Hand signals

[xwhatsit]

Rode a Matchless G80. Still got an erection. Bike didn't have any indicators -- now, my own bike's left hand indicator blew a bulb once (and I couldn't track the special sort down for a few days), so I got used to hand-signalling left. Easy. What I struggled with on this bike was signalling right. Have to take your hand off the throttle! Not good on roundabouts.

What to do?

[rudolph]

My 1949 BSA has a screw on the throttle so it won't return by it self so you can signle with your right hand, most people don't know what the hell you are doing sticking your arm out

[skelstar]

My Aprilia has a fast idle adjustment which is the business for relaxing the throttle hand with speeds up to about 120km/h ...

[cowboy]

I sometimes use my left arm & point in the direction I intend to go but often people don't take any notice so I use the internationally used signal

[Ixion]

Heaven only knows what a Gold Star or Venom would do to you!

The old Briddish twistgrip always had a little rocker thingy with a wee screw that you could adjust so that the throttle didn't spring closed. If you were fussy about such things.

But given it's only three seconds it's not too hard to just time matters so you do it on the overrun anyway

I still regulary use hand signals.

Don't trust new fangled electromacal thingies.

[Motu]

Yep,I still do hand signals - right hand is easy,just put your hand out as you are slowing down,you can bring the revs down quite low,then drop a bunch of gears at once.I don't signal much on roundabouts.....too many other things to keep a track of.

G80's were good with the AMC gearbox.....but was never keen on the jampots.They would wallow so much the rear wheel would step out each time it left the ground.

[Mully]

You're in Auckland, Man. Don't indicate at all. It lets the bastards know what you are going to do next.

[Ixion]

Ah, that's the beauty of it. Since very few people now understand hand signals, but they are still completely legal! So you can confuse them, whilst still having a perfectly valid defense to a claim that you didn't signal!

There is nothing in the law that says signals have to be by means of blinking lights!

And once you are using a hand signal, it is very easy to add a few "embellishments", appropriate to the attitude of the cager.

[P38]

I just use the one hand signal.

It seems big black motorcycles with blazing headlights are often hard to see by other motorists.
But with the use of this hand signal the motorcyclist becomes instantly highly visible.

Its effective when delivered with either the left or righthand and is completely understood by all motorists.

Often they happily return the signal, which is confirmation that they have seen and understood you.

Rarely do you have to repeat the hand signal.

Try it for yourself you'll be amazed at how effective it is.

[xwhatsit]

Heaven only knows what a Gold Star or Venom would do to you!

That's why I'm going to wait until I'm about Jim2's age before buying a DBD34, as obviously that's when impotence sets in.

Didn't see that throttle stop thingie. The owner avoids suburbia as much as possible (of course) and I don't think he signals whatsoever.

It's a shame my bike's not just a little bit older, I'd like to pull the indicators off entirely (and it's not like anybody ever notices my indicators anyway, hand signals would be just as useful).

I liked that bike a great deal. Jampots weren't fitted, I understand they were crap and they quickly phased them out? Even managed to kickstart the great lump.

[scootnz]

For indicating right I often use my left arm, held over as far as possible in front of me, since most of the time the indicating is for the benefit of people coming towards me. My hand can be seen from behind, but probably not very well. Have to time it perfectly though, since its a left hand clutch/gear change mechanism.

If it need to indicate to someone following me I do a quick right arm out and slow down and move over a bit. They get the idea.

Haven't had any problems. Actually I really enjoy hand signals - this way you can never forget to turn your indicator off...

[vifferman]

Actually I really enjoy hand signals - this way you can never forget to turn your indicator off...

I would.
I can just imagine it... go round a corner, need to change gear..
WTF?!?
Where's my left hand gone?
What's it doing sticking out there in the breeze?!?
Oh - that's right; I was indimicating.

[Motu]

Jampots weren't fitted,

Matchless shocks were their own make - they were first with the swingarm rear suspension after all.The first ones were fat and are the real jampot,later ones were thin,but people still call them jampots.They were a blade fitting,so to fit Girlings required some modification.Whatever - AMC shocks were useless.They were obviously totaly flogged when I rode them....but I didn't know that then,and won't change my story now....it's set in stone for future generations.

[Ixion]

I thought the candlesticks came before the jampots ?

[Motu]

Um.......? OK,maybe there were 3.

My '53 had fatties....but the old cast iron 350 had candlesticks.We took them off and fitted some box section struts and the handling improved out of sight.Maybe the late model ones were the good ones?