Newb Question: Signalling

madcat2k1 · Trackday Trickster Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Karma :

Hello guys another newbie question from me. I'm having a bit of a problem with cancelling my indicators. I seem to start off alright, manage to go around round abouts using the correct procedure, etc, but then I just seem to forget to switch them off until I remember 10 seconds later.

I think maybe it's because I'm also changing gears after I come out of the round about and keeping my eye on the speed I'm going, as well as what's up ahead + looking in mirrors.

Is this a normal newbie problem and will it go away with experience?
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CBT: Passed - (3/4/07)
DAS Passed - (17/7/08)

ms51ves3 · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Jun 2007 Karma :

My dad gave me a tip and said don't use your indicators just use your arms. You definitely won't forget to turn them off then.

carlmalibu · Spanner Monkey Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Karma :

I think just about everyone forgets to cancel indicators every now and then anyway. I shouldn't worry, just get into the habit of checking/cancelling, it'll be fine.
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Shine on, you crazy diamond
CB500, woop.

greatmoorred · Nearly there... Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Karma :

Yes, i had mine on for about a minute today......
Try and make it part of the turn. Like your lifesaver check is something you do as a matter of course, try and make your signal check into the manouver.

Handsome · World Chat Champion Joined: 30 Dec 2005 Karma :

I'm the opposite, I turn them off, I know I've turned them off but I check about ten times after...
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Previous Bikes...Honda NSR 125 RR...Kawasaki Zephyr 550...Suzuki SV 1000 S...Yamaha FZ8...Current Bike...Suzuki GSX-R 750...

iooi · Super Spammer Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Karma :

I find that signalling at a roundabout confuses more people than it helps.
Let you road position define where you are going to turn....
And remember its a round-a-bout which you go round, not like many drivers who think its the shortest route you take....
Lost count of the number of times i have nearly had a boot in a drivers door when they come across into you lane...
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

rdm3ch · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 13 May 2007 Karma :

Keep on indicating because then people around you know where your planning to go and it will get you into the habbit of always using them from the start.

Dont worry about forgetting to turn them off though, I know you worry about it confusing others around you but you will soon iron it out.

I have only been riding a month and had the same problem when I started. I was forever leaving them on and turning them on affected my riding sometimes. I was always cursing myself for it! But now I can do it far easier and remembering to turn them off is becomming instinctive.

As others said, try to work turning them off into your routine. It will all come together very soon. Thumbs Up

ncrn · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 May 2006 Karma :

Its just routine for me, I used to forget when I started but I don't now.

Its like go on roundabout, check its clear, and indicate, shoulder checks, go round roundabout, indicate off, shoulder check, get off roundabout, hit indicator button, accelerate to speed limit (or beyond Wink

).

It helps a lot to keep talking yourself through steps, it helped me loads to remember to do things.
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Past: 55 Sym Jet, 91 ZZR250, 03 NSR125R. Present: 97 ER-5.
https://www.nsr125.co.uk - NSR Owners forum.

rdm3ch · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 13 May 2007 Karma :

Thats a good point about talking to yourself (sounds crazy but it works!) I count my gears up and down and that helps me plan loads.

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

rdm3ch · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 13 May 2007 Karma :

Yes it is something you've got to iron out but you iron it out very quickly and continuing to use your indicators rather than not using them is better advice.

You will iron it out in no time, everyone does it at first.

madcat2k1 · Trackday Trickster Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Karma :

Thanks all. I'm going out for a ride in a minute, and I'll let you know how I get on when I get back in about, uhh..20 minutes Very Happy

I'll try the talking to myself through the steps thing. I've also noticed I've been forgetting my lifesavers too.

Perhaps if I treat it like it's a step by step task instead of "Oh my God there's 54853490583495 things to do in a matter of 5 seconds", I'll do a bit better.

Fingers crossed !
____________________
CBT: Passed - (3/4/07)
DAS Passed - (17/7/08)

tash · Derestricted Danger Joined: 18 May 2007 Karma :

it just comes natural in time like lots ot things..i got into the habit of pressing the cancel twice just to be sure...spec as its a fail on your test..saying that i went out for a ride with my bro on sat...to get some tips Laughing

hes been riding for years n is an advanced rider..rode police bikes..guess wot..yes he left his indicator on Rolling Eyes

was a pleasure it was telling him Wink

madcat2k1 · Trackday Trickster Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Karma :

Well I just got back. I did some shitty mistakes while I was out.

One of them was where I went to cancel the indicator and I hit the horn instead, which I totally embarrassed myself by doing that. I'm still a little slow at canceling but I've got it down to 5 seconds after so far.

I fucked up on a round about too, thank god there was no traffic around. I wanted to go right but instead of go around the round about, I just went RIGHT. After I did that about half asecond later I realised I made a major and dangerous mistake. I was too busy thinking indicators at the time that I forgot everything else.

Uhh but I did go back around it on the way home, did the correct signals (right signal, then exit before mine I switch to left signal and take my exit), then I canceled a couple of seconds after.

Think my observations all messed, so I'm going to just right in the wee hours of the morning for a few weeks. I'm going back out in a moment to try and talk my way through it.
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CBT: Passed - (3/4/07)
DAS Passed - (17/7/08)

rdm3ch · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 13 May 2007 Karma :

Hehe

I would have taken pleasure telling him too! Just shows we all make mistakes, its only human.

Im much better at turning mine off now, its pretty instictive and I do it quickly but I do glance down to double check I've done it!

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I hit my horn by accident once too, I wouldnt worry about it. A couple of times in my car I've nudged my window wipers on as I've turned right and nudged them back off as I've straightend up my wheels!

Its good that you went back around the island that you made a mistake on. You confronted it again and did it right and thats excellent. Thumbs Up

Its very easy to concentrate so hard one one thing in particular that you miss something else but you'll very quickly adapt.

Im still learning myself and feel I've improved. You sound like your riding regularly which is good, you probably ride more than me! Its nice to ride and learn when the roads are quiet and build up to busier times. I prefer riding with a friend but when thats not possible I think I need to go out early or of an evening like yourself.

Keep it up, you are improving! I know you can get really annoyed with yourself over mistakes but we all make them at first.

teech · Scooby Slapper Joined: 28 Oct 2006 Karma :

I had that problem at the beginning too. My instructor made me talk the signalling procedure out loud every time I wanted to turn. It works really well because you are ticking off everything you do verbally, then after a while it becomes second nature. Give it a try.
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In everyday life good people do good things, bad people do bad things. It takes religion to make a good person do bad things.

ncrn · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 May 2006 Karma :

I've done the horn thing, except I was in the middle of a town center on a busy sunny day, loads of people turned and looked at me. The worst bit is my horn sounds like a dying duck, so it was very embarrassing for me Wink

.

I have still done it a couple of times, don't worry to much about it.

About the observations, I have this in my head for a right turn;

Left Mirror, Right Mirror, Right Shoulder, Right Indicator, Adjust Speed, Right Shoulder, Turn Right.

And obviously its the total opposite for a left turn. Keep saying it to yourself as you go, you'll soon get used to it Very Happy

____________________
Past: 55 Sym Jet, 91 ZZR250, 03 NSR125R. Present: 97 ER-5.
https://www.nsr125.co.uk - NSR Owners forum.

madcat2k1 · Trackday Trickster Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Karma :

Oh man that's a lot of cool info from everyone.

NCRN by the way that helps tons about how to take a right/left turn.

I've got a bit of a problem with right shoulder checks right now though. My neck is all dodgey after sleeping funny and I could turn my head more than half an inch or it hurts like hell..LOL!!! My bloody mirrors are kinda crap too they show my arms and shoulders and I can't see shit behind me with them.

Btw, why a left look over the shoulder when taking a left turn? I don't think traffic is gonna slip through a tiny gap? I thought left turns were way safer than right ones because I only had to look for traffic coming on the right side.
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CBT: Passed - (3/4/07)
DAS Passed - (17/7/08)

gypsyjackson · Nova Slayer Joined: 15 Jan 2007 Karma :

Dazbo666 · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Jun 2004 Karma :

I often forgot to cancel my indicators when I first started riding, but luckily remembered for my test though Wink

I'll be the first to admit that I still forget occasionally... then I go to the other extreme that I'm continually checking that they're off Rolling Eyes

One thing I find really helpful though, is doing a running commentary either in my head, or out loud often helps me to keep focussed on my riding, and i's one of the major tips that I've regularly used since my DAS Thumbs Up

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1st bike (Sept'06 - May'10) : 1991 GPZ500S / Current bike (since Nov 2009) : 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600N
Word of the day : DILLIGAF

rdm3ch · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 13 May 2007 Karma :

Can you adjust your mirrors to help you see better?

Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

buy one of those HG £5.99 indicator buzzers, good value I reckon considering it costs about £4 in electronocs parts to make one from scratch.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

madcat2k1 · Trackday Trickster Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Karma :

m3ch:

Made some adjustments to my mirrors and it's a little better now, but not by much. I've gone out and shoved my mobile phone in my lid and recorded myself while going around in circles too.

Here's the link of the video with me doing the talking to myself thing, etc. Sorry for quality but just looking for input into my ability to cancel indicators on time, etc.

If you can see any major faults let me know. I reckon I'm improving a bit more.

Livejournal: https://www.livevideo.com/video/0455082FCE6944F6835B0FC100A0A35F/me-riding-around-talking-to-my.aspx
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PpdDai60Do

PS. I think maybe I'm a bit close to the kerb sometimes, lol.
____________________
CBT: Passed - (3/4/07)
DAS Passed - (17/7/08)

rdm3ch · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 13 May 2007 Karma :

Watching that made me smile ear to ear, I talk to myself (and swear at myself too on ocasion) and its so funny to listen to someone else doing it!

Yerh, you were a little close to the pavement at times but mostly kept your central position as far as I can tell and went into the curb when prepairing to do left turns which is right.

I'm half asleep and need to be up early so I'll watch it again tomorrow!

You seem like your putting a real effort in, so Thumbs Up

to you. Keep it up! Very Happy

madcat2k1 · Trackday Trickster Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Karma :

Heh thanks. I came up against a set of traffic lights yesterday that would not change at all. Stayed on red for 5 minutes and then some car came along and they instantly changed... Does this happen to other people too? It's like the sensors didn't...uh..sense me or something!

If you notice I was basically ON the kerb when I let an oncoming vehicle get by me.. Very Happy

I sounded weird though so just so you know all the weird gurgle sounds and trouble breathing things are because the phone is lodged up right against my nose.

I'm sure the cage to the right of me when I was lifting up my visor was wondering what was going on when I was talking about it steaming up. His window was open too he must've heard me.
____________________
CBT: Passed - (3/4/07)
DAS Passed - (17/7/08)