Triumphrat

bluesock943 · 06-20-2006

Living in New York City affords one so much, but also leaves quite a bit to be desired at times. Consideration of motorcycles on the street is barely existent. It seems most who drive cars here learned to parallel park by studying Braille. I've come to the point where I almost always park my bike on the sidewalk as I don't want to come back to find it laying on its side. It's almost a daily occurrence that I see a bike on its side. Not half an hour ago I passed a bike that had been tipped over.

This got me to thinking, what are different peoples thoughts regarding picking up someone else's bike? I feel like I should pick it up but at the same time, I don't want to inadvertently cause any more damage. I'm unsure how I'd feel about someone else picking up my bike.

Sometimes I really wish I could tip cars over...

Anchorbend · 06-20-2006

I hate to admit it but these days I would leave it on its side. Too many ambulance chasers out there looking to make a dollar off of a good Samaritan. I am an active sailor and it used to be that you would tend to a neighbors dock line but there have been successful lawsuits claiming somebody did more damage. Times have changed but not for the better!

Geoff · 06-20-2006

I would not pick up a strangers bike. Were the owner to come up it might look bad....
I wouldnt hesitate on someones I knew, tho
Geoff

whoa · 06-20-2006

I'd pick it up. Gotta help a brother out.

bonnevillebilly · 06-20-2006

That is a good question, Definitely if I knew who's bike it
was. but if it was not, I don't know. If I was with another person and saw it I probably would , or at least make
sure I have some one to witness that it was not me who
knocked it over.
Bill

nycthrux · 06-20-2006

gotta pick it up, I don't think just because someone saw you picking it up they would blame you, anyway. Especially if you explained you're a fellow motorcyclist. Furthermore in nyc more than likely you'd be walking by and people on foot don't knock over bikes, cars and trucks do. In any case, I don't think that way.
I've found my bike(s) both lying on the ground and having been picked up after being knocked over. Let me tell you that I was much more angry finding it lying on the ground

I would also think about leaving a note saying that I didn't see who did it but I picked up the bike and sorry that it happened. Might make the guy feel better.

cobra935o · 06-20-2006

Leave it, the A-hole that knocked it over shoulda picked it up and left a note.

Nathan

Silverado57 · 06-20-2006

Tough call, especially in the city.
New Yorkers have this inate ability to ignore everything going on around them while missing nothing. But as bikers, we also want to help out a fellow rider.

I say pick it up...

Say, any of youse guys doing Gooch's Garlic Run tomorrow?

mecscc · 06-20-2006

I'd not hesitate to pick it up. If it were my bike I'd want someone to. I could pass the lie detector test if I had to. The longer it lays on its side the more it can leak gas, slop oil around where it doesn't belong, etc.

If you're worried you might be accused of tipping it over go into a nearby store, etc. and get a witness to watch you pick it up. And I like the idea of leaving a note. Nice touch.

Probably not the case here but a lot of bikes tip themselves over this time of year if they park on hot asphalt without a Cycle Foot or similar (crushed soda can) to spread the load.

Monte

Diego · 06-20-2006

> gotta pick it up,

No you don't!

There are not only several legal reasons why being a good Samaritan can hurt you in some cases, but there's a very practical reason why that may NOT be the neighborly thing to do!

As some of the guys have said, I wouldn't touch it unless I knew the owner. More than that, I wouldn't do it even then, UNLESS I knew with absolute certainty I could tell him about it before he comes back to ride it.

Why?

Because there are some bikes which will allow oil into one or more cylinders if it falls on the wrong side. Rider comes out, doesn't immediately notice that it's been on its side, cranks it up, and hydrolock pressure damages a connecting rod. A few hundred miles down the road--BLAM! The engine literally rips itself apart under him, scalds his leg with hot oil, and coats the rear tire with it too!

This is <u>not</u> something you want happening to a brother (or sister) rider.

You're not doing anyone a favor if you pick it up without the owner knowing what happened. Especially if you yourself don't know how long it's been down, either, or how sensitive that particular model is to such damage.

(All pre-2002 Triumph triple engines are especially susceptible. If you see ever a 2001 Tiger with Kansas plates lying on its left side, I guarantee you'd best leave it right there in that exact position for me to find.)

NO TOUCH-A DA BIKE, PAISAN