Northwest Cycle Report

News and Events for Motorcyclists in Washington, Oregon and Idaho

Everyone Waves - No One Stops

By Kickstart • Apr 27th, 2007 • Category: Kickstart

You may recall me mentioning the Wave in a previous article. It’s not dead, but apparently, it may have suffered a mild stroke, according to the recent experience of one of my riding crew.

My friend shared his experience of taking his spare bike out for a ride and having the famous, ‘minor mechanical malfunction’, which left him on the side of the 405 freeway with no tools other than his expert command of the various Anglo-Saxon profanities. During his stay along the greenery at the side of the road, he shared his disappointment and disgust at the fact that several riders tooled on by, waving at them….but not ONE bothered to stop.

No one.

Now he spent several paragraphs on our Chapter chat line talking about how the more experience riders always give homage to the ‘Wave’ and how every rider worth his salt is bound by honor to stop and see about helping a stranded fellow. Yup. That’s the way it used to be, he said, and that’s the way it’s SUPPOSED to be…..it just AIN’T anymore. He railed on about how bummed hi was that no one seemed to give a rat’s ___ about his, sitting there counting his spokes.

It’s all these new riders, he claimed. These nouveau-chic, weekend-riding, new-leather-clad, no-tool-carrying, non-mechanical, un-brotherly chumps who don’t understand that the great wheel of biker karma keep on turnin’ and someday THEY will be stuck on the side of the road…..with no tools….and no cell phone….in the rain.

THEN they’ll know how he felt.

Several members of the chat group went on to sympathize with his plight or to say that THEY, personally, would ALWAYS stop for a biker, even if they didn’t have tools or know how to fix his problem; or to commiserate with his accusations of a lack of comradeship among bikers; or to say that it surely must have been an isolated experience, since they, themselves had always found help when THEY needed it.

All of their input may have been true, in their own experience. I’m sure that they would have stopped, if they had just happened along that road, at the time he had been broken down. But, let’s just set “If I coulda-woulda-shoulda aside for a minute.

Here is the real question that we should be asking ourselves: How often do we talk about the traditions of riding that the more experienced folks take for granted? How often do we do the educating and handing down of the things that will ensure that newer riders KNOW about them?

It’s easy to sit and b**ch and complain about the lack of brotherhood among one group or another….but what are YOU doing about it?

With so many factory choppers and bobbers now being tossed out the door by dealers all over the country, you see fewer bikers out there that even HAVE the space to carry tools. And, I’m almost ashamed to say it, many, MANY of the new riders have the money to buy the bike of their dreams….but not the slightest clue how to take care of it or fix it on the road. It’s easier to just take the thing into the dealer and get the service done.

Maybe so….but stuff happens. And, contrary to popular belief, not everyone carries a cell phone. So, if you ride along and spy a rider sitting at the side of the road, don’t make the assumption that he or she has already called for AAA and a hot latte…..Stop and ASK!!. If they wave you on: fine. You did what you are supposed to do. But, if they look up with the expression of a drowning man seeing a lifeline, you’ll be glad you stopped. Even if it was only to lend them a couple of minutes on YOUR cell phone to call for help.

My point is, TALK about it, especially with new riders. Ask what emergency gear they carry and urge your dealers to point this out during a sale. I think it is a huge disservice to a new customer for a salesperson not to mention the need for a good, basic tool kit. It’s an extra sale item, of course, but it also gives them a chance to educate new riders about traditions.

A good riding jacket has pockets for all kinds of stuff, including a cell phone. But a good riding ATTITUDE has the ability to change lives by the simple act of being able to help another rider. To paraphrase an old movie line: “If we talk about it, they will learn!”

So keep the traditions alive…

…and Ride Safe out there!

Kickstart is You really want to know this stuff? Ok then! Riding since I was but a lad, and that makes it about 40 years. Northwest native, but I've ridden and traveled to 14 countries. I like spicy food, and a good joke, and I've learned two things in life that matter: Don't take yourself too seriously (because no one else will), and friends are more important than money (but I still want to win the lottery). Ride safe!
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Viewing 5 Comments

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    I do stop to help when I can and it appears safe. I'll help but you need to help yourself.

    It is difficult to distingush between a rider in need of assistance and a rider that is simply stopping for a butt break or to phone a friend.

    It is even more difficult to ascertain the need for assistance at 60+mph across 4 lanes of cages all gunning to kill me.

    Do yourself and those that are "here if you need us" by making it easy to figure out that you need help. Helmet behind the rear wheel is one such signal. Over the head waving is another.

    With less than a few seconds to identify and determine need for help, sitting on the ground counting spokes would appear to be a rider taking a break.

    Now I don't mind helping others. What ever happened to self-reliance though?
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    Good comment Iso. You nailed it. Back in the day, people wouldn't think about going for a ride without tools AND they'd know how to use them. If you aren't going to bring tools, or don't know how to wrench, then don't leave home without your cell phone! And don't expect us to read your mind as you stand next to your bike on the side of a busy interstate. Make it obvious you need help and someone (gasp! Even a cager) might actually stop to lend a hand. Ride safe.
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    As a female rider that usually rides alone, I'll apologize in advance that I won't stop to help a bike or cage on the side of the road when I'm by myself. I'm sorry about it, but the cold, hard fact is - people are untrustworthy and can be very devious. I might be taking my life in my hands to stop to offer assistance.
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    The comments above are thoughtful and very similar to the conversation which generated the article. I am also aware of the reticence that a lone female rider would have in that situation. No brainer there, of course.

    But the signals mentioned, like the helmet behind the wheel, are the exact things that many newer riders have no clue about. My point was, and is, that everyone; dealer, rider, riding partner, needs to EDUCATE people about these things so folks know to do them. It does no good to look for a signal from a guy who didn't know that there WAS one.

    I know the folks above get it: Now we just need to pass it on!
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    I always carry a blank piece of paper and a pen to write what I need if broken down or out of gas. If I'm in a rural environment I'd always stop for a rider by the side of the road, but on the interstate they better be signaling problems. It's both too dangerous and often not possible to stop for someone you catch out of the corner of your eye. I've circled around using exits to help a stranded biker who clearly needs help on the interstate.
    Who rides without any tools?
 
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