25-03-12, 12:54 AM
The 'helmet off' thing seems to evoke a lot of different responses. The reasons given by the filling station are often a bit vague, and usually revolve around being robbed. I'm sure a robber doesn't fill up his bike then walk to the kiosk, wallet in hand. And if they're nicking stuff, aren't they likely to be in a car?
Another reason I've been given is because of drive-offs and being able to identify the person involved. Again a little dubious on that front - how much fuel does a bike hold versus a car, and I'll wager there are more car drive-offs than bike ones.
As you taking your hat off, there's seldom anywhere to put a helmet safely while you're fuelling, and sitting it in the spilt fuel on the ground doesn't seem a good idea, nor does balancing it on the seat.
In the winter, you've sealed yourself in to your kit to keep warm so the last thing you want to do is take off your hat and lose that warmth.
Some filling stations won't switch on the pump if you're still sat astride your bike, and I get that one completely - I really don't want to be pouring highly flammable liquid between my legs: if something goes wrong I want to get as far away as possible as quick as I can! And I think that's got more potential to indicate drive-off intentions.
I know the stations locally to avoid, and I do. I've written to one of them explaining that in the bitterly cold weather I'd rather not freeze my ears off, and got a letter back from the forecourt manager saying he was also a biker and didn't see the problem... I guess he's not an all-year biker...
Another reason I've been given is because of drive-offs and being able to identify the person involved. Again a little dubious on that front - how much fuel does a bike hold versus a car, and I'll wager there are more car drive-offs than bike ones.
As you taking your hat off, there's seldom anywhere to put a helmet safely while you're fuelling, and sitting it in the spilt fuel on the ground doesn't seem a good idea, nor does balancing it on the seat.
In the winter, you've sealed yourself in to your kit to keep warm so the last thing you want to do is take off your hat and lose that warmth.
Some filling stations won't switch on the pump if you're still sat astride your bike, and I get that one completely - I really don't want to be pouring highly flammable liquid between my legs: if something goes wrong I want to get as far away as possible as quick as I can! And I think that's got more potential to indicate drive-off intentions.
I know the stations locally to avoid, and I do. I've written to one of them explaining that in the bitterly cold weather I'd rather not freeze my ears off, and got a letter back from the forecourt manager saying he was also a biker and didn't see the problem... I guess he's not an all-year biker...