Every Rider Is A Potential New Friend

By: Dean Neitman
 

Every motorcyclist is a potential new friend. This may seem like an odd notion or even liberal in perspective but lets discuss this more. Many riders will tell you how they get waves from other motorcyclist on the roads and most of the time with a few exceptions, the type of bike is unimportant. Harley riders (most) will give a sport bike rider a wave on passing and even off road riders will give a passing street bike a wave too. It's the 2-wheel comradery that makes this happen. Its the comradery of those who share the joy and passion of skillfully guiding an unbalanced metal frame and engine through todays roads, streets, or even trails.

There are some riders that take this comradery to the next level though and when you meet riders like this... it really brings a warm feeling that tells you not everyone in this world is cold, uncaring, and thoughtless. This is unusual to see really as most in today's society prefer to alienate themselves from strangers because of lack of trust or the unwillingness to get involved. If you are stranded on a highway due to car trouble... you will see this as 98% or 99% of the traffic will never stop to offer help especially if you are a male. This is frustrating considering that todays trends show that probably 25%-50% of those passing motorists have cell phones that could be used to at least call for help.

So, during my first year of riding, I realize that motorcyclists share a bond that most automobile owners couldn't comprehend unless they come to be riders themselves or had ridden in the past. The first instance of this bonding of riders came from a trip across 4 states with a small group of 3 guys. One a former acquaintance from work and the other his senior. Three guys and three different styles of bikes, a Magna 750, Goldwing GL1800, and my SVS would travel south for a Honda Hoot event in Tennessee on a 5 day journey (See article "Sport Touring The SVS for more).

The second time I had experienced this came during a camp out hosted by a local sport motorcycle club near my area. I had hoped to find more people who were sport bike riders that I could ride with as my friend from work was not able to always get away for a ride, so came across the group known as CORE. They had a forum based site on the net I stumbled upon. So I had joined their forum and 2 days later met a few at our local motorcycle shop during a special event. It was there I received info on a camp out in Kentucky during July 4th and promised good roads so I decided to travel once again on SVS.

This was trip was shorter and far less time but had to take more gear. A tent would be needed of course as well as 3 days worth of clothing, rain suit, flashlight, towel, necessities and my rubber mallet. After packing these items except the tent into my saddle bags, I realized I needed bedding too. Realizing that the sleeping bag I had was just to bulky to take in saddle bags, I decided on nice thick blanket instead. These was squeezed into one of my bags. Then I needed a pillow and this wasn't going to fit into bags. So I took my chances with the leather and strap the pillow and tent down with a cargo net so they sat on rear passenger seat. I could actually lean back on the pillow for a rest but this was only useful at a stop.

As I traveled about six hours through second-hand roads of southern Ohio and northern Kentucky, I pondered the idea that I knew none of the people on this camp out. Part of me felt a bit vulnerable to share the weekend with strangers. All this was erased as weekend went on though. When I finally arrived at the camp site, I was unsure where the gang was at. No sign of the group. I was about to travel on down the road to inspect the area and a guy on a Kawasaki street bike pulls up to me and points back down the hill and tells me that is the place I am looking for. So, I turn around and follow him to the site. We unmount and exchange names and he confirms for me that I am in right place. The rest of the group was out on a ride. This first encounter was a nice eye opener as my first acquaintance was very nice and friendly. Well, later I meet the rest of the group and they are the same... very hospitable and generous. Most of the others had trailered down so they were able to bring more gear such as fold out chairs and coolers. Long story short, at the end of the weekend, I had made almost a dozen new friends and had some great riding. Never once did I really feel like an outsider as I was always offered food, beer, a seat or help with my bike or even packing my tent. A great bunch of riders overall.

My most recent incident of motorcyclists helping others happened just recently after having a small spill about 125 miles from home. Had just put on 375 miles of great riding around some nice roads but lost it in a ditch trying to recover from some gravel. It was a slow speed spill in mostly dirt and grass but it managed to break a mirror, my windshield, and both of my levers. I was very upset and felt foolish. Then I was worried how I would bike home. The other 2 riders I was with helped me get the bike up. We managed to get the bike to a nearby gas station in a small town thanks to the riding skills of a friend who was able to make use of clutch enough to ride it about half mile to the station. I knew that if I were going to ride it home... I would need another clutch lever. I could not ride it 125 miles like my friend had done. I was almost ready to ask station attendant if I could store bike in their garage for a day until I could get someone with a trailer to pick it up. My friend who rode it there was talking about me being able to ride if only I had clutch lever.

The station attendant hears us and offers a solution. "I have a buddy not far from here that rides dirt bikes... maybe he has a clutch lever that you can use." After we tell him how great that would be... he calls his friend and tells him to bring some levers. His friend shows up about 20 minutes later and has 3 levers. We managed to get one of them to work but they had to use the shop grinder to file it down some to fit. After putting on... I offer to pay the guy for the lever and his trouble but he and attendant refuse. I was shocked and overcome with happiness that they had helped me to fix bike so I could ride it home. These guys were another good example of riders helping riders. The guy refused money and just told me that maybe one day I might need to help him out or someone else and to remember that. I thanked him again and was able to ride bike home.

It was a long ride home that eve. I rode 125 miles at dusk with no front brake and only rear brake and no use of mirrors and no shield. I thought about how lucky I was that bike was not in worse shape, I was stll fine, and thanks to some new friends I was able to get my bike home. Again I have learned each motorcyclist whether cruiser, sport rider, or dirt rider is a potential friend whom I am glad to meet.