Well don't that beat all?

[aussie]

I went down to do the shopping today. I pulled into the car park and went into the store. As I was waiting in line at the check-out, a guy walked in. He was a BIG boy. He was walking with the aid of not one, but two walking sticks - and none too steadily I may add. Anyway, I paid for the groceries and was in the car when he came out.

He proceeded to go 'A over T' just outside the door and in front of my car. Being the good samaritan I sometimes am, I got out and tried to help him up. While he wasn't exactly rude, he shrugged me off with a 'Get out of it mate - I can manage'. OK, well I can take a hint as well as the next person.

I got back into the car and watched as he told another person to 'bugger off' this time. He finally managed to struggle to his feet and hobble off to his mode of transport.

You know what it was?
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V

A Harley V-Rod. I continued to watch as he tied his sticks on the back and roar out of the car park.

I just sat there with my mouth open.

I was somewhat gob-smacked.  

[Justin B.]

I suppose I could make some sort of "typiocal Harley rider" comment here, but we probably all know the type!  Some handicapped people appreciate being offered a hand and others get offended.  I don't know how to act toward numerous social/situational "groups" anymore so for the most part I try to ignore everybody and hope they'll do the same...  

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

I suppose just start off by asking them if they would like help before making physical contact with them.


Amazing that he needs support to walk, but can hold up a bike - even to push it vertical off the sidestand!


I have heard of this scenario before.  It is nice to know [types of] people are the same all over!

[Darwin_R65]

I remember years ago living in Geelong this girl who was rather vertically challenged on a Harley couldn't reach the ground properly when the bike was vertical. She'd pull up at lights, put the leg out and the bike would fall over until her foot reached the ground. Then she'd take off at that angle and the bike would straighten as she sped up.

[nhmaf]

Well, that is quite a story !

I agree with Rob - I've been trained too first ask the person if they would like my help before touching them.  It is somewhat counter to what the natural impulse reaction is when dealing with little children, but it is an important difference when dealing with adults and 'personal space'.   In any case, I am amazed that he could keep the V-Rod vertical at a stop sign.  God help him if he were to drop the bike at an intersection.

I know of one old timer who still rides a Kawasaki Vulcan Mean Streak (similar type of big engine, high horsepower V-twin cruiser) who isn't overweight, but has gotten old and lost his leg strength such that he has problems keeping the bike up when stopped.  He refused to get a sidecar put on to it, and spent
alot of money on these things which really look like oversized "training wheels" to me..   I gotta find the link to the company that makes them.
I can envision a bunch of geriatric old bikers affixing them to their H-D cruisers so they can cruise into the the local Denny's restaurant for the 4:00 early bird special...
 

[Ed Miller]

I think I would do some weight training instead, along with yoga classes.

[donbmw]

Well, that is quite a story !

I know of one old timer who still rides a Kawasaki Vulcan Mean Streak (similar type of big engine, high horsepower V-twin cruiser) who isn't overweight, but has gotten old and lost his leg strength such that he has problems keeping the bike up when stopped.  He refused to get a sidecar put on to it, and spent
alot of money on these things which really look like oversized "training wheels" to me..   I gotta find the link to the company that makes them.
I can envision a bunch of geriatric old bikers affixing them to their H-D cruisers so they can cruise into the the local Denny's restaurant for the 4:00 early bird special...
 

Their allready out there, look at all the trike conversion.

Don

[aussie]

Yes - in retrospect I SHOULD have known better than to step in without asking - I don't know where my head was at.

But I just couldn't believe that he could ride that thing after such a showing.  [smiley=uhoh2.gif]  

[bjamesw]

We've all seen something similar eh?   I watched three Harley riders take a parking space on a busy downtown Chicago street one evening.   Two of them parked in the slot while the third just sat and blocked traffic.   The two settled their bikes, lashed their helmets, then one guy strolled out to the waiting third, traffic still in abeyance, to relieve the 5'1 female on the full dress almost 1000lbs curb-weight present state of U.S. motorcycle/automotive skill tiptoe tottering spectacle from her perch,  and coast the monster safely into berth.   I held my breath the entire time.  The rest of traffic held their temper.   The whole thing was absurd.  

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

He could have easily circled the block while the first two got settled.  The spot would still be there when he came back.