Went for a ride along the Pacific Coast Highway today. Was riding alone and enjoying the ocean views. I suddenly came up on two motorcyclists on the side of the highway, one was a Ducati Scrambler, and the other was a Harley Davidson Sportster.
I slowed down and gave them the OK sign, but got no response, I tried the thumb up / thumb down sign, and the older rider just looked at me like he had no idea of what I was doing. So, I pulled over. Turns out they are from Germany, and speak very little English. The older man picked up a large branch, looked straight at me, then said something in German, and proceeded to break the branch over his knee! By this time, I'm wondering if he is about to hit me with the stick
Since the the younger kid was just standing there, I waited to see what would happen next. He was rambling on in German, kicking stones, yelling at the Sportster, and picked up another stick, then looked at me and did the same damn thing again. At that moment I thought "lightbulb" :nuts1: and figured out he was trying to tell me that his bike was BROKEN down.... no kidding
I checked his tank, and it was empty. No biggie, the ST-Valdez is always ready! I removed my siphon hose and emptied a couple water bottles, and then removed some fuel from my ST and filled his tank half way up.
I thumbed the starter, Nada.....dead battery, probably from trying to start his bike when it ran out of gas. No Problem-o, I removed my roadside repair tool bag and pulled out my jumper cables and got his bike started. I've never seen someone quite so happy.
I followed them down the coast to the next gas station and made sure his bike started again, then wished them well and parted ways after a group hug.
I felt pretty darn good about helping them, but know I can go back to enjoying my ocean view ride again....
Well that was short lived
No sooner did I start enjoying the views, what do I see, but another motorcycle (Moto Guzzi Stone) on the shoulder with a Flat tire. I could not just pass him up 
and pulled over.
Out came the tool bag, the stop and go plug kit, the slime compressor, and a couple more bottles of water. Was a simple nail in the center of the tire. I pulled the nail, plugged the hole, aired him up, and watched him ride off towards Santa Cruz.
I decided I've played roadside repair guy enough for one day, so I cut across the mountain and took Hwy 9 back home.
In all, it was a very nice ride.
I slowed down and gave them the OK sign, but got no response, I tried the thumb up / thumb down sign, and the older rider just looked at me like he had no idea of what I was doing. So, I pulled over. Turns out they are from Germany, and speak very little English. The older man picked up a large branch, looked straight at me, then said something in German, and proceeded to break the branch over his knee! By this time, I'm wondering if he is about to hit me with the stick
Since the the younger kid was just standing there, I waited to see what would happen next. He was rambling on in German, kicking stones, yelling at the Sportster, and picked up another stick, then looked at me and did the same damn thing again. At that moment I thought "lightbulb" :nuts1: and figured out he was trying to tell me that his bike was BROKEN down.... no kidding
I checked his tank, and it was empty. No biggie, the ST-Valdez is always ready! I removed my siphon hose and emptied a couple water bottles, and then removed some fuel from my ST and filled his tank half way up.
I thumbed the starter, Nada.....dead battery, probably from trying to start his bike when it ran out of gas. No Problem-o, I removed my roadside repair tool bag and pulled out my jumper cables and got his bike started. I've never seen someone quite so happy.
I followed them down the coast to the next gas station and made sure his bike started again, then wished them well and parted ways after a group hug.
I felt pretty darn good about helping them, but know I can go back to enjoying my ocean view ride again....
Well that was short lived
No sooner did I start enjoying the views, what do I see, but another motorcycle (Moto Guzzi Stone) on the shoulder with a Flat tire. I could not just pass him up and pulled over.Out came the tool bag, the stop and go plug kit, the slime compressor, and a couple more bottles of water. Was a simple nail in the center of the tire. I pulled the nail, plugged the hole, aired him up, and watched him ride off towards Santa Cruz.
I decided I've played roadside repair guy enough for one day, so I cut across the mountain and took Hwy 9 back home.
In all, it was a very nice ride.
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