Indicators left on, dangerous

**rocketman1** · 23rd October 2007, 19:32

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** · 23rd October 2007, 19:36

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** · 23rd October 2007, 19:42

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** · 23rd October 2007, 19:45

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** · 23rd October 2007, 20:10

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** · 23rd October 2007, 20:10

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** · 23rd October 2007, 20:11

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

**Ragingrob** · 23rd October 2007, 20:12

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** · 23rd October 2007, 20:30

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

**scumdog** · 23rd October 2007, 20:42

Originally Posted by jimjim

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** · 23rd October 2007, 21:01

Originally Posted by 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!)

Originally Posted by 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!

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....

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** · 23rd October 2007, 21:04

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

**xwhatsit** · 23rd October 2007, 21:07

Originally Posted by scumdog

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** · 23rd October 2007, 21:12

Originally Posted by xerxesdaphat

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.