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non-canceling turn signals

9K views 61 replies 26 participants last post by  BlueSentra 
#1 ·
four-letter words come to mind: gosh, rats, heck, darn, argh......can't believe how far I ride before I realize they are faking out all the riders and drivers behind me.
 
#9 ·
#6 ·
To avoid this, I just made myself pick up a habit of hitting the button to cancel my signals every so often. I don't know if it will wear out the switch faster but I'd rather replace a switch than wonder why people assume I am turning or whatever.

The turn signals are also one of the things I look at when I look down when checking my speed. On my dash, it's pretty prominent (to me). Except for the windshield that I am currently using (it was plasti-dipped), the windshield also tends to reflect the turn signals back at me.
 
#7 ·
My 1979 Yamaha xs11 had self canceling signals..yes, they were not perfect, but they avoided this nonsense.

I'd almost prefer a button you had to hold down to use the signals. Then again, it would be hard to give the finger if you had to hold down a button...
 
#11 ·
This would be a good project for an Arduino. Connect a GPS sensor to the turn signals. A certain change of direction with a certain length of strait after cancels the signal.
 
#21 ·
I developed this habit after 20 years. Funny thing is that I now ride a bike with self canceling turns but still do it. Almost seems like I don't trust it although it works flawlessly. My money says that those who have this habit and then do the mods to acquire the canceling function will still keep hitting the button out of habit.
 
#15 ·
So, is there a solution to this?

I thought I was the only one, but this appears to be a decent safety matter. I mean, when riding its hard enough to watch the 37 cars around you that are texting or playing with themselves...Yea, I have seen THAT...

I thought about a beeper. It might help at low speeds???
 
#16 ·
I still have the beeper that came off my Nighthawk. It worked well.

Text
Electronic device Wire Sensor
Text Paper


It's basically a small horn. Annoying as heck.
 
#17 ·
It's not the ones behind you that you need to worry about. It's the ones in front. I forgot my left turn on and a guy almost turn left coming from the other direction.
He thought I was turning.
I plan to find a solution this summer. Even if I have to make remote LEDs for my helmet. If I see them blinking I will know they are on. O run something up to the mirrors or windshield.
 
#20 ·
I'm thinking short of buying a bike with self cancelling signals or adding in the self cancelling module for those who's bike it will fit, adding a buzzer to the turn circuit works well. That or just get into the habit of hitting the cancel button and check for your flashing dash indicator every time you use a signal.

All this being said, we also need to be careful of those cages that run with signals on all the time as well.
 
#23 ·
I've managed to make it a habit to press the cancel button when I'm in the middle of a turn. On a funny note, I passed another biker and he rode for MILES behind me with his blinker on. I cycled thru left turn, right turn, 4 way flasher, he didn't get it. So at a stop light, he stopped beind me... I duck walked backwards and told him his signal was on. He still looked confused and about 1/2 a mile later turned his blinker off.

Bonus question: does riding a paint shaker affect your brain?
 
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#24 ·
Ohhh and I think I saw a flasher module that would only blink for a minute or so and just stop. The turnsignal switch would still be ON, but the light wouldn't be blinking. When you needed to turn again, you'd have to cancel the switch and select left/right again.
 
#25 ·
I was told some bikes have dual controls, one for each light, which in theory could result in you having your 4ways on when wanting to turn. WTF?

I think I'll stick with manual cancelling and work on making sure I do my part vs having self cancelling that don't always work. Just like having to watch out for all the other hazards on the road, I'll add my signals into the list.
 
#29 ·
I was told some bikes have dual controls, one for each light, which in theory could result in you having your 4ways on when wanting to turn. WTF?

I think I'll stick with manual cancelling and work on making sure I do my part vs having self cancelling that don't always work. Just like having to watch out for all the other hazards on the road, I'll add my signals into the list.
I don't know if all dual controls are like this, but my Harley has the right turn signal at the bottom of the right control cluster (where the "start" button is on the Versys), and the left signal is on the bottom of the left control cluster (where the horn button normally is). When you push one it cancels the other (if it happens to be on), you CAN activate 4 ways by pushing both at the same time. And cancel it by doing the same. IF I hadn't ridden for 30+ years with the Japanese style (for lack of better words) controls I'd probably think the Harley way was much better.
 
#30 ·
Kisan Tech has a flasher that will turn off the turn signal after a number of blinks you have two choices it can also have your turn signal burn at half brillance for driving lights. Doesn't matter if you forget to cancel you just hit the button again. You can have four way flashers or have them alternate. They have all kind of lighting safety equipment. I bought one right after a truck pulled out infront of me when I forgot to cancel.
 
#33 ·
I ordered a turn signal buzzer. Thanks to this thread for finally making me do something about the issue. Its dangerous, and I needed to make some sort of attempt to fix it.
 
#39 ·
Beemers have separate left and right signals but I believe they're getting away from it on newer models, maybe just the sport bikes. I'm in the "constantly canceling the signals" camp too. I don't know why they can't just have a timer. But then again my bike doesn't have a gas gauge either...
 
#41 ·
when you see another biker riding with his blinker on, the hand signal is to show him your open hand, clench your fist and unclench it several times, at about the same rate as his or her light blinks.
Not many bikers know this.

I've made it a habit to always hit the cancel button after I've made a turn of almost any kind, but after driving a car for one day I can forget to do this until I get back into the habit.

I've noticed the new 300 Ninja had a little extra switch on the left grip, around almost opposite the clutch lever. I've seen it on several other bikes also but not sure what it is or how it works. I heard it was a passing switch but wasn't flashing the blinkers, but the headlights... WTF?
 
#47 ·
I've noticed the new 300 Ninja had a little extra switch on the left grip, around almost opposite the clutch lever. I've seen it on several other bikes also but not sure what it is or how it works. I heard it was a passing switch but wasn't flashing the blinkers, but the headlights... WTF?
Yeah the switch is to let drivers ahead of you know you intend to pass. In some states, including here I'm pretty sure, your supposed to either honk or flash (I can't remember which) the lights as you change lanes to pass. Most people just accelerate hard and go though.
The switch is actually located between the clutch leaver and grip (shaped like a trigger). It's also on the 13 & 14 650's. I use it instead of waving sometimes when people wave while walking on the side of the road. Some people say they rigged their garage door remote to it, I think their is a thread on here about it actually.
 
#52 ·
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