So Im on my way home from work, and see a ZX-6 broken down on the opposite side of the Hwy and the owner standing on the shoulder. I passed the guy, and traffic was pretty damn heavy. I continued to ride about 1.5 miles and I couldnt stop thinking if this was me, I would really hate to be in that situation.
I found the first exit I could, swung around, split a few lanes, and found the ZX-6 rider shivering in his riding gear ( sweat pants, and sweat shirt, sunglasses, and cotton work gloves) I asked the guy what the problem was and he said his crap was making a strange noise from the front. I looked at the front end and notice a rotor bolt missing, 2 of the bolts almost all the way worked out, and obviously rubbing against the brake assembly.
Me: so, you have a tool kit
him: man, you got radar on that hayabusa
Me: yah, um...so traffice is pretty heavy, you have a tool kit to tighten up the rotor bolts
him: Wow, that hayabusa even has hazzards....ummm, nope...no kit
HIM: CELL Phone RINGS, yo dude, not sure whats going on, but some Hayabusa guy is here and helping....yah, ok...click
Me: ok, let me check my tool kit, Kawasaki / Suzuki - should be pretty interchangeable for tools ---
got my tool kit, found a suitable allen wrench
Me: here ya go
him: um, what do I do
Me: tighten the bolts up -- have any blue loctite to put on the threads by chance?
him: whats loctite - how do you think the bolts got lose?
Me: did you just change your rotors, or brake pads, or have your bike serviced lately?
him: no, never done any work on the bike in several years
Me: ok, tighten up the bolts, and try to set up a time with a shop - gave him the name of my buddies shop....he just kind of blew off my advice
15 minutes goes by with heavy traffic wizzing by, 3 cell phone calls he made, and just looking generally confused.
him: so how does that look?
me: yah, looks ok, but get yourself to a shop to get that looked at, might have a bad bearing, or damage to the rotors...not sure why your bolts came out like this, but you wanna get this looked at
him:so whats that blue stuff again?
me: loctite, and if your gonna ride it to work another 20 miles and than back home, maybe find a store to pick some up along with a small tool kit and let it dry while at work and take it slow on the way home.
him: looking rather confused, as if motorcycles need a little maintance every few years or so...lol
well---wrapping things up
him: you always ride with all that leather and stuff?
me: yah, alot safer than gym clothes...also a little warmer
him:huh...uh, yah?
me: Im John, and heres my cell if you need help again,
him: Im so and so...thanks....I must be really lucky lately....ran out of gas the other day and walked several miles and a guy stopped and picked me up and had a jug of gas....than, I cant believe you stopped to help me out...why ya do that?
me: well I would hope if Im ever in a "Brake down situation" someday, someone would possibly help me out, also these cagers are crazy on this road - anyhow, us bikers need to stick together out here.
him: looking shocked / hey man...thanks
he got on his bike, and did wait for me to pack up saddle up. than he pulled away. met up with him at the next light, gave him a wave (which he didnt return) and than made a U-turn and headed home.
I found the first exit I could, swung around, split a few lanes, and found the ZX-6 rider shivering in his riding gear ( sweat pants, and sweat shirt, sunglasses, and cotton work gloves) I asked the guy what the problem was and he said his crap was making a strange noise from the front. I looked at the front end and notice a rotor bolt missing, 2 of the bolts almost all the way worked out, and obviously rubbing against the brake assembly.
Me: so, you have a tool kit
him: man, you got radar on that hayabusa
Me: yah, um...so traffice is pretty heavy, you have a tool kit to tighten up the rotor bolts
him: Wow, that hayabusa even has hazzards....ummm, nope...no kit
HIM: CELL Phone RINGS, yo dude, not sure whats going on, but some Hayabusa guy is here and helping....yah, ok...click
Me: ok, let me check my tool kit, Kawasaki / Suzuki - should be pretty interchangeable for tools ---
got my tool kit, found a suitable allen wrench
Me: here ya go
him: um, what do I do
Me: tighten the bolts up -- have any blue loctite to put on the threads by chance?
him: whats loctite - how do you think the bolts got lose?
Me: did you just change your rotors, or brake pads, or have your bike serviced lately?
him: no, never done any work on the bike in several years
Me: ok, tighten up the bolts, and try to set up a time with a shop - gave him the name of my buddies shop....he just kind of blew off my advice
15 minutes goes by with heavy traffic wizzing by, 3 cell phone calls he made, and just looking generally confused.
him: so how does that look?
me: yah, looks ok, but get yourself to a shop to get that looked at, might have a bad bearing, or damage to the rotors...not sure why your bolts came out like this, but you wanna get this looked at
him:so whats that blue stuff again?
me: loctite, and if your gonna ride it to work another 20 miles and than back home, maybe find a store to pick some up along with a small tool kit and let it dry while at work and take it slow on the way home.
him: looking rather confused, as if motorcycles need a little maintance every few years or so...lol
well---wrapping things up
him: you always ride with all that leather and stuff?
me: yah, alot safer than gym clothes...also a little warmer
him:huh...uh, yah?
me: Im John, and heres my cell if you need help again,
him: Im so and so...thanks....I must be really lucky lately....ran out of gas the other day and walked several miles and a guy stopped and picked me up and had a jug of gas....than, I cant believe you stopped to help me out...why ya do that?
me: well I would hope if Im ever in a "Brake down situation" someday, someone would possibly help me out, also these cagers are crazy on this road - anyhow, us bikers need to stick together out here.
him: looking shocked / hey man...thanks
he got on his bike, and did wait for me to pack up saddle up. than he pulled away. met up with him at the next light, gave him a wave (which he didnt return) and than made a U-turn and headed home.
