moe
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(Bearing Changer)
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03/19/12 06:33 AM
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justifiable cause
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Are Hand Signals legal in lieu of lectric blinkers? Are blinkers a must always?
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Re: justifiable cause
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I suppose it depends on the state, Jim. Here in the land of tall corn, after 1977 a bike has to be outfitted with standard/stock equipment, and they have to work as outfitted. I owned/modified a few choppers from the previous years and I always took off the dorky looking signals on long stems, then used hand signals. Even so, it took a really anal cop to pull you over and site for this.
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moe
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(Bearing Changer)
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03/19/12 07:10 AM
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Re: justifiable cause
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Rich, I take the Barney Fifes that lit you up for using only hand signals; all the while having functional blinkers in place?
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Re: justifiable cause
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We're pretty loose over here in 'Bama...no headlight or sigs req'd.
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Re: justifiable cause
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Quote:
Rich, I take the Barney Fifes that lit you up for using only hand signals; all the while having functional blinkers in place?
Nah, I'm saying that I always took them stoopid lookin bug eyes off, then used hand signals. And I never was pulled over. At least, not for signals. 
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moe
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(Bearing Changer)
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03/19/12 07:44 AM
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Re: justifiable cause
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Quote:
We're pretty loose over here in 'Bama...no headlight or sigs req'd.
and few signs. 
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Dwight
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(Fe Butt)
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03/19/12 09:01 AM
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Re: justifiable cause
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Yep Jim, I'm pretty sure Rich's explanation about a motorcycle's year of manufacture and how it's shown on the registration determines this issue in most states.
However, I think the D.O.T. mandated lighted turn signals on all motorcycles a few years before 1977. I think the actual year was 1973.
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Re: justifiable cause
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I have an interesting story involving blinkers. When I was a pup, in the state of Tennessee you could get a motor scooter license at the ripe old age of 14.
I don’t recall if there was a horse power or cc limit but I’m sure there was. I do recall you were not allowed on the interstates but all other roads, highways were fair game. At 14, in 1971 a friend doubled me to the DOT on his 125 Honda to take the test, no parents just two kids, he was also 14.
I took the written test, missed 5 of 50 questions. 5 was the maximum allowable without failing, pasted the eye test.
On to the riding test but first the instructor had to do a vehicle inspection. As it turned out of couple of the turn signals did not work, so she failed the bike.
I mentioned hand signals and she says “ if it has turn signals they have to work”. No problem well be right back, jumped on the bike and ran down to a local garage, borrowed a wrench and removed all of the blinkers.
Back to the testing center, left there with license in hand.
And as the story goes, the rest is history.
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amglo
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(Adjunct)
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03/19/12 11:36 AM
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Re: justifiable cause
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I often wonder if you were allowed to use arm signals...how many cagers today would even know what you are doing?
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Re: justifiable cause
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Quote:
However, I think the D.O.T. mandated lighted turn signals on all motorcycles a few years before 1977. I think the actual year was 1973.
Maybe 1975 when the the international standardization took place.
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Re: justifiable cause
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Here in PA you have to have blinkers and working if the bike came stock with them. I never had blinkers on a bike before this one.
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moe
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(Bearing Changer)
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03/20/12 08:18 AM
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Re: justifiable cause
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Quote:
I often wonder if you were allowed to use arm signals...how many cagers today would even know what you are doing?
Kinda relegates the use of them to avoid giving probable cause to an leo eh? (think of legal lane filtering, not stopped at a light waiting to make a turn) And regarding electric blinkers, same thing as most cagers don't see us let alone our blinkers. That said, I like as much stuff flashing as I can when chances of being rear ended are high.
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moe
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(Bearing Changer)
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03/20/12 08:23 AM
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Re: justifiable cause
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Quote:
Here in PA you have to have blinkers and working if the bike came stock with them. I never had blinkers on a bike before this one.
The crux of the matter. Having them in working order, do the use of hand signals trump the use of blinkers? Hum, using hand signals may warrant an leo to light you up simple to see if the installed blinkers work. I guess probable cause is whatever fancies an leo.
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moe
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(Bearing Changer)
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03/20/12 08:32 AM
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Re: justifiable cause
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Quote:
...I mentioned hand signals and she says “ if it has turn signals they have to work”. No problem well be right back, jumped on the bike and ran down to a local garage, borrowed a wrench and removed all of the blinkers.
Back to the testing center, left there with license in hand.
And as the story goes, the rest is history.
 As a yute to pass a vehicle inspection with no emergency brake I placed a toggle switch in line with the rear brake lights. When the dude said to engage the emergency brake I toggled the switch and pressed the brake pedal. Why not simply take that time and fix the dern ER brake? Money for one and I was a yute after all.
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satxron
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(Loquacious)
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03/20/12 10:04 AM
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Re: justifiable cause
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Turn signals in Texas are not an inspection requirement.
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Re: justifiable cause
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Nope but if ya have them on the bike they have to work.
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satxron
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(Loquacious)
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03/20/12 12:40 PM
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Re: justifiable cause
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I had no idea. None of the inspectors on any of my bikes has ever asked to blink them.
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MACMC
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(Loquacious)
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03/20/12 02:44 PM
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Re: justifiable cause
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In Missouri if they are on the bike they have to work to pass inspection, but hand signals are legal.
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Re: justifiable cause
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When I got mine spected (NY) and the inspectionater asked to see the signals, I showed open hand, closed fist; open hand, closed fist...
I got the finger in return 
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Re: justifiable cause
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I often use both the flashers and hand signals.
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Re: justifiable cause
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Living in FL you have to signal left then turn right then flip flop that to turn left!! 
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BrianT
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(Loquacious)
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03/23/12 04:29 AM
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Re: justifiable cause
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Law says you have to have working blinkers.
But you can use hand signals if you want to.
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Re: justifiable cause
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Quote:
We're pretty loose over here in 'Bama...no headlight or sigs req'd.
It's a good thing too. I have a couple of older bikes that I can never seem to get both turn signals to work at the same time. (
not same time, left works and not right or right works and not left)
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AngusPT
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(Learned Hand)
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06/15/12 03:26 PM
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Re: justifiable cause
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In VA you do not have to have turn signals, but, if your bike has them, they have to work.
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Yota
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(Loquacious)
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06/15/12 06:13 PM
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Re: justifiable cause
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i have turn signals & hardly use them
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sconsi
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(Adjunct)
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06/18/12 03:56 AM
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Re: justifiable cause
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The People's Republic of Maryland requires them. I have and use them. Not that I helps with the way the idjits drive around where I work--yet another reason I live out in the country. I've been considering strapping a megaphone to my bike that's wired into my signals to say "Hey, I'm turning left/right you frickin' moron" with the hopes that people will actually see me.
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Re: justifiable cause
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I was following some moron in a new BMW convertable who kept changing lanes without signalling. When I stopped next to him at a light I flipped up the front of the helmet and said, "Nice car," and he smiled. Then I asked "So, are the turn signals optional?" He stopped smiling at that point.v Keeping your intentions secret doesn't enhance your survivability.
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erle
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(Loquacious)
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07/12/12 02:55 PM
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Re: justifiable cause
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Quote:
...with the hopes that people will actually see me.
Isn't it popular consensus that a vehicle will be inclined to go where the driver is looking? 
Maybe we should hope they don't see us.
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Re: justifiable cause
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Quote:
I was following some moron in a new BMW convertable who kept changing lanes without signalling. When I stopped next to him at a light I flipped up the front of the helmet and said, "Nice car," and he smiled. Then I asked "So, are the turn signals optional?" He stopped smiling at that point.v Keeping your intentions secret doesn't enhance your survivability.
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