People have superstitions about any and everything to get around any adverse event. It’s a form of security or comfort. Below, world-famous Los Angeles motorcycle accident injury attorney Michael Ehline, the motorcycle rider’s friend, will go over some riding superstition myths a rider might encounter over their life.
We will also explain the secrets of getting paid for questionable or superstition-related riding incidents. And it’s pretty damn interesting. So let’s go!
Black cats, for example, are thought to be unlucky. Cats, in general, are not appealing, but black cats, more specifically, appear to be out to ruin your day.
It’s against the rules to stroll beneath a ladder, smash a mirror, or dump salt. The list goes on and on, but what about motorcycle superstitions?
Motorcycles have a long and illustrious history, full of fascinating individuals. Both industries are growing by the day, and it’s no surprise that this thriving two-wheeled lifestyle has spawned many tales and superstitions passed down from motorcycle rallies to bike night.
Many superstitions and myths have been passed down over the years, and we’ve often wondered about the authenticity, truth, or roots.
At Ehline Law Firm, we’ve dealt with a great deal of motorcycle accident cases, and here are the most common superstitions we’ve heard over the years when dealing with lawsuits:
What Are the Most Common Motorcycle Myths and Superstitions?
Here are a few of the superstitions we’ve picked up on:
- Guardian bells
- Dropping motorcycle helmets
- Green motorcycles
- Stopping to help other motorcycle riders
- Riding with your rear pegs down.
Let’s look at these in further detail:
Guardian Bells
This is an interesting but unsettling little one. A Guardian Bell is a little bell that some riders put on their motorcycle to ward off evil spirits while on the road. It’s thought that the evil spirits you may encounteron the streetss are to blame for any bad luck you may experience on your journey. Even though we are experts regarding motorcycle accidents, the law doesn’t cover unwanted spirits.
The sound of the bell is said to pique the curiosity of evil spirits, which are then trapped inside the bell. In addition to encouraging evil spirits, the bell ringing drives them wild within, to the point that they can’t hold on and fall to the ground.
It does come across as a tad bleak, mainly if you try to visualize what these evil spirits may seem like. Even in the darkest and perhaps dismal situations, there is always a ray of hope.
In this scenario, the bell aids in bonding with a biker community, particularly new riders. A rider is said to be unable to purchase their bell; instead, it must be given to them by another motorcyclist. This usually leads to a friendship, a bond, and a potential lifelong riding companion.
A modified version of the guardian bell exists; however, it’s more of a type of remembrance than superstition.
To honor a fallen motorcyclist, several bikers put a brass bell on the left side of the swingarm. The fallen fellow rider is expected to be able to keep enjoying the road with their companions during riding season, which is a very nice deal, and the constant ringing is a friendly reminder.
Dropping Your Motorcycle Helmet
The saying behind this superstition is, “As goes your helmet, so goes your head.” Ultimately, dropping your helmet is terrible luck and must be avoided at all costs!
If you keep dropping your helmet, there is a risk you’re going to damage it, which might lead to motorcycle accidents. This equals a potential legal case, which is a bad idea. Moreover, a helmet that has been damaged is useless. It also does not seem to matter how brief the drop is.
Owing to this myth, you must replace your helmet if you drop it. You don’t want to deal with bad luck even if it’s not damaged. Fortunately, if you do run into bad luck because of this, Ehline Law Firm is here to help you with your case.
If you drop your helmet, it’s believed that your head follows. However, you’re expected to fall or have dropped a helmet before; if that’s the case, buying a new helmet each time you drop it isn’t feasible.
Riders and any potential riding buddy should invest a significant amount of money in safety equipment to ensure it is high quality. Evil road spirits aside, when it comes to your safety, and that of other riders, this is not an area where you should cut corners. As a result, it’s a little impractical to expect someone to buy a new helmet every time theirs falls.
Green Motorcycles – Are Green Bikes Bad Luck?
Is riding a green motorcycle terrible luck? Yes, there was a time when this was considered highly unlucky. In the past, a green-painted bike was considered a terrible idea. It may be one of motorcycle history’s most ‘unlucky’ parts.
While Kawasaki has transformed the superstition into something entirely their own, it wasn’t always this way. Green bikes used to be considered unlucky to tamper with till the Ninja motorcycles.
A Green Motorcycle has an Interesting History.
Green motorcycles were supposedly thought to be unlucky because of all the people who drove green automobiles and died (accidentally) in race wrecks, as well as American soldiers who perished in World War II while driving their green military bikes.
We may now presume that enemy snipers attempted to prevent motorcyclists from sending critical communications between camps and bases, which is why so many riders died throughout the war.
On the other hand, people in the riding world seemed fixated on the color green and avoided it under all circumstances.
Another factor to consider is that those identical motorcycles were sold for a low price after the war. Granted, those bikes were probably not in the ideal shape after being used in a fight. This means the people who purchased the bikes might have been riding unsafe motorcycles.
Stopping to Help Other Motorcycle Riders
Familiar with sea mariners, this is one that we believe everybody must embrace if they haven’t already. However, it wasn’t just a stroke of luck. Consider this superstition to be lousy karma when failing to help out.
If you notice a fellow motorcyclist on the side of the road, you must always stop and assist. Even if it doesn’t appear that they require it, you must stop and check.
At Ehline Law Firm, we fully support this as it might prevent a future crash. If you, unfortunately, do see a collision, make sure to contact our experienced lawyers at (213) 596-9642 for legal representation.
Riding with Your Rear Pegs Down
This motorcycle superstition is similar to the one concerning bells in that it’s thought that ringing a bell invites evil spirits to accompany you on your journey. If you don’t have a backup motorcyclist, there is an old concept that you must never ride with the rear pegs down. Why? Maybe the spirits assume there is a possibility that a second rider is going to come and use your passenger pegs.
It’s most likely the same damned, little dark, evil spirits you’re attempting to capture in the small bell. In either case, it’s said that leaving those pegs down signals to the nerves that you’re inviting them to join you.
However, because their primary purpose is to cause havoc, these bikers are unlikely to be as lovely as other motorcyclists, which is considered bad luck. This old belief is a confusing superstition if you ride your motorcycle in a funeral procession in honor of a fellow fallen rider, you’re expected to ride with the rear pegs down. This is so that your companion can have one last ride.
Thus, we can see that this particular superstition is intertwined with other customs, and it’s not straightforward. This shouldn’t be an issue because the old belied in the silver bell makes bad mechanical problems from spirits (road gremlins) lose their grip on the motorbike ride.
Contact Ehline Law Firm Today Over a Superstition-Related Motorcycle Incident!
Motorcycle culture and other traditions on two wheels can be pretty complicated, which we don’t claim to understand fully. One thing we can do is help you with any claims resulting from a motorcycle accident and use common sense while riding.
Contact us at (213) 596-9642 for a free case evaluation about receiving a financial award of overwhelming compensation for your motorcycle-related incident or similar situation. You can also use our online contact us form for informational purposes and a prompt return phone call.