View Full Version : Petrol stations and helmets again.
Jayneflakes
26-09-14, 09:15 AM
Yesterday afternoon I wandered down to the BP garage in Weston and filled up the fuel can for the generator for Bike Night, which cost around £7.50. As I walked into the shop to pay with the money in my gloved hand, the girl behind the counter asked me to remove my helmet. I asked her why and she told me it was because they like to see people's faces for the security camera.
Now bare in mind that she was looking me right in the face as she said this. I pointed out that I was wearing a flip front helmet and she could see my face. To which she replied "Oh yeah, I had not noticed!"
The thing that annoys me is that I am wearing a £500 helmet, with a £50 radio strapped to the side, I have a neck gaiter and a leather jacket, while on my hands are a pair of armoured leather gloves. To remove my helmet I have to take off my gloves, undo my jacket and undo the helmet chin strap. To put my lid back on I have to remove my jacket so that I can put my neck gaiter back on properly and secure my long pony tail, then I can put my jacket back on, slide my helmet back on and secure the strap, do up my jacket and then pull my gloves on. I struggle with the cuff of the glove and then discover that while struggling with all of this, I have put my bike key in my pocket while undressing, which means I have to undress again to find to my bike key.
Finally I can get back on my bike and get going, after an ordeal that has hurt my shoulder and taken fifteen minutes instead of five. All the while, the impatient car driver waiting to use the fuel pump has got aggressive and has sounded his horn to hurry me up.
Now people in garages can understand why I get a bit irked when asked to remove my helmet. Let's see the next car driver have to undress and then get redressed on the forecourt just so that they can fill up with less than a tenners worth of fuel.
When I told my friends about this, I then got the racist comment of "They never ask Muslim women to remove their veils" and this upsets me too, because in a round about kind of way they are right and having an ignorant shop owner cause a racist bigot to have a thought that is kind of right is wrong on so many levels. I do not know any women who wear a veil or a Burka, not because I am opposed to Muslim women but because I just have not met any, even at Bike Night. The comment though is not aimed at the Muslim woman, but rather the difference between a mode of transport and religious expression.
As an Atheist and a woman, I find the idea of having to cover up my hair or even my face kind of weird and in truth I do not know why a Muslim woman is required to do this or why she would want to do this, but that is her choice. I am required by law to wear a Bike Helmet when I ride my bike, if I am not wearing one I can be fined or worse, so the use of a Helmet is not actually my choice (well, yes it is. I value my brain too much to risk having it splashed across the road like a hedgehog sandwich!) which makes it even more annoying.
I have a friend who works security in Tesco and he says that he asks motorcyclist to remove their helmets because and I quote "You would not walk into a bank wearing one!", only he is wrong. I regularly walk into my bank wearing my helmet and I get smiled at and welcomed with a polite and friendly "Hello Sister Jayney". I do remove it because I am usually doing something that requires a bit of a chat though and the sound proofing of my lid is really rather good. However, if I just want a quick balance or cash I go to the ATM.
It was pointed out to me that with a polite explanation the issue can be resolved, but again the emphasis is on the motorcyclist being the polite one and to be honest I am growing very tired of having to be the polite one all of the time, especially when I am spoken to like the contents of a dog toilet. Not activating the pump because I have my lid on is rude, barking an order at me is rude. The girl in the BP garage at least had to the common sense to ask me politely to remove my helmet and my reply back was equally polite.
As for ASDA in Weston, they can go and insert their heads into their own orifices. While having to return a scratched DVD and with no where safe to put my lid I pushed up the front of my lid and spoke to the woman on the customer service desk, who agreed that I had done the right thing. Meanwhile outside some cretin pushed a trolley into my bike! Moments later, the overly officious security guard very nearly got a thump when he spoke to me like filth and went to put his hand on me as he barked at me to remove my lid. Carbon-Kevlar knuckle protectors would have made a nasty mess of his cheek bones I thought to myself afterwards.
What am I saying with this? I don't know, just that I am really really fed up with other people. From now on I am using the automatic pay at pump service and quite frankly, the officious small minded bottom miners go and dry hump their own mothers.
timwilky
26-09-14, 09:44 AM
I do not remove my helmet, end of.
They have nowhere where it can be safely stored without
a) getting it covered in petrol
or
b) risk of falling onto the floor.
For ease, I tend to use card fill as I can remain seated and fill up.
but I have to wonder, if they use the bank argument, yes I have worn my helmet in my local HSBC, would a robber stand in a queue. No.
So the question then is, Are you refusing to accept my payment?
As I walked into the shop to pay with the money in my gloved hand, the girl behind the counter asked me to remove my helmet. I asked her why and she told me it was because they like to see people's faces for the security camera.
If you already have the fuel, seems a bit futile to ask you to remove your helmet just to pay for it. Try refusing.
I normally use pay at pump but I haven't had any issues with my flip front lid when I have to pay in the shop.
Can we create a religion where bikers must wear their helmets in petrol stations? :smt040
Jayneflakes.....I agree with your rant regards to helmets at petrol stations,but I'm not trying to be smart about this next bit but,in your last paragraph you say what the small minded bottom miners can do with their mothers,well I've got a small bottom and was a miner for 23 years and I don't think my mum would say yes to your suggestions,what I think you meant was minors,well at least I hope that's what you meant,,,,,sent In good faith!!!
shiftin_gear98
26-09-14, 10:39 AM
Janye, some people are just dicks..
I always wear my helmet when filling up, ok so I use the same petrol station all the time.
Guys behind the counter even no my reg off by heart for the fuel card.
Jayneflakes
26-09-14, 10:46 AM
I'm not trying to be smart about this next bit but,in your last paragraph you say what the small minded bottom miners can do with their mothers,well I've got a small bottom and was a miner for 23 years and I don't think my mum would say yes to your suggestions,what I think you meant was minors,well at least I hope that's what you meant,,,,,sent In good faith!!!
bottom
[bot-uh m]
noun
7.
Informal. the buttocks; rump.
miner
[mahy-ner]
noun
1.
Also called mineworker. a person who works in a mine, especially a commercial mine producing coal or metallic ores.
minor
[mahy-ner]
adjective
4.
under the legal age of full responsibility.
No sorry, but use of a minor is strictly against the law and quite rightly so. :pukel:
davepreston
26-09-14, 10:49 AM
walked into a petrol station and was asked to remove my helmet once, my reply ummm no
they then said "well I cant serve you then"
"fine " I said , "I have made an honest attempt to pay you which you are refusing so i'll be on my way"
and walked out the door and onto my bike
another clerk at this point came out and gave his apology's for his colleague but would I mind paying for my fuel, yes no worries handed him the £20 id had filled up wished him a nice day and carried on home
I just made out I knew something they didn't a complete bluff but I would be interested on how plod would view this if I didn't pay and carried on home
Only if you can't actually get them to authorise the pump and your in a fix for petrol.should you remove your lid.
Once you have the pump running they have accepted the offer for goods as your presented.
Stand your ground
Biker Biggles
26-09-14, 11:34 AM
I had this a few years ago.
My reply went along the lines of "If I was going to rob the joint Id have done it by now and been long gone.Now do you want paying?"
All of the above.
Stand your ground (offer payment etc.)
If you feel obsoletely no option, occupy the paypoint until fully kitted out again - and don't bother using that station again.
And, yes, it is a legal requirement in this country to wear a lid - not your rules - so I'd be pointing that out to them.
I had thought this issue had gone away - not seen it locally.
Littlepeahead
26-09-14, 12:23 PM
Pay at pump is the way forward isn't it. The local BP isn't and I always get stuck behind some cretin who has decided to do their weekly shop, then change their mind about which flavour of donuts they've decided to buy, then can't remember their PIN. So now I tend to go to Asda or Tesco where I can be in and out in 3 minutes without having to leave my bike for some numpty to knock over.
But the point is if you were going to rob the place would you park at a pump and fill up and come in carrying your wallet? Surely most theft is of the fill up and drive off type, which would be in a car, hardly worth it on a bike, or proper threatening smash and grab violence, in which case you'd be parking out the front with someone else on the bike ready to rev off at high speed, not faffing about with your Clubcard.
i'm going to defend the petrol station one. i used to get irate about it but last year i was at a petrol station and was asked to remove my helmet via tannoy so i obliged. when i went inside the woman behind the counter was apologetic and said the reason was they have had countless 'splash and dash' with bikers and robbed 3 times within the past 6 months and each time the cheeky fekers filled up before robbing them.
think i have been asked to take my helmet off about 4 times in 6 years. its no great hardship. whats an extra 2min on your day once in a blue moon. after all its their place of business so their rules and they can refuse to serve anybody they like.
as for banks and stores. well my view is its common decency to remove ones helmet, besides i personally get all sweaty and cant breath walking about in a helmet.
Niall_farley
26-09-14, 12:29 PM
Only if you can't actually get them to authorise the pump and your in a fix for petrol.should you remove your lid.
Once you have the pump running they have accepted the offer for goods as your presented.
Stand your ground
This.... If they authorised the pump then they are in the wrong because you are already taking fuel and could simply ride off! A robber would do this OR pull up get out rob the place aggressively and ride off without filling up because it's more time under the camera for scrutiny if you stayed to simply fill up £15 of fuel isn't really worth it.
So to ask to take the helmet of to take payment when you have patiently que'd up is ridiculous!
Pay at pump is the way forward isn't it. The local BP isn't and I always get stuck behind some cretin who has decided to do their weekly shop, then change their mind about which flavour of donuts they've decided to buy, then can't remember their PIN.
My local BP is the same. But on the other hand... they sell donuts! :cheers:
Unfortunately out my way BP don't do pay at pump. But as they know me it's not been a issue.
Yes I did remove my lid on the first few occasions be for the pump was authorised.
But BP works out better value for money and I'm prepared to go the extra.
Luckypants
26-09-14, 02:13 PM
i'm going to defend the petrol station one. i used to get irate about it but last year i was at a petrol station and was asked to remove my helmet via tannoy so i obliged. when i went inside the woman behind the counter was apologetic and said the reason was they have had countless 'splash and dash' with bikers and robbed 3 times within the past 6 months and each time the cheeky fekers filled up before robbing them.
think i have been asked to take my helmet off about 4 times in 6 years. its no great hardship. whats an extra 2min on your day once in a blue moon. after all its their place of business so their rules and they can refuse to serve anybody they like.
as for banks and stores. well my view is its common decency to remove ones helmet, besides i personally get all sweaty and cant breath walking about in a helmet.This really. Although in the OP case I see why it is such a faff. If they rudely asked me to remove my helmet they might just get a STFU response, if I'm not in the mood!
Specialone
26-09-14, 03:30 PM
For me, it's the total lack on inconsistency for me, if it's a security thing, then everyone should show their face, old, young, black, white, Christian, Muslim, Hindu etc etc.
A garage over the road from me that I've been using for years decided a few months back not to switch the pump on until I had removed my lid, I just rode off and not been back since.
I'm with SP1 - I also wear a flip-front, and I've never been asked to remove my lid, so I'd like to see consistency in this area. The part that annoys me is when the garage claims to be acting in accordance with the law, which you would expect to be the same everywhere.
It appears to be annoying a lot of people in Jaynes neck of the woods, however - I'm hearing rumblings about a targeted demo which sounds very like that procedure.
dirtydog
26-09-14, 06:30 PM
My local BP won't authorise e pump unless I take my helmet off despite it being a flip front and they know me as I use that station loads for the car, van and bikes!
I spoke to BP uk customer services and whilst it is not BP policy for motorcyclists to remove their helmets but a lot of their stations (like my local one) are franchises so it's up to the individual franchisee
yokohama
26-09-14, 07:13 PM
On a similar theme, do people get off the bike and put it on the sidestand to fill up or stay astride the bike to keep it level and wobble it a bit to help the fuel settle?
I normally do the latter and have never had a problem until last week when the local BP refused to authorise the pump until I got off the bike. Thinking they were worried about me riding off, I took my helmet off but they still refused to serve me until I got off the bike.
I asked them WTF was going on (politely) when I went to pay and got some line about it being company policy, for my own safety and how static could ignite he petrol and send me up in flames.
When I mentioned that if they were really concerned about my safety, they could clean up some of the diesel spills .... they just looked straight through me.
Dabteacake
26-09-14, 07:32 PM
A spill can ignite on the hot exhaust, you jump of the bike it falls and spills the tank which spreads the fire. Rather than your bike being stood up on the stand.
Not the best vid but you get the idea
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1X0BzGHCugc
Edit this one is better. Plus the guy in the black Tshirt should probably give up riding lol
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VLuPVoLpNUM
With the thought even the slightest chance of a petrol spill anywhere near my bo11ock$ I'd rather get off tbh...
Matt-EUC
26-09-14, 08:56 PM
I refuse to remove my helmet or get off the bike.
If they tell me to do either, I simply ride away.
There is a shell garage along the a3 where they ask me to do it two out of five occasions. I keep going there just to prove a point.
cb1000rsteve
26-09-14, 09:02 PM
I never remove my helmet. And if sais assistants don't turn the pump on I remove all nozzles from pump and ride off. And just to point out that using the habib isn't a racist argument. It's worse. It's religion!, lol
Matt-EUC
26-09-14, 09:03 PM
Hmm, removing all the pumps seems fun.
Phoenix22
26-09-14, 09:03 PM
I have only been asked a couple of times to take my lid off on refueling. Once I just said sure i will if you take off your ugly mask!! This didn't seem to go down so well with the old bint behind the desk so i got fuel elsewhere.
There seems to be no clear policy on this and it very much boils down to the mood of the cashier on the day, it certainly isn't law.
Red ones
26-09-14, 09:11 PM
Once got told to remove my helmet in the station when I paid. TBH I understand and I did take it off, but I did point out that it's intimidating filtering between 2 lanes on BMWs - just because the guy behind me has been a d**k a few moments earlier.
i honestly dont know why people make so much fuss about it.
take lid and gloves off ermm about 20 seconds.
put petrol in bike
take lid into shop and put on counter then pay for fuel
while walking out shop put lid and gloves back on
jump on bike and go
whats the big fuss?
It's annoying. Especially in winter when you've got lots of gear on and don't want to get cold. I think Jayne explained it quite well in her OP. I don't have long hair problems any more tho :-(
i can understand when there is nowhere to put your lid down but i always hang my lid form my mirror so no problem there. and when walking in the shop i stuff my gloves in my lid.
ok i'll admit i dont take my lid off unless i'm asked but it see no point in moaning about it any more. sometimes at my local depending who is on the counter i'll take lid gloves off and leave them on the bike then go in to pay as i know i'll be in there for a wee while chatting.
ermm as for winter.. do you walk about the streets with your lid on..
i think this is nothing but the fact some people dont like to be told to do something by what they class as minions.
Teejayexc
26-09-14, 11:24 PM
i honestly dont know why people make so much fuss about it.
take lid and gloves off ermm about 20 seconds.
put petrol in bike
take lid into shop and put on counter then pay for fuel
while walking out shop put lid and gloves back on
jump on bike and go
whats the big fuss?
Because Jayne had a flip front, open, in the op. Jobsworth, end off.
yes i can understand that and TBH i agree but lets face facts the large majority of bikers dont like to be told to take their lid off.
i dont know about everyone else but i actually like being a biker. its bad enough that a large portion of the population dont like bikers so why throw more fuel on the fire. manners cost nothing and perhaps one day if a lot of bikers changed their attitude who knows it might make the GP change theirs.
pulling fuel guns out the pumps and riding off or telling people to take their ugly masks off etc.etc is to me ignorant and out of order then you start moaning that the large majority of the GP dont like bikers. remember your not just doing these things for yourself you are a representative for all bikers whether you like it or not as we all get tarred with the same brush.
just my tuppence worth.
ermm as for winter.. do you walk about the streets with your lid on..
i think this is nothing but the fact some people dont like to be told to do something by what they class as minions.
Yes. From bike to office and back, especially if it's freezing or raining. Plenty of others do that as well. Why would you take it off?
On my old commute, 50 miles of motorway, it was really important in winter to get your gear on right or you left gaps for draughts or rain. This includes round the neck and the wrists. It's enough of a faff twice a day without adding every fuel stop, which is also every day. Remember that commuting isn't pleasure riding and you're up against the clock. To put my lid on, I need to take my gloves off and open my jacket, which then requires me to loosen or take of my rucksack. This all needs doing in reverse afterwards. 20 secs? Nearer to 20mins. Hence I also wear a flip front lid. So they can see my face anyway.
As for the minion comment, do you really think Jayne is that kind of English toff or are you just trolling?
There's all sorts of things that geek people
With a flip front lid it's just that step to far for some .
It's personal choice and I would vote with my feet. As it's there shop there rules I'm not saying it's wrong.
Yes. From bike to office and back, especially if it's freezing or raining. Plenty of others do that as well. Why would you take it off?
On my old commute, 50 miles of motorway, it was really important in winter to get your gear on right or you left gaps for draughts or rain. This includes round the neck and the wrists. It's enough of a faff twice a day without adding every fuel stop, which is also every day. Remember that commuting isn't pleasure riding and you're up against the clock. To put my lid on, I need to take my gloves off and open my jacket, which then requires me to loosen or take of my rucksack. This all needs doing in reverse afterwards. 20 secs? Nearer to 20mins. Hence I also wear a flip front lid. So they can see my face anyway.
As for the minion comment, do you really think Jayne is that kind of English toff or are you just trolling?
so what your telling me is that you never filled the bike up after work when you have more time at the nearest garage to home on your 100mile round trip commute so it would be ready for the next day.
why do you have to undo your jacket to take your lid off. dont you have to take at least 1 glove off to pay for your fuel or did you keep your debit card/cash in your tank bag.
taking your lid and gloves off is an inconvenience but there is no point in getting irate about it. if you dont like it then you have a choice.
and yes i'm trolling.
oohh for the record i commuted to work in the 80's when bike gear was really bad.
Red ones
27-09-14, 01:57 PM
Fill up at Asda. Because they are automats there is no one there so you can do anything you like.
so what your telling me is that you never filled the bike up after work when you have more time at the nearest garage to home on your 100mile round trip commute so it would be ready for the next day.
why do you have to undo your jacket to take your lid off. dont you have to take at least 1 glove off to pay for your fuel or did you keep your debit card/cash in your tank bag.
taking your lid and gloves off is an inconvenience but there is no point in getting irate about it. if you dont like it then you have a choice.
and yes i'm trolling.
oohh for the record i commuted to work in the 80's when bike gear was really bad.
Sometimes I did. My choice.
I had to undo my jacket to get my lid back on properly. Not to take it off.
Anyway my petrol garage was always fine with my lid on. I'm talking about why I wouldn't want to remove it.
i'm confused. i have never had to undo my jacket to put a lid on, in fact its the complete opposite i have always had to do my jacket up first to get my lid on but taking it off again never meant that i have to undo my jacket then do it up again. the only reason i can see that you would need to do this if you were pulling a 'skirt' of some kind down from the lid and into the neck of your jacket, if so then i can see that being a complete nigglymare. suppose 'different strokes for different folks'.
20mins to get a lid on... your doing something very wrong :rolleyes:
:smt058
i'm confused. i have never had to undo my jacket to put a lid on, in fact its the complete opposite i have always had to do my jacket up first to get my lid on but taking it off again never meant that i have to undo my jacket then do it up again. the only reason i can see that you would need to do this if you were pulling a 'skirt' of some kind down from the lid and into the neck of your jacket, if so then i can see that being a complete nigglymare. suppose 'different strokes for different folks'.
20mins to get a lid on... your doing something very wrong :rolleyes:
:smt058
Maybe if you had one of the balaclava things on.
Imagine going to pay with that on lol
SvNewbie
27-09-14, 04:39 PM
20mins to get a lid on... your doing something very wrong :rolleyes:
:smt058
You've not met tonyk then huh? ;)
Winter, M62 over Pennines, yeah, balaclava with neck scarf over it, plus so many layers under your jacket and trousers you can barely get on or off the bike in the first place. If I was Scottish I'd probably just wear a T-shirt and leave it at that. It all gets creased and loose and draughty if you don't tuck it all back in properly after removing lid. Funnily enough I don't recall seeing any other bikers during those months.
Long hair also needs tucking back into your jacket. Fixed that with a razor.
you must have loved your job to put up with that.
think the coldest i have rode into since i got back into bikes was mid November and yes there aint many bikers about. thats when i decided heated garments were the order of the day and my lordy lord they are worth every penny.
Mate of mine stayed on his bike to fill up,some petrol got spilt onto the sleeve of his textile jacket and static caused it to ignite,lucky he had his side stand down and in the panic he ran around the forecourt flapping his arm to extinguish the flames,there just happened to be a police car passing,they stopped and arrested my friend for waving a fire arm in a public place!!!
LiquidFlux
27-09-14, 05:38 PM
I try to fill up whilst sitting on the bike whenever possible, kickstand always down ( what reason could you have for not having it down?? ), and any spillage I've had has ALWAYS been just around the tank cap.
Never the exhaust, never on my jacket or trousers. I'm sure it only needs to happen once, but I'm finding it to be quite an achievement to dress yourself in petrol.
MisterTommyH
27-09-14, 06:27 PM
TBH if I'm out on a long ride with several fills I'm usually grateful to get to a fuel station so that I can take my lid off.
There are exceptions in which I do take umbridge at being told to take my lid off. These are:
1 If it's really busy at the garage, there are people behind getting annoyed etc;
2 If it raining.
My stance revolves around the fact that I wear glasses and a full face helmet. When it's busy I really just want to fuel up and push my bike out of the way so someone else can use the pump (I know I don't have to, but I just find it annoys drivers less) - having to remove the lid just slows this down as I have to put it somewhere, push the bike, go back for it etc etc etc.... having to do this with glasses is a real b*ll ache as I am trying to find somewhere to put my glasses while I use two hands to removed the lid (not many flat surfaces on an SV when it's on it's side stand).
When it's raining it's the same issue, but also the fact that putting the glasses on any surface will get water on the lens, so I then have to dig out a glasses cloth, wipe etc.... - oh and the fact that the PITA of having to do this will make be breath more heavily, which will then probably steam the glasses up more.
I avoid Morrissons stations for exactly this reason.
Jayneflakes
27-09-14, 07:24 PM
I feel that I need to clarify a couple of points.
Firstly, I am well mannered and if spoken to politely will respond equally politely, a person who is nice to me deserves a nice response even if I disagree with them. On the occasion in question, the shop girl wanted to see my face for the security camera. I explained politely that I had a flip front helmet, which you would have thought was obvious because... she could see my face. It was at this point that she said "Oh yeah, I had not noticed!" :smt120
The reason I do not like taking my helmet off is because first of all it is really very expensive and a gift from the wife. It fits perfectly on my noggin and that seems like a perfectly safe place to store it while filling my fuel tank. Placing it on my mirror does not seem like a very safe thing to do with my beautiful Shoei lid and I am not putting it on the pump because that is flimsy curving plastic. The floor infront of the pump was covered in sand that had been dumped on spilled diesel. Normally I would not use a pump that was in this condition, but I was in a hurry and there were no other pumps available.
I took the money from my purse and walked in to pay. I did not require a receipt and I had the right money in my gloved hand (gloves that are tucked into the sleeves of my jacket and support my damaged wrist), along with my bike key. I will point out that they required my face for the camera once I had handed over the money. So at this time I had not only ended our transaction, but had done so politely and with in the parameters of decency.
The petrol station has cameras on the forecourt and they can not only see me, but they can see my number plate. Should I decide that I wish to fill my bike and not pay, they have me on tape and my bike registration which the Police can use to locate my address. I am a law abiding citizen after all.
There is one aspect though that is personal to me and that is taking my helmet off is difficult for me. I have a spine and shoulder injury that makes putting my right arm up high painful. My leather jacket is very special, it is an old one now and before I got it, it belonged to my Father in Law, who was himself an old school biker and also a Paramedic with the NHS before his death. He rode to work every day on various machines ranging from 125cc Hondas to 750cc Yamahas and because of his job, he always insisted on good quality riding kit. He regularly scraped up the bits of people that came off them when they crashed in inferior kit. The jackets collar is a snug fit around my neck and sits nicely with the helmet strap. I also wear a tubular neck gaiter that tucks into my jacket and up inside my helmet. If I take my helmet off, I need to replace the neck gaiter to cover up my long black hair, which means taking off my jacket. The jacket is heavy, armoured and stiff and because of my spine injury I find it hard work to get on and off at times.
The big thing is that disabilities that are nearly invisible get ignored. If the girl behind the counter was to ask me why I walk with a slight limp, carry my arm at an odd angle and then struggle to hold open a heavy petrol station door, while holding all of my belongings in my good hand, I could explain it to her. All the while the people in the queue behind me can stare hatefully at the back of my head and into my long lustrous black hair as I slowly and painfully get dressed again.
It is obvious when I walk that some days I am less able than others, yet I manage to ride my bike when I can. Assuming that every person in the store is a criminal is sadly one of modern life's issues, but asking for my picture after I have paid in full is down right odd. We are becoming a Police state.
Thankfully my usual garage is open again now after a refurbishment of the pumps and storage tanks. A garage that has staff who greet me with a smile, wait patiently for me to do what I have to do to get into the shop and then wish me a happy ride as I leave.
As to the question as to whether I am one of those nice kinds of bikers or not, I shall leave you to decide for yourselves.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10703668_10153105151740828_6319362924875641496_n.j pg?oh=b804dfffdd8cfe4c2620d0f574dd1ae5&oe=54C1FD0E&__gda__=1421252699_111dfc9f7e87ca59938ac235b54b53b 4
Yes, that is a picture of a pointy on my sweatshirt. :p
Hanging your lid on a mirror is a bit risky. I have dropped one doing this.
Bluepete
27-09-14, 08:49 PM
My take on this is that if a Police Biker Cop can go about his or her business with a flip face helmet, then it should be good enough to buy fuel.
I lost my rag a few years ago at Tesco. A very rude woman shouted at me over the tannoy to remove my lid. I honestly couldn't hear her properly cos I had earplugs in as well. She sent her colleague out tell me I had to take it off to prove I was old enough. Never mind I was in about a grands worth of Heine Gerike kit on a new, expensive bike!
I've never filled up there again, simply cos the owd biddy was just soo rude!
I'm sensitive you know!
Pete ;)
Hanging your lid on a mirror is a bit risky. I have dropped one doing this.
never ever dropped my helmet from hanging it off a mirror yet. i have however seen lots of them being dropped from seats and petrol tanks.
Hey I'm just awkward and the mirrors on The Aprilia were small.
Spank86
28-09-14, 11:32 AM
never ever dropped my helmet from hanging it off a mirror yet. i have however seen lots of them being dropped from seats and petrol tanks.
I did. One bloody week old.
Only put it there to pick up a cleaning rag I'd dropped.
tactcom7
29-09-14, 10:01 AM
Recently I pulled up to my local BP, had my pump authorised and started filling up. Got about 5 litres in and it stopped and I was asked to remove my lid via tannoy, after I just shook my head 'Well I can't restart the pump in that case'. Quick shrug of the shoulders and off I went.
Kind of wimped out a few hours later as it was my Dad's bike and didn't want him getting a visit from the plod (if it would even get this far for £7?), rang them from work and paid on the way home. She explained that they'd also had a lot of ride offs from bikers using pumps 7 and 8, the ones nearest the road and thats why they had the helmet rule. So the next time I went to pump 1, a good 30 metres from the road and was still asked to remove my lid. So no points for consistency there!
If I was fuelling my bike at a service station and half way through they cut the pump and asked me to remove my lid. I would go inside to the desk and pay with my helmet on. At no point would the lid come off. If they accept payment then fine, if not I would video the scene of me offering payment followed by the cashiers refusal to accept followed by me leaving the station.
My helmet is another person's burka. AFAIK, the burka is legal in this country so the garage can get stuffed.
I have never had a problem in all the years that i have ridden my bike. You lot must just look well dodgy. Sometimes i remove my lid, sometimes i dont dependent on what i a fel like. If i was asked i would. Whats the bloody problem.
You lot are just so angry
Corny Gizmo
30-09-14, 12:09 PM
I have been asked to remove my helmet once - I obliged, the cashier just laughed when under my helmet was a balaclava, and took my payment.
I have also had the pump left off because I was sat on the bike, my girlfriend wasnt even on the bike...
I had the argument of "I need the bike upright to brim the tank", just got told it was company policy blah blah blah.
I also share the view of whats the point if you have already let me put fuel in the bike, either take the payment or im off.
Whats the bloody problem.
Perhaps you didn't read the thread. For some folks its a right palaver with intercoms, earplugs etc. etc. Try reading the opening post, I think it was by Jayne Flakes and she describes why it is a nuisance for her.
Personally I not that arsed apart from the fact that it is a stupid request and a waste of time.
Something that p1sses me off way more is when retailers, at the point of sale, try to extract all manner of personal details during the transaction. They want emails, addresses, phone numbers, inside leg measurements and all the while I'm thinking 'bag the goods, take payment, issue the receipt and then I can get on with my day'
Grant66
04-10-14, 08:26 AM
Sorry to resurrect this debate, but it may be of some interest.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/myth/myth-busting/2014/case319-motorcyclist-told-remove-helmet-and-get-off-motorcycle-whilst-refuelling.htm?ebul=hsegen&cr=9%2F29-sep-14
Griff-SV
06-10-14, 02:34 PM
Sorry to resurrect this debate, but it may be of some interest.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/myth/myth-busting/2014/case319-motorcyclist-told-remove-helmet-and-get-off-motorcycle-whilst-refuelling.htm?ebul=hsegen&cr=9%2F29-sep-14
Good find.
SvNewbie
06-10-14, 03:07 PM
Lets do a straw poll, anyone here been injured while filling up?
Anyone been injured while riding?
I'm pretty sure the number in the second group is at least 10 times the number in the former. For now I'll continue sitting on my bike while filling up.
I had a really horrible experience. It didn't in the end, but it could've ended in severe injury.
I was sitting on my Mille, with my helmet on and the bike upright, filling it to the brim.
I hadn't expected it to fill so quickly, so that when it was full it then sprayed out, all over the place, and into my visor and helmet, and therefore eyes.
I was blinded for several minutes and had to shout out for help to get off the bike and put the nozzle back in the pump.
I will never keep my helmet on again when filling up my bike (or car for that matter ;) ). I can't say that the overspill wouldn't have happened if I hadn't been wearing the helmet, but I'm sure as toast that if petrol sprays up again into my face, I want to be able to get it off quickly.
Horrible, horrible experience
kaivalagi
06-10-14, 05:40 PM
You need a flip up helmet Messie :)
I will always fill whilst sitting on the bike, it's the only way to fill it up fully unless you have a center stand. I feel more in control too rather than I would with the bike leaning to one side and me trying to fill it up from the side at a silly angle.
I've done the same Messie, but stood beside the bike with my helmet off. It's part of why I prefer to keep my helmet on, visor down.
Corny Gizmo
07-10-14, 11:51 AM
I dont understand how petrol splashed upwards if the nozzle "knows" when its full and turns itself off?
or did you have the nozzle hovering over the tank or something?
The bottom of the tank has a high point right in the middle, so if you let the nozzle go in as far as it can, the end sits against the metal so you get restricted flow and it cuts out frequently and you can't fill your bike.
To prevent this happening you have to hold the nozzle so that it's only just inside the tank. Hold it just too high and the fuel hits the sides of the small hole and sprays back. Worse if you've got the nozzle tilted to one side.
Admittedly it's the kind of thing you only do once.
Spank86
07-10-14, 01:50 PM
Much as I'd love to mock the people that have managed to do it, my bike currently needs filling up and I know exactly what will happen if I do.
I always get off mine
It's just easier to get the job done.
And the extra gas when you sit it up can't be that much of a range boost?
I had to get off mine this week. I had a tank bag over the filler cap. I have never been asked to remove my helmet. I used to have a full face one but have now replaced it with a flip front.
Matt-EUC
07-10-14, 08:58 PM
And the extra gas when you sit it up can't be that much of a range boost?
Maybe 1/2litre so a good 8 or 9 miles.
Phoenix22
07-10-14, 09:49 PM
That may be an issue if you are riding out into the desert or somewhere!!
For most of us there is usually somewhere along the way we can get more fuel if we need to. So no real need to brim to the max is there?
I'll see how much it's on the zx6r, but on the 675 it's 0.1 lts
It does have a collar in the neck so it always has an air gap.
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