indicators
 

what is the general rule regarding indicators, are the a legal requirement on older bikes...( 1988 bmw gs) can you opt to use hand signals instead?

What country are you in??
Not that I'd be able to answer, but we need to know as a starting point. bier

If you are in the UK indicators have to be fitted to bikes regisatered after some time in 1986, before that and you can make do with hand signals.

That would be a country/state specific thing ..... however ...

Most states in OZ I think it became a legal requirement around 1970 ....

An '88 gs bmeer would have had indicators standard on it.

Most people will expect indicators. Newer drivers/riders will NOT understand hand signals.

Its a problem with the older ones too, I was knocked off my 1957 BSA C12 turning right into a side road last week when a women in her 60's waiting to turn right from the side road thought my right arm extended horizontal with the ground meant l was letting her pull out. :scared:

Are you sure ?

I have a 1999 Gas Gas and a 2002 DRZ that don't have indicators fitted and pass mots.

I always thought it was "If they're fitted, they must work"

I remember being told by an MoT tester to tape over the redundant indicator switch on my old XLR.

Re: indicators
 

I think if there's switch gear or they're fitted, they must work.

No switches and no indicators and you 'should' be okay.

www.touringted.com

You have a very sympathetic tester, they are compulsory.

UKMOT.com MOT Manual 1.5 Indicators

Enduro bikes (there's a specific seat height and ground clearance requirement) are exempt from all manner of stuff.

thanks all. I live in Ireland, we don't have MOTs. Indicators kinda fell off and stopped working over the years and wiring isn't exactly my finer point so I removed them and used hand signals for the last two years, never got pulled over for it, If I do I would just play dumb. hearing horror stories of the EU looking for strict MOTs to be introduced to Ireland because mostly new bike sales are down and they want us to hand over our hard earned to BMW Mottoad for a bike made up of Chinese parts that needs a credit card to start..not likely:D:D

From the Bike part on your link.

need not be fitted to a machine which:
. cannot exceed 30mph / 50kph, or
. was first used before 1 August 1986, or
. 'off road' machines which are designed
to carry only the rider.
. 'off road' machines with side car designed to carry the rider and one passenger in the side car.

off road machines are constructed or adapted primarily for use off roads (whether by reason of its tyres, suspension, ground clearance or otherwise).

So, no rear pegs and some bumpy tyres and you don't need indicators.

As an aside, I really think that if you have them, it's worth the effort to keep them. I fitted wobbly ones (off a ktm I think) on my "S" and found them most useful on a recent trip. I use hand signals on my E but have had a few close shaves from blind cagers.

I had a conversation recently with local MOT man and he said similar. My KMX when I had it never had indicators and one of the DR's doesn't.