For many riders in the Milwaukee area, a perfect weekend ride heads southwest: out of the suburbs along Janesville Road or Loomis Road, past Little Muskego Lake and Big Muskego Lake, down toward Wind Lake and the open country beyond. The curves, the lakes, and the farmland make it one of the best short rides close to the city. They also make it a place where a breakdown leaves you alone on a quiet road. Lake Front Towing tows motorcycles from Muskego, Wind Lake, and the surrounding countryside. Here is how to be ready.
Rural breakdowns are different
In the city, help is everywhere. On a country road, you may be a mile from the nearest house, with no shoulder, no streetlights, and patchy cell signal in low areas near the lakes and wetlands. Traffic is light but fast, and drivers may not expect a stopped motorcycle around a curve. Being prepared makes all the difference.
What to do when your bike quits
- Get off the road. Coast as far onto the shoulder, a driveway, or a field entrance as you can. Avoid stopping on a curve or just over a hill.
- Make the bike visible. Turn on hazards if equipped. If you carry a reflective vest, put it on.
- Move away from the road. Stand well off the pavement, not next to the bike.
- Figure out your location. Note the road name, the nearest crossroad, a mailbox number, or a farm sign. Use your phone to drop a location pin.
- Call (414) 520-7264. If the call drops, send a text with your location and keep trying.
Gravel, soft shoulders and slopes
Rural shoulders are often gravel or grass, and a heavy bike's kickstand can sink into soft ground and let the bike tip over. If you have a kickstand puck or even a flat rock or piece of wood, place it under the stand. If the shoulder slopes, park the bike so it leans uphill, toward the stand side, rather than downhill. If you cannot find a safe spot to park it upright, laying it down gently is better than letting it fall.
Common reasons riders call us out here
Flat tires from gravel, nails, or debris from farm traffic. Dead batteries, often after a long stop with accessories on. Running out of fuel, since gas stations are farther apart than in the suburbs and small tanks do not go far. Chain and belt problems. Low-speed drops on gravel patches or in sand at the edge of a curve. And deer strikes, especially near dawn and dusk in spring and fall.
Deer and wildlife
The wetlands and woods around Muskego and Wind Lake are full of deer, and a deer collision on a motorcycle is serious. If you hit one, check yourself for injuries and call 911 if you are hurt. Do not approach the animal. Move away from the road while you wait. When you are ready, call us for the tow and photograph the bike and scene for your insurer.
How we tow your bike
Our operator arrives with a flatbed, wheel chocks, and soft straps. The bike is loaded at a gentle angle, centered in the chock, and secured at strong points of the frame or triple clamp — never by the handlebars or bodywork. If the bike was dropped and has damage, the operator will plan the safest way to load it. Then we take it to the dealer, shop, or home address you choose.
Riding with a plan
Before heading out on a country ride, charge your phone fully and consider carrying a small battery pack. Tell someone your planned route. Carry a basic tool kit, a tire plug kit and inflator if you know how to use them, water, and a reflective vest. Fill up before you leave the suburbs. And save our number in your phone, so help is one tap away.
Heat, hills and clutch trouble
Summer rides on hot afternoons are hard on air-cooled engines and on clutches, especially for riders who stop and start through the lake towns. If your bike begins to run rough, smell hot, or slip under power, pull over and let it cool rather than pushing on to the next town. Sometimes a rest is all it needs. If the clutch has failed or the engine will not idle once cooled, call for a tow instead of limping along a narrow road at low speed with traffic stacking up behind you.
Riding in a group
Many lake-road rides happen in groups, which is safer in many ways but can create confusion when one bike breaks down. Agree ahead of time on a simple plan: the rider at the back, often called the sweep, stops with anyone who has trouble, while the rest of the group continues to the next safe meeting point instead of crowding a narrow shoulder. The sweep makes the call, shares a location pin, and stays with the stranded rider until the tow truck arrives. That way, the group is not lined up beside a fast country road, and the person waiting is never alone.
Frequently asked questions
How long will it take you to reach me in the country?
It depends on where the nearest truck is and road conditions. The dispatcher will give you an honest estimate and keep you updated.
Can you bring fuel for my bike instead of towing?
If you simply ran out of gas, fuel delivery may be possible. Tell the dispatcher, and we will send the right help.
Can you tow my bike back to Milwaukee from farther away?
Yes. For longer trips, see our long distance towing.
Stranded on a ride near Muskego or Wind Lake? Call (414) 520-7264. Learn more about our motorcycle and specialty towing.