Magnetic Motorcycle Sign

When taking long motorbike rides you sometimes need to share information with other riders or motorists while en route, depending on your riding pals and the destination the information may change but usually involves a simple set of basic thoughts which you need to communicate.

Imagine you're on a long ride with your buddies and need to top up with some gas, want to take a picture of some scenery nearby or maybe use the rest stop. Or maybe you're riding along with a caravan of cars and you need to let them know something about you and the rest of the riders. There must be a better way to communicate with other motorists other than confusing hand gestures.
Make a magnetic motorcycle sign and easily share your thoughts!

This magnetic sign sticks to your tank to stay out of your way while riding and all the magnetic game pieces are interchangeable, giving you loads of options for messages possible with this concept.

Check out a video of the magnetic motorcycle sign in action!

_{Riding with one hand is really cool dangerous, be safe!}

Haters: make sure you sound-off in the comments below, and while you're at it check out my other dangerous motorcycle Instructable.

Enough talk, let's make!

tools: drill with metal bit sharp fine-top hobby knife hot glue sketchbook pencil scissors .

materials: craft sheet foam (black + white) magnetic sheet (bonus: one adhesive side) large magnets spackle knife (putty knife) filing cabinet drawer separator (or other sheet metal) post-it notes scrap felt (or other fabric) nuts and bolts

Brainstorm some common things that you would communicate when you're riding, then sketch out some simple icons.
Here's some I came up with:

• food
• restroom
• scenery stop
• take a picture
• gas
• rest
• engine trouble
• zombie attack

Search the internet for images of icons that you think might be helpful, then use image editing software to combine the icons onto one sheet and print. If you're lazy, or don't have a photo editing software, and just want the images here's some prototype icons I already put into a printer-friendly format _{(link and link)}

If you can't find the image you're looking for you can always make your own. I sketched out some ideas onto 7.5cmx7.5cm (3"x3") post-it notes, these post-it notes are the right size for the icons to be seen a distance.

These paper sketches will be used as a template to make the foam icons.

Place post-it with icon sketch over foam black foam and trace the image outline and all internal areas with a sharp hobby knife, then change over to white foam and cut out any internal areas again. Remove all shapes from foam, place the white foam cut outs in the corresponding openings on the black foam cut out.

Transfer the combined foam cut-out on the adhesive side of sheet magnet. If your magnetic sheet doesn't have an adhesive backing then use any kind of adhesive.
Trim excess magnetic sheet from foam icon.

Repeat for every icon you want. Simplicity works best when selecting your images, the more complex the shape the more difficult the cut.

Using a metal drill bit drill corresponding openings in spackle knife handle and a corner of the sheet metal. Mechanically fasten the spackle knife to the sheet metal with at least 3 nuts.

I mounted my knife on an angle to give a more ergonomic posture when holding the sign.

To prevent the magnets from damaging my tank I wrapped each in scrap felt and used hot glue to hold down the edges.

Arrange magnets onto back side of the sign and then place sheet onto gas tank of motorbike.