The really good side of Motorcycle riders

[ken]

I used to belong to a riding group (HanseBikers - HB) here in north Germany but dropped out because of my poor German language skills. I still maintain contact with some in the group and yesterday the HB’s had their yearly get together at their standard meeting point. I don’t know how many motorcycles, riders and onlookers showed up but the HB’s raised more than €6000 ($8500) for one of the hospitals that specializes in treating children with cancer. Some photos are posted at the link below:

<https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.251768408172740.85332.100000187474727>

A few years ago, one of the HBs died because of cancer and he died just months after his 21 year old daughter passed away of cancer as well. The meet is in memory of Jörg Nicolaisen and his efforts to raise money for the hospital.

The collection of folks at the meet boggle the mind with some nice folks, but some that would scare the hell out of me on a dark street. But all of them dug into their pockets and contributed to the good cause. Makes me proud of being a member of the motorcycle rider’s fraternity, knowing there are lots of good people out there.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Glad you guys were able to have the meet and raise that amount of money for a great cause.

Tried the link but said it is currently unavailable.

[Idaho]

Ken, same is true here about the generousity of the MC community. Lots of folks open their hearts and wallets to help others in need and some of those are what we would call 'questionable' types that most of us would avoid in a gas station.

Nice to hear about the fundraiser. Maybe one day we will figure out how to beat cancer.

[jestephens]

That's a tragic story of the Father and Daughter :-/, but an excellent example of comradery.
Thanks for sharing!

[ringadingh]

Soundsl like that riding group has a worthy cause. Sometimes looks are decieving, most bike riders are a pretty decent bunch.

[Top Cat]

This link will work if you copy and paste into your browser.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...00000187474727

Ken, I see one guy has a back patch with two rockers. I take it that does not mean any thing over there as it does here in the States.

[ken]

You must mean the guy with a rocker at the top and bottom of his patch and surrounded by other smaller patches, right? If yes, I don't think that is anything at all. certainly we have Hells Angels here along with Banditos and the accompaning troubles but right now they are the only biker gangs that have caused problems, that I am aware of. HA's are outlawed in Hamburg proper and there is a move afoot to ban them from Germany, but that is still up in the air. and the two gangs currently have a truce so they are not in the news too much lately. In Hamburg we have the 81ers which are Hells Angels by another name (81 being the eighth letter of the alphabet (H) and one being the first (A), but you knew that...lol). None of the 81 or Bandidtos were there yesterday, thank goodness.

[Top Cat]

I just hear that sometimes here in the States if a guy has a three piece patch sometimes the gangs will give him a hard time and even take his colors. ::)
May be just rumor but nothing I am going to chance

[jandreu]

Most motorcyclist are good folks at heart. I tell both my wife and daughter that should they ever break down don't be afraid to ask a biker for help. Most are mechanically inclined and carry some tools. I've never meant a biker, patched or not, that when given some respect would not go out of their way to help a stranded motorist.

A few years back, actually more than a few, when I had long hair, beard, a little more than scruffy looking and was ridin my HD I came across an elderly lady in a Mercedes broke down in the middle of an intersection. Traffic was just going around the poor old gal, honking their horns and giving the one finger salute. I was at the gas station on the corner watching this and decided a little karma never hurt anybody soooo...I pulled my HD right into the middle of the intersection blocking all traffic, got off and pushed the Mercedes to the side on the road, boy was there some mad folks with traffic stopped in all directions. As soon as I got the car out of the intersection of course everyone else just started going around my bike now sitting by itself in the middle of the road. Thought for sure it would get hit but it didn't. I told the lady to stay with her car that I would be right back as all she needed was a jump start. I lived about four miles from the site where she was broke down so I rode home and got my van and came back and jump started the car. She was so thankful, said she was going to the hospital to see her terminally ill husband. I think about this every time I see someone broke down now and I always try to help if I can. You just never know what peoples stories are and I hope someday when one of my loved ones needs help that a good hearted biker will be there for them.

Of course there are aholes in all walks of life and should the biker not be so good hearted I also tell my daughter and wife that should that so called biker not be so kind to them to be sure to leave an identifying mark so I know I'm going to jail for educating the correct person!

[bobhamlin]

Ken,

Nice pics. Were you in any of them (If so, post the number)

I'm suprised the language barrier. The only time I ever had any problems in all of Europe finding an English speaker was in Belgium. There, I had to rely on my high school French. A lot of gesturing that day.

[ken]

@ bobhamlin, no, I'm not in any...at least not this time...

You might be surprised how little English is spoken once you get outside of the big cities or even the peripheries of big cities. Remember, the days of lots of American and British GIs running around are long over, thus, less English except at hotels, airports, train station, things like that. But I can still order a beer in German and that's really important.

[bobhamlin]

Originally Posted by Ken

You might be surprised how little English is spoken once you get outside of the big cities or even the peripheries of big cities. ... But I can still order a beer in German and that's really important.

You mean things have changed since the early 70s?

I was a German linguist so it always seemed like I was running into Germans that wanted to speak English when I wanted to show off my German. My standard phrase in other countries was "Sprechen Sie Deutsch oder Englisch?" (Do you speak G or E?) Covered most of my bases.

Who can ever forget, "Ein Bier, bitte!" with a thumb held high?