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Stopping for a stranded rider

needles

needles

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 2, 2004
Location
Workin' 9-2-5
Moto(s)
2019 BMW GS 1250
I so I decided to give twisted Road the motorcycle peer to peer rental program a shot. Picked up a 2006 XR 650 L. Fun bike. However, it died suddenly, and the battery doesn’t turn over the engine. Figured it is stater, reg rec. Or a similar component.

The bike is on the side of the road, my gear is piled up on the seat, and I am sitting right by it. It surprises me that after an hour nobody has stopped – even motorcycles.

Wondering if the culture is different here in Idaho or times have changed, or i was the odd one out.
 
That is odd. Motos usually will stop. I have rescued one myself.
 
needles said:
...Wondering if the culture is different here in Idaho or times have changed, or i was the odd one out.
Click to expand...

Probably a little of each of these in effect.

Twenty years ago I always carrier a ramp and tie downs in my truck. I would always stop for strander riders. One night coming through Oakland around 9pm in mid winter I passed a rider and passenger stranded in the center of 580. They looked scared. I circled around and pulled up on the other side of the center divider and asked if they needed assistance. At first they were very hesitant and said they didn't have money to pay me (which I wasn't asking for).

I got them off the freeway, and after further conversation I offered to take them to Stockton. They were very grateful to get home safe and invited me in for dinner.

For a while after that I'd always stop for stranded rides. Some declined, while others were happy to be dropped off at the closest gas station.

These days when I see stranded riders, I almost always see them talking on their phones, so I assume they have assistance coming. But the thought always goes through my mind wondering if I should stop. Sometimes I'm in a hurry to get somewhere, or I don't always have a ramp in the truck. So, I guess times (mobile phones) and situations have changed.
 
Frame Maker said:
Probably a little of each of these in effect.

Twenty years ago I always carrier a ramp and tie downs in my truck. I would always stop for strander riders. One night coming through Oakland around 9pm in mid winter I passed a rider and passenger stranded in the center of 580. They looked scared. I circled around and pulled up on the other side of the center divider and asked if they needed assistance. At first they were very hesitant and said they didn't have money to pay me (which I wasn't asking for).

I got them off the freeway, and after further conversation I offered to take them to Stockton. They were very grateful to get home safe and invited me in for dinner.

For a while after that I'd always stop for stranded rides. Some declined, while others were happy to be dropped off at the closest gas station.

These days when I see stranded riders, I almost always see them talking on their phones, so I assume they have assistance coming. But the thought always goes through my mind wondering if I should stop. Sometimes I'm in a hurry to get somewhere, or I don't always have a ramp in the truck. So, I guess times (mobile phones) and situations have changed.
Click to expand...

That’s awesome. I’m going to put my ramp in my pickup from now on….
 
15 or so years ago I had the exact same exprience.

Thank goodness a redneck with a truck bed full of empty beer cans stopped.

Nice guy, let me use his phone as at that time I didn't have one.

Stayed and helped load the bike into my friend's p/u truck.

I got his number and bought him a 49er jacket which he loved.
 
Always stop for motorcyclists on the side of the road, whether I'm driving or riding.
Even if it's just to verify they have help on the way.
 
I stop when I can. Recently I stopped for a rider pushing his bike down a very dangerous section of 101 in Novato. Turns out he was out of gas and I had an empty gas can. I went and bought three gallons of premium and got him on his way. He offered to pay, but I didn't accept his money -only asking him to stop for me next time.:teeth

He gave me his card, turns out he owns a local motorcycle repair shop, and told me to give him a call should I ever need help. He was a very cool guy.
 
I've stopped and helped out plenty of times. I was given a hand once when I ran out of gas in Petaluma on 101. I happened to have a red MSR bottle with me (empty because I had given the gas to a rider at Poser's Corner the previous weekend). I stood next to my bike with the MSR bottle in my hand. A young guy in a riced out Honda stopped within a few minutes. He gave me a ride to the next exit so I could get gas. I bought him a tank of gas and he gave me a ride back to my bike. What goes around comes around.
 
I bet if you were in Baja you would have had someone stop in 5 mins on the main road (or 3+ days depending on the path you were on :laughing). Happened to me before. It seems in other countries people are more willing to help a human being.

Its all about how much Good Karma you want I guess
Always reward those who helped you so they will do it again for someone else
Always assume everyone else is too busy with their lives to stop and help someone, so you should.
 
Paging Scott R Nelson to the white courtesy phone...
 
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I always stop if it looks like they're in trouble. I'll slow down and raise a thumbs up to check if i'm not sure. I've had someone stop for me when I ran out of gas on 280 so I like to think we're all just looking out for each other.
 
Everything‘s been sorted. The owner came out and gave me a tow back to town.

Thanks, everyone!
 
I stop when I can, usually if on my bike. If going to work in the car I really can't stop.

Last time I got a flat a guy stopped. I had plugs and a pump so was in no real distress but it was nice of him to stop. I think it's different in the Valley than in the Bay. People are still nice.
 
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needles said:
Wondering if the culture is different here in Idaho or times have changed, or I was the odd one out.
Click to expand...
Were you on the Banks/Lowman road by chance?

I went by some sort of XR on the side of the road today that was pointed the other direction from where I was headed, waved, and got a wave back. You have to look stranded somehow if you want help.

I've waved down other motorcyclists in the past when I needed help. I remember running over something on my Ducati Monster that made the tire go flat out on Calaveras Road. I had to ride on the flat tire a block or two before I could get it off of the road far enough to be safe. I then waved down the next motorcycle to come by and bummed a ride back to my house. I owned a truck at the time, so drove back and picked it up.

If you want some more time on an XR650L, I'll be happy to let you ride mine, as long as I ride along with you. I'll even show you some interesting roads in the area.
 
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I feel there is more generosity helping a rider where there are more riders around. Here in the Central Valley you don’t see as many bikes as in the Bay Area. I have been stranded two times on the Highway for hours and only the first time a guy stopped to offer help.
 
I'll stop if I can do so safely. If the rider is 5 lanes of commute traffic away I'll just wish them luck rather than try to get across to them.
 
Agree with the looks stranded part. I saw a rider yesterday with a very night KTM 890 adv on the side of Lucas Valley Road. It was a pleasant time in the evening and he was sitting down leaning back against his bike. Helmet on the bars, so I rode on figuring he was either taking a break or had help coming as he didn't look distressed, just relaxed. I probably should have given a quick check though.

A few years back I ran out of gas on the way to Kernville (what can I say, running out of gas is a talent of mine!). No riders, but numberous cars, even a patrol car passed without stopping. I figured having jacket and helmet strapped to my bag while pushing the bike down the shoulder would indicate a need for assistance, but maybe I looked like I had a plan? Luckily the manager of a local storage place saw me and hailed me over with an offer of gas, saving me the 5 mile walk I had ahead of me to town.
 
I was on 5 north of Yreka. April 2021. A dude passes by on a first gen FZ1 and doesn't look very confident as a rider. I had the KTM in the back of the truck since I had been at T-Hill. Five miles later we're heading up the Siskiyou Summit and it just fucking DUMPED some snow. I knew I'd see the kid so I kept my eye out for him. Sure as hell, he was a newer rider and terrified. We loaded his bike in my truck and I took him over the hill.

I'd have been an asshole not to do so.

If I see a rider on a bike on the side of the road while riding I give them the thumbs up/thumbs down gesture. If the thumb is up I mosey along.
 
Agreed to meet a ride buddy at an intersection to begin our day. Got there early and snapped the side stand down to wait.

In the twenty minutes I was there at least two motorcyclists stopped to check on me. (One of whom was patched.) Plus a couple of four wheelers stopped to see if I was broken down.

My wife assured me they didn't stop because of my good looks. That left being part of a community that cares. I pass it on.
 
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