Distress signal

[Grashopper]

Was cruising along one evening last week when suddenly the power went out on my bike, the engine stopped and all lights went off. Thankfully no one was behind me. I came to a stop on the side of the road and tried to restart the bike. Nothing. Totally dead. Note to self: Hazard warning lights are only useful if they have power…

Thankfully I was just a bit outside of town, so I decided to push the bike for a bit to find a better place to stop. 15 min later I stopped and decided to wait on the side of the road until some bikers pass or someone with a bike on their ute, people who might know a bit more about bikes. So I got off the bike and sure enough, not even 5 min later two people on a bike came along the road. I waved at them, but I must not have looked desperate enough. They just waved back and passed me.

20 min later and no other bikes, just a couple with a few dirt bikes on a ute and they didn’t see me. If I had had a car I would just have popped the hood, but what do you do with a bike that broke down? Is there some kind of universal distress signal for bikers?

At the end I pushed the bike to a friend who didn’t live too far, but it took a while. On another note, how to other gals handle bigger and heavier bikes than my little GN?

Sorry, if there have been similar posts already, but I couldn’t find anything.

[nodrog]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92d1xtjXf8E

________________

[Grashopper]

:lol: Hehe, so I wasn't waving frantically enough. On the other hand, that might scare people from stopping nodrog :)

[nadroj]

Show some leg?

[Grashopper]

Show some leg?

:brick: Why didn't I think of that?

[arcane12]

Actually I think the one from Team America is probably closer to what would work. If I was serious about needing help I'd use the same one as you'd use at sea - Arms out to the side lifted over the head and back down again (a slow two arm wave). And you'd have to talk like a pirate too to really pull it off.

[bosslady]

Actually I think the one from Team America is probably closer to what would work. If I was serious about needing help I'd use the same one as you'd use at sea - Arms out to the side lifted over the head and back down again (a slow two arm wave). And you'd have to talk like a pirate too to really pull it off.

LOL!!!




I don't know Grashopper, I've never really thought about it but you have a good point, did you take your helmet off? Then they would have seen you were a woman and maybe they would have tried to help (no shit). I'd probably pull over somewhere safe, helmet off, sit on the ground looking sad until someone came and helped me, I'm sure it would work. Worked when I got a flat tyre last year (cage).

[jim.cox]

Stand still, with one arm raised.

Lifeguards and helicopter rescue crew, at least, will recognise that - its pretty much an international standard

[Banditbandit]

On another note, how to other gals handle bigger and heavier bikes than my little GN?

Sorry, if there have been similar posts already, but I couldn’t find anything.

Make sure they never need to be pushed !!!

So ... what was wrong with it?

[Grashopper]

Make sure they never need to be pushed !!!

So ... what was wrong with it?

The regulator kicked the bucket so there was nothing anyone could have done on the road anyway, I suppose.

[bosslady]

The regulator kicked the bucket so there was nothing anyone could have done on the road anyway, I suppose.

but still, they coulda given you a ride up the road I'm sure :)

[slofox]

One suggestion I saw on a vid about picking fallen bikes up was to lie down beside the fallen bike (you might've had to lie it down in your case) and look as though you are either dead or dying. Could work...

[scumdog]

We could have a KB 'distress signal'

Just like we have the KB wave, dang, I hope we don't get 'em mixed up!:gob:

[Road kill]

One suggestion I saw on a vid about picking fallen bikes up was to lie down beside the fallen bike (you might've had to lie it down in your case) and look as though you are either dead or dying. Could work...

Not if your Hitcher,,,,:lol:

Ok that wasn't very nice,,,,but still true.

Maybe leaving a bit of cash spillt from your wallet an then grabbing the "biker" as they make a grab for it would work.

Expect nothing,,,,,,it's about all most people are worth today:rolleyes:

[The Baron]

My understanding of assistance needed / or caution is to place your helmet 5 to 10 feet behind your bike.

But I don't think this would work in the dark as you wouldn't see the helmet.

[ducatilover]

Lots of boob!!!!!!!!!!!

Err, or just smile politely

[bogan]

Depends how many people you want to flag down, the arm raised or slow waves as suggested would be the best way to flag down a lot of people. Not sure if there is a signal to flag down people with mechanical knowledge or tools though; then again, just about all the mechanically minded people I know like tits, so there's an option...

[Grizzo]

Lots of boob!!!!!!!!!!!

Err, or just smile politely

Yes, this is the preferred method.

[slofox]

But I don't think this would work in the dark as you wouldn't see the helmet.

Not until you ran over it anyway...:whistle:

[craigdek]

but still, they coulda given you a ride up the road I'm sure :)
That's weird. In South Africa you stop when a biker is on the side of the road and helmet off. Too dangerous to leave a fellow biker alone on the side of the road their let alone a women. You would have had a mob of bikers there to help. Shared hatred of minibus taxis. Normally in that situation you could hook up jump cables to bike battery from a car for 15min to just get bike to a safe place. But if its a Harley or BMW bike chances no one will stop even in South Africa.

[Usarka]

The correct survival distress signal (to a helicopter at least) is to stand with both arms raised on an angle (not waving) so that you look like the letter Y.

Y is for Yes. The way to remember it is "Yes I need help please please please please please". You can use less please's if it's easier to remember.

Would probably work at the side of the road.



Stand still, with one arm raised.

Lifeguards and helicopter rescue crew, at least, will recognise that - its pretty much an international standard

If a helicopter saw you doing that they'd probably fly away, land in the bush, have a quick masty, steal some plants from a pot plantation, fly back to base smole a doobie and watch cheech and chong. One arm raised is the signal for "No, I'm ok thanks".

Edit: While I'm at it for the sake of education, the signal for "help I need medical assistance" is to lie on your back with arms together straight above your head. The way to remember that one is "arrrrggghhh I'm dead".

[GSXR Trace]

although it doesn't fix your question of how to flag someone down or how to push a heavier bike, consider getting AAplus or some other form of rescue/recovery insurance so that you can call and be picked up in the event of a breakdown - AAplus gets you and your bike home from where ever you are. of course that requires reception on your phone, but yeah

I've only ever been in need of assistance once, and someone stopped straight away, and others stopped to check everything was ok, so sounds like you were just unlucky, or maybe I looked particularly useless

[Jeff Sichoe]

The only time I had to 'ask' for help was when I trashed my bike at 70kph (Sleeping bag got sucked into rear wheel and spat me off)

I think the sight of a poor little CBR 400 + camping gear, exploded across the road and me dazed and waving my hands like this - http://img.dictionary.com/signal-131814-266-400.jpg was more than sufficent :)

I would suggest the overhead, double-handed, wave... :)

[forums]

My understanding of assistance needed / or caution is to place your helmet 5 to 10 feet behind your bike.

But I don't think this would work in the dark as you wouldn't see the helmet.

In the northeast of England and Scotland the most common that I saw was taking the seat off and putting it on the ground or 90 degrees across the frame.

[Woodman]

Flip them the bird, give them the fingers, yell all sorts of expletives:mad: at them.:tugger:

When they stop and ask "what the fuck is your problem?", you reply "my bike won't go, can you help me"?

[bosslady]

although it doesn't fix your question of how to flag someone down or how to push a heavier bike, consider getting AAplus or some other form of rescue/recovery insurance so that you can call and be picked up in the event of a breakdown - AAplus gets you and your bike home from where ever you are. of course that requires reception on your phone, but yeah

I've only ever been in need of assistance once, and someone stopped straight away, and others stopped to check everything was ok, so sounds like you were just unlucky, or maybe I looked particularly useless

She has a good point. I got roadside assistance or whatever with my insurance company cause I'm all kinds of useless and if anything happened with my bike I'd have no one to help me and I'd be stuffed.

[wingnutt]

the intennational signal, for a biker needing assistance, it to place your helmet on the side of the road. I've never seen it used in my travels, so I'm not sure
how many riders would reconise the signall but it could be worth a shot, couldnt hurt.

[carburator]

In canada the rule of thumb was pop the hood and the trunk lid..

[bosslady]

In canada the rule of thumb was pop the hood and the trunk lid..

I'll remember to take a hood and trunk with me on my next bike ride to Canada, thanks for that :laugh:

[hellokitty]

Lots of boob!!!!!!!!!!!

Err, or just smile politely


consider getting AAplus or some other form of rescue/recovery insurance so that you can call and be picked up in the event of a breakdown - AAplus gets you and your bike home from where ever you are. of course that requires reception on your phone,


boobs help.... sticke em out :rolleyes:
I have AA plus which is well worth having.

[FJRider]

I'll remember to take a hood and trunk with me on my next bike ride to Canada, thanks for that :laugh:

In another thread ... the (suspected) contents of your "trunk" was stated. So ... to reveal said contents of your "trunk" on the side of the road, will attract attention (fast) ...

But I think you may feel it to be undesirable ... and unwarranted. I may be wrong though ... desperate needs do require desperate actions.

[Grashopper]

Let me recap so I will remember. The best distress signal so far seem to be: Put helmet on the ground, show boobs, smile politely and wave as frantically as possible?

Hm, I think I will go with putting the helmet on the ground behind the bike and waving frantically looking very desperate and helpless.

Somehow can't imagine anyone would stop when I try to make a Y shape with my arm. Or if they do than just to laugh and take photos of this strange human statue.

I don't think it is possible without tools to take the seat of my bike.
Hm, did I forget anything, oh yeah, AAplus is good and don't go to Canada with a small bike as you have to drag a hood and trunk along.

[varminter]

The arm thing is open to ambiguity, so I suggest we stick with the boob thing. However, quality always counts, so I think before we make hasty judgment call there should be pictures. Still, I'm just a dirty old me:rolleyes:

[FJRider]

Let me recap so I will remember. The best distress signal so far seem to be: Put helmet on the ground, show boobs, smile politely and wave as frantically as possible?

A fast learner ... I like that .... :laugh:




Hm, did I forget anything, oh yeah, AAplus is good and don't go to Canada with a small bike as you have to drag a hood and trunk along.

Got it in one ... :niceone:

[Usarka]

Somehow can't imagine anyone would stop when I try to make a Y shape with my arm. Or if they do than just to laugh and take photos of this strange human statue.


You never know, some dodgy leather clad biker in arseless chaps might stop and finish of the MCA part.

[carburator]

Let me recap so I will remember. The best distress signal so far seem to be: Put helmet on the ground, show boobs, smile politely and wave as frantically as possible?

Hm, I think I will go with putting the helmet on the ground behind the bike and waving frantically looking very desperate and helpless.

Somehow can't imagine anyone would stop when I try to make a Y shape with my arm. Or if they do than just to laugh and take photos of this strange human statue.

I don't think it is possible without tools to take the seat of my bike.
Hm, did I forget anything, oh yeah, AAplus is good and don't go to Canada with a small bike as you have to drag a hood and trunk along.

the international distress call for bikes in canada is flipped upside down in the ditch with a moose limping off..

admittly at the end of the day in NZ a cellphone and a good list of mates to get you out of the shit is a better
idea, besides all of this boobie flashing might attract dikes on bikes.. maybe your cup of tea...

[R650R]

May I suggest pretend to be working on the bike. There's always someone willing to stop and tell you your doing it the wrong way :)

[frogfeaturesFZR]

May I suggest pretend to be working on the bike. There's always someone willing to stop and tell you your doing it the wrong way :)

Brilliant !
Could even end up with a team, all doing something different, and getting in each others way.
" just leave it to us " :niceone:

[FJRider]

besides all of this boobie flashing might attract dikes on bikes.. maybe your cup of tea...

It's worth a shot though .... I haven't attracted any dikes with all my boobie flashing ... I can't understand what I'm doing wrong .. :scratch: My sister has a great deal of success with that method ... :confused: