motorcycle hand signals

[Jess from VA]

The signal for telling oncoming bikes there's a cop up there is to tap the top of your helmet with your hand.

It's an old signal, and I've used it from time to time with other riders who gave no indication they had any idea what it meant.

I haven't seen it given by another motorcycle rider in maybe 15-20 years.  

So the other day I'm going up a hill through the Manassas National Battlefield Park (my go-to route out of town to the countryside), and this other rider is grinning at me and bonking himself on the head with an upside down fist.  So I wave back at him.  Then it dawns on me... hey, that was the cop signal, and I glance down at the speedo and I'm 8-9 over so I drop the throttle, and as I crest the hill sure as heck there's a Federal Park Cop right there.

I wave at the policemen and he waves back.

Thanks buddy.  You might get a pass on 8-9 over, and you might not.

Federal Park policemen can give federal tickets, but they may also be able to write tickets enforcing State Law in the State the park sits in (depending on agreements).  I had occasion to deal with this type of jurisdictional issue on Air Force bases in the US.  Even had to go to Federal Magistrate's Court to prosecute small crimes (misdemeanors) and traffic offenses committed by civilians on base.  Big crimes, the US Attorney wants for himself, but small potato stuff, he's glad to get rid of.

[Rams]

Other than a returned wave, I've never had any warning as noted.   I have had motorist flash their headlights at me warning of a speed trap behind them but in front of me.  I assure you, I've had my share of speeding tickets over the years.   Once got stopped for speeding by a Game Warden, saw him coming and didn't bother to slow down, didn't know they could or did enforce speed laws.   Although, I respectfully talked my way out of the ticket, I learned there and then they have more authority than local LEOs.

Rams

[Jess from VA]

Once got stopped for speeding by a Game Warden, saw him coming and didn't bother to slow down, didn't know they could or did enforce speed laws.

Ha ha, I once got pulled over by a fire truck (not a huge one, a medium one).  Long time ago here where I live.  I was over the limit, but not way over.

Bet you didn't think a fire truck could pull you over.

Well, as a matter of fact, I didn't.

Well we can (holding up the ticket book).

Well I'm very sorry for it, I pulled right over you know.

OK, I'll just give you a warning.

Thank you sir.


The flashing lights, or blipping between dims and brights is more well known among all drivers.

The helmet tapping among bike riders seems entirely forgotten.

[TrapperAH1G]

Have to agree, I've given this signal many times.....always wonder if the other rider knows what I'm doing.  Assume if they're older they do.  Have only gotten it given to me once.

[h13man]

Nowadays, there's lack of education to even learn these. Installing the Back Off brake light modulator is about the only recourse for OTB signaling and works extremely well to protect my six. Left, right and stop from the drivers manual if needed. Only a few riders know these signals but I'm good with the basic signals.

[Rams]

Ha ha, I once got pulled over by a fire truck (not a huge one, a medium one).  Long time ago here where I live.  I was over the limit, but not way over.

Bet you didn't think a fire truck could pull you over.

Well, as a matter of fact, I didn't.

Well we can (holding up the ticket book).

Never heard of that.   I wonder if that's a state thing.
Will have to ask some of my firefighter friends or my son, he's a Paramedic/fire fighter in Memphis.

My son's station (not long ago) lost a fire fighter/driver of one of the ladder trucks that was responding to an emergency when a vehicle ran a stop light while traveling in excess of 100 mph hit the ladder truck in the front right side causing the ladder truck to overturn pinning the driver under the truck.   The ladder truck driver/FF died before they could get the truck off of him.  The whole accident was recorded on video from both the truck and cameras at the intersection.   The driver of the vehicle that hit the ladder truck was high on several drugs.   Memphis is a dangerous city.

Rams

[Jess from VA]

Well Ron, I've never seen a fire truck pull anyone else over in all the years since it happened to me.

Doesn't mean they can't.

What I do see often is if a fire truck is running lights and sirens, a county policemen is often running close by, or at the scene. 

May be a state thing, or even a county thing.  I dunno. 

They can likely make arrests too.

'Citizens arrest' is still a thing in some places, but I highly recommend against it.   

[RP#62]

Well Ron, I've never seen a fire truck pull anyone else over in all the years since it happened to me.

Doesn't mean they can't.

What I do see often is if a fire truck is running lights and sirens, a county policemen is often running close by, or at the scene. 

May be a state thing, or even a county thing.  I dunno. 

They can likely make arrests too.

'Citizens arrest' is still a thing in some places, but I highly recommend against it. 

  

I see the words, but this is what I hear in my head.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9efgLHgsBmM

RP

[GiG]

There have been instances where a self-important cop has dragged a motorist into court for flashing his lights, supposedly to warn oncoming motorists of a speed trap.   
Not sure what the charges were or how the super cop was able to determine what the long passed driver had in mind…   

[LadyDraco]

The signal for telling oncoming bikes there's a cop up there is to tap the top of your helmet with your hand.

It's an old signal, and I've used it from time to time with other riders who gave no indication they had any idea what it meant.

I haven't seen it given by another motorcycle rider in maybe 15-20 years.  

So the other day I'm going up a hill through the Manassas National Battlefield Park (my go-to route out of town to the countryside), and this other rider is grinning at me and bonking himself on the head with an upside down fist.  So I wave back at him.  Then it dawns on me... hey, that was the cop signal, and I glance down at the speedo and I'm 8-9 over so I drop the throttle, and as I crest the hill sure as heck there's a Federal Park Cop right there.

I wave at the policemen and he waves back.

Thanks buddy.  You might get a pass on 8-9 over, and you might not.

Federal Park policemen can give federal tickets, but they may also be able to write tickets enforcing State Law in the State the park sits in (depending on agreements).  I had occasion to deal with this type of jurisdictional issue on Air Force bases in the US.  Even had to go to Federal Magistrate's Court to prosecute small crimes (misdemeanors) and traffic offenses committed by civilians on base.  Big crimes, the US Attorney wants for himself, but small potato stuff, he's glad to get rid of.

 

Yuppers  I still use  it  to this day tapping the  top of  my helmet!

[H*GLEG]

I tap, always try to help someone out.

[Hook#3287]

Another rider gave me that signal just last week, though the LEO must have moved on.

I usually will do my lights flash, which is easy on the Valk.

I like using hand signals in conjunction with blinkers when taking a turn with any cages around.

[Rams]

I like using hand signals in conjunction with blinkers when taking a turn with any cages around.

It's a normal thing for me to utilized hand signals when turning on my Valks.   I never trust other vehicles drivers to observe my turn signals.   Had too many close encounters.

Rams

[mbramley]

  I see the hand gesture for law enforcement ahead on occasion around my area, also the hand gesture for blinker on I have seen, not that I would ever forget to turn off my blinker. I do really well at i for a while then not. I realize how dangerous leaving a signal on is. Turning onto my road is not enough to always turn off the turn signal in a cage and I have seen a couple of bad accidents at the next intersection because of it. Be safe out there. Glad you didn't get ticketed.

[LadyDraco]

I like using hand signals in conjunction with blinkers when taking a turn with any cages around.

It's a normal thing for me to utilized hand signals when turning on my Valks.   I never trust other vehicles drivers to observe my turn signals.   Had too many close encounters.

Rams

Well they don't respect hand signals  as  well as  turn signals ..
And  I too use  together !

many months  back ,I was on TheBeast with a load  of  trash on the  back seat ,
Had  my left signal on and  my left hand  out !   To make  a  left turn to the  dumpsters!
I always   look behind  me  good.
 :tickedoff:SOB if 2  rigs , a  car  and  a  truck passme  on the  left  and  a  the double  yellow line !
 If  it  wasn't  for  me  looking  and  saying to self  they are  NOT slowing down!
Hold  your ground  and  do not turn! The  car  would  have hit me  hard  and  the  truck would  have  finished  the  job.

I was  telling Jason about it, and  he  said  they don't  know what hand  signals  are  around  here !
I said  they don't  know what  a directional signals  are  as well ..
I wasn't  waving them around .. My hand  was  NOT  moving.

I really wanted  to chase  them down and  slap them silly.
But dumb F*cks  that they both were  wouldn't  learn.
And  I would  have  been the  one  that got in trouble..
Even ,for  them trying to kill me ! That's  how  I felt .

[h13man]

Well they don't see my signals, keeping both hands on the bars is more important with these 800 lb. bikes. There was a day hand signals were known and respected but there's more population on the road and electronic device's aka cell phones thrown in, definitely challenge's our defensive riding skills all the time. I used hand signals on my dual purpose machines as they were the 1st. thing removed to preserve them.

[Serk]

I still tap my helmet to warn oncoming bikes of a hazard (Be it traffic, a wreck, construction or an active road pirate) but I think the prevalence of Waze and systems like it has negated the necessity of the old ways for the most part.

In the same way, Bluetooth headsets has lessened the need for hand signals on group rides.

For reference for the newbies, here are a few common motorcycle hand signals:

[h13man]

  !

[LadyDraco]

 
That's  great Serk ! Thanks  for  the  giggles..

Hey they don't  have  the  Fuel signal,
 when ya  pull alongside  and  do the motion thumb down at the  tank !

[Rams]

But, what's the signal for a Dairy Queen up ahead? 

Rams

[klb]

But, what's the signal for a Dairy Queen up ahead? 

Rams

Rubbing your stomach and patting your helmet at the same time means there is a Dairy Queen ahead and the Cops are there.   

[Jess from VA]

But, what's the signal for a Dairy Queen up ahead? 

Rams

Rubbing your stomach and patting your helmet at the same time means there is a Dairy Queen ahead and the Cops are there.