Triumphrat

Tbirdnz

Looking on another site I notice that many of their members do not indicate when overtaking, is this general for the motorcycle community or limited to that site. Assuming the road is clear ahead, how do Triumph owners do it ?

saphena

I indicate if I think it'll cause someone to modify their behaviour otherwise I'll just go.

I'll only go if I'm convinced it's safe and I aim to do it quickly when it is safe so the indicator would either cause unnecessary delay or would be redundant.

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peterrose

I hardly ever use my indicators, I always tend to assume that car drivers haven't seen me and I'm usually going way too fast anyway.

They probably don't expect me to overtake on the apex of a blind corner over a hill crossing double white lines at double the speed limit and if they can't hear my loud straight through race pipes and see my twin headlights coming up behind them then they ain't gonna notice a tiny little amber light which only comes on half the time.

A good long blast on the horn and clipping their wing mirrors with yer elbow as you pass is a good way of making sure they look out for you next time though.

Pete

ruscook

Well I use my indicators as it's only a flick of the wrist to turn them on. I do overtake on double lines where I feel there's enough visibility though.

Russ

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propforward

I use my mirror, look over my shoulder, indicate then overtake.

Since activating the indicator requires a small movement of my thumb, it seems simple enough to add the extra info for anyone bothering to look.

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HiDesert

I always use the turn signals. It's easier than deciding when I need to and when I don't. And a quick look over your shoulder is indeed a good idea; covers the blind spot.

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Haggis

I try and get into, and stay in, the habit of doing things like shoulder check, signal etc. 90% of the time I needn't bother. I just don't want to forget to signal and check when it will matter.

Simple enough to do and doesn't slow me down!

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Lee

I never over take only because I try to stay 5 mph under the legal speed limit.....at all times! One could get a ticket or something for speeding.

If I was to over take it would be with a look in the rear view x2, signal and clear view ahead though.

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propforward

On the rider training course I took when I was first getting into riding, that look over the shoulder was called a "lifesaver" by the instructors (don't forget to do your lifesaver and so on), which I think is a rather good name for it. Basically always do a lifesaver before any maneouver. I do them in the cage when I'm driving too - just never got out of the habit, which I think is alright.

There have been a couple of times when that look really did save my life.

Bit off topic perhaps, but not too much.

I'm with HiDesert - I just indicate all the time whether there are folks around or not. It's a good habit to have.

Errr - I forgot to add that I do plenty of observation in the overtaking direction too - looking out for potential hazards - side roads, oncoming traffic and so on and so forth.

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richb

Hmmm, that little amber light might just prevent somebody suddenly turning into a side street across you as you're coming alongside. On the other hand, I would never knowingly put myself in a position (by means of the constant observation that Prop is talking about) where the vehicle I'm overtaking has the faintest reason to turn across me [examples would include side street, home driveway, pub car-park, petrol station, small layby with sandwich kiosk, naked actress chained to lampost... er uhm sorry, imagination running away with me there...].
I have got lazy about the 'lifesaver' look over here, since there are hardly any other bikes on the roads and nothing else is going to be coming up behind me. In London traffic the lifesaver look was not an option, it was an absolute necessity.

I should add, you shouldn't overdo looking over your shoulder. I've been a bit leisurely about looking to the front again and found the cage in front had come to a dead stop - bit of a squeaky bum moment. Overtook rather faster than I had intended...

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