OzSTOC

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Rodd on April 22, 2013, 01:38:19 PM

Title: Safe Houses
Post by: Rodd on April 22, 2013, 01:38:19 PM
Just an idea!

Safe Houses sticky! Either in this part of the forum or in the individual state sections. A place to list your home as a safe house!

Often it can be quite stressful if you are a long way from home and you have a problem with your car or bike. Where do you stay? Where can you work on your bike? Where do you get tools, let alone parts and a clean place to work on your bike?

Queensland
Maryborough
House with weatherproof workshop and guest room.

Workshop: large cement floor work area, workbenches and tools available.
Tools ranging from standard tools, torque wrenches, up to drill press, bench and hand grinders, to hydraulic press.
Guest room available with access to it's own toilet and shower.
Internet access.
Motorcycle shop at the end of this road (Maryborough Motorcycles, parts, accessories, and clothing, etc).
Quiet area, safe and secure and low crime area!

Cost - Nil.
Location: Tinana, Maryborough Qld.. exact location provided on request.

Available to: Forum members (and friends in distress), custom/classic car enthusiasts.
Title: Re: Safe Houses
Post by: Sicman on April 22, 2013, 06:57:35 PM
Nice idea Rodd, I think this has merit and lends itself to a list of welcome houses where fellow Ozstocers can plan a trip and stay with other Ozstoc members along the way, thereby reducing travel costs :clap  :grin
 :slvr13
Title: Re: Safe Houses
Post by: Bikebear on April 22, 2013, 07:18:24 PM
If members are in Cairns and have trouble they are welcome to come to my place to work on their bike. I don't have a spare bed but if the bike needs to stay overnight I do have a Honda Shadow that can be borrowed for transport back to their accommodation.
Title: Re: Safe Houses
Post by: Marcus on April 22, 2013, 07:57:10 PM
Alot like the RAN list on the US st-owners forum (Rider Assistance Network) I like the idea
Title: Re: Safe Houses
Post by: Biggles on April 22, 2013, 08:17:02 PM
I like the idea for the support concept, but don't think members should be expected to provide beds for touring members.  If one chooses to go on the road, then one designs the trip to fit the budget, be it tent, cabin, motel/hotel or Gold Coast Versace.  An emergency bed and meal due to a breakdown is another matter, and I think that can be arranged here at no notice.

Unfortunately for me at this stage, I only have a carport, but anyone stuck for help on the northside of Brisbane is welcome to come and use it.  I have all the basic tools, and there are bike shops and Honda dealerships not far away.
Title: Re: Safe Houses
Post by: Marcus on April 22, 2013, 08:35:07 PM
Yeah I don't think that was the intention. I'm reading it as assistance only
Title: Re: Safe Houses
Post by: StinkyPete on April 22, 2013, 09:08:34 PM
After breaking the frame on my motorcycle (not the ST) when alone and 3,500 km from home, I appreciated the ability to contact a local friendly via the Ulysses Club, to help me though the crisis.     I'm a supporter of the concept and could offer my own workshop facilities.
Title: Re: Safe Houses
Post by: Rodd on April 22, 2013, 09:09:58 PM
Yes, 'Safe House', although I have a separate guest room downstairs in the workshop area.

So far we have helped a Dutch couple who toured the world on their 1978 cx500 with trailer. They stayed two weeks while he stripped his engine.
We also allowed a cople of Americans on pushbikes. They stayed two nights then rode on the Darwin, then Asia, and onto Europe. I met them in Esk and offered them accomodation when they passed through Maryborough.
Title: Re: Safe Houses
Post by: winston66 on April 22, 2013, 09:48:46 PM

 :rd13 :clap :thumbs :hatwave :runyay

Winston66.
 Well if anyone knows the meaning of the word "ditto"   I will apply it as to how much I concur with all of the preceeding comments.
I think that it is a great concept as we all like to indulge ourselves and this passion of enjoying our love of motocycles.
 I for one would like to play host to any fellow members of this forum if they should happen to be passing through this locale.
I am lucky as  that here we have anything that might be needed to assist as equired.
 So if a register is to be organised or started, please put me on it.
Cheers to all.
Winston66

 :rd13 :hatwave :runyay :beer
Title: Re: Safe Houses
Post by: STeveo on April 23, 2013, 07:54:32 AM
I'd be in that too. Have ute and trailer to fetch broken bikes back for repaires.

 :bl11
Title: Re: Safe Houses
Post by: Streak on April 23, 2013, 08:10:27 AM
Agreed, more than happy to put my hand up for a bed for the night if pre organised, and i also have a trailer and bike ramps for rescue missions...
Title: Re: Safe Houses
Post by: Marcus on April 23, 2013, 08:17:22 AM
hmm... maybe you could add a list to the site that willing members could fill in and access easily.  :think1
Title: Re: Safe Houses
Post by: Streak on April 23, 2013, 09:15:56 AM
just have to come up with a way to make it easy to use, and not just a list of names so to speak
Title: Re: Safe Houses
Post by: jimwilly on April 23, 2013, 12:56:57 PM
My place is available got tools, shed with limited space (blame the missus) carport. No spare bed but floor space and mattresses. Tailem Bend is an hour from Adelaide, local bike shop in Murray Bridge 20 minutes.
Title: Re: Safe Houses
Post by: Sabie on April 23, 2013, 01:34:26 PM
As for the case of accommodation it's totally up to the individual member if their willing to accommodate anyone.

As for a safe house, workshop and accommodation my place in Townsville is available for OzSTOC members. We're on an acre and a half about 20 minutes out of Townsville. Honda dealer In town (rising Sun). Spare vehicle in the form of a 1998 Mazda Bravo ute available to use.

Cheers

Sabie and Mrs Sabie
Title: Re: Safe Houses
Post by: ST.George on April 23, 2013, 02:34:49 PM
I am willing to help any OZStocer in the Illawarra region,  :hatwave however am in a transient position where carport is full of building materials and the dragon. Garage has been converted to a gym (but in a pinch could be used again as a garage). Most tools available in workshop but more building tools than mechanical. A bed is available plus a temporary bed as well.

As far as organising goes, maybe a parent thread called STRANDED (STRiderAssistanceNetworkDED(bike)), with sub threads for each state or territory, then subsubthreads for each region. At the start of each region thread a google map of the region. I volunteer to create this structure if we decide this is the way to go.

I have been wondering what I would do If I had a serious breakdown that I can't fix on site, and notice that NRMA can assist bikes. Don't know what the annual fee is tho. The other thing is that, out in the boondocks where no mob service is, one option is to ask a passer-by to phone for help when in range unless someone comes along with a trailer. Another op is to use the UHF comms to talk to truckies who could pass the message on. I suppose whether traveling alone or not would make a big difference. In my total of about 8 years of actual riding over 38 years I've never had a serious breakdown of any sort but it has to happen - but not 4 mechanical reasons cause STeeds don't break down do they? No, of course not, stop being silly.  :p
Title: Re: Safe Houses
Post by: Marcus on April 23, 2013, 04:05:38 PM
and notice that NRMA can assist bikes. Don't know what the annual fee is tho.
Yeah My insurance covers breakdown with accomodation  road side assistance (towtruck) but, I still like the idea of a friendly face if the s hits the fan
Title: Re: Safe Houses
Post by: ST2UP on April 23, 2013, 07:40:48 PM
Yep where in..... :thumbsup
Title: Re: Safe Houses
Post by: Sabie on April 23, 2013, 10:08:43 PM
Yep where in..... :thumbsup


I'll have mine washed and polished to thanks Chris.....is it an overnight service like your laundry at a motel?
Title: Re: Safe Houses
Post by: STeveo on April 24, 2013, 07:39:05 AM
Years ago in late 1970's I was a member of a group called the 'Australian Touring Motorcylist Association' (ATMA) in which every member carried a small pocket sized notebook listing members around the country and what services they had available and what they were prepared to do. Being pre computor days it was all on paper with phone numbers for contacts. It worked very well and I had many people stay a night or repairs to their bike. To do the same thing now through this group with the computor/phone technology would be easy.  :thumb

 :bl11
Title: Re: Safe Houses
Post by: IanB on April 24, 2013, 10:02:45 PM
Good idea but where would the "safe house" be on the website for the info.
I thought one of the other clubs I belonged to had a "sealed section' where guests couldn't go.
Was told it was secure and found the hard way it wasn't true.
I'd be suggesting that a solution might lie in another idea floated on the site.
It could tie in with the Google map thoughts of Diesel.
You put up your planned ride eg Bris to Middleton and the folks along the way PM you with their details.
Then you can either take advantage of the hospitality on offer or just collect some ph numbers for the unexpected.
Or there is the ole pin in the map trick. People have pinned  locations in the profile so the person making the trip can have a look and PM those people along the route for info.
Title: Re: Safe Houses
Post by: Sabie on April 24, 2013, 10:24:31 PM
Perhaps a register could be maintained by either one of the Adinistrators or Moderators or a volunteer who maintains the register.

It can then be either emailed, text or pm'd to the member requiring help.

OR the the Register can be sent out periodically to members via PM's in the same way the administrators do now.

The advantage of a register is that the type of assistance can be recorded, such as if there is Accomodation  available,  Workshop, Transport, distance to Honda dealer etc.

We keep a similar register when I worked in the fire service. It was called a recovery register which had a list of accomodation, laundry, food etc for fire crews that came into an area where local crews were stood down. For example when cyclone Yasi came through local crews were stood down to allow clean up of their own residence.

Now I'm retired or in between jobs... I'd be happy to help collate the data or assist in some way.

Sabie
Title: Re: Safe Houses
Post by: ST2UP on April 24, 2013, 10:29:03 PM
Yep where in..... :thumbsup


I'll have mine washed and polished to thanks Chris.....is it an overnight service like your laundry at a motel?

Sure is mate got the brasso and emery paper to fix those stubborn FNQ bugs right up for you Sir..... :o

Cheers
Title: Re: Safe Houses
Post by: Sabie on April 24, 2013, 10:37:36 PM
Yep where in..... :thumbsup


I'll have mine washed and polished to thanks Chris.....is it an overnight service like your laundry at a motel?

Sure is mate got the brasso and emery paper to fix those stubborn FNQ bugs right up for you Sir..... :o

Cheers

If you throw in an acid wash for the paint work .......... :||||