Indicators left on, dangerous

[rocketman1]

Just thinking motorcyclists often forget to turn off their indicators, I have done this myself, and think wow the last intersection was about 4km back.
Anyone have any ideas to remind a absent minded rider to turn them off
Yeah I know you have all been quilty of it, and I am guessing it could all end in tears,if some cage takes the indicator seriously.

[fliplid]

some firm- might have been oxford(?) used to market a device that alerted you to having left then on with some audible warning... read about them a few years ago.

[sunhuntin]

ive heard [literally!] the ones that beep. different tone for whatever side. would drive me nuts. i have in the past overtaken a bike and flicked mine, first one way and then the other. now ive got hazards, id put them.
last time i followed someone doing that, i couldnt overtake anywhere, either due to speed or unsafe spots. had to follow till he worked it out, lol. mine flashes a light on the dash, which normally reminds me within half a block.

[Supermoto Junkie]

You can buy bulbs with buzzers on them so when you indicate they beep in time with the flash, pretty anoying but i garantee you won't leave them on any more

[bell]

Make it a habit. Add it to your routine: Indicator on, negotiate corner, move thumb up to cancel button, press it, and so on.

I try to do a regular scan around the clocks and mirrors every 10 seconds or so, depends on the traffic/road, day or night, etc. I sometimes hit the indicator cancel button as part of this scan routine. Works pretty well for me. Only left it on once in the last decent while (that I know of!)

[roadracingoldfart]

If you need a way to remember to turn your indicators off i have just the thing for you..

Earlier this year a much loved husband and father of young kids and a very well liked man DIED because he didnt turn his off and a vehicle turned in front thinking the bike had to give way. Dead is DEAD so think of this whenever you turn the indicator on and i bet you remember to turn them off afterwards.
I never took my thumb off the switch when i was road riding which i just did as a habit.
Cheers Paul.

[bell]

Paul's on the money there folks. Keep your thumb on the switch if you can. Hard to beat that.

[Ragingrob]

I try and make sure that after every corner even if I didn't indicate, I flick the switch anyway just in case :), that's all you need to do!

[JimO]

my 1979 Kawasaki Z1R had self cancelling indicators. why dont new bikes

[scumdog]

my 1979 Kawasaki Z1R had self cancelling indicators. why dont new bikes

Our Harleys do, about the best in the industry.

Indicator system and side-stand are two things that other manufacturers could do well to copy from H-D.

[rainman]

Make it a habit. Add it to your routine: Indicator on, negotiate corner, move thumb up to cancel button, press it, and so on.

I try to do a regular scan around the clocks and mirrors every 10 seconds or so, depends on the traffic/road, day or night, etc. I sometimes hit the indicator cancel button as part of this scan routine. Works pretty well for me. Only left it on once in the last decent while (that I know of!)


I try and make sure that after every corner even if I didn't indicate, I flick the switch anyway just in case :), that's all you need to do!

What they said.

Although... I left mine on tonight after going round a gentle curve (that I don't normally indicate for, funnily enough), and a little while later it confused a car, which turned in front of me. Pissed me off no end, until I looked down and saw the light.... :doh: First time in ages, though.

Fortunately, I generally ride slow, so the car pulling in front of me wasn't a big deal - plenty of time to brake, and I had seen it at the intersection. Always good to have options...

[hospitalfood]

you could try not indicating........keep them guessing.
or eat some of that food thats good for your memory.

[xwhatsit]

Our Harleys do, about the best in the industry.

Indicator system and side-stand are two things that other manufacturers could do well to copy from H-D.

What's the story with the side-stand, Scummy?

I (to my knowledge) have never left my indicators on; one of the advantages of a naked bike with low clip-ons, I can see the indicators flashing out of my peripheral vision (the actual indicators, don't have any warning lights). Also, right from when I started riding, it's just been automatic for me to leave my thumb on the indicators as long as they're on, so I know to turn them off. Also, having an older bike, it hasn't got one of those `push in to cancel' thingies, so it's immediately obvious what the indicators are doing just by putting my thumb on the switchblock.

Perhaps it's a problem peculiar to people who drive cars? Not being a car driver myself I've never encountered (and therefore become accustomed) to those automatic indicators.

[scumdog]

What's the story with the side-stand, Scummy?.
If you go to any bike rallies have a look at the brands who NEED a piece of metal/wood/squashed beer can under their side stand when they are praked on the grass or soft ground.

You won't see many H-Ds needing that trick.

[JimO]

my Cagiva is almost straight up and down with the stand down

[slopster]

My first 6 months of riding I didn't realise you push the indicator in to cancel. I thought you had to move it back to middle and kinda jiggle it around till it stopped indicating. Was often seen riding down the road after the intersection indicating left, right, left, right till I got it sorted. I thought it was just because the switchgear was old that it needed jiggling!

[sAsLEX]

If you go to any bike rallies have a look at the brands who NEED a piece of metal/wood/squashed beer can under their side stand when they are praked on the grass or soft ground.

You won't see many H-Ds needing that trick.

Yeah they can only lean a few degrees before the chrome starts grounding so most dont even need a sidestand......

[scumdog]

Yeah they can only lean a few degrees before the chrome starts grounding so most dont even need a sidestand......

Ah, so you've seen the advantage of owning a H-D eh!!

[Defiant]

my Storm has a self cancelling indicator unit installed....(mercury switch that cancels them after a turn)...very easy to install, very cheap, and very convenient. does tend to make you lazy when on a different bike though......

[H00dz]

I think I read in my manual that my indicators cancel out around 450 metres BUT I wouldn't know cause I'm so paranoid about them that I'm almost always checking

[MaxCannon]

I've always just kept my thumb on the switch. I check the lights anyway as I'm checking the instruments.

Usually I turn them off as I'm exiting the corner.

Takes so long to wind on the power that I have plenty of time:niceone:

[kiwifruit]

yes, dangerous,
im for hand signals, less likely to forget to turn them off

[Delphinus]

If you are glancing at your speed often enough you should see the blinking light on your dash...

I've left mine on a few times by mistake but usually catch it in 5-10 secs when checking speed/revs(calculating what gear i'm in) etc

[delusionz]

I've always wondered why bikes don't have clickers like cars do, Well some do but very few, perhaps there's a special flasher module that has a clicker in it. Shouldn't be too hard to wire something up. Generally it helps to keep in mind the last thing you've done for other reasons besides switching off an indicator such as remembering what gear you're in or the position of your side stand.

[Swoop]

Our Harleys do, about the best in the industry.

Indicator system and side-stand are two things that other manufacturers could do well to copy from H-D.
I'd hope that you would get some little advantages, for the amount of money you spend purchasing a harley!:lol::2thumbsup

[scumdog]

I'd hope that you would get some little advantages, for the amount of money you spend purchasing a harley!:lol::2thumbsup

Ah well, if the side-stand ('jiffy-stand' to true H-D owners) saved one fall on the side when parked on grass I'll think it's worth it.:woohoo:

Nothing worse than seeing a three or four bike 'domino-fall' caused by a stand sinking into soft ground...

[yungatart]

I have made it a habit to cancel the indicator as soon as I have changed gear after the corner. it is such a habit now that I find myself trying to do it in the cage as well!

[sunhuntin]

I've always wondered why bikes don't have clickers like cars do, Well some do but very few, perhaps there's a special flasher module that has a clicker in it. Shouldn't be too hard to wire something up. Generally it helps to keep in mind the last thing you've done for other reasons besides switching off an indicator such as remembering what gear you're in or the position of your side stand.

scooters do... often i hear the ticking of a scooters indicators before i hear its exhaust, lmfao.

the virago needs extra support under the stand when parked on grass... last time i pissed around for ages and ended up sticking my gloves underneath.

[captain_andrey]

When will we finally get HUDs in bike helmets? I mean, honestly how hard can it be? Most of the stuff on new bikes is computer controlled so why cant all the information just be wired/beamed over to the helmet and projected on to the visor?
At least, they should start with built in headphones and audible alarms.

[Tank]

When will we finally get HUDs in bike helmets? I mean, honestly how hard can it be? Most of the stuff on new bikes is computer controlled so why cant all the information just be wired/beamed over to the helmet and projected on to the visor?
At least, they should start with built in headphones and audible alarms.

Actually you can get some now (read it on the interweb) - bit strange if you ask me,and Im sure that it would be very distracting.

but very cool - kind of like a fighter pilot.

[imdying]

When will we finally get HUDs in bike helmets? I mean, honestly how hard can it be? Most of the stuff on new bikes is computer controlled so why cant all the information just be wired/beamed over to the helmet and projected on to the visor?
You can get these, they're called SportVues.

[Thunder 8]

Ah well, if the side-stand ('jiffy-stand' to true H-D owners) saved one fall on the side when parked on grass I'll think it's worth it.:woohoo:

Nothing worse than seeing a three or four bike 'domino-fall' caused by a stand sinking into soft ground...

Used a harley stand on my creation and that locking system has saved me a bit of grief a couple of times.

[BMW]

Make it a habit. Add it to your routine: Indicator on, negotiate corner, move thumb up to cancel button, press it, and so on.

I try to do a regular scan around the clocks and mirrors every 10 seconds or so, depends on the traffic/road, day or night, etc. I sometimes hit the indicator cancel button as part of this scan routine. Works pretty well for me. Only left it on once in the last decent while (that I know of!)

same with me. Scan the dash for all signs and then the mirrors and back to the road.

[captain_andrey]

I'm sure the "x-box generation" will find themselves right at home with a HUD. I find it way more distracting having to look down to check things like indicators, speed and if i have enough fuel till the next petrol station. Even a clock on the visor would help.

Oh and thanks I googled it up, they do exists. Now where do i get one in NZ and will it integrate with my GT250R :P

[avgas]

cars looking at bike indicators!!!! Shit next you will tell me they will notice the rider as well

[klingon]

I've become so paranoid about cancelling my indicators that I've developed a nervous twitch. I 'cancel' them about 10 times for every 1 time I use them.

Oooh here's a variation on a theme: we need a special Kiwibiker wave to tell another biker that they've left their indicator on! I've tried pointing, opening and closing my hand, flashing my own indicators... but the oncoming biker just thinks I'm a bit strange and keeps on riding.

What's the universally accepted signal for "Your indicator's still on, you silly bugger!"

[avgas]

What's the universally accepted signal for "Your indicator's still on, you silly bugger!"
Flash your indicator while pointing at it works for me

[Lteejay]

I'm trying to get into habit of pressing it every few minutes. It is easy to leave it on when your still learning and concentrating on other things.

[steveb64]

I'm trying to get into habit of pressing it every few minutes. It is easy to leave it on when your still learning and concentrating on other things.

Me too... Damn Duc idiot lights are so feeble that they can't really be seen in daylight - so I just hit the cancel button every now and then, regardless as to whether I've been through an intersection recently or not.

If the group of mates are out together, then the open-close-open-close-... of outstretched hand is our standard signal that the indicators still on.

Sadly - I miss the self cancelling indicators on my old GSX - they ran off the speedo - go so far, then turn off.

[Sanx]

If you go to any bike rallies have a look at the brands who NEED a piece of metal/wood/squashed beer can under their side stand when they are praked on the grass or soft ground.

You won't see many H-Ds needing that trick.

H-Ds need good sidestands ... after all, they spend most of their life on them being either polished, or admired by other tassle-wearing men. Makes sense for H-D to spend their R&D budget ($6.37, every other year) on something that'll make a difference.

[avgas]

Ah well, if the side-stand ('jiffy-stand' to true H-D owners) saved one fall on the side when parked on grass I'll think it's worth it.:woohoo:

Nothing worse than seeing a three or four bike 'domino-fall' caused by a stand sinking into soft ground...
How are you suppose to work on a bike while it leans over you.
Real bikes have center stands that lift the back wheel so that you can access everything.
Block and tackle is so 1910's:lol:

[No FX]

WOW!! this thread has changed my life:lol: ive been riding on the road for a few years now and just checked my bike after reading this to find that if you push the indicator button in it turns them off:2thumbsup i cant stop smiling!
if i saw the indicator light on id just have to keep flicking it left and right till they went off!
i must go for a ride right now this very instant a try this amazing technology
cheeres guys and gals:lol::lol::lol:

[imdying]

WOW!! this thread has changed my life:lol: ive been riding on the road for a few years now and just checked my bike after reading this to find that if you push the indicator button in it turns them off:2thumbsup i cant stop smiling!
if i saw the indicator light on id just have to keep flicking it left and right till they went off!
i must go for a ride right now this very instant a try this amazing technology
cheeres guys and gals:lol::lol::lol:Heh, noob. If you always remember to turn your indicators off on your bike, you're in a club of one. ;)

[Flatcap]

My LML has an indicator warning sound - it goes PReeeeeep, PReeeeep and echoes off buildings

So damn annoying there is no way you would leave your indicators on, in fact it is so annoying sometimes I don't indicate

[scumdog]

How are you suppose to work on a bike while it leans over you.:lol:

Therein lies the flaw in your comment.

You fell into the trap of thinking Harleys need working on...mwahahah:lol::killingme:p

[johnnyflash]

Just thinking motorcyclists often forget to turn off their indicators, I have done this myself, and think wow the last intersection was about 4km back.
Anyone have any ideas to remind a absent minded rider to turn them off
Yeah I know you have all been quilty of it, and I am guessing it could all end in tears,if some cage takes the indicator seriously.

Yep been there done that, left em on when I shouldnt have, darn near killed me. I looked at auto off setups but they still didnt seem right as it depends how long one sits in AKL intersections.. so I did the $15 mod instead... go to dick smith buy one or two piezo's (around 100 db I think around 5-9 dollars each from memory) and mount em somewhere un obtrusive like under the seat and wire em in parallel with the left and right indicator...
Probem solved, it also keeps the Cages wary as they hear the Beeep Beeep Beeep..

[avgas]

Therein lies the flaw in your comment.
You fell into the trap of thinking Harleys need working on...mwahahah:lol::killingme:p
or to be ridden!

[rocketman1]

Yeah reading all the Goss , I think I respect the poor dude that lost his life because he turned his indicators on,(or didnt turn them off) I must admit I don't think I will take my thumb off the switch after I have turned it on, if I can get into that good habit its probably the best.
Although i think the bestwould be for manufacturers to devise a time delay that works off the speedo, ie for the indicators to turn off once the the bike is moving after say 10 seconds.
Remember you need them on for minutes at traffic lights, etc when still.
There is probably a good market in NZ + for a aftermarket device that would do this, at a realistic price. Come on all you electronic nerds.

[scumdog]

Although i think the bestwould be for manufacturers to devise a time delay that works off the speedo, ie for the indicators to turn off once the the bike is moving after say 10 seconds.
Remember you need them on for minutes at traffic lights, etc when still.
There is probably a good market in NZ + for a aftermarket device that would do this, at a realistic price. Come on all you electronic nerds.

Harley indicators do all of the above.

Stay on forever when you're sitting at an intersection yet turn themselves off once you've moved off and turned the corner.

Yet when you overtake they will carry on blinking for 10 blinks then turn themselves off if you forget to do so.

[WelshWizard]

Just thinking motorcyclists often forget to turn off their indicators, I have done this myself, and think wow the last intersection was about 4km back.
Anyone have any ideas to remind a absent minded rider to turn them off
Yeah I know you have all been quilty of it, and I am guessing it could all end in tears,if some cage takes the indicator seriously.


It may have been already posted, but an a simple IC timing chip and a small mod to the chip could easy switch off indicators after a set time, with an overide to cancel indicators once manovour has been made, you would be looking a few cents.

WW

[rok-the-boat]

NZ has to be the most dangerous place in the world to leave your indicators on on a bike. Think - car turning right in front of you across your path sees you with left indicator on. HE IS GOING TO TURN ACROSS YOUR PATH AND YOU WILL BE DEAD. I press my indicator off switch ALL THE BLOODY TIME.