Turn signal cancellation?

[Magneto]

Hi - as a lazy car driver, and just reacquainted with motorcycles, I often forget to cancel a turn signal - especially in bright sunlight as the indicator lights are down on my tank and I often don't look down.
I see there are aftermarket gizmo circuit boxes (for want of a different phrase) that you can add to your bike that auto-cancels the signal after a set time if it's not done manually by an absent minded idiot like me.
Are they any good?
I'm getting fed up of muttering to myself "left-left-left-... - off!"
Is there a better way?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

[ellipsis]

...remembering is a cheaper and less hassle option...

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/PATv0L3WRlI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Gremlin]

Just get into the habit after completing a turn or lane change to check your indicator. Good riding/driving skills.

My BMW has self cancelling and it's freaken annoying. It turns off when I want it to stay on, so I have to keep turning it off and on again to reset the timer (splitting is the most obvious reason). I'm in the habit of turning it off, so it's completely useless.

[Mom]

As Gremlin says get into habits of good riding.

I have a little routine I use when I start out for a ride. Everything done in the same order every time, make yourself a few good habits, they are the best way to ensure you don't ride off with your helmet strap undone, or as you are finding with an indicator flashing. Does not take long to establish a good habit, then you have it forever.

[Kendoll]

As Gremlin says get into habits of good riding.

I have a little routine I use when I start out for a ride. Everything done in the same order every time, make yourself a few good habits, they are the best way to ensure you don't ride off with your helmet strap undone, or as you are finding with an indicator flashing. Does not take long to establish a good habit, then you have it forever.

Good call Mom, we are creatures of habit after all! I have one friend who always insists on putting his gloves on before his helmet... it seems so nonsensical but he likes to have his specific routine and reckons he forgets to do his helmet up otherwise!

[nerrrd]

I vaguely remember the one time I rode my sister's nifty50 back in the day, I think it had an audible 'ticking' noise when the indicators were on - loud enough to be heard around town anyway.

I reckon that would be a good halfway point, just as a reminder.

[pete376403]

Suzuki had a fix for this back in the 80's. Self cancelling indicators that operated on either time or distance, depending on the speed you were travelling at. Up to about 50km/hr it was distance, so even if not moving, e.g. sitting at an intersection they wouldn't time-out, over that and the time was the deciding factor. At least that's how it works on my GS1100.

[G4L4XY]

I'm glad there are people out there that know what an indicator is AND how to use it. SO many wheat-bix license holders out there.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Hi - as a lazy car driver, and just reacquainted with motorcycles, I often forget to cancel a turn signal - especially in bright sunlight as the indicator lights are down on my tank and I often don't look down.
I see there are aftermarket gizmo circuit boxes (for want of a different phrase) that you can add to your bike that auto-cancels the signal after a set time if it's not done manually by an absent minded idiot like me.
Are they any good?
I'm getting fed up of muttering to myself "left-left-left-... - off!"
Is there a better way?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

Buy a Harley Davidson. they have the best self cancelling turn signals ever.

[paturoa]

Install a radar screamer / buzzer on your indicator ccts

[pratik8890]

Hi - as a lazy car driver, and just reacquainted with motorcycles, I often forget to cancel a turn signal - especially in bright sunlight as the indicator lights are down on my tank and I often don't look down.
I see there are aftermarket gizmo circuit boxes (for want of a different phrase) that you can add to your bike that auto-cancels the signal after a set time if it's not done manually by an absent minded idiot like me.
Are they any good?
I'm getting fed up of muttering to myself "left-left-left-... - off!"
Is there a better way?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4



It'll keep you more active on the bike so just get into the habit man. Good luck!

[Tigadee]

Hi - as a lazy car driver, and just reacquainted with motorcycles, I often forget to cancel a turn signal - especially in bright sunlight as the indicator lights are down on my tank and I often don't look down.
I'm getting fed up of muttering to myself "left-left-left-... - off!"
Is there a better way?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

I went through this phase too, but got used to it and now I remember to turn it off, that's all. You'll get there too...


Sent from my Marmit toast sandwich

[Angel_of_Metal]

Surely you could rig something using electrodes to *ahem* 'gently remind you' to turn your signal off...

Iunno I just really want to see someone hook up electrodes to their bikes all of a sudden :whistle:

[chasio]

Go the habits. They have no electronics to fail without you noticing...

One approach I use is always to switch the indicator off after the first gearchange following the turn (since there often is one). The left hand has something to do at that stage, so I just extend the routine. I also check they are off when approaching any side roads or if I see another vehicle indicating their intention to turn in front of me (could be a driveway), since that is when I am most likely to be taken out if I have forgotten to cancel. And if I haven't used them for a while, I push them off to be sure, to be sure.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Surely you could rig something using electrodes to *ahem* 'gently remind you' to turn your signal off...

Iunno I just really want to see someone hook up electrodes to their bikes all of a sudden :whistle:

93p3c82MaY0

saw them live back in the day.

pulsing.

electrodes.

oooh errr

[nzspokes]

Thank me later.

http://www.fastbikegear.co.nz/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=745_66

[Magneto]

Go the habits. They have no electronics to fail without you noticing...

One approach I use is always to switch the indicator off after the first gearchange following the turn (since there often is one). The left hand has something to do at that stage, so I just extend the routine. I also check they are off when approaching any side roads or if I see another vehicle indicating their intention to turn in front of me (could be a driveway), since that is when I am most likely to be taken out if I have forgotten to cancel. And if I haven't used them for a while, I push them off to be sure, to be sure.

Thanks - I'll try that!

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

[Erelyes]

Try putting a FARKIN bright LED in your gauge cluster there instead of the wussy bulb. You'll want to get a green LED specifically for best results. Cluster bulbs are usually T10 wedge, 3.4w.

You probably won't get bright enough (or green) at Jaycar etc so I'd try Ebay or DealExtreme, I've had good results buying stuff from overseas for both. Try maybe these (http://dx.com/p/t10-3w-144lm-6-x-smd-5630-led-green-light-car-turn-signal-corner-parking-lamp-dc-12v-2-pcs-242630)or these (http://dx.com/p/t10-1-5w-130lm-green-light-led-steering-lamp-for-motorcycle-green-12v-2-pcs-152868) (at the price of the second ones, try them first!)

Note also if your indicators flash at too fast a rate after install... you need a beefier LED.

[chasio]

Try putting a FARKIN bright LED in your gauge cluster there instead of the wussy bulb. You'll want to get a green LED specifically for best results. Cluster bulbs are usually T10 wedge, 3.4w.

You probably won't get bright enough (or green) at Jaycar etc so I'd try Ebay or DealExtreme, I've had good results buying stuff from overseas for both. Try maybe these (http://dx.com/p/t10-3w-144lm-6-x-smd-5630-led-green-light-car-turn-signal-corner-parking-lamp-dc-12v-2-pcs-242630)or these (http://dx.com/p/t10-1-5w-130lm-green-light-led-steering-lamp-for-motorcycle-green-12v-2-pcs-152868) (at the price of the second ones, try them first!)

Note also if your indicators flash at too fast a rate after install... you need a beefier LED.

Hmm, might actually give that a try as well... but how distracting are they when riding at night?

[manxkiwi]

Suzuki had a fix for this back in the 80's. Self cancelling indicators that operated on either time or distance, depending on the speed you were travelling at. Up to about 50km/hr it was distance, so even if not moving, e.g. sitting at an intersection they wouldn't time-out, over that and the time was the deciding factor. At least that's how it works on my GS1100.

My GT550 Kawasaki had the self same system back in the mid 80's. I found it worked really well, wonder why they don't still do it?

The old 'routine check' works fine too. As other peeps have said, creating a standard habit is pretty good. Though you can still forget once in a blue moon.

[scumdog]

Buy a Harley Davidson. they have the best self cancelling turn signals ever.


Times two!:yes:

[ellipsis]

Buy a Harley Davidson. they have the best self cancelling turn signals ever.

...which is fucking pointless, 'cos they dont go around corners...I learned that here on KB...

[scumdog]

...which is fucking pointless, 'cos they dont go around corners...I learned that here on KB...

I wouldn't hang TOO much on what you 'learned' on KB!!:laugh:

[Mike.Gayner]

Huh, indicators.

[Flip]

Times two!:yes:

Times 3.

There is a speed, time and distance calculation on my road king. It just works great.

[Robbo]

Try putting a FARKIN bright LED in your gauge cluster there instead of the wussy bulb. You'll want to get a green LED specifically for best results. Cluster bulbs are usually T10 wedge, 3.4w.

You probably won't get bright enough (or green) at Jaycar etc so I'd try Ebay or DealExtreme, I've had good results buying stuff from overseas for both. Try maybe these (http://dx.com/p/t10-3w-144lm-6-x-smd-5630-led-green-light-car-turn-signal-corner-parking-lamp-dc-12v-2-pcs-242630)or these (http://dx.com/p/t10-1-5w-130lm-green-light-led-steering-lamp-for-motorcycle-green-12v-2-pcs-152868) (at the price of the second ones, try them first!)

Note also if your indicators flash at too fast a rate after install... you need a beefier LED.

This is the best suggestion as auto cancelling indicators can be a pain in the arse.

[Yamahardman]

Buy a 37 year old two stroke roadbike, ahaha.
Blew my mind, when they shut themselves off, I've ridden heaps of other bikes, but none shut themselves off.
Dunno how they did, but they did, haha.
Don't understand why back then they had it, and now they don't..
I wonder why?

[ducatilover]

but how distracting are they when riding at night?

Fuckin' horrible :facepalm:

[granstar]

My XJ Yammy had self cancels as fitted from new, they were a hassle when turning right to left or vice versa in quick succession at intersections, lane changes i.e still indicating lefty on a right turn. Replaced signal unit so they are operated by rider,which is much safer.

You are in control of the bike and if leaving them on likely not paying as much attention to the turn as possibly needed, a habit to change, or you have altzheimers?

Indicate, turn, un-indicate.

[Kickaha]

My XJ Yammy had self cancels as fitted from new, they were a hassle when turning right to left or vice versa in quick succession at intersections, lane changes i.e still indicating lefty on a right turn.
My XJ Yammy had self cancels as fitted from new, they were absoutely brilliant with none of the problems you describe

[Tigadee]

My old YX600 Radian also had self-canceling and they are more a nuisance than a help, for example, when lane-splitting and you want the signal to remain on. (But eventually I just started to lane-split without using the signal light anyway because it may actually work against me in giving out the wrong message to the other road users.)

Or sitting at a traffic light waiting to turn and the wait is longer than the signal light stays on, then it goes off by itself and that could send out the wrong message to other road users of your intentions...

[haydes55]

Here's some advice to help you.

If you leave your indicator on, you die.

(yes it's a worst case scenario)

You usually remember to save your own life. I know I usually do.

Get in the habit, it's not rocket science.

[Daffyd]

I just keep my thumb on the button while it's working and leave it there until I cancel it.

[Magneto]

Buy a 37 year old two stroke roadbike, ahaha.
Blew my mind, when they shut themselves off, I've ridden heaps of other bikes, but none shut themselves off.
Dunno how they did, but they did, haha.
Don't understand why back then they had it, and now they don't..
I wonder why?

Probably something to do with US liability laws. If auto-cancel indicators on motorbikes can't work with 100% effectiveness then the manufacturers / import agents would be in court incurring massive legal bills after every RTA ...

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

[ellipsis]

... there is one left hand exit from HW75 I use constantly...my self cancelling gizmos do not and have never worked there...it is odd, as there is a definite lean, turn and then a straightening of the machine...it annoys the shit out of me...