[oldsalt]

I have one bike with and one without signals,, I use them on neither.  After you get used to hand signals they start to be part of the routine.   Stick out arm, look over shoulder , change lanes.

Same here. My prewar HD, and some others, will never have signals even if Obama dictates it.  Even on my more 'modern' bikes I see no reason for their existance when judged against the added electracal/mechanical complexity, the relative poor on/off performance, inability to use with gloves, and often the danger of riding around with a turn signal on.   I never use them in favor of hand signals.  Why should I risk a ticket [and danger] if a bulb happens to be blown?  Plus they look like hell on any proper motorcycle. 

ace.cafe.  Was that a better rant?   

[Geirskogul]

Same here. My prewar HD, and some others, will never have signals even if Obama dictates it.  Even on my more 'modern' bikes I see no reason for their existance when judged against the added electracal/mechanical complexity, the relative poor on/off performance, inability to use with gloves, and often the danger of riding around with a turn signal on.   I never use them in favor of hand signals.  Why should I risk a ticket [and danger] if a bulb happens to be blown?  Plus they look like hell on any proper motorcycle. 

ace.cafe.  Was that a better rant?   

Oh shut up Obama has nothing to do with things like that.  Philistine.

[Chuck D]

Same here. My prewar HD, and some others, will never have signals even if Obama dictates it.  Even on my more 'modern' bikes I see no reason for their existance when judged against the added electracal/mechanical complexity, the relative poor on/off performance, inability to use with gloves, and often the danger of riding around with a turn signal on.   I never use them in favor of hand signals.  Why should I risk a ticket [and danger] if a bulb happens to be blown?  Plus they look like hell on any proper motorcycle. 

ace.cafe.  Was that a better rant?   

Another gratuitous swipe at President Obama. Sigh.
Chuck.

[ace.cafe]

Same here. My prewar HD, and some others, will never have signals even if Obama dictates it.  Even on my more 'modern' bikes I see no reason for their existance when judged against the added electracal/mechanical complexity, the relative poor on/off performance, inability to use with gloves, and often the danger of riding around with a turn signal on.   I never use them in favor of hand signals.  Why should I risk a ticket [and danger] if a bulb happens to be blown?  Plus they look like hell on any proper motorcycle. 

ace.cafe.  Was that a better rant?   

OldSalt,
I'm with you.
No turn signals for me.
Good rant.

+2 Extra points for dragging a political argument into the mix for added agitation!

[oldsalt]

O.K., O.K. Change the 'Obama' to Reed and,or Palosi if that's somehow more accurite. 

[Tiny Tim]

These people do a replacement turn signal module that has an inbuilt cancelation option.

https://www.kisantech.com/

It operates after a preselected time which can be set to be over-ridden by the brake light.

Therefore, if stopped at lights, the turn signal continues for ever with the brake light on. Once the brake's released, the counter starts.

It also has option for day run lights and hazard 4-way flashers.

Now if only it could be set up to pour Guiness...........

[rideOn]

there are no inspections here in s.c., so electrical signal d o not matter if you use hands. however, i checked with a couple of states that do inspections and they require blinkers to work if they came factory. i was thinking of 'jumpering' the blinker control and stick some leds in the fixtures for coinstant 'on'.

[stipa]

OldSalt,
I'm with you.
No turn signals for me.
Good rant.

+2 Extra points for dragging a political argument into the mix for added agitation!

   
Uh, what's the "political argument?"

As far as turn signals go, what about just not using them?  Skirt the Law, live life on the edge.

Steve

[boggy]

I see only one issue with no turn signals.

You know what hand signals are.  I know what hand signals are.  Thinking that your average Joe, Jane, 16 year old, 60 year old knows what hand signals are is wishful thinking.  It's a biker thing.  The sheer lack of proper driver education means that trusting in your hand sigs means you are just waving that sucker in the wind.

You stick you hand out, Larry Cell Phone has no clue what you are doing.

You:  "Son of a BITCH... I signaled RIGHT!"
Car driver: "Um... I thought you were waiving hello to that mail box."

You maybe be totally in the right, but just be super carful in trusting the world with your hand signals. 

No one misses the post-close-call hand signal though.  For some reason, that middle finger shines like a beacon in the night.

[Anon]

Yeah, hand signals are great when people know them, but so many people don't.  Both on my bicycle and my Bullet, I really do sometimes get people waving back at me when I signal right.  I agree that the stock signals are a little dorky looking and want to replace them with something that suits the bike more (like the bullet ones in the catalog), but as for myself, I'm keeping signals on it.  Rather than turn signals vs. hand signals, I often use both together.  I don't think you can count on it being a certainty that anybody sees either, but doing both covers you bases better.

Eamon

[oldsalt]

   
Uh, what's the "political argument?"

As far as turn signals go, what about just not using them?  Skirt the Law, live life on the edge.

Steve

I added Obama's name to my rant to give it an unnecessary political component.  Got two extra points by doing that!

[stipa]

Then there isn't any argument and you're the only one playing.

My take on the signal lights is most of them look like crap, but what's going to hold up in a court, if it turns into that?  Bike riders need to make themselves as visible as possible.

[2bikebill]

If you seriously imagine most or even any car drivers are going to notice hand signals, let alone know what they mean, you must be living in a parallel universe where all other road users are trained and licensed by bikers.
Or you have a death wish.
Or you're simply a whacky dreamer dangerously detached from reality.
As for wiring them so they're permanently on - see above.   

[stipa]

If you seriously imagine most or even any car drivers are going to notice hand signals, let alone know what they mean, you must be living in a parallel universe where all other road users are trained and licensed by bikers.
Or you have a death wish.
Or you're simply a whacky dreamer dangerously detached from reality.
As for wiring them so they're permanently on - see above.   

Bingo!!

[REpozer]

I've seen motorcycle turn signals wired to flash like a hazard light.
That is both side flashing together. Seemed strange to me.