The thumbs up idea sounds good. Gotta rememeber that
No More Mr. Nice Guy
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Club Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 18,304
Likes: 26,566
From: Northwest of Los Angeles
No More Mr. Nice Guy
If you're stopped by the side of the road I'm not stopping to help you...unless you wave your arms, jump up and down, shoot off a flare or do something else to let me know you need help before I'm right next to you moving at 60 mph.
Twice in the last couple of days I've pulled off the road in moderately to severely dangerous conditions to help a rider who looked like he may be in trouble. One was at the side of the freeway; the other was on the gravel shoulder of a very busy two-lane road with traffic moving at about 60mph. In the first case, the guy had stopped to make a phone call. In the other, he'd stopped because he'd already ridden 60 whole miles that day and his butt hurt.
In both cases the riders just looked at me quizzically, as in, "Why did you just do that dangerous thing you did? "Well duh, because you looked like you were in trouble and needed help. Would've been nice if you'd waved me off."
I'm telling you: No more Mr. Nice Guy. You want help, ask for it. Otherwise I'm blasting right on by.
Philip
Twice in the last couple of days I've pulled off the road in moderately to severely dangerous conditions to help a rider who looked like he may be in trouble. One was at the side of the freeway; the other was on the gravel shoulder of a very busy two-lane road with traffic moving at about 60mph. In the first case, the guy had stopped to make a phone call. In the other, he'd stopped because he'd already ridden 60 whole miles that day and his butt hurt.
In both cases the riders just looked at me quizzically, as in, "Why did you just do that dangerous thing you did? "Well duh, because you looked like you were in trouble and needed help. Would've been nice if you'd waved me off."
I'm telling you: No more Mr. Nice Guy. You want help, ask for it. Otherwise I'm blasting right on by.
Philip
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 341
Likes: 0
From: Richmond, VA
RE: No More Mr. Nice Guy
Can't say that I blame you. My brother, who has been riding since the early nineties once told me that if I break down I should put my helmet behind my rear tire as a signal to other motorcyclists that you need assistance. I strain my eyes when I pass someone on the side of the road. If it looks like they are checking out the bike for problems I would stop. I would always stop if I got a hand signal. Generally if there is more than one bike, I just assume that they can handle a problem.
Tnicean
Tnicean
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 592
Likes: 1
From:
RE: No More Mr. Nice Guy
I've stopped on the side of the road for one reason or another (cell phone, butt pain, etc.) and passing bikers usually give me a thumbs up sign- like they are asking if everything is ok. I give them a thumbs up, and they nod and continue on their way. It works on backroads at lower speeds- at highway speeds it's pretty difficult to judge if someone needs assistance. I like the helmet idea. I've never heard that before.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,289
Likes: 3
From: Rowlett, Texas
RE: No More Mr. Nice Guy
I guess that's why it's a good thing to be a HOG member. I ride alone. That's taking chances. It's all on me. As far as I'm concerned, I really don't care if anyone stops to help me. I'll figure it out and be fine.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 1
From: Michigan
RE: No More Mr. Nice Guy
I stop too or slow down enough to get a thumbs up.
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Road Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 960
Likes: 14
From: Oklahoma
RE: No More Mr. Nice Guy
Thumbs has always been my way.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,718
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From: Punta Gorda,FL
RE: No More Mr. Nice Guy
It would be handy to have a known method to let people know you are broke down. Putting your helmet behind the rear tire would be good, but what about the riders who don't wear a helmet?
Tom
Tom
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 371
Likes: 2
From: Escondido, CA
RE: No More Mr. Nice Guy
I don't know about those of you who ride without helmets, but somewhere I read or heard that the helmet on the ground was a symbol that you needed help. The thumbs up is a good idea for "I'm ok" and the wave like a "jumping jack" would get my attention to stop and see what I could do.