This was a memorable topic from the old forum. I was just wondering how many people try to signal fellow speeders of the presence of cops. So what signal do you use and how many miles down the road from the roadtrap do you go before you stop signaling oncoming vehicles?

I always signal other bikes whether I'm riding or in my car. Signal of choice, in the car, flash the highbeams. On the bike, a downward patting motion off to the left side. As if to say "take it easy". Usaually get a wave or a thumbs up in return.

* Last updated by: redtrace on 9/11/2009 @ 3:00 PM *

That's a good signal. I'll use that. Signaling people who are behind you can be confusing. Tapping the breaks or pointing often encourages them to speed up and pass you which of course, increases their chance of getting pulled over. I had a guy tap his brakes while approaching a cop parked in the median. I swung around him and passed on the right. Just as I came around ahead of him, there was Mr. Cop looking right at me. I suppose he never saw me either until I got in front of the car. That cop coulda busted me for speeding and illegal passing.

Just a few weeks ago there was a LEO in parked in the median on a four lane, straight, 45mph stretch through a speed trap town. About a half mile later there was a helmetless Harley rider going the opposite direction and hauling ass! I don't know how fast but way faster than 45. I tapped my helmet to warn him but got the impression he was uncertain about what I was signalling because of the look on his face. I'm sure he knows now!

Well just yesterday during a nice nice ride,,, a little cold thou at 55 degrees..

A car passed me and I notice the passenger all the way up in the windsheild with an open hand, like showing all 5 finger,, well 4 fingers and a 1 thumb..

A few seconds passed,, and I was like wtf? then it hit me, maybe he was signaling 5.0,, a copp ahead. I didnt see one.

Side note. A few years ago i was behind a biker biker ruff looking guy on a crappy harley. Vest and badges on.

He took his left arm and placed it behind his back, with his forarm across his lower back and hand making a fist. Like a half arm lock.

I wasnt tailgateting or driving like an azz.

What could this have been? I dont know if he was provoking me, or wanted me to pull over so I could break his arm?

Maybe he was signaling "right turn" so that his hand was actually pointing to the right. Or maybe he just had a sore back.

Maybe it means handcuffs

Hello All

My crew and I use the tapping on the helmet to warn for cops ahead and REV UP the engine 2 times for trouble coming from behind to make the guys ahead check their mirrors, works pretty good when riding in a group.

The police in Staten Island NY have basicly declared war on all motorcycles on the road weather your riding crazy or cruising nice and easy...they stop you just to check your papers. This season there were 7 fatalities on the island and some of the riders did not have the proper license so now the cops are cracking down and pulling random stops on all bikes.

Ride Safe
Snuffy

I have used the flat hand pushing down, like telling your dog to lie down. It conveys a message to slow down, but when people do it to me I'm not sure if they are warning me of something or just uptight about how fast I'm going. (Until I see a LEO that is.) But I don't always see a LEO. I slow down anyway. I'm always grateful for being saved a couple hundred dollars. I can always speed back up.

Getting flashed with brights from an oncoming car is a good way to keep from gettin a ticket.Couldn't figure out what was goin on-UNTIL...........I saw the Highway Patrol sittin by the side of the road up ahead.(oncoming).

everyone i ride with will tap the top of there helmet with there left hand to signal for leo.

It`s tapping palm down on top of helmet. Its to signify the lights on top of a police car. This is a international motorcycle signal.

I have seen a bunch of people put their left hand up in the hair and make circles with it. Basically like the military signal for rally. The rotating sort a mimics a blue light turning is the idea I guess.

^^That's the one I have used but it is quite obvious if the cop is right ahead. If cops see you signal other motorists of their presence, they can nail you for obstructing justice -- so I hear.

Ya...had a couple in a cage comin at me on a LONG straight.Guy's flashin his brights,she's doin the five finger deal.I'm thinkin...shit you guys...the speed limit's 70.Yer tellin me I'm goin too fast?You want me to what?Slow to 50?Nah,I kept rollin at 75.THEN...I notice WAY UP THE ROAD...these little twinkly sparkly lights.Hmmmm...what?Ya...okay,I get it now....coppers ahead(I'm a tad thick that way).They had someone pulled over.Went by wavin an smilin."He'll be busy for a while...no worries".I gassed her into the curve and was gone baby!Sometimes it's "nice" to see someone else get stopped besides me and my cool Ninja .

* Last updated by: blue07 on 6/14/2010 @ 2:35 PM *

Its always good to see someone else stopped. That usually means you are clear for a bit.

They're quite sneaky here...usually,you see one,go 5 minutes...yep...there's another!I've seen 10(no lie) MHP settin up along the road for around a 3 mile length.Pretty weird...but it's happened here with strange frequency.

I was on the a heavily traveled interstate last week (in my cage) when my theory could've been a problem. Luckily I wasn't speeding though. I passed a state trooper with a car stopped on the shoulder. I went about another mile and there was a town cop for a little bitty place with less than a mile of interstate in the town limits. After passing the town cop I come up on a county sheriff traffic unit running radar within a half mile. Then about another mile down the road there is another little town with a town cop running radar out there too. About four miles later I passed another state trooper also running radar. I doubt any of them realized the others were sitting that close but it was an interesting few miles of driving.

I hate then these little town cops sit out on their 100 yards of interstate trying to write tickets.

Bigspenda you must of been on 85 going thru Duncan!

That's exactly where I was cburden. The little towns were Duncan and Wellford. Those guys sit there on about 100 yards of interstate and write tickets all day.

I've always used the tapping left palm on top of the helmet. It actually means "heads up", and can be used for cops or wildlife on the highway or whatever. But wether anyone ever understood what I was signaling, I couldn't say.

It`s tapping palm down on top of helmet. Its to signify the lights on top of a police car. This is a international motorcycle signal.

I've always used the tapping left palm on top of the helmet. It actually means "heads up", and can be used for cops or wildlife on the highway or whatever.

That's the one... any other hand signals, to me, come across wrong... and promptly get the international hand signal for FU.

I always the tap on the top to signal a cop and the "slow down wave" to signal a wreck or object in the road.

Yeah, well, here I am tapping my helmet I see bikes coming the other way. I need to pass some people up ahead and I am giving myself a headache tapping. I go around this bend and as I make my last few taps >>> There he is, just sitting there watching me put my hand back on the bar.

And did any one of the three riders give me a head shake or any heads up with that much time I gave them? Nope. Hows my timing? LOL

WoHoo.Hubster!If the first one don't acknowledge yer tryin to help....out comes the BIRD!EVERYONE knows what THAT means!With BOTH HANDS.WEEEEEEEEE!(No Hands ALWAYS gets em!)

* Last updated by: blue07 on 2/20/2011 @ 11:41 AM *