Turn off your Indicators!

[Squeak the Rat]

Saw two separate instances this morning of bikes riding along with their indicators going. Obviously forgot to turn them off.....

Maybe fingers were too cold and didn't hit the button properly, but in one of the instances, if it wasn't me in my car you could have had some one turn in front of you as you looked like you were indicating to turn!

Tip for newbies, get into a routine when turning. Eg.

Mirror - indicate - look - position - brake - look - turn - accelerate - change gear + cancel indicator

As you were.

[Drum]

I suspect its not just newbies that make that mistake.

[James Deuce]

Were they lanesplitting? Because if they were they are required to indicate as they are technically overtaking, provided they are to the right of the vehicle they are overtaking.

[frogfeaturesFZR]

:mellow: Can you put those indicator bulbs that 'Beep" in bike indicators ?
My wife (new rider) occasionally leaves her indicators on and I thought maybe I'd put some in her bike.

[Squeak the Rat]

No, weren't lanesplitting. Both were on fairly empty city roads (in Auckland? It was early....)

I was about to turn right into a side street and the bike coming towards me had the road to himself. Looked like a 250 or an old 400 or something.

The other one wasn't a learner, he was on a cbr600 by the looks. He had finished filtering at the lights so maybe that's why it was on, but it was his left hand indicator, and he didn't turn it off as he left the lights.

[Str8 Jacket]

Ive been riding with older experienced riders who have had their indicators on for a good few hundy metres or so without realising it. Its just one of those things, brain fuddles I call them...

[Lias]

Went on a group ride awhile ago and one guy on the ride (who is on here but is a newbie and doesnt post much so shallr emain nameless) earned the mental nickname of "blinky bill" from me because he left his indicators on like 30 times in one day :-P

[scumdog]

NEVER have that problem with my H-D, they have what I think is the ultimate in indicator systems and there is no way you can leave them on while riding along.

I remember my bro riding for 3-4 km with his Kwaka blinker on, I went to catch up with him to point it out but he saw me in his mirror and thought I wanted a race - so there we were doing ***kph and him STILL indicating a right-turn.!!!:laugh:

[Squeak the Rat]

NEVER have that problem with my H-D, they have what I think is the ultimate in indicator systems and there is no way you can leave them on while riding along.

Is that called faulty wiring? :killingme

[scumdog]

Is that called faulty wiring? :killingme

Nah, that's for Eytie bikes, old Pommy ones and some cheaper oriental ones.

Ask ANYBODY about later model H-D indicators and they'll tell you the same as I have.

[kiwifruit]

yep, i cringe when i see that too
esp the left indicator

[Cookie]

Good topic Squeek!

When I first started riding again, I realised the first part of the bike that would kill me was the indicator switch.

I made myself say "Indicator Ooooooonnnnnnn....Indicator OFF" going in and out of corners.

[bobsmith]

:mellow: Can you put those indicator bulbs that 'Beep" in bike indicators ?
My wife (new rider) occasionally leaves her indicators on and I thought maybe I'd put some in her bike.

It's the flashers that "beep" not the indicators... If you really wanted to you could change the flasher to one that ticks like on cars. With our scooter, you can hear the indicators tick long before you'll hear the engine of the scooter comming towards you... SAD!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Squeak the Rat]

Nah, that's for Eytie bikes, old Pommy ones and some cheaper oriental ones.

Ask ANYBODY about later model H-D indicators and they'll tell you the same as I have.
Yeah sorry just taking the piss. What is this system that HD's have? Sounds interesting....

[Rosie]

I'm always worried about leaving my indicators on. Looking at my indicator light is now part of my scanning 'routine', when I'm checking my mirrors, looking at my speedo etc, I check for the little orange flashing light out of the corner of my eye.

Disturbingly, I was riding my pushbike after work yesterday, put my arm out to indicate a left turn, went around the corner, put my hand back on the handlebars, and I suddenly thought "don't forget to cancel indicators" :slap:
At least I know it's becoming a habit.

[sugilite]

Guilty as charged!:Police:
I've just got back to roadbikes after many years of racetrack only riding and I've caught myself leaving my indicators on a few times. Racebikes don't have indicators lol
Seriously, it can be so dangerous to ones health to forget. :no:

So I'm really working on it and hopefully I have it sorted now.:ride:

Cheers for the thread squeek.

[The_Dover]

I got the shits when I rode all the way to Taupo before the first track day wondering why all the right turning drivers I was giving way too weren't turning in front of me.

The shop had connected the fuckin front indicators on my bike in reverse so that they were flashing diagonally. I was indicating right from behind but left from the front.

Nice. I think they were trying to kill me.

[Ixion]

Nah, that's for Eytie bikes, old Pommy ones and some cheaper oriental ones.

Ask ANYBODY about later model H-D indicators and they'll tell you the same as I have.
Old Pommy bikes have the most reliable sort of indicators there are. Never forget about them, never wear out or need new bulbs. Not too good at night though. Damn, why don't they put reflective tape on gauntlets any more.

[Kendog]

I used to be a chronic 'flasher', always leaving my indicators on, but after copping a lot of crap from the hubby about it, I now am a recovering flasher. I have a habit now of riding along, especially after having indicated, and just pushing the indicator button, just to make sure it's off. Easy enough to forget them though!
Mrs KD

[James Deuce]

Old Pommy bikes have the most reliable sort of indicators there are. Never forget about them, never wear out or need new bulbs. Not too good at night though. Damn, why don't they put reflective tape on gauntlets any more.

They do. I have a pair of Orinas with reflective tape on the outside two fingers.

[XP@]

Reminder Buzzer - if left for 25 flashes
http://www.parallax.com/html_pages/resources/custapps/app_mcycle.asp

How to make your own buzzer (detailed instructions)
http://www.rattlebars.com/mtz/buzzer.html

Blinker buddy
http://www.blinkerbuddy.com/

[rogson]

Forgetting to turn-off your indicators is potentially hazardous to your (and your bikes) health - especially in NZ with the stupid give-way when turning left rule.

I have a couple of "back-to-biking" friends I ride with who regularly leave their indicators on. I have told them numerous times about it but it is obviously something that takes some time to become a reflex action - especially for someone who has only driven a car for the previous 20+ years and never had to worry about it.

One of them had an accident a month or so back on his brand new $20,000 bike when a vehicle coming toward him turned across his path at an intesection and he put the bike down in the process of avoiding him. No permanent damage other than to his confidence perhaps.

He wasn't really forthcoming about what happened, and has never really blamed the other driver - so I suspect his left indicator was on and the driver thought he was going to give-way before turning left.

[Lou Girardin]

Anorak moment here.
Case law says that a driver can't rely on another vehicles indicators, he has to ensure that the vehicle is actually turning.

[rogson]

Anorak moment here.
Case law says that a driver can't rely on another vehicles indicators, he has to ensure that the vehicle is actually turning.

I'll my friend that - I'm sure it will make it him feel a lot better about what happened (:no: ).

[Sycophant]

Whenever I see a car ahead of me waiting to turn right across my path I always check my indicator, just to make sure I am not accidentally indicating a left turn.

Although I still have my moments - last week I was going over the harbour bridge when a bike went past in the next lane and the rider made a little flashing motion at me with his hand - I had my right indicator on, presumably since my last lane change a few hundred metres back.

[pritch]

One of the books I have here points that you are supposed to check your mirror every few seconds while riding in town and recommends that you jab the blinker cancel switch with your thumb at the same time. Seems like a good idea. Sadly my arthritic thumb doesn't entirely agree.

[sunhuntin]

ive got into the habit of hitting the indicator switch to cancel as i strighten up. i ride sometimes with an experienced rider, and he often leaves his on. if i can i over take him and flick mine on to let him know.

a guy here hooked up things that beep with his indicators....each side has a different pitch.

[Quartida]

Of course it's not just bikes that do this. I'm always amazed by the number of cages that drive along happily with one of their indicators on for ages. Surely the incessant ticking noise would drive one mad? But apparently not.

Why don't bike indicators automatically turn off? Surely there must be some mechanical way of making it do so just like in a car? I mean, I understand that cars have to turn more than a bike to get around a corner, and the turning is what makes the indicator turn itself off, but surely there's some boffin somewhere who could do this for a bike? Right?
(OK, I'm such a girl. I know nothing about these things.)

[Skyryder]

Anorak moment here.
Case law says that a driver can't rely on another vehicles indicators, he has to ensure that the vehicle is actually turning.

Common law as in common sense says that too. I never pull out until such time the driver has commenced the turn.

Skyryder

[Skyryder]

Of course it's not just bikes that do this. I'm always amazed by the number of cages that drive along happily with one of their indicators on for ages. Surely the incessant ticking noise would drive one mad? But apparently not.

Why don't bike indicators automatically turn off? Surely there must be some mechanical way of making it do so just like in a car? I mean, I understand that cars have to turn more than a bike to get around a corner, and the turning is what makes the indicator turn itself off, but surely there's some boffin somewhere who could do this for a bike? Right?
(OK, I'm such a girl. I know nothing about these things.)

They have them. Not too sure of the 'off' switch but they use to be mercury switches.

My bike does not have them. Not the sort of thing I would go out and change. Not something I forget very often although it does happen. Usually caused by a distraction just after the turn.

Skyryder



Skyryder

[Lord Derosso]

Funny that all my 1980's bikes had self cancelling indicators. When I got the GSX600 1998 model I just ASSUMED that would be also the case. Why has this vital feature been deleted off some more recent bikes? please advise experts. I remember all my yamies having them. I constantly have to check now especially whilst on the motorway. After all.. its not if you can see them yourselves or have the old tick tick noise of older bikes. Its bloody crazy and I notice modern cars seem to have the same problem.

[Quartida]

I think we should just all wave our hands in the general direction we want to go. What's all this indicator nonsense anyway?




Hey, it works in Italy.

[Limb]

Yeah im guilty of this. In fact I've been doing it alot lately got to cut it out.:confused:

[sunhuntin]

Of course it's not just bikes that do this. I'm always amazed by the number of cages that drive along happily with one of their indicators on for ages. Surely the incessant ticking noise would drive one mad? But apparently not.

Why don't bike indicators automatically turn off? Surely there must be some mechanical way of making it do so just like in a car? I mean, I understand that cars have to turn more than a bike to get around a corner, and the turning is what makes the indicator turn itself off, but surely there's some boffin somewhere who could do this for a bike? Right?
(OK, I'm such a girl. I know nothing about these things.)

my brothers harley has self cancelling i think. i remember when he told the olds and i thought that was the dumbest idea ever. i prefer to have to flick em myself. dont know why.

[Quartida]

It just seems weird that it's 100% standard on cars and not on bikes.

Or is it? Are there cars that don't?

[Shadows]

NEVER have that problem with my H-D, they have what I think is the ultimate in indicator systems and there is no way you can leave them on while riding along.

Yeah I haven't quite figured that out yet. Is it on a mercury switch? Initially I thought it was a timer but my bike always seems to know when it has gone through the corner or not and the blinker cancels accordingly.
The only problem is that I keep turning the bloody thing back on after the turn through force of habit. :weird:

[Dadpole]

Funny that all my 1980's bikes had self cancelling indicators.

They used to turn off after a set time (eg. 10 seconds) AND distance (100 metres) had elapsed. A good foolproof system.

[sunhuntin]

It just seems weird that it's 100% standard on cars and not on bikes.

Or is it? Are there cars that don't?


hmmm, yeh, my dads lada doesnt self cancel....but thats cos its broken! LOL.

[Edbear]

hmmm, yeh, my dads lada doesnt self cancel....but thats cos its broken! LOL.




I thought Lada's were quite good at cancelling themselves out! :killingme

[mdb]

My mum had a scooter that had 'clicking' indicators. They clicked so loud you could hear them with your helmet on ..... at least that's what she told me ;-)

[imdying]

They used to turn off after a set time (eg. 10 seconds) AND distance (100 metres) had elapsed. A good foolproof system.
Until you miss a turn off on a large roundabout... not so fool proof then :(