Small indicators - dangerous?

[t101]

I snapped one of the indies off my bike. I want to replace them, and smaller aftermarket indicators cost the same, or less than used originals.

I'm sure loads of people are gonna jump in and have a go at me 'cos everyone loves tarty bits on their bikes.

It's a bit like the headlight covers, etc. though. They look cool, and I'm sure are fine if only ride your bike a couple of times a week(end), during the day, on nice roads and in nice weather. But I wouldn't want them on my bike all the time in a big city.

So this probably doesn't matter as much out in the country, or even in smaller towns, etc. But in London, there's a lot of a traffic, a lot of stopping and starting, and lots of changes of direction.

Are small indicators dangerous? They're smaller (obviously), sometimes a lot smaller; a lot of the time on shorter stalks so more tucked into bike, and not as bright(?)

[...]

My friend Matt put an aftermarket set on his NSR. The rest of us thought it looked great, which is true, but after a blast down to Hastings and back we insisted he take them off as we just couldn't easily make out when he was indicating.

I vote to keep normal ones.

[Paulington]

I have smaller indicators (arrow shaped) front and back, roughly about 5cm long by 2cm high.

Never had any issues with indicator visibility.

Sure as hell looks better than chunky stock things anyway!
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"Four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul."
Current Vehicles: '89 Kawasaki KDX200, '99 Yamaha XV535, '00 Honda ST1100 Pan-European, '08 Suzuki GSX-R1000, '08 Mitsubishi Lancer GS4 2.0 TDCi, '15 BMW 1 Series 116d Sport Turbo.
CBT: 27/08/08. Theory: 04/09/09. Module 1: 16/09/09. Module 2: 01/10/09.

[Bloke]

If it's the front i'd leave them standard. The small ones can be "lost" in the white glare from your headlights if they are close into the bike.
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2008 VFR800 VTEC

[Ichy]

Thee quality of after market indicators can be a little questionable at times. The cheap led ones are are waste of time, they don't emit enough light during the day. I have a set of small arrow indicators which use 21w halogen bulbs and they are very good but cost around £60 a set.

If your biggest concern is visibility then stick with the giant originals.

[Dazbo666]

[DrDonnyBrago]

ONn many bikes, the bulky originals make great crash bungs!

[0l0dom0l0]

Having bought a bike where the previous owner had fitted mini indicators the general verdict was they look great but are awful for people to see. I would stick to standard ones if I was given the choice. Even if they look 'gay'.

[t121anf]

i was surprised my GSXR still had stock ones on when i bought it, but i have decided to leave them to save me £££ and as i think they are more visible than the smaller ones i had on my previous bike

[Suntan Sid]

If you do go for the smaller indicators, check what wattage bulbs they come with as standard.
I've bought a few sets, for various bikes, and they all came with 6W bulbs not much use if your bike needs 23W bulbs!

[rac3r]

The cheap chinese LED ones I got off ebay were brighter than the standard ones and were generally bright
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[HD]

Yeah, mine are brighter than the originals.

Mine are the Motrax Micro Arrow Indicators (AIN9).
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Rusty '02 Vito Camper + CBR600F3

[Rogerborg]

I fitted mini indicators to a semi-bobber. Smoked lenses and all. Daft things, can hardly see them - I'd recommend going big and bling.

[Daz324]

Coming home from work today and the biker infront had an all in one tail light and indicators, when he was breaking you couldn't tell he was indicating too! completely useless!

Personally I prefer stock to the after market as they are much easier to see which way your indicating day or night.
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Yamaha XVS650 (sold) Triumph Sprint ST955i (current)

[rac3r]

How about some nicer looking OEM ones from another bike?
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[bacon]

whatever indys were fitted to my B1h were shit, my mates all told me during day time they could not tell if i was indicating, not ideal! admittedly they look great in comparison to originals

Though as donny said, originals make good bungs

[Pernig]

I put the Halfords oval shaped ones on the back of my XJ, and they were really bright. Much brighter than the originals. 21 watt I think they are.
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H100 Breaking for spares

[Im-a-Ridah]

I wouldn't go as far as dangerous tbh. Bigger indicators are obviously more visible, but most bike indicators are too small really, and bigger ones aren't too practical... and they all work good enough at night. If you want to be more safe during the day, instead of worrying about your indicators being a couple cm either way, just use good road positioning to show what you are going to do before you do it, and perhaps use hand signals in some cases too

As for headlight covers, mini indicators ect looking chav, its totally the individual owners choice and can depend a lot on the character they want to give the bike, so I don't mind too much as long as they aren't seriously risking others in doing so (e.g removing all the lights and drive around country roads at night).

[dragstaar]

yeah, some of the mini indicators are fucking useless during the day. I see some of these sportsbikes with these tiddly little things on them, which give out a feeble pulse of light. No way a cager is going to see that.

[Cheeseybeaner]

[woll]

Well to be fair i've fitted cheap Chinese ones off ebay and the ones i bought were brighter than the stock ones, nobody ever said that they couldn't see them. Just make sure they aren't low wattage ones and they can be seen fine.
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