Spacing out behind the wheel of my 7,000 pound truck today, listening to music, thinking about work, kinda drowsy. It was a nice sunny day. 'bout 55.
I may have even been thinkin aboit ditching work early and taking my bike out, maybe nothin was happenin upstairs.

You know what I mean?

Traffic was going along at 45- maybe 50, I'm in the right lane, there's businesses all along the road- both sides of the street, I'm kinda scanning the road ahead for maybe 4 seconds ahead or however far you usually do when its sunny, yer spaced out, tired from work....and suddenly I saw this arm gesture- right infront of me.

His left arm went straight up, pointing at the cloudless sky, not fifteen feet infront of me. Then I saw the right turn signal, then I saw the brake light.

Man, I am sooooo lucky I noticed that guy, his hand signal easily saved his ass.

I wouldda clearly been at fault. But who cares about blame in a bike/truck rear endo.

That guys hand signal saved him- from me (and I'm a good driver- no, really I am).

I'm gonna use more hand signals these days. Howbout you?

I use 'em all the time. It's habit from my old CH that didn't have any signals at all. It does seem to get more attention from the motorists...

I find people notice them more than stock size signal lamps. Sometimes people think I am flippin them off when I arm signal and as they fly by me they flip me off, but thats OK. as long as they noticed me. and I hope they liked my bike, if they dont,,, too bad

Sounds like a good idea, but I will have to tell you.

When I am on the German Autobahn and in the left lane, I never signal to move back over to the right lane. The reason I do this is if I start to signal my intention to move back over to the right, many times the car behind me will start moving up on my rear or even pass me on the right while I am still in the lane. I don't like cars on my ass.

So my method of changing from the right to left lane on the Autobahn is to get keep my normal riding position until I am clear to move over and then just do it. I always signal to move from the right to left lane.

I do not use signals that much ... bikes are without signals .... :rolleyes:
But I noticed that many cars do not car if you use signals or not. On the Autobahn the ermergency signal is the best seen. Only then all cars will get out of the way and let me pass! ;)

There was a long thread on using signals on the old site and I was amazed by how many people choose not to use signals for one reason or another. This is about the only good reason I can think of not to:When I am on the German Autobahn and in the left lane, I never signal to move back over to the right lane. The reason I do this is if I start to signal my intention to move back over to the right, many times the car behind me will start moving up on my rear or even pass me on the right while I am still in the lane. and that REALLY chaps my a$$ when people do that. It's interesting in the states the frequencey of that happening is largely a function of where you live.

It is worse in small cities where people have just one of the three brake lights working or none working and then they don't use their signal. So you can't tell if they are slowing down or turning. People just expect the brake lights to work all the time and never think about checking them.

or the old junky jeep dude who has to pump his brakes to get them to hold good and he hits the turn sig. and pumps the brakes at the same time so both lights are flashing but out of sinc (I do that alot with my old junky jeep)

or the old junky jeep dude who has to pump his brakes to get them to hold good and he hits the turn sig. and pumps the brakes at the same time so both lights are flashing but out of sinc (I do that alot with my old junky jeep)

I had a '53 Chevy truck (with no bed) that was like that.

I used to do a little of both, whichever was more convenient at the time, I may start doing both at the same time now =/

if I start to signal my intention to move back over to the right, many times the car behind me will start moving up on my rear or even pass me on the right while I am still in the lane.





Man that's agressive driving.


What would inspire that kind of F-U attitude to another vehicle? And as a whole class of drivers? Really, wow.

On the Autobahn the ermergency signal is the best seen.

Is that the same as 4 way (hazzard) flashers?

They yeild to an "Emergency" motorcycle?

Is that the same as 4 way (hazzard) flashers?

Yep! Let them blink and use the high beam when lane splitting .... never had one cager block my way! But take care not to be caught by the police .... or my licence will be on holidays for some weeks .... :shhhh

Never had a problem with cagers coming up very closely when I ride my GSXR ..... just open the trottel a few degrees .... WOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAM!!!!! :D :D :D

I tend to use my turn signals and hand signals, alot of times my hand signals aren't very nice though!!! :yikes

:laugh