Ducati Sporting Club UK > General > Idle Chat > Take my lid off before Fuel! WTF!!

[j7yse]

Has this happened to you? It did to me! The station wouldn't even turn the pump on until I took my helmet off! The whole of the forecourt looked at me like I was a suicide bomber! Lets fight it and stop using these stations! Add your story to www.petrolstationstoavoid.co.uk

[Ian Harris]

Just to play Devil's Advocate, I have worked in urban filling stations in my impecunious youth and, particularly in this day and age, the spectre of attempted robbery is all too real.

I know from our perspective, a drugged up lowlife is unlikely to be riding a ten-grand Ducati, but isn't it a little unfair to expect fuel station cashiers to instantly discern our trust-worthyness while keeping half an eye on the inevitable Burberry-clad chav's trying to nick the confectionary? It doesn't seem too unreasonable to have an across-the-board ban on helmets...Same argument as targeted security checks at airports....pain in the **** for law abiding majority of targeted group, but its not like its brain surgery without anaesthetic is it?

Each to their own but, personally, I reckon a bit of empathy for some poor sod who's earning minimum wage is called for. (Particularly as , depending on location, in that job he/she is fairly likely to experience at least an attempted robbery.)

[Karl]

Never happened to me, what were you riding and what time of the day was it? Seems a little OTT to create a website for this You may have it happen to you one day and not on another depending on who is on shift on the day.

[bradders]

I understand where you ar coming from Ian, but if youre gonna rob the place youre not gonna remove it are you!! Just overzrealous madness in my view, and if its to stop drive offs then I hope they make advance pay a must for all cars!

I would boycott any place that made me take off my lid - I normally dont have time to spedn 5 mins getting all of my gear on and off again...

[Rally]

It only happened to me once. I shrugged, got back on the bike and went to the next one. I never again had the problem with that same petrol station. I guess there was a real jobs-worth on that night.

[YMFB]

Its never happened to me but if it did wouldnt go there again, not because I think its a bad thing or even unresonable but because its a pain and theres more gas stations around.

[Tonio600]

Happened to me in... Switzerland
I can understand them though, I was not offended showing me face (but then maybe they were )

[Ian Harris]

Originally Posted by bradders

I understand where you ar coming from Ian, but if youre gonna rob the place youre not gonna remove it are you!!

When you get muppet robbers with masks over their faces but still wearing their laminated ID passes, anything is possible!

I thought it was that they didn't like people entering the "shop" area with a lid on, but if AndyB reckons its just to prevent drive-aways, then maybe I'm over-dramatising it

Anyway, I know a lot of filling stations don't like bikers keeping their lids on so, personally, I always take mine off as a courtesy. Then again, I only use the bike for fun, maybe if I was racing against time to get to work I'd see it differently!

[sparkin]

There`s a station at Swaffham in Norfolk,I think it`s a BP one,and they will not let you fill your bike there unless you get off it and put it on the stand

[Jools]

You can do a little bit to get yer own back...

When you get to the front of a queue in a busy filling station, just spend about 5 minutes putting your lid on the counter, taking your gloves off, fumbling around inside your leathers for your wallet, selecting which card to pay with, then decide you want to add a mars bar to the tab just as they start ringing up, then repeat the procedure in reverse, putting your receipt and card neatly back in your wallet....

You get the picture...you waste my time, I'll waste yours