most motorcycle manufacturers. We always make sure we
are up to date on our roadside assistance before we go out of
state. It is nice to know that if you run out of gas or need your
bike towed that the help you need is only a phone call away.
If you mainly stay close to home and you don’t want to shell out
the money for a year of roadside assistance, you can always keep
the number of a motorcycle towing service (like our advertiser
Motorcycle Transport Specialist) in your cell phone or wallet or
with your registration and insurance paperwork.
It is also a good idea to have a toolkit with you, even if you
aren’t a mechanic. It helps if that road trip vibrates your shifter
loose (or something else that will keep you from going that only
takes the right tool to tighten it and back on the road). It is also
useful if someone does stop to help you with the knowledge
but their tools don’t fit your motorcycle. All of our toolkits also
include a tube of blue Loctite, essential for any nut or bolt that
you don’t want to vibrate loose (again).
We actually have two tool kits, one that is smaller for short
jaunts around town and up in the mountains and a larger one
with the tools to handle most of the nuts, bolts and fasteners
on our bikes (metric and SAE).
We carry that on longer
destination trips and it has been a lifesaver on occasion.
Hours and hours of vibration at highway speeds can loosen all
sorts of things. Even though we don’t service our own bikes,
most of us can tighten something loose if that is the problem
and get back on the road. Sometimes being stuck the middle
of nowhere means no cellphone service too, so you may need
that toolkit to play MacGyver and get your bike limping to the
next station or cell phone area.
After several of our own experiences with breaking down (okay,
once breaking down and more than one running out of gas),
Patrick and I slow down when we see a biker on the side of the
road. We give the rider a thumbs up and let them respond with
either a thumbs up or down to signal if they are okay.
Even if you are not mechanically inclined, stopping to help a
motorcyclist who is stopped on the side of the road is a great
way to pay it forward. It might be you the next time, stuck on
the roadside and in need of a little assistance. Even if you
aren’t mechanically inclined, a cell phone, a small toolkit, some
gas or just provide moral support can make the difference.
Since my research showed me that there was no “international
sign of distress”, we are much more observant of motorcycles
on the side of the road. Looking for any of the signs that they
may need help, even if that is the obvious flailing of the arms
trying to attract someone’s attention.
Carrie McCauley
Note: The story at the beginning of the article is when my
bike received her name. I named her “Audrey” from the Little
Shop of Horrors plant (Audrey II).
www.thunderroadscolorado.com
April 2016
Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado 15