Was I right? (not offering 'advice' to an unknown rider)

[Sid Squid]

I would have said something. It's easy to assume that other people have the knowledge to know when something about their bike is amiss, nowadays as we are blessed with such long lasting and reliable bikes, there are many riders who take it to get serviced then just ride it for 3-4000 miles never knowing quite basic things, such as chain maintenance, perhaps it shouldn't be this way, but it is.

Originally Posted by northwind

There was one like that in a car park on the AR... I told the owner, she got bad tempered at me. Apparently faults only dangerous after someone points them out to you.

I think it was because a number of people had done so that she was a bit defensive, I know I pointed this out and I'm aware of at least two others having said something to her as well.

[Kylie]

Trying to communicate anything much more than "hello" to someone while they're riding is a no-no really. Unless you have a scrolling LED panel they'll not have a clue what you are trying to say, and might well decide you are questioning their parentage or looking for a race.

If you ended up next to each other at lights then thats a bit different, if you can get eye contact then might aswell tell them.

I had a similar situition on the way to Brands last year. Coming off the motorway onto the slip road at the Brands junction a bike overtook me and I noticed his chain was dangerously loose. Unfortunately I never got close enough to say something but I wanted too. I think it was just a gut feeling of wanting to prevent a possible disaster. Hopefully someone else told him but you should never put yourself at risk when wanting to help others if it can be avoided.

[STRAMASHER]

You did the right thing. If you were stopped at lights or a junction or he was parking up then cool , let the guy know.

Shonky bike usually means shonky riding!

Sometimes you got to go,"Ah feck it!"

Conscientious fellow are'nt you?

I've done this twice last year, but only in town doing 30. I could pull alongside and do shouting and pointing to get my point across, without putting either of us at undue risk.


I'm not sure I could do it whilst riding 'briskly' in an NSL. If you catch up with him at lights or junction etc then fair enough.

[Balky001]

If you had the opportunity at all then you should have told him - that's what I'd want if someone noticed my bike had a problem. But I wouldn't risk chasing them to tell them as it sounds like the ride was 'spirited'. Don't sweat it!

Northy - you can't help some people! Their problem, not yours!

Better to say something and take any resultant flak than have them unaware, come off and have a nasty accident (possibly in your path).

If I was said rider, I would want some one to tell me.
On that basis I wold tell someone else.

The one proviso being that I could do so safely.

I would vote for follow with video camera and film the crash

[northwind]

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

I think it was because a number of people had done so that she was a bit defensive, I know I pointed this out and I'm aware of at least two others having said something to her as well.

Yeah, I can understand that... Was it one of ours, then? I wasn't sure. Black and silver CBR if memory serves? Lovely bike apart from that...