Triumphrat

paulie · 07-20-2004

Has anyone installed a timer or other self-cancelling turn signal device? Satisfied with the performance? Etc. :???:

robbie · 07-20-2004

Hi Paulie

The main problem with fitting any of the aftermarket self-cancelling units is that the switch is a mechanical latching unit. This means that you need to reset the switch before you can signal again. You can go left, right, left, ok not right, right, right.
I know that Jim fitted LEDs at the top of his cockpit as a better indication and I fitted a buzzer from radio shack when I had the Daytona. My mate fitted self cancelling indicators once after he had a near miss when a car pulled out on him thinking he was turning. He took the indicators off and used hand signals!

paulie · 07-20-2004

Robbie,

I'm not sure what you mean. I'm looking at the SM-1 Signal Minder which turns the signal off after a preset number of seconds. In order to signal again, wouldn't you just have to click the switch in, then signal to whichever side you wanted? That seems like a workable solution. Or am I missing something?

I liked Jim's idea about LED's in the cockpit - - I wrote him off-line to see how he did it. I'll post his answer (or maybe he will).

Paul

BigStripey · 07-20-2004

Paulie,

If it is the repeaters, I took the front fairing off and found the indicator wiring looms. I then just took the leads for each side and found the live's (Green on one side and White on the other).
Then i just cut back a bit of the sleeving on the live wire and soldered the live to the LED live both sides then put shrink wrap over the joints. I repeated the process with the negative's (Black on both sides) and voila! all done.

The LED's were a couple of quid from my local 'Boy Racer' car spares shop and they certainly show up in daylight and even direct sun. And at night they project a big red circle on to the inside of the fairing.

Just to clarify, the indicator wires are green and black on the left hand side, white and black on the right

If you meant the indicators themselves, the are Motrax 'Micro Arrows' short stems on the front, long stems on the back.

Hope this helps?

Jim

paulie · 07-20-2004

Thanks, Jim. Good information, and I'll probably do something similar IF I can't figure out a good self cancelling option. I'd rather have that. I'm still trying to figure out if the signal minder is a realistic deal (In other words, I'm still not clear on the problem Robbie identified. If I can do self-cancelling, the extra visibility of the LED's doesn't seem to be worth the bother.

Cheers,

Paulie

robbie · 07-21-2004

Quote:

On 2004-07-20 11:20, paulie wrote:
Robbie,

I'm not sure what you mean. I'm looking at the SM-1 Signal Minder which turns the signal off after a preset number of seconds.

In order to signal again, wouldn't you just have to click the switch in, then signal to whichever side you wanted? That seems like a workable solution. Or am I missing something?

Paul

That is right Paul
if you have signaled right and the minder has cut the signal after a few seconds and then you want to signal right again you need to first push the switch in to unlock it.
you don't need to unlock it if you signal left.
if you can work around this little problem then OK go for it, i was just pointing out that there was a hitch before you spent the $$ and was disappointed.
probably the danger of leaving a signal on is more than not signaling anyway.
i have not tried one of these devices myself so i am not talking from experience.
i think you may also need to check the hazard lights (4 way flasher) as the minder may cut these after a few seconds if it is not wired in properly.
the company who supplies them must know if there is any problems and will advise you, the triumph system is the same as a number of bikes so there must be ways around.

paulie · 07-21-2004

Thanks for the clarification, Robbie - - I think I'll give it a go and report back on the results.

Paul

ipg · 07-21-2004

Hi All

Just to add something else to the pot you might want to check a few other matters.

I have self canceling indicators on my BM K1200RS and I personally find them a pain. They obviously don't work like a car related to the turn, I think on my bike under a certain speed its time related but over that speed its distance related. I find on a number of occasions the indicators cancel before you have made the manoeuvre. For example on fast roads when its distance related if you indicate at the first count down board the indicator is off before you have left the carriageway, on other occasions at low speeds when its time related you may have indicated to make a turn and for some reason are held up prior to the junction then you find the indicator has canceled again before you make the manoeuvre. I found after asking BMW, there is no way of extending the time or the distance element of the cancel function.

So I would rather have control over when I want the indicators to cancel rather than continually checking to see if they are off before a turn. Perhaps the ones you are looking at are more flexible and can be altered to suit. Just a thought for the pot.

IPG :???:

paulie · 07-21-2004

Ipg:

You have hit on just the dilemna I have faced. My conclusion is that it is more dangerous to be indicating a turn that you AREN'T going to make, than it is to not indicate a turn that you ARE going to make. As long as I am driving totally defensively, I am in control of when I turn, and presumably won't hit anything. On the other hand, if I am telling a car that I am going to turn right into a parking lot, but don't do it, all the defensive driving in the world isn't going to save me from the car that pulls out of the lot in front of me.

Of course, if I was able to make it an AUTOMATIC reaction to TURN THE SIGNALS OFF EVERY DAMN TIME this wouldn't be an issue. So far, I have not been able to hard-wire that response into my synapses. So I'm looking for the lazy man's alternative.

Paul

ipg · 07-21-2004

Hi Paul

I think its a hard one to decide as I'm sure if you think about it there will be occasions particularly in well built up urban areas where its equally dangerous if the signal has canceled ie from vehicles behind, pedestrians crossing at junctions, roundabouts etc.

You just need to weigh up the pros and cons for your own way of riding. I prefer to cancel myself and its just a habit, you find yourself constantly just thumbing the cancel button, it becomes part of the system of riding.

My difficulty I find is I go out on the Tiger and have to cancel them I'm out on the BM and its self cancel, what I try to do on the BM is press the cancel just out of habit. Its not helped by the fact that the indicator function on both bike is completely different.

Happy contemplation.

IPG