Turn Signals

[paramonkreel]

Do y'all ever use the turn signals? Do you ever see them when they're on?

for me with the lack of noise and them down on the dash small on a gen 2 I always forget they're on like I'm 95 and trolling the people in the lane next to me.

Do you wish they worked better like advanced turn off when turning or a more obvious notification?

 

[Goodman4]

I think the general consensus here in the past has been that you need to learn how to ride and turn your signals off. Auto cancel is apparently for stupid people.

But before you get hammered by that opinion I'll put my head in the noose with you and say that I struggle with leaving them on all the time and am one of the stupid people. In motorcycle classes I learned to use every situation as practice for riding more skillfully. I just practice the skill of riding with my turn signal on a lot, I guess.

I think even my Honda Trail 90 I rode back in the late 70's had auto cancel.

 

[Goodman4]

And what is the appropriate way to signal to another biker that they've got their turn signal on? I've tried unsuccessfully to warn somebody and just made a fool of myself. I think that should be one of the official biker sign language signs.

I could see it being "put both hands out in front making a rising / falling gesture like you are using a walker" but then that wouldn't be safe to ride with no hands to steer.

 

[Bill Lumberg]

I don't struggle with leaving them on usually. I cancel once I've changed/turned, and then compulsively cancel for no reason at random times. Only place I find I don't cancel appropriately is when I turn on to my street coming home. I often hit my driveway and find my signal is still on. No idea why. I prefer bavarian paddle style signal switches to the more common one-button-does-all, but either is way better than the right grip up/down switch found on some 70's bikes. That's the least intuitive switch I've ever seen.

 

[Uncle Hud]

Do I use turn signals? Yeah, all the time. ALL the time. How can you yell at an idiot driver if you didn't signal him/her what you intended to do?

Do I occasionally find my signaling when my last turn was 10 minutes ago? Yes, but rarely. I was taught to signal-turn-shift-cancel signal-shift.

Don't always get it done, especially when things interrupt the smooth flow of that sequence of movements, so I do as Bill Lumberg said: I cancel my turn signals a lot ... just randomly hit the 'cancel' button ... when riding through the city.

 

[AlleyCat]

To signal other drivers that they have forgotten to turn off their signal, I just close my hand in a ball and then open it up and close it again etc... They either think that I am trying to jink them (or throw a curse) or they catch on.... And yes, I signal all the time. Better be safe than sorry.

 

[ionbeam]

Here is one idea of hand signals.

 

[BigOgre]

'Comfort Stop' huh? Someone had a sense of humor.

 

[mcatrophy]

And what is the appropriate way to signal to another biker that they've got their turn signal on? ...

Assuming you're in front of them, lift your left hand to shoulder height so the following (stupid) rider can see it, curl your fingers round to meet your thumb as if you are holding a cylinder, now open and close your hand roughly in time with indicator flashing.

Usually works, even for car drivers (who are generally even more stupid when they do leave theirs on).

If you are behind them, there's no way I've found other than coming alongside them and indicating as above.

 

[paramonkreel]

I was thinking of putting a flasher in my helmet or playing a click through my speakers. Dunno if that's just me coming up with projects

 

[Uncle Hud]

Well, that motion for "comfort stop" looks a little suspect to me. Guess it depends on how one defines "comfort".

"I swear, officer, I was not trying to provoke anyone!"

 

[Goodman4]

To signal other drivers that they have forgotten to turn off their signal, I just close my hand in a ball and then open it up and close it again etc... They either think that I am trying to jink them (or throw a curse) or they catch on.... And yes, I signal all the time. Better be safe than sorry.

That actually might work. Good suggestion, thanks!

 

[paramonkreel]

didn't realize this was a reoccurring thread. I mainly skim the new stuff. Please take pity on me.

 

[Uncle Hud]

didn't realize this was a reoccurring thread. I mainly skim the new stuff. Please take pity on me.

Don't sweat it. NEPRTs are interesting to many, but still pointless, hence never-ending, and therefore recurring. (See "which tire is the best?") A lot of them are valuable in their own way, and a lot are funnier than shit.