S/&t Happens or Maybe this Kharma thing is true

[stickhandle2]

We had an interesting day yesterday, the plan was to get up early and get on the scoot and ride out to Markham Ontario where Honda was having a big demo day, with vendors etc. It was decided rather then doing that we would head down into the Niagara Penninsula to look for some potential new spots to call home, lots of backroads, saw some nice spots and not so nice spots. Lunch was a picnic (if you can call a couple of sandwiches and bottle of water or a pop, sorry soda for our American friends) by the water in Port Colborne, looked around got some gas, as we were waiting at a light after getting gas a lady pulls up beside us, smiles and tells us to have a nice ride......pretty cool, we thanked her for her good wishes. We were riding through Ridgeway on our way into Crystal Beach when we saw a rider pushing his bike so we did what you do........turn around and lend a hand.....didn't have too push far but he appreciated the help. Back on the bike and the journey continues, saw a few more spots throughout the Niagara Penninsula and got some more ideas for new places to put down the welcome mat, we figured it was time to head back home.

 

The ride home was uneventful until we were leaving the QEW taking the off ramp for getting us back into Stoney Creek and the bike starts to get a shake oh oh the shake is getting worse as we go, Tammie asks what is goin on through the intercom, tell her as calmly as I could that the front tire is now flat as I bring the bike to a safe stop at the top of the on ramp away from traffic. We came to a stop all good, man the bike is hard to control with no air in the front tire (go figure huh). I look for anything in it, I can't see anything, I look at my watch and figure some of my instructor pals may still be around at the bike school where I work, yup they are there and they grab me a plug kit, and one of them has a small compressor in his van, so they will be with us shortly. This is where the neat stuff happens..... we had a couple of cars and a fella on another bike stop and offer us help, we told them help was on the way, but thanks, then a few minutes later a pick up drives by and pulls over to the side, the driver gets out said he saw us bringing it to a stop and he went to his house grabbed his compressor and generator to see if we just needed some air to get us home, took him up on his offer and pumped up the tire rolled the bike looking for stuff in it and still nothing there but it was holding the air somewhat. Thanked him for his help (yup turned out he has a bike of his own), we then called our friends that were meeting us with the plugs and told them we would meet at a near by parking lot to get us away from traffic.

 

We made it to the parking lot, but the tire was getting soft again, while waiting I found the reason, the valve stem had a crack in it, I thought that was weird as I had just had the front tire replaced a month ago, but oh well we were ok and I will follow up with the garage that did the tire on Monday. So our friends show up, seeing as there is no hole to plug we pump up the tire again and ride it the 10 minutes to the house with them following and Tammie riding in the van.

 

Actually it was real good day, yes it could have gone wrong, but for me it reinforced the Kharma thing, we stopped to help some one earlier in the day and then I thought even farther back a week or so ago I was stopped during the day while at work and saw a young lady with her two kids in her SUV and she had a flat and didn't know what to do, pulled my tie off and offered to change her tire so she could be on her way, got the tire changed and all was good. Maybe this Kharma thing is real or there are still good folks out there. That was our adventure for a Saturday, I am guessing any riding on Sunday will be done on the Virago and it will be just me as it is a bit small for both Tammie and myself to squeeze onto.

 

Mike

[JohnT]

Gotta feel reassured when Karma is working. When it works for one of us, it reinforces the reality for us all.

Wow, I should write fortune cookies.

[stickhandle2]

Gotta feel reassured when Karma is working. When it works for one of us, it reinforces the reality for us all.

Wow, I should write fortune cookies.

 

True enough and that is a good quote.

[Yammer Dan]

Cookies??? Yeah it would be nice if KARMA works.....freaking idiot that stopped in front of me...the one that t-boned me.....the one that hit me head-on.........

[ragtop69gs]

Had the same thing happen to me only it was the rear stem that let go. I now only use the steel stems and they get changed with each new tire. Cheap insurance.

[yamagrl]

That, which does not kill us makes us stronger. Friedrich Nietzche

[venturesome]

Encouraging story!

We can all hope and pray that the world will turn around and your day of helping people and being helped will again be the norm and not the exception.

I sense that the majority if not all the members of this forum are the type you want to meet on the road when you are in need.

Now, if the shop that changed your tire didn't change the valve stem, maybe an unkind word or two is in order.

If the valve stem is new, then maybe a finger wave to the Chinese is in order!

[Marcarl]

Good of you to share the story, and glad you two are safe. I really think that Somebody was watching over you.

Install a new stem, a metal one with a 90 degree bend in it,, not as important on the front as it is on the rear, but helpful non-the-less.

[stickhandle2]

Good of you to share the story, and glad you two are safe. I really think that Somebody was watching over you.

Install a new stem, a metal one with a 90 degree bend in it,, not as important on the front as it is on the rear, but helpful non-the-less.

 

Thanks Carl, I took the wheel back to the shop that installed the tire for me, they are replacing the stem and I did ask for a metal one with a 90 degree bend in it.

 

Hopefully we will have a Wednesday free to come for a visit or what the heck just call ya and come for a visit.

 

Mike