Those switches are retarded. Please do it like the rest of the world from now on. And please stop hanging turn signal lights from the handle-bars. They look like Christmas tree ornaments dangling.

PS, any oil tank plug should retain oil in the tank as it's primary function. Even ones with a thermometer. It ain't rocket science.:eek:

I LOVE the turn signal switches on my Harleys (except when I ride em too much, switch to the Guzzi and hit the starter button or the horn when I'm reaching for a signal).

But during panic braking (like on the highway when you're worried about traffic behind you) just throw 2 thumbs out and you've got 4-ways on in SECONDS!

That's AWESOME, don't change a thing!

Kev

I LOVE the turn signal switches on my Harleys (except when I ride em too much, switch to the Guzzi and hit the starter button or the horn when I'm reaching for a signal).

But during panic braking (like on the highway when you're worried about traffic behind you) just throw 2 thumbs out and you've got 4-ways on in SECONDS!

That's AWESOME, don't change a thing!

Kev

I'm with Kev on this. I've ridden a buell which has the other style turn signal and it's so much more to think about, having to remember to turn it off and everything.

I like the way they are now as well... That is the beauty of it, you can change it up the way you like it.

I like 'em too....

Oh Lord, what is happening? Agreeing with KevM on multiple subjects....

I'm worried.....:roflblack

Nuttin' wrong with those signals imo. Shoot, on my old scoot I used my hands to signal...Gotta get used to these buttons, but I like them. I like them a lot.

And underbar lights, I like that as well. Nuttin wrong with that. But hey, it my opinion.

greetz

i love the switches where they are i just wish they would stay blinking longer !! oh and mount them on the forks not the bars !!!

I agree with kdarejr about them blinking longer!

Sorry Muddy, I got to go with everyone else on this one. Easy to reach, cancel themselves and people can see them. Fact I like the big ones on my '94 even better than the new smaller ones. My buddy has a Victory, NICE bike, problem is Signals are so small I can't see them in daylight. :tour

I like 'em too....

Oh Lord, what is happening? Agreeing with KevM on multiple subjects....

I'm worried.....:roflblack


Feeling lightheaded and giddy... :banana :laugh

I have to say I like the turn signal set-up the way it is.

Now, if we could only get people to use them... :D

The turn signals was one of the things that sold me on a Sportster in the first place. Not the location, which I can agree could be better, but the operation and location of the switches was a unique and better location than any other I have used or seen. The front lamps themselves could be better located. But its not a biggie to me. I will admit to occasionaly hitting the horn when trying to signal a left turn though. Just getting used to it.

My only experience using a different signal set up was on the bike I rode during my MSF course, but I agree with the others, I prefer the way they are on my Harley.

As for the signals' location, I didn't like them up on the handlebars either (I felt like they were a bit hidden behind my windshield), so I moved them down to the forks. Like everything else about these bikes, its all a matter of personal preferance.

i love the switches where they are i just wish they would stay blinking longer !! oh and mount them on the forks not the bars !!!

Exactly what I was thinking! :)

I think it's a matter of getting used to them. Honestly I didn't care too much for the turn signal switches initially, but now I prefer it over the single switch on the left.

Well... should the rest of the world's motorcycle companies change to match H-D? (ducking for cover!)

I've had and riden just about everything out there, and jumping back on the Sporty really crosses the wires in my head for awhile. (I'm sure the cager that just pulled out in front of me, thinks it odd that I signaled to make a left turn, when anyone else would have honked!) The rest of the world, (motorcycles AND cars), signal both left and right from the left-hand side of the vehicle's control center.)

Oh yeah... and everytime I get back on any other bike and give a right signal, I hear the starter try to kick in!

I, too, wonder why the front signals are hung from the bars; Did H-D forget they were needed, and they became an after-thought?

Not ragging on H-D; I LOVE MY SPORTY!!

That makes me think... I've got problems with all the different bikes! I need to write some letters to Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, etc.!!!

i love the turn signal buttons.
the location of the turn signals themselves kinda sucks but make the bike easier to see where its turning, noticed by looking at stock bikes at night time. i dont really care if they change the location or not. someone will still modify whats given to them, like me.

Those switches are retarded. Please do it like the rest of the world from now on. And please stop hanging turn signal lights from the handle-bars. They look like Christmas tree ornaments dangling.

PS, any oil tank plug should retain oil in the tank as it's primary function. Even ones with a thermometer. It ain't rocket science.:eek:

that thingy is made in tiwan.:shhhh i gave up after 2 leaked

you have not seen UGLY turn signals until you owned a jap bike. i had a 05 honda 750 spirit [clone sporty] the rear turn signals drooooped on their plastic holder. it was the first thing i replaced.:doh

Right turn, right thumb
Left turn, left thumb

what can be easier.......

Now the horn (and horn button) is useless....

By the time you find and hit the horn, you've either:
1. Swerved around the idiot.
2. Braked before hitting the idiot.
or
3. Hit the idiot....

I agree with kdarejr about them blinking longer!
I'll trade ya, lol. Mine stay blinkin' for way too long.

PS, any oil tank plug should retain oil in the tank as it's primary function. Even ones with a thermometer. It ain't rocket science.:eek:

I about lost my lunch on this one! Hillarious..

Here's a fix for the oil tank plug (at last pre 04's).

Add 2 O-rings to the ribbing, and it seals up.........

I have owned many bikes and I think the Sporster's turn signals are quite good. The self cancelling feature is great, even has 4 way hazard flash (none of my other bikes do that). I think the left thumb for left flasher right thumb for right flasher is a good design. The question you should be asking is why don't the other MC companies use this design? HD patent?

I wouldn't have it any other way. Self cancelling is great! Left thumb, right thumb, doesn't get any easier. The location of the front T/sigs is a personal taste thing.

I wouldn't know anything but HD turn signal setup...Because I have only owned HD motorcycles...

And don't want to know any other setups.

self cancelling? What'll they think of next? On my '89, you hold the button in, it blinks. Let go, it stops blinking. I never drive down the road for 10 miles signalling a turn, because I let go while I am turning.

self cancelling? What'll they think of next? On my '89, you hold the button in, it blinks. Let go, it stops blinking. I never drive down the road for 10 miles signalling a turn, because I let go while I am turning.

I actually like this idea... but my self cancelling works fairly well:D

that is really the only complaint i have about my sportster ....the darn turn signals don't stay on nearly long enough....I would be happy if i could just turn them off myself like some of my friends other brand bikes ...

A couple comments on the turn signals...
for anyone that doesn't already know this stuff...

The self cancellers work on speed and a timer. The timer starts when you RELEASE the button not when you press it. So if you want them to stay on longer, hold the button in for a while, while you are still at speed, then release as you are stopping.

The self canceller uses speed to compute how long to blink (so when your sitting at a light they blink forever). The speed signal comes from the White/Green wire from the speedo called "speed output" in the service manual. If you disconnect this wire your signals will not self cancel. So you get manual signals. Push once to start push again to stop.

Gazza

that is really the only complaint i have about my sportster ....the darn turn signals don't stay on nearly long enough....I would be happy if i could just turn them off myself like some of my friends other brand bikes ...


You could probably disable the canceling feature by pulling a wire.........

There's a wire that runs from the speedo to the turn signal module.

I think that by pulling this wire, you'd revert to manual control (or it won't work at all). Haven't tried it, but take a look at the wiring diagram, and if want to try it, go ahead.........

I wondered how that worked, thanks gary.

I was curious about the time vs speed curve and thought about plotting it once. I never did but ran some tests and had interesting results. Running at constant speed and counting blinks, you get the least blinks around 40mph (something like 11, but I'm real bad remembering numbers). As you speed up above 40 you get more blinks (again holding constant speed). And as you slow down from 40 you get more blinks. I think the maximum blinks were around 19 (as you hold a constant speed).

I don't know what that all means... I just thought it was interesting :geek

Gazza

All I know is that I've turned in front of many cars while my turn signals weren't blinking because they turn off way too fast. I have since learned to pay more attention to my blinkers than my surroundings. I don't like that part.

A couple comments on the turn signals...
for anyone that doesn't already know this stuff...

The self cancellers work on speed and a timer. The timer starts when you RELEASE the button not when you press it. So if you want them to stay on longer, hold the button in for a while, while you are still at speed, then release as you are stopping.

The self canceller uses speed to compute how long to blink (so when your sitting at a light they blink forever). The speed signal comes from the White/Green wire from the speedo called "speed output" in the service manual. If you disconnect this wire your signals will not self cancel. So you get manual signals. Push once to start push again to stop.

Gazza

Actually Gary it depends upon the year/model.

At some point Harley incorporated the bank angle (tip over) sensor into the turn signal module. At that point they added a new variable to the self-canceling logarithm.

On the rubbermounts and a few years prior it will actually signal longer, but self-cancel once you lean the bike and return it upright. It's the upright part that sends the signal.

Kinda neat, very smart.

On the older systems the trick was always to just hold the signal button for a few seconds before releasing, this buys you more time since the timer doesn't start counting until the release.

Though honestly, I didn't like the old systems and got in the habbit of manually self-canceling EARLY, then restarting the signal so I wouldn't have to worry about it. I think I'd be tempted to pull that wire on the old systems too and make it a fully manual system.

Either way, NO ONE has a better 4-way system. You can panic break with flashers in an instant!!!

Kev

You could probably disable the canceling feature by pulling a wire.........

There's a wire that runs from the speedo to the turn signal module.

I think that by pulling this wire, you'd revert to manual control (or it won't work at all). Haven't tried it, but take a look at the wiring diagram, and if want to try it, go ahead.........
------------------------------

I converted mine to manual last year. Now the turn signals are on during the entire turn process. Much safer compared to the times I thought they were on but had cancelled earlier.

Pulled out the green/white wire (vehicle speed sensor input from the speedometer) from the turn signal module (TSM). Insulated with heat shrink, bought the plastic pin from Harley to insert into the hole I removed the G/W lead. (Wanted to keep out dirt.)

Turn signals are now manual. You have to get used to turning them off after the turn. It becomes natural after a while.

Your 4-way flashers still work.

I like them manual.:)

Actually Gary it depends upon the year/model.

At some point Harley incorporated the bank angle (tip over) sensor into the turn signal module. At that point they added a new variable to the self-canceling logarithm.

On the rubbermounts and a few years prior it will actually signal longer, but self-cancel once you lean the bike and return it upright. It's the upright part that sends the signal.

Kinda neat, very smart.

Kev


That doesn't make sense about the bank angle sensor..............

In a turn, the angle of your bank compensates for the centripudal forces encountered during the turn... So the force on the bank angle sensor is always the to the vertical axis of the bike. (Ignoring vibration and bumps). The bank angle sensor will only see non-vertical (to the bikes axis) if the bike is tipped over and either not moving or not in a controlled turn (sliding on side)

That doesn't make sense about the bank angle sensor..............

In a turn, the angle of your bank compensates for the centripudal forces encountered during the turn... So the force on the bank angle sensor is always the to the vertical axis of the bike. (Ignoring vibration and bumps). The bank angle sensor will only see non-vertical (to the bikes axis) if the bike is tipped over and either not moving or not in a controlled turn (sliding on side)


Don't know how it's physically designed (I've guessed a Mercury switch or some other type of momentum switch) or what other systems it's tied into (And how it's tied into), BUT I can tell you with absolute certainty that IF I enter a turn (i.e. lean the bike over) with the turn signal on, and bring her back upright with some force/speed, the signal turns off RIGHT AWAY.

If I do it gently and the signal stays on, but I suddenly countersteer just slightly in the direction opposite the lean, the signal turns off RIGHT AWAY.

I'm not sure if I read something about it in the owner's or service manual, but I remember first learning about it from a buddy (a Harley salesman, with a half dozen or so bikes). He's the one who told me that they'd incorporated it into the logic some years ago.

Kev

I signal for a turn...but then I "refresh" the signal just befpre the cornor. Sometimes, I'll signal well before turning using hand signals...but then, where I live, half the time there is noone to signal to....

I do have one really big beef with the turn signals....their location! Wand some windshields? Got to relocate the bloody signals! Want bags? You guessed it! Got to relocate the bloody turn signals....Hey HARLEY! Wake up! They are in the WRONG location!!

My thumbs are too dang short for these signal buttons. Especially the right one when I am busy with the throttle and the brake. Been waiting since this thread started in July for my thumbs to grow and they didn't. Maybe I need some thumbviagra or something.

Right turn, right thumb
Left turn, left thumb

what can be easier.......

Now the horn (and horn button) is useless....

By the time you find and hit the horn, you've either:
1. Swerved around the idiot.
2. Braked before hitting the idiot.
or
3. Hit the idiot....

I end up yelling at the cages! :madhead
Can't find the horn in an emergency :doh
Can't say what I call them here:laugh :censor