| Author | Message | ||
     Jaimec |
Question for everyone here. In the MSF Group Riding handout, they identify the "Tapping the top of the helmet" signal as "I need a comfort stop." No one I've spoken to around here recognizes that meaning. Around here, we generally recognize it as meaning "Police ahead." Are you familiar with this signal? What does it mean to you if you see another rider doing it? | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
i have never seen it mean "i need a comfort stop" But then again if some one used it for that meaning they was probly gay. it has always ment "pig ahead" since i have been riding. | ||
| Slaughter |
Ditto on the Police warning by fist on helmet. We have always used a more direct, point AT your crotch when you need a potty stop. EVERYBODY understands that one. | ||
| Doon |
Yeah hand on helmet has always meant 5-0 ahead. Comfort stop (IE need to pee) was always pointing at the crotch. Then again most of the people I ride with , we only stop when we need gas so standard point at the tank and we get all the comfort we need  | ||
| Aaomy |
for us tappin the tank and rolling a thumbs up to thumbs down meant i just switched to reserve.. although feverishly hitting and slapping the helmet is my signal that i got another wasp in there and am currently getting the carp stung out of my head.. not sure how universal it is but ........ i have had to use that signal more than once! | ||
| Xb12mel |
Thanks for askin the question. I was wondering too... I once saw a guy pass me from behind tapping his helmet. How does he know there is a cop up there I asked myself. At that point I started to think it might mean something else. But now I know he was just psychic!  | ||
| Firebolt32 |
In football taping the helmet meant that you needed a break...On the bike, 5-0. | ||
| Jaimec |
Here's another "Helmet Signal" my friends in Pennsylvania related to me. If you see a motorcyclist coming towards you with his left hand up, fingers spread wide, thumb against helmet he is not saying "Neener neener!" He is warning you of deer on or near the road up ahead. They tell me the question isn't "Have you seen any deer?" where they live. It's "How many deer have you hit?" | ||
| Bcordb3 |
I have always thought it meant everything is OK. Actually, I don't think I have seen it used by approaching riders. Got to keep a closer eye out for that one. | ||
| Socoken |
I see a lot of casual hog riders flash their brights at me for five-o, which is annoying because its hard to see a bikes headlights flash and differentiate that from when a bike goes over a bump. Plus, flashing the lights could mean anything, deer, road hazard, whatnot. Tap on the top of the helmet signifies the smokey the bear hat. Im not sure, but I think its illegal to warn others of police presence? | ||
| Djkaplan |
I saw Paint_shaker leaned over in a right hand sweeper, hanging off and using his left foot to point at some road-kill on a ride he was leading. Damndest signal I ever saw. | ||
| Ryker77 |
Im not sure, but I think its illegal to warn others of police presence? It's a saftey measure IMO. As I often don't speed on my bike. But I would like to have a heads up of ANY potential dangerous hazards ahead. I've had cops finish with the revenue ticket and then pull right out in front of me to chase down another revenue ticket. | ||
| Jaimec |
The police have tried issuing summonses against motorists for warning of speed traps ahead. I don't BELIEVE they've been successful in court, as this would be a clear violation of the 1st Amendment. | ||
| Bcordb3 |
I went to the local Starbucks this morning (local "old" bikers fixing the world) to a man they said the tap on the helmet (head) was a cop ahead. Thanks everyone for the heads up on this one. | ||
| Jaimec |
Thanks, everyone. You helped settle a bet. My friend's husband was insisting that this signal was something our club "made up," and not something in widespread use anywhere else. You've proven her (and me) right and him wrong. They were out riding together when a rider coming the opposite direction gave the "Helmet tap" signal. She immediately slowed down and pulled into the right lane. He just kept right on barreling along and (fortunately, THIS time) did not get pulled over. | ||
| Bigdaddy |
Hand to head has meant LEO ahead for at least the 30 years I've been riding on the streets. My dad passed that along to me many years ago. Pointing/slapping top of tank (airbox) would be gas or bathroom -- makes no difference because you'll most likely be stopping at a gas station anyway. We've always used the feet to point out objects in the road. | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
vigorously tapping the top of the helmet has always meant a police presence warning for the entire four-plus decades i've been riding. I see a lot of casual hog riders flash their brights at me for five-o, which is annoying because its hard to see a bikes headlights flash and differentiate that from when a bike goes over a bump. Plus, flashing the lights could mean anything, deer, road hazard, whatnot. i'll flash my high beams repeatedly if conditions warrant. it's pretty easy to assume someone will see you banging on your head if you're on a quiet two-lane road, but what if you're on a busy multi-lane highway or interstate? that's where flashing the high beams works better, and it's also been a universal warning for police presence as long as i've been riding/driving. but even if this warning is meant for another danger, it's still gratifying to warn (or be warned) that something bad is around the bend. i'll flash my high beams whether on two wheels or in four, and to ALL oncoming motorists, two wheels or four. i'll do this as long as i think my warning has validity. in other words, after more than a minute or so and you've put enough distance between you and the LEO that they might not even be there when the motorist you're alerting gets there, or enough distance has passed that the motorist heeds your warning and slows down, doesn't see any heat, then speeds back up only to be clocked after they've let their guard back down. here's a tactic i've practiced for many years to alert other motorists of approaching danger (usually police presence), and it ALWAYS works: i'll raise my left hand high in the air, palm down, then pump my hand and arm from sky-high down to footpeg level and back rapidly and vigorously, usually at least four times, signifying SLOW THE FARK DOWN!!!! this always gets IMMEDIATE response from the oncoming motorist. they may not know for sure that i'm indicating an LEO around the corner, but they damn sure know i'm indicating SOMETHING dangerous, and it's gratifying to see how quickly they slow down upon seeing this signal. i only use it when i'm riding (it's obviously a little tough doing this one in a cage), but i'll do it for bikes and cars alike if the situation warrants. it only works when the danger you're signaling is IMMEDIATE, and i know for a fact i've saved several riders from a certain speeding ticket over the years. i used it most recently just a month or so ago, to warn two oncoming riders to STFD!!!! due to a big-rig stopped in the two-lane road just around their next corner, waiting to turn left across traffic. the riders instantly sat up and grabbed big brakes, and altho they might have had enough time to see the truck and react accordingly without my warning, this was on a stretch of road where you'd NEVER expect something like this, they were cooking along at a Pretty Good Clip, and i know i gave them additional precious reaction time to better handle the dangerous and unexpected. lastly, i REALLY appreciate it when an oncoming cage driver flashes their high beams at me when i'm on my bike to signal police presence ahead. even as i take evasive action, i always try to acknowledge the fellow motorist's courtesy by giving them a wave of the hand. we need all the friends we can get when we ride. FB | ||
| Watrousmark |
I don't know where everybody else is geographically but in Tennessee, I'd slow down if I saw someone tapping on their helmet. I sometimes use it if I've just passed an accident scene and there are ambulance people there also. Thanks for the deer signal I'll pass it along. | ||
| Paint_shaker |
Tapping or a hand on the Helmet = 5.0 It is NOT illegal to warn of Police presence. It IS, in some states, illegal to flash your lights. DJ, It's all about safety bro!! LOL |
