled in front, and chris tells him "this is your lucky day.."

he had long hair, tattoos, and a leather vest, but he was a really nice guy. he was a former Saracen rider, but had left the gang when he got married.

we loaded up his bike, and I had it all strapped down in less than 5 minutes, loaded him in the avalanche, and I took him 12 miles to his house, where they were having a family bar-b-que. He took some serious crap from his in-laws, but he was some happy to be off the road.

What are the chances that someone who had exactly the right combination of equipment would drive by (and see him through the trees), to pick him up. remote to say the least!

so, it took less than 30 minutes of my time, and I helped out someone who surely appreciated it!

(bad coil on his bike, and the battery fried!) :p

[cfell]

Well done!

[NEOMark]

That's an awesome story. Major kudos to you. :thumb:

[dshealey]

A great "pass it on"! Now maybe someone will benefit from him doing the same.

The only time I had a chance to do something like that was when I spotted a Harley stopped on the shoulder one day when I was on the way home from work. Stopped and found he had embarrasingly run out of gas. Lucky I had come back from one of my LD rides a couple days before, and still had my ESR bottle full of emergency fuel in the top box. One more Harley rider now thinking BMW riders are not so bad after all. :D He was absolutely amazed at the miles on my bike. He thought he rode a lot, 30,000 miles on a 4 year old bike. Showed him my over 100,000, and he almost dropped his jaw on the ground.

[JATownsend]

Good move Mark, the right thing to do! :)

[rixchard]

The chances are exactly 100%, :) , but it is amazing how being nice to strangers makes us feel so good

[fas]

...he had long hair, tattoos, and a leather vest, but he was a really nice guy. he was a former Saracen rider, but had left the gang when he got married......we loaded up his bike, and I had it all strapped down in less than 5 minutes, loaded him in the avalanche, and I took him 12 miles to his house, where they were having a family bar-b-que. He took some serious crap from his in-laws, but he was some happy to be off the road....(bad coil on his bike, and the battery fried!) :p

Excellent! Very kind of you to help a stranded HD rider.

[zippy_gg]

Mark, you were meant to be there that day with the right gear. Total Karma.
His brand of bike is totally irrelevant...
You know you did good!!!:thumb:
Reminds me of the movie "Pay Forward", but with a nicer ending!

[SilverBuffalo]

great story Mark, I had a similar experience only just local.
I was on my way to Sears with my 4x8 trailer to pickup the garden tractor I had bought my dad for his 80th birthday, when I spotted a couple pushing a Sporster, did a U-turn and took them to the Harley shop.

but I heard another story, don't know if its true, its a second hand story :)

A couple of Harley's on the side of the road (rural) one of them typical dirtbag biker (like I once was) is having trouble with the carburator on his Knucklehead.
Two Goldwings pull over, rider gets off and asks the HD guy if he wants some help.
The biker rudely snaps back: what could you possibly know about a F... Knucklehead!
Wingrider turns to leave and says yeah you're probably right, then stops reaches in his wallet and says: here's my card, as he gets on his bike and rides away. while the biker is left standing there with his business card that reads: Harley Davidson sales and service 35 years experience. :)

[ksailor]

Great story. Like Dave, I always believe in the "pass it on" rule. Good things always find their way back.

Peace,

[lurch102]

The biker rudely snaps back: what could you possibly know about a F... Knucklehead!
Wingrider turns to leave and says yeah you're probably right, then stops reaches in his wallet and says: here's my card, as he gets on his bike and rides away. while the biker is left standing there with his business card that reads: Harley Davidson sales and service 35 years experience. :)

Wonder if they've still got his card. I could use it!

[BMWphreak]

Mark,

I guess your GOF meter was registering in red that day! ;)

Well done!

[simongs]

I'm sure those folks were real happy to see you come by with a trailer!

Its hard to pass someone in need on a bike, even if your in a hurry.

Although...when my LT was on the back of a tow truck heading for Ft Wayne 100 miles away to get a fuel QD fixed, some HD rider made sure he passed and cut right in front of the tow truck waving us the bird...cute...just another immature a-hole that doesn't have a clue, I sure hope he feels better.

Wife and I were 2-up, NW side of MI in the lower, passed this dude in the middle of nowhere pushing a new triumph cruiser uphill!! We did a u-turn, found he was doing a test ride after just having the bike fixed and it died on him. He didn't want any help, only had a mile to go downhill so off we went.

happy trails!...geo