Distress signal

[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...

[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 - 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 at them.

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

[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
I have AA plus which is well worth having.