Product Report

[ribbert]

I do lots of dangerous things including owning and and riding a motorbike, faster a lot of the time than is probably wise.

However there is one stupid and dangerous thing I do that has a much higher chance of hurting me than riding too fast and would not even leave me with a good story to tell.

Leaving my indicators on.

It is easy to forget them in traffic with so much demanding your attention and the FJ tell tales are very difficult to see.
I've only been riding for 42 years and perhaps when I get a bit of experience under my belt I might remember to turn them off, if I live that long.
I fitted an audio unit last year but don't hear it a lot of the time. To have one loud enough to hear under all circumstances is too loud most of the time, everybody at the lights looking around for the reversing truck, and it becomes annoying. This appears to be the main reason most people won't fit one or disable them if fitted.
I have solved the problem with one of these.



http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/320475022407?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

It is a green narrow beam LED and the stalk has a stiff wire in it so it can be bent to any angle and hold it. I have zip tied it to the clutch line below the m/c so when sitting on the bike my line of sight has it just in the bottom of the speedo.
I have tried it in full sun and it is excellent.
Having dismantled my first one because it didn't work ( he had soldered too close to the diode and split it.) It is well made and waterproof and very good value at $17.50 incl. Postage to Aus.


A tip for installation of either type is to earth the unit to the yellow wire on the brake light. This wire becomes live when the brake light is on and the buzzer, light, whatever won't work until the brakes are released and the wire becomes earthed.
You don't have to sit at the lights honking, buzzing or flashing. I have an adjustable delay on mine set for about 10 secs but I don't really need it because it won't activate until I let go of the brake anyway.
Noel

[ribbert]

Thanks to FJSpringy (Dave) for putting me onto this, although he seems to have misplaced his wallet and has not invested in one himself.

[rktmanfj]

Your FJ doesn't have self-cancelling turn signals?   

[crzyjarmans]

Your FJ doesn't have self-cancelling turn signals?   

My turn signals wont self-cancel, but I can see that on my instrument panel  and turn them off with my thumb, I've tried to lubricate, but nut'n

[movenon]

In Idaho the turn signal is a rarely used item.... Usually used to tell you what they have just done, like you couldn't figure out the dumb ass just jinked in front of you...
George

[Tapartacus]

My 89 signals self cancel, they even know when I'm not moving and only turn off after the turn from a stoplight. Would love this for the 92! Not knowing much about the electrical side of the FJ I wonder what part it is and can it be made to fit other years.
Andrew

[FJSpringy]

Thanks to FJSpringy (Dave) for putting me onto this, although he seems to have misplaced his wallet and has not invested in one himself.

Dave's wallet is in the local ICU and is flatlining 

[andyb]

If you need bright lights to pay attention to what you're doing, you probably shouldn't be on the bike in the first place.

If you need other drivers to see you to keep you safe, you probably won't be riding that much longer.

Seems silly to me.   

[Pat Conlon]

I can see the advantage of this product. I ride two FJ's my '84 has self canceling and my '92 does not.

Sometimes I forget which bike I'm on.....In the bright sun it is hard to see the dash lights blinking.

I guess I have no business riding.

[FJSpringy]

apart from the curtsey angle and the ability to do more than two thing whilst riding, in Oz it is illegal not to indicate before making a change in lane or turning a corner, failure to do so incurs a fine and loss of points from your license. So without self cancelling indicators there are ample opportunities to forget and leave your indicator on. Goodness knows I do it all the time 

[movenon]

You got laws that you actually in force, geez whats the world coming to. Laws around here are kinda opinions 
George

[FJSpringy]

You got laws that you actually in force, geez whats the world coming to. Laws around here are kinda opinions  
George

yes mate, it's not like the pirates code  


in NSW they just introduced a new indicator rule for approaching a left turn at a roundabout saying that you should start indicating much sooner, all at the policeman's discretion of course, so if he thinks you didn't indicate soon enough he can book you, gota love it.

We still have a get out of jail free card once in the roundabout in that if "you" think your are in a dangerous position you don't have to indicate.

life's a bitch  

[RichBaker]

I do lots of dangerous things including owning and and riding a motorbike, faster a lot of the time than is probably wise.

However there is one stupid and dangerous thing I do that has a much higher chance of hurting me than riding too fast and would not even leave me with a good story to tell.

Leaving my indicators on.

It is easy to forget them in traffic with so much demanding your attention and the FJ tell tales are very difficult to see.
I've only been riding for 42 years and perhaps when I get a bit of experience under my belt I might remember to turn them off, if I live that long.
I fitted an audio unit last year but don't hear it a lot of the time. To have one loud enough to hear under all circumstances is too loud most of the time, everybody at the lights looking around for the reversing truck, and it becomes annoying. This appears to be the main reason most people won't fit one or disable them if fitted.
I have solved the problem with one of these.



http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/320475022407?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

It is a green narrow beam LED and the stalk has a stiff wire in it so it can be bent to any angle and hold it. I have zip tied it to the clutch line below the m/c so when sitting on the bike my line of sight has it just in the bottom of the speedo.
I have tried it in full sun and it is excellent.
Having dismantled my first one because it didn't work ( he had soldered too close to the diode and split it.) It is well made and waterproof and very good value at $17.50 incl. Postage to Aus.


A tip for installation of either type is to earth the unit to the yellow wire on the brake light. This wire becomes live when the brake light is on and the buzzer, light, whatever won't work until the brakes are released and the wire becomes earthed.
You don't have to sit at the lights honking, buzzing or flashing. I have an adjustable delay on mine set for about 10 secs but I don't really need it because it won't activate until I let go of the brake anyway.
Noel

Throw away the crappy wire splices and do it right, those things are garbage, a good way to ruin a perfectly good wiring harness....

[ribbert]

If you need bright lights to pay attention to what you're doing, you probably shouldn't be on the bike in the first place.

If you need other drivers to see you to keep you safe, you probably won't be riding that much longer.

Seems silly to me.   

It is the very act of paying attention to what you are doing, that is keeping yourself safe in a busy traffic environment, that distracts you from turning off the indicators.

Yes, we should all ride as though we are invisible, but to consciously make yourself MORE invisible by not using lights and indicators seems silly to me.

I see no down side to signalling your intentions to other road users.

Besides, here it is a rigidly enforced law although my primary reason for using them is safety. I don't bother if there is no traffic around me though.

If I'm going to get fined and lose points from my licence I want it to be from having fun not some minor infringement.  

People making turns (in cars) without indicating really pisses me off, especially when I'm on the bike.

Noel

[ribbert]

Throw away the crappy wire splices and do it right, those things are garbage, a good way to ruin a perfectly good wiring harness....

Yes, you're absolutely right about not using them. They are also unreliable for making and keeping a connection. I should have mentioned that.