No good deed goes unpunished

[Jess from VA]

Had a little incident today, and thought it might be a good topic of discussion.  It comes under the heading of ......... don't touch another man's bike. 

I was riding with about my best riding buddy of the last few years ('09 Road Glide) (yeah it's a Harley, and let's belay any Hog bashing here, it's not relevant).

We met up at gas station halfway between, and he was in getting coffee.  It was high 60s and I was using plastic polish and microfiber to clean the buggies off my screen.  Looked over at his bike and the screen was covered so I cleaned his off too.  And I've done this before (maybe twice) with no rebuke or comment other than thank you... esp since he tends to use paper towels on his polycarb screen.

So I finish the outside, and lightly wipe the inside, and the two outside screw mounts pop thru the screen.  crap!!  So I'm screwing one back in and he comes back and asks what I'm doing, and I tell him.  He is mildly perturbed and explains the rubber anchors do not hold well (similar issue to interstate owners), and it is a tricky remount, and proceeds to take the whole thing off. 

I offer to hold the shield but he sets it on his bike, and it blows off to the pavement.  He then sets it over the seat into his open saddle bag, and spills his coffee right into his helmet (with his gloves in it).  Then he gets it all the way mounted, and the last rubber anchor pushes thru to the inside of the fairing, so he has to take more stuff apart to retrieve it.  He gets his helmet dried out, with my microfiber, and we are on our way.  He was a little irritated for a while, but it blows over, and of course I apologize (several times) and I offer to buy lunch.

Moral.......... I guess it is better to never touch another guy's bike, even a friend's.  I guess it would be OK to lift it off him if he is under it, but that's about it.  My mother always told me the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.

   

[junior]

my mom always told me if it aint mine dont touch it

[Red Diamond]

Sounds like you've been punished alright. What's that issue with the Interstate shield and rubber anchors? Never had that issue with mine removed.

[NC_Rob]

Talk about one thing leading to another.....LOL....Lesson learned 

[YoungPUP]

you seem like a nice enough guy, but please don't stand next to me during a lightning storm...

[wdvalk]

not an interstate,it was a harley

[art]

I understand your willingness to be the nice guy an clean his windshield an you learned a lesson.I don't want anybodys help doing some things like taking care of my bike or doing my job in work.I can get upset real fast an that leads to problems.I know its wrong but that is me and I deal with it.Doing something to another guys bike brings murphys law into play,If something can go wrong it usually will.

[Jess from VA]

Sounds like you've been punished alright. What's that issue with the Interstate shield and rubber anchors? Never had that issue with mine removed.

Not the identical issue, but the interstate's internal brass windshield anchors routinely spin in the plastic and have to be pulled out and epoxied back in to stay put.

[bscrive]

Jess, if it was me, I would not have cared.  You tried to help.  The bike is a thing and things are easily replaceable.  I would have thanked you for trying.

[hubcapsc]

Please polish my motorcycle if you see it. 

-Mike

[BF]

Jess, if it was me, I would not have cared.  You tried to help.  The bike is a thing and things are easily replaceable.  I would have thanked you for trying.

You're way wrong.  Those "things" belong to someone else and unless invited, you have no right to mess with it no matter the good intentions.  

You touch my bike uninvited that I've put my time, effort and hard earned money into, and you might as well walk into my house, eat all of my food and hit on my wife while your at 'cause I see no difference.    

[Jess from VA]

Please polish my motorcycle if you see it.  

-Mike

I used to do only windshields (of friends), now you're on your own.

[bscrive]

Jess, if it was me, I would not have cared.  You tried to help.  The bike is a thing and things are easily replaceable.  I would have thanked you for trying.

You're way wrong.  Those "things" belong to someone else and unless invited, you have no right to mess with it no matter the good intentions.  

You touch my bike uninvited that I've put my time, effort and hard earned money into, and you might as well walk into my house, eat all of my food and hit on my wife while your at 'cause I see no difference.    

Man, you need to chill out.  I never said I would touch your bike or anyone else's.  I, just would not care if someone did that for me.  Obviously, someone needs to take their medication.

[BF]

Jess, if it was me, I would not have cared.  You tried to help.  The bike is a thing and things are easily replaceable.  I would have thanked you for trying.

You're way wrong.  Those "things" belong to someone else and unless invited, you have no right to mess with it no matter the good intentions.  

You touch my bike uninvited that I've put my time, effort and hard earned money into, and you might as well walk into my house, eat all of my food and hit on my wife while your at 'cause I see no difference.    

Man, you need to chill out.  I never said I would touch your bike or anyone else's.  I, just would not care if someone did that for me.  Obviously, someone needs to take their medication.

There's no need to be an internet prick sport and tell me to take meds.  You said....."You tried to help"......insinuating that it's perfectly fine to mess with someone else's "things" without their invitation as long as you have good intentions.  No matter how you try to spin it sport, your still wrong.  It's NOT OK to mess with someone else's possisions no matter the good intentions implied.

Jess learned a valuable lesson.   

[bscrive]

Learn to read what is typed and not what you 'think' it means.

[Jess from VA]

OK chill out guys, you both made valid points.  I don't want MY thread going postal.

BF is right, I learned my lesson. 

Actually, I already knew the rule (and pretty much feel the same way as BF), I just forgot briefly and got reminded by Mr Murphy.  (though I would rather a friend buffed my shield rather than my wife)

When dealing with another's bike or property, it is really only right to ask permission first, and not for forgiveness after.   Just don't do it.

[art]

 :cooldude:Murphy is a pain in the ass.

[Stanley Steamer]

I've had this principle bite me in the butt MANY times.....maybe one day I'll learn??!!.....

[WamegoRob]

I won't presume to tell you what you should or should not have done because "don't touch my crap!" is a generalization that may get a guy in trouble (remember, it may be on top of you when I don't touch it), but some of these comments are helping whittle down the list of folks I'd ever call a buddy.

If it were my bike, however, I'd have said "thanks, but I should have told you what a P.O.S. my windscreen is."
Don't sweat it, Jess.

[Titan]

I won't presume to tell you what you should or should not have done because "don't touch my crap!" is a generalization that may get a guy in trouble (remember, it may be on top of you when I don't touch it), but some of these comments are helping whittle down the list of folks I'd ever call a buddy.

If it were my bike, however, I'd have said "thanks, but I should have told you what a P.O.S. my windscreen is."
Don't sweat it, Jess.

Ditto on your whole attitude! I've been quite surprised at some of the posts I just read about this. I also subscribe to the rule that "it's just material things" and if I were out riding with a buddy of mine I would take no offense whatsoever if this windshield incident had happened to me. This crap about "my stuff, paid for with my hard earned money, don't touch it" would never be heard coming from me. If a friend of mine accidentally broke something of mine I would do my best to say something to make him feel ok about it and I'd just go take care of it. I treat my friends as friends.

When I read the original post I was shaking my head and thinking about... why was his friend upset about the dang screw falling out? Hell! Fix it and tell your friend it wasn't his fault!

I'm with you WamegoRob. With attitudes like some of these, I sure wouldn't ride with 'em but once.

[Stanley Steamer]

I won't presume to tell you what you should or should not have done because "don't touch my crap!" is a generalization that may get a guy in trouble (remember, it may be on top of you when I don't touch it), but some of these comments are helping whittle down the list of folks I'd ever call a buddy.

If it were my bike, however, I'd have said "thanks, but I should have told you what a P.O.S. my windscreen is."
Don't sweat it, Jess.

Ditto on your whole attitude! I've been quite surprised at some of the posts I just read about this. I also subscribe to the rule that "it's just material things" and if I were out riding with a buddy of mine I would take no offense whatsoever if this windshield incident had happened to me. This crap about "my stuff, paid for with my hard earned money, don't touch it" would never be heard coming from me. If a friend of mine accidentally broke something of mine I would do my best to say something to make him feel ok about it and I'd just go take care of it. I treat my friends as friends.

When I read the original post I was shaking my head and thinking about... why was his friend upset about the dang screw falling out? Hell! Fix it and tell your friend it wasn't his fault!

I'm with you WamegoRob. With attitudes like some of these, I sure wouldn't ride with 'em but once.

+ 3.........Hubcap and I like to use my bike as the Test run for new stuff.....if I/he/she breaks it, I'll just fix it again......

[john]

" and spills his coffee right into his helmet (with his gloves in it)  "       
that funny right there ...  best part of your story     
the road to hell is paved with good intention               

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

Good on you for trying to help your buddy out.

Some days, everything I touch turns to crap. If I was your bud, when I dumped my coffee into my helmet, I would have known I was having one of those days and would have asked you to take over while I go take a break.

Some days are just like that. That's when you've got to take a deep breath and maintain your sense of humor. 

[Steven W.]

Jess, I had the interstate for well over 100,000 miles and now ride an Ultra Classic, both shields have issues!  Any time you are near my bike, please feel free to wipe any crud off you see (there is always a lot!)  Trust me, I'll never complain, even if "stuff" happens.

[Jabba]

Depends how good the Buddy is I guess...

If it was a casual acquaintance... I would not do it.  If it was Squealy or a couple other buds... no problem.

They can touch, fondle, borrow, ride whatever they need from me.  And they know it.   They have keys to the house and garage, and if I ain't home, they can come in and get what they need.

If you don't have a few buddies like that... you're doing it wrong in MY humble opinion.

Jabba

[The Anvil]

Jess, if it was me, I would not have cared.  You tried to help.  The bike is a thing and things are easily replaceable.  I would have thanked you for trying.

You're way wrong.  Those "things" belong to someone else and unless invited, you have no right to mess with it no matter the good intentions.  

No he's not "way wrong". It's his bike and if he doesn't care when a riding buddy tries to help him then that's his bidness. Damn, the PMS is strong round here these days.

Frankly the whole original story is the kind of thing that my buddies and I laugh about now. Like when Eddie picked my brand new helmet up while it was in the bag and it fell out onto the asphalt scratching the srap out of it. I was annoyed at the time but it's all good now.

[Skinhead]

Jess, if it was me, I would not have cared.  You tried to help.  The bike is a thing and things are easily replaceable.  I would have thanked you for trying.

You're way wrong.  Those "things" belong to someone else and unless invited, you have no right to mess with it no matter the good intentions. 

No he's not "way wrong". It's his bike and if he doesn't care when a riding buddy tries to help him then that's his bidness. Damn, the PMS is strong round here these days.

Frankly the whole original story is the kind of thing that my buddies and I laugh about now. Like when Eddie picked my brand new helmet up while it was in the bag and it fell out onto the asphalt scratching the srap out of it. I was annoyed at the time but it's all good now.

As with any thing tat is in pristine condition, getting that/those first scratch(es) on just means it is no longer pristine and you can quit being anal about it.  I think next winter I will be buying Midol stock!

[fon1961]

yea, probably best to ask first but it was just an innocent mistake.  i personally appreciate having something that i can give my friends grief over lol.  no telling how many beers he could milk out of jess in the weeks and months to come.  too many other things to be worried about instead of well intentioned stuff like this.  completely different if something was done with bad intentions in mind.

[The Anvil]

yea, probably best to ask first but it was just an innocent mistake.  i personally appreciate having something that i can give my friends grief over lol.  no telling how many beers he could milk out of jess in the weeks and months to come.  too many other things to be worried about instead of well intentioned stuff like this.  completely different if something was done with bad intentions in mind.

+1

[JimmyG]

So Jess, how was the ride?

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

Jess, if it was me, I would not have cared.  You tried to help.  The bike is a thing and things are easily replaceable.  I would have thanked you for trying.

You're way wrong.  Those "things" belong to someone else and unless invited, you have no right to mess with it no matter the good intentions.  

No he's not "way wrong". It's his bike and if he doesn't care when a riding buddy tries to help him then that's his bidness. Damn, the PMS is strong round here these days.

Frankly the whole original story is the kind of thing that my buddies and I laugh about now. Like when Eddie picked my brand new helmet up while it was in the bag and it fell out onto the asphalt scratching the srap out of it. I was annoyed at the time but it's all good now.

 

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I knocked 2tonevalk's ( Robert ) brand new expensive modular helmet off his bike several years ago while checking out his Ultimate seat before buying one for my blue and white bike. It put a small damage spot on it. I offered to refund what he paid for it that day or I'd order him a new one and have it shipped to his home....He was cool about it but I learned my lesson .

[HayHauler]

:cooldude:Murphy is a pain in the ass.

You think he's bad, you should see Bobby's Law in action... 

Hay 
Jimmyt

[Jess from VA]

As a follow-on note.... I am not a bike (or anything else) cleaning fanatic.  I keep my house and bikes in good shape and clean......... every so often.  But I hate spending the day doing my favorite thing  riding bikes looking thru bug guts.  At stops, I do not polish my bike, but I do routinely clean the bugs and crud off my shield so I have a nice view of the world going by.  Apparently not everyone feels this way.

[Hef]

When it comes to the bike, no matter what brand or how old, most of us are very possessive and don't want anyone messing with it. In the case of my windshield I use only Pledge on it and a soft cloth. I would be upset if anyone used anything else and especially paper  towels (Ugh). I will admire your bike but will not fiddle with it nor sit on it without an invitation and then I try to be very careful. As you said what you did was done with the best intentions and just ended badly. You meant no harm and were actually being a good friend, things just went bad and that happens. I like what Young Pup said about don't stand by me in an electrical storm. That was funny. Don't beat yourself up. I'm sure you won't let it happen again and sounds like this is a pretty solid buddy, so he'll get over it. Ride Safe! Hef

[Cliff]

OK chill out guys, you both made valid points.  I don't want MY thread going postal.

BF is right, I learned my lesson. 

Actually, I already knew the rule (and pretty much feel the same way as BF), I just forgot briefly and got reminded by Mr Murphy.  (though I would rather a friend buffed my shield rather than my wife)

When dealing with another's bike or property, it is really only right to ask permission first, and not for forgiveness after.   Just don't do it.

  Being a Postal Employee my version of "Going Postal" is to at the end of the work dya go jump on my valk and take the long way home..... sometimes very long    ,, sure is good for the soul.

I strive to never touch another persons stuff w/o permission,,, RESPECT.

[Cliff]

I knocked 2tonevalk's ( Robert ) brand new expensive modular helmet off his bike several years ago while checking out his Ultimate seat before buying one for my blue and white bike. It put a small damage spot on it. I offered to refund what he paid for it that day or I'd order him a new one and have it shipped to his home....He was cool about it but I learned my lesson .

  That is awesome!  Respect from me dude!

[sugerbear]

Depends how good the Buddy is I guess...

If it was a casual acquaintance... I would not do it.  If it was Squealy or a couple other buds... no problem.

They can touch, fondle, borrow, ride whatever they need from me.  And they know it.   They have keys to the house and garage, and if I ain't home, they can come in and get what they need.

If you don't have a few buddies like that... you're doing it wrong in MY humble opinion.

Jabba

+ 1000

a good friend is worth MUCH more than anything mechanical.

[Willow]

Jabba and are are almost like twins.    

[Michael K (Az.)]

BF, have you been properly introduced to Junior? (as Mike walks away thinking how humorous he thinks he is.)