Motorcycle Habits And Superstitions - The Gremlin Bell
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- čas přidán 13. 09. 2019
- In this weeks video, I take you on an in town ride and discuss the sometimes strange habits and superstitions we as motorcyclists have. At least one of these, the gremlin bell, is a long standing superstition in the motorcycling community. Some of them I just made up myself by noticing a pattern in my pre ride ritual. So ride along and let me know what habits and superstitions you have!
- Auta a dopravní prostředky
Great video!
Trained as a pilot before riding. I use checklists before, during, and after each ride. Allows me to focus on riding not wondering if I checked my chain.
Wait. Pilots actually goes through their check list?
@@tonykartracer8032 they have it memorized eventually then it becomes a mental checklist
I noticed a fellow youtuber's videos on motorcycles - they write a verse from the Bible and stick it on their bike. They read it outloud before they start the ride. I respect that and I think it's a great tradition. While I also considered it pollution when the sticky note most times inevitably flies off the bike.. I also thought about the fact that wherever it lands, someone might read it. And it just might be what someone needs when they find it.
I’ve thought that myself..😆
Sounds like you mean SRK cycles (example vid with pink post-it on tank: czcams.com/video/aspCuz_wUp4/video.html)
I'm a Muslim and I also do a quick prayer and read a couple of lines of the holy Qur'an before a ride. May God protect you, friend :)
I carry mine on my neck (gremlin bells) I have had three given to me so they all hang on a chain. I hang them in every car I drive and I have had some miraculous moments with them. About 3 years ago during a New England blizzard, drove from NY to ME chased us the whole way . Lost traction randomly sliding across the three lanes and somehow managed to end up in our original lane facing the same direction. Superstition yes but it sure makes me feel better to have em.
I forgot to mention, after any hard ride I thank the two wheeled beast for doing me proper after the abuse I put her through.
everyone has habits, it's the way we all work and don't forget stuff on autopilot.
if anyone gives u cr*p about being religious or praying before a ride ... they're d*cks ... you do you !
live and let live kind of deal, can't say im religious myself but i respect ppl that are !
Tigerric3 well said 👌🏻
I have a Gremlin Bell on my Ryker. Everywhere I go I get asked about it because over here in Scotland they are rare as hens teeth. Not many people have heard of them here and I enjoy spreading the lore cos I think it’s a wonderful little tradition/superstition. Ride Safe. Namaste 🙏🏻
Oh, also I talk to my bike. It’s something I used to do when I rode horses and it just sort of stuck.
Left side first, trousers, boots, gloves and jacket. I name my bikes and before every ride I say hi, and pat the tank 🤪
My bike is named, too, and I say hello to her every day, too. When I reach my destination and park, I will tell her to rest well and pat her tank. Then again, I do the same to my cars. :)
I used to follow "Right followed by Left" order for everything ( knee guards, Gloves, shoes etc..) before every ride. Today I didn't strictly follow the order, but completed a 100 Km Solo ride on my Vulcan without any incidents !!
Love the video mate! It's good to hear that I'm not the only one saying a prayer before a ride. Keep up the good work and stay vigilant!
I’m not superstitious. However, I do have a specific pattern when getting ready to ride, every time I ride. Bear with the detail.
Put on riding jeans in the house and go to the garage.
Put riding boots on in the garage, right then left.
Put on the riding jacket but I won’t zip it up.
Inspect the bike using T-CLOCS method.
Hop on the bike, kick stand up and wheel the bike into the driveway.
Shift into neutral, turn ignition key on, turn the kill switch to run and start the bike.
Kick stand down!
Get off the bike and go back into the garage and zip up the riding jacket.
Take glasses off and hang on the pants pocket. Put in earplugs.
Put on helmet, cinch up the chin strap and put glasses back on. Place gloves on the bike’s seat.
Close and lock the garage door and go through my EDC check (wallet, phone, keys, glasses, pocket knife, mini flashlight)
Put gloves on, left then right.
Hop on the bike, rear brake on, clutch in and kick stand up!
Check mirrors, a little bit of throttle, clutch out and get on down the road.
Gremlin bell originated in WWII airplane pilots would have a bell to ward off any gremlins that might cause the plane to malfunction. For the bell to work on a motorcycle it must be put on the lowest part of the bike possible and must be a gift! I have one I got from my wife on my bike and every now and then it makes a little noise that reminds me to stay alert and to ride safe so in a way I think it is keeping the "gremlins" at bay.
Great video. I just got my bike a couple of weeks ago and am learning a lot about riding. I love your videos and the tidbits of info you share. I also say a prayer before each ride and believe in its power. Keep the videos coming and we’ll keep watching. Now I gotta start looking for a gremlin bell...
Apparently the Gremlin Bells came from WWII pilots in the 1920's
and before that back in 11 AD, Catholics in England and Scotland rang "dead bells" at funeral services to ward off evil spirits
I really like your videos, I'm so close to riding! I just got my helmet in the mail yesterday :D
after one of those moments that makes me feel really good as a rider, be it nice scenery, nice twistie that I took as smooth as possible, arriving home after a nice ride or other random feel good on the bike instance, I lean back and give 2 taps with my left hand on the side of the tank
I never ride if I have a bad feeling about it. Even if I have my gear on and I'm about to throw my leg over. I just get a strange/ominous feeling sometimes. Also, I always look both ways at an intersection when my light goes green. Once or twice I have seen a person run that light and I would've been toast.
Been there. I’ll do the same thing if I feel something is....off.
I'm 53 and have been riding since I was 18... My first bike was a Yamaha 650, then a Yamaha Seca, a GTS1000 (forkless bike way ahead of it's time) and this year I bought a 2019 Kawasaki Versys 1000 SE+ LT. I've ridden the entire blue ridge parkway and skyline drive, and spent countless weekends on tail of the dragon and at the TWO camp... I've even been to the Isle of Mann for the Manx TT races... about two weeks ago a buddy from Michigan I work with mentioned the gremlin bell... First I ever heard of it! Now here you are talking about it also. Very odd... I'm not superstitious and don't believe in ghosts, so I'll pass unless someone gives me one I guess...
I got sucked into it when a friend of mine gave me one for my first bike. Otherwise I wouldn’t have followed the tradition.
Good video, always good to hear what goes on in another rider's head. I like it.
Great video brother, I feel like I know you better now. It is nice to hear a grown man talk about his love for riding and not be yelling or doing wheelies every two minutes. Thanks for the great content.
I thank the Lord every time I ride for giving me this day because I've always been happiest when riding since I was a child.
Who puts their right boot on first? You ANIMALS!
Great vid.
Habits are great. They keep us from forgetting important things like doing up the chin strap, or closing up vents in the rain, or accidentally riding past a Starbucks on the GS. Seriously though, great video.
Thanks for sharing. I guess we are all weird ! You have a great intro !
Great opening! yep. You're right. We are all creatures of habit. We develop habits that just "work" for us. For me a good example would my morning routine. If I manage to somehow "skip" a step I feel off the rest of the day... and my lunch is probably still sitting on the table! Its just like Tigerric3 said, it's what we do when we are on autopilot. We don't have to "think" about what to do, we just do it. Thanks for taking all of us on another ride. Hope your knee is better soon. Have a permanent bad knee myself. A good brace will do you wonders.
I'm a sub from Portugal. I love to ride my mt 09 sp... And I think that your videos are great. Keep doing them. Good rides 😁👍
Hard to imagine any downside to good habits and checklists, I hope we all have a well thought-out, pre-ride routine! I'm not a superstitious person at all, rather be governed by common sense and clear-headed decision making. That said, I usually whisper a prayer on the ride-off that I be able to remain clear headed and focused! And yeah, if something doesn't feel right, make the ride another time! Enjoying your channel....ride safe!!
Thanks. I have habits that I practice just to be safe. 1. Bike check 2. Count the gear I have on to make sure it's all there 3. Pray. I commit my ride to the Lord and rely on Him for a good ride.
You are not alone about saying a prayer, Sean of SRK Cycles in PA. always reads a bible verse before he reviews his bikes, also his team, if we're offended about that and being safe then something is wrong! In the Army, we always prayed before we went on patrol - period. Nothing is guaranteed to us. You're doing good work, just found you by accident, at 65 I'm just getting into riding motorcycles so I am following your lead!.
I'm not superstitious but I am a littlestitious.
Haha just got a new triumph T120 ace edition , and applied my gremlin bell this morning . It’s actually a triumph gremlin bell , pretty cool 😎 great video ! Thank you
I saw a motovlog in which the guy said there is no way he would ride if he weren’t a Christian. Maybe it was his delivery, but it really made me laugh. Truth is, there are lots of ways to die so I thank God for the gift of each day knowing that this party is just a warm up for the real party:-)
SRV1 SRV1 Revelation 6:12, that’s what you are talking about😄👍. I’ll send you my info, can never have too many bikes!!! Thanks😊
Theres a cemetary near where i live and my first ride here the bike skidded and the first thing I noticed was tombstones with a cross on it. I just did a cross and everytime i go by it omw to work i repeat it. Prob just my subconscious but everytime i do it around the cemetary i feel a good vibe pushing me to continue.
I just got my first bike (2003 Vulcan 800 Classic) and there was a bell hanging under the handlebars. Thought it was random.
But NOW I UNDERSTAND. It's not on the lowest part of the bike, but it's still there. I'm inclined to consider it a gift from the previous owner who added it. :3
Cool of them to leave it for you!
Mate you've taken ritual to a whole new level 😂, never heard of Gremlin bells but I've seen people hang all sorts of crap off rear vision mirrors that's supposed to have the same effect.
If I get delayed leaving on a ride, sometimes by up to three different things, then I won't go on a ride that day. I just reckon it's a message from whoever it is that looks over you, call him God,spirit guide whatever but I always take notice.
Self admitted weirdo..😜
SRV1 Very close, Australia 😂, must be an American thing hey.
I never knew about the gremlin bell till recently and I have been riding 40 years. We all have little quirks, superstitious things or just ocd things.
Really, it’s a Harley rider thing. My Harley rider friend gave me my first, that’s the only reason I have them on my bikes.
I was taught by my dad that gremlin bells are to stop road gremlins from grabbing you and making you crash. I was about 8 years old when he told me that so maybe it's over simplified.
Prayers always good to do !!!!
Seen and unseen dangers
For protection Always good.
Hi Gas Works.
You’re not alone, we’re all weird. It’s a quirky way of saying how unique we all are.
Loved your intro. 👍
During the winter I lay my riding gear out on the lounge floor the night before, the floor is heated, so it is a pleasure getting ready for the ride, even if it doesn't last that long before you are getting cold. When the temperature drops to -5°c the inside of the helmet if left in the garage all night just isn't pleasant.
Yep weirdo here as well. We all have our individual quirks that we do before we ride.
Love your videos, keep up the great work.
Never heard of gremlin bells before. These would make for fun gifts for my riding mates.
Also, I have habbits, though not nearly as strict as what you're describing. Wish I did though, as I've noticed that order matters when riding a bike. Digging out your key from your jacket pocket with gloves on is stupid, trust me.
Usually what happens before I go out is, I do the tap. A quick pattern to check if I have wallet, phone and keys. This saved my hide too many times to count.
If I don't do this, I redline the autism spectrum right there n then.
Assuming tap completes, I walk up to my bike which is almost always parked on the same spot in the same direction because parking is a thing inside the city centre, and pop open the seat cover.
That's where my helmet n gloves are parked. Putting them on the seat has resulted in so many drops so far that, even I, have learned my lesson. Helmet down, means key to ignition. Crank open the choke (cold starts /shrug) and let it rev for a bit. The choke cable has a habbit of its own, by retracting once the bike vibrates hard enough, so I am left standing there holding the choke open like a doofus until I see the 2.5k RPM is steady. Which is when the disk-lock goes off and is swapped out with the helmet in the seat compartment. There's a little snug spot where the lock goes and stays. I was rather glad when I found that out. So now I am left with my helmet so the gloves come out and onto the tank/dash then the helmet goes on and I fiddle with my ears (and cowl if the weather calls for it). Check the jacket pockets and zippers. Gloves on, check for traffic and annoy the neighbours.
So... perhaps I do have a strict habbit. However, if I am leaving from anywhere else I usually mix up the order and end up with nowhere to put my helmet or have my gloves on before anything else that requires my fingers free. You get creative.
thanks for the video. not a thing wrong with anything you are doing. if it makes you feel good keep doing it. I have not thought about if I do anything. guess I will now have to start checking. 😀
Awesome intro. Keep up the good work ✌️
Yes, I'm a weirdo. But satisfied. 😁
Thanks for sharing.
Good bless and ride safe. See you soon again.
Keep up with your "Pattern", this only makes you a safer rider!!!
Great content here, bud.
I'm a creature of habit too, but I always put my left leg in my riding trousers first, left boot first, left arm in jacket, and left glove first.
Like you, I also swapped guitar pickin' for motorcycles, and I understand what you mean about other hobbies falling by the wayside. If I have any negative comment, it's that your chuggy metal riff intro isn't in keeping with the content. Otherwise, love what you're doing. Keep up the good work.
Love from the UK
Ride safe
Thanks for the honest input. I’ve been thinking about making a new intro, since no, the majority of my content doesn’t reflect angry metal music...lol
You have some very nice Bikes. The Video is great.
your video footage and camerawork are excellent =) Zero superstition here. To each their own tho! Knees in the breeze brother.
Never heard of a gremlin bell !!! But I like you Pray!!!
praying helps alot. Sorry autocorrect
Jolene Shippy it's the best assurance. I'm so glad I'm not the only one.
Hey Clint - very stylish opening to this video. Keep up the good work.
Clint?
@@GasWorksISO 'Clint Eastwood' - your sound-a-like.
Oh... lol
@@GasWorksISO Listed around 6:10 into the Vulcan video - czcams.com/video/BMvDUqeiJCA/video.html.
Sorry 6:00 not 6:10.
I've been known to attend a church 'Bike Blessing' - always a good turnout too.
Amen brother... Always..
Another nice video. Thank you. And your intro song, I love it. You make it yourself?
No, it’s from Storyblocks.
Your right on .IM the same way. Thanks very good video s .2monkeys Harley and a sliing shot
I pray before every ride too. Nothing wrong with that at all. Ride safe
I have a bell on my bike and had no clue what it was. I honestly thought someone put it there to mess with the previous owner 😂
Never heard any of those superstitions.
Now you have! 😆
I also pray before a ride and sit in the bike engine running take a deep breath in then out to relax then I'm off.
Also your home town if you flipped the video horizontally looks so much like a lot of small towns where I live.
LOL! Patterns are one thing, but changing gloves if the first pair vibrates off the gas tank? Do you arrange your food on the plate in a specific way too? Just a bit of kidding. The traditional lore on gremlin bells (which originated amongst Harley riders back in the day when bikes had a LOT of gremlins) is indeed that it must be a gift. I'm sure the manufacturers of bells have modified that to boost sales. I've always had them on my bikes. As an aside, I've got a Grom too and am wondering about the make of your bar end mirrors? Oh, and I also, say a short prayer asking the good Lord for His hand of protection prior to every ride. I am a firm believer in guardian angels.
Nice cinematic 🤘🏽
I do the same thing. I put my left glove on first every time. And my left boot on first. If I make a mistake. I need to start over. Take them off and do always the left one first. Lol
Not bike related but when I put my hockey pads on it’s always left to right and the same when I take them off
Say a prayer! Do a walk around on your bike! Verify all your fluids and air pressures.
My gremlin bell was given to me about 3 years ago, and for some odd reason, about 12 people call me their motorcycle mentor. So I’m gonna give them a gremlin bell, like it was given to me.
Origin of the bell is clear back to the old days when they rang bells in churches/cemeteries/funerals to ward off evil spirits. Then ww1 started calling it gremlins that caused the issues in the planes causing crashes. Then ww1 became more popular to have a charm or something and many claims that fliers actually saw gremlins in their plane before something broke. When they all came back and started riding motorcycles and had groups they carried the bell into this and used it to protect their bikes. These are supposed to be gifts. When people started making them more and more to sell the fact that the bell is meant to be a gift hurt their sales of them so they started pushing that they work if you buy then for yourself but work better if someone buys it for you.
Its soo weird seeing someone representing yakima, seeing you pass my work and stuff. Do you still have the versys x300? I have been loving mine
I do. And the bell came from the Gypsy mc International who I ride for. Some is supposed to and that person does not have to ride to give a rider a gremlin bell.
I have a Gremlin bell on my bike, my better half bought to for me many years ago when she heard about them. I'll send a separate link to Bombshell Biker, she tells a good story about the Gremlin bells. You need to put all your bells on Kryptonite 😁😁 Oil level, tyre pressures, bike out of the garage, start the bike, get gear on with gloves last, straight after helmet, get on, check mirrors even though I know i'll only see the garage behind me. That's my paradigm. Check out the following link. Oh, while I think of it, I have a medallion of St Christopher, the patron Saint of travellers on my bike, as well as the Gremlin bell.....covering all bases. Cheers
Cool. I’ll check out the vid. 👍🏻
I always try and put my keys in the same place
I think its great
I will place the key and fob on the seat first, then I put on my armoured jeans and boots. Next I put the key in the ignition, test indicaters, brakes, horn, high low beam etc. Then I drop on one knee, place my hand on the air filter and recite a prayer/mantra to ride safe. Next I back the bike out of the garage start it, put on my jacket, helmet, and gloves then hit the road.
Also I kiss my bike goodnight before I go to bed.
Gremlin bell? Truck nuts or bust!
Lol that was interesting. I guess I'm an oddball because I just hop on and ride. And ever since Michigan stopped requiring helmets, I stopped wearing mine. I have since been thinking about it a lot and am going to buy a new one along with some gear ASAP. More for the family, I can't bear the thought of my kids losing their pops because of something so preventable.
Just think of all the pain you’ll be saving yourself if you go down..
👍🏻 I've gone down in my younger years trying to impress a lady friend...hit my head so hard the impact broke my helmet. Imagine if that were my noggin!
I’m not sure if being superstitious has any benefits on your riding. I’d rather rely on practical attitudes like checking tyre air pressure or oil level so I feel confident on the road. However, we all should be respectful towards anybody’s beliefs. Greets!
I cant ride when my mirror's are not adjusted right
Amen
I have a ritual as well.
Bought a Harley went on first ride without my bell! What happens but I put the bike down in the grass!! Next ride I made sure I had my bell on no problem whatsoever! Up to you all lol!!
My friends getting a bell. Now i have too or the bad juju will be lopsided. I do have a religious verse on my handle bars.
The Bob Ross of motorcycles.
Go check out a Uncle Red if you really want the Bob Ross of motorcycling..
top video friend
If I wouldn't use something that dropped to the ground, I would have nothing to use. My mother (lived to be 102) being from Irish immigrants, she had all sorts of superstitions. I don't know why we humans do such things... we certainly get into habit of doing the same things in the same order. I might be odd, in that, I realize I am doing something like that I stop and do it another way. Hope your knee is doing much better now. C
mine is the gremlin bell. Just because every time (3) i didnt have mine attached (removed myself for something and forgot to put on or it fell off). something has happened to my bike that same day. once was a flat. another was my stater crapped out of nowhere and lastly I hit a pot hole severely bending my rim. BUUUUT I also was hit by a car 2 times with the bell on so...... But I have to have a bell. I look at it as the bell is supposed to protect you from "gremlins " or bad things from happening to you and your bike on the road from spontaneous road things. unfortunately stupid people aren't gremlins too.
The real question: sock, shoe, sock, shoe OR sock, sock, shoe, shoe?
Sock, sock, shoe, shoe.....I’m not a savage.....😊
Prayer is always good ,👍🏽
that Gremlin Bell is a old-fashioned Miss I pray for my savior before I ride every time that's the only thing going to watch over you and save you be safe ride on
Maybe if I had a Gremlin Bell a college student wouldn't have ate my bike with his car.
Ooh... Sorry for your loss..😢
@@GasWorksISO It's not how I wanted to see my bike go, but I was going to trade/sell for another bike anyway. I'm getting a Vulcan S very soon. :)
Good choice. The Vulcan is a pretty awesome bike, I really like mine.
@@GasWorksISO Your "Safe rider" video made me jump down a rabbit hole. I love sportbikes but between you and a few other motovloggers I share the opinion that if you own a supersport, you'll ride it like a supersport even if you're a responsible adult as its more of a psychological effect. It's not what caused the demise of my bike since it was parked, but the mental game is real. I test rode the Vulcan the other day, and immediately noticed from the riding position alone I didn't have the urge to weave through traffic, speed, and drag knee (the last one for obvious reasons).
Absolutely. Those bikes are built to go fast. I don’t think they’re even fun to ride unless you’re pushing your limits, which can get you dead real quick. I love the looks of them but to me they’re just not practical on the streets.
buying my Stomcloud Blue Vulcan today: the beginning of my own habits - although i sort of have one habit already: stroking the tank and tapping it like you would a horse to let them know there is a relationship
as for the Gremlin bell: www.bikebandit.com/blog/the-legend-of-the-gremlin-bell-a-bikers-tradition
There is a certain order that I must do things or it just feels wrong. Left glove always has to go on first, and I don't know why, so I learned to remove the right glove first so that they will lie in the correct order (for putting on) in my helmet while I am at work. I also say hi to my bike when I see her in the parking lot at work. :) Never considered myself superstitious, but I do have a bell that was given to me, and I have not had any gremlins get me yet. (Thank goodness, and in spite of riding on tires that were 11 years old and rather iffy - since replaced.)
Love the religion, could go for an under 2 minute intro though 😂😂
That was a good video I was wondering when the prayer was going to come in I do that before every ride for my motorcycle started. As for the gremlin Bell you should never put your own on should always be purchased and put on by the person that bought it this is my little twerk tell if I have done that once and that motorcycle didn't like me didn't like my wife it broke down it fell over on its own fell over with my wife on it unloading it off the trailer I've been riding for over 40 years and it never ever put my own Gremlin Bell on till then and will never do it again somebody buys me one I have them put it on my motorcycle everybody's got their own little things I do and don't do I like the one about the gloves of some good insight
Well if I waited for someone to buy my other bells for me, the bikes would still be sitting in the garage... I think it’s a silly tradition, but what the hell, right?
Prayer is good but not the superstion with it, that might nullify it. Habits and checklists, no problem.
As for talking to the bike, never. It is a machine made of metal and synthetic materials and I treat it a such.
I'm not superstitious. I belive that shit happens, usually when you look for it. I accept that everything can happen from the moment you start the engiene. I love riding, if something happens, at least is while doing something I love.
@SRV1 everything in life is physics, we just have to accept life for what it is and make the most of it
You are weird. I'm weird. Everyone is weird.
Got enough b roll? Jesus
😏😄👍👍😉
for me the only things I do is I pull the clutch, brake and make sure that the bike is in neutral. Then I double check that the kick stand is off. when the bike starts rolling I turn lift to right to heat up the tyres and stress relief myself. also modern bikes do not need to warm up
Wow you’ve got some strange things going on. To tell you the truth I don’t know what boot I put on first . The glove thing is wired for sure. The prayer thing isn’t a bad idea. My buddy’s would laugh their ass off at some of your quirks. Anyway that’s just you. I just don’t have any routine maybe kick my tires once a week and give my bike the once over. I don’t even have a bell . Ride safe cheers 🇨🇦👍
Not weird habits, talking about them is weird only..