revrnd Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 The use of hand signals can be discussed until the cows come home. Some people should (if they want to), while others shouldn't (keep your hands on the bars). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildman Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Not using hand signals <moderated for inappropriate comments> in my books. I use hand signals, generic ones, but the ofsc doesn't recognize them on the chart. I only use them if someone is using up my realestate. Use all the signals you want, I just watch where I am going and always expect aproching traffic. Don't take it personal, I just think they are a waste of time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoso Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 in principal maybe, in reality they are useless. I've seen 1 sled with them in 30 years riding in Ontario and I'd bet most sledders have no idea what it means.. The only way they make sense is if they are mandated so everyone has them, and that is not something I'd ever subscribe too. I dont care how many sleds are in your group, what lights are flashing or fingers you're holding up - stick to your side of the trail and have a great day! I saw a guy with the flashing lights in KL about 3 years ago, I thought itwas a cop. BTW having a rd flashing light on your sled is illegal in Ontario. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sledjunk Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 I saw a guy with the flashing lights in KL about 3 years ago, I thought itwas a cop. BTW having a rd flashing light on your sled is illegal in Ontario. The light system does not involve flashing lights. There are two colours, amber, indicating that I have sleds behind me in my group, and green, indicating that I am the last rider in my group. I do not signal for other riders not in my group as I am not keeping track of them and do not know whether they have stopped, turned off, or transported back to their mothership. However, when my sled is turned off, I do have my tail light on and orange lights with white strobes on the front. These are for visibility, particularly when I am stopped on the side of the trail at night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarylarry Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 I don't like the fist, sometimes you can't tell if they are telling you they are the last one or there are sleds more behind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andreyboater Posted January 29, 2019 Share Posted January 29, 2019 Different between Ontario and international hand signals, I'm personally use my hand down to show I'm last in line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoonerBP Posted January 29, 2019 Share Posted January 29, 2019 On 1/26/2014 at 10:40 PM, revrnd said: A couple of weeks ago I meet 2 sleds & the 2nd guy puts his hand up & he's showing 4 or 5 digits. I ride along careful because of the speed they were going & the trail is a bit twisty. We go for a couple of minutes & there's a guy doing a 3 point turn. I follow him for 2 or 3 more minutes when we come to 3 sledders looking @ a sled stuffed into the snow on a corner. No damage or injuries so we continued on. I wonder how far the 1st 2 riders got before they realized the rest of the group wasn't following? Met up with one oncoming a couple years ago heading from Smooth Rock to Cochrane, signaled one sled behind him, I rode for 20mins before I sort of met up with the other rider, burried in waste deep snow on a hard right turn. we had him out in a few minutes, never did see his buddy come back............. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poo Man Posted January 29, 2019 Share Posted January 29, 2019 Last night was my first night ride of the year. So many people using various signals, very silly at night if you ask me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lastzrt Posted January 29, 2019 Share Posted January 29, 2019 Some hand signals we use are not so universal. We use tap the top of your helmet in our group for "I need to stop for a pee." Faster tapping indicates the urgency of the matter. Twirl left index finger in air over helmet is a more local signal here for cops/radar - ahead for our group, behind us for oncoming sleds. This will either click for non locals right away, or confuse the hell out of them right before they see the police. Slash across the throat - usually means stop and shut em down, I just scared the crap out of myself and I need a smoke. Or if the group leader in unfamiliar territory - it means stop, shut down, I am lost. Anyone bring a map? Any others to add? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yukon Posted January 29, 2019 Share Posted January 29, 2019 I Always ride like there is another snowmobile approaching hand signal or not. Use hand signals whenever it's safe to do so... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revrnd Posted January 29, 2019 Share Posted January 29, 2019 56 minutes ago, lastzrt said: Twirl left index finger in air over helmet is a more local signal here for cops/radar - ahead for our group, behind us for oncoming sleds. This will either click for non locals right away, or confuse the hell out of them right before they see the police. I had read about that a couple of years ago. I think 1 of the sledders we met north of Timmins was doing that after they had been stopped @ a trailside check on TOP C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toyman Posted January 29, 2019 Share Posted January 29, 2019 If you're going to take the time to make a hand signal then get your hand out away from your body so it can be seen. If you're on the right side of the trail always, then you are not adjusting your position at the time of meeting oncoming traffic. Then you only have to make a quick signal and carry on. I solo tour a lot and stick my fist out high, arm straighter than a held 90 for left turns. It's quick, I think safer and keeps the on comers heads up and not looking down. I almost always find the traffic I meet adjusting over so they have difficulty getting control and trying to make a signal. I constantly shake my head wondering how they got a trail pass for the left side of the trail, I find so much unused right side trail area, it's amazing. The only time I use the middle of the trail is right before a sharp right corner, and then only for a couple of seconds at most, then exit tight right. Hand signals in the open or straight sections are really a waste. I appreciate those that do signal in the tight and twisty's so I know how many will be moving over as I continue on my normal trajectory. My bigger complaint is those that don't check their mirrors! But this is a whole other topic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidooboy Posted January 29, 2019 Share Posted January 29, 2019 tapping the helmet top is a courtesy signal from streetbiking... that is the one that means police. been that way in the states, before i got my permit in 1982. Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UsedtoSkidoo Posted January 29, 2019 Share Posted January 29, 2019 Only signal I need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revrnd Posted January 29, 2019 Share Posted January 29, 2019 7 minutes ago, UsedtoSkidoo said: Only signal I need. Felt like giving that to a few inconsiderate sledders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoney Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 7 hours ago, Yukon Cornelious said: I Always ride like there is another snowmobile approaching hand signal or not. Use hand signals whenever it's safe to do so... I find myself signaling a lot less than I used too, if I can with minimal effort, I will. 2 hours ago, UsedtoSkidoo said: Only signal I need. 2 hours ago, revrnd said: Felt like giving that to a few inconsiderate sledders. Only encountered one set of a-holes this past weekend that could have used that, which is not bad really. Riding the D101B into Dorset, about 3 or 4 guys decided to pass myself as well a group of maybe 4 sleds in front of me that I ended up following for a bit, they chose to pass on hills and corners with zero regard for anyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irv Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 I rode with my son today and everyone we encountered, who was the last sled, put left their left hand/arm out and down. I am not 100% sure but I believe this way was taught to my son when he took his sled license training 5 yrs ago. Like others have mentioned and what I have taught my son, only do so when it is safe and you feel you still have full control of your sled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sledjunk Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 I prefer the arm out and down signal as it is more obvious IMO. The fist clenched against your chest seems silly. Who can see black gloves against a black jacket???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irv Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 3 minutes ago, sledjunk said: I prefer the arm out and down signal as it is more obvious IMO. The fist clenched against your chest seems silly. Who can see black gloves against a black jacket???? I agree! With one of the many sledders we encountered today, one rider had his hand directly in front of his helmet/suit/chest area with his index finger indicating one sledder was behind him. Problem was, I didn't notice it until I was right beside him and just happened to look at him as he rode by. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoso Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 Hand signals are stupid. it is never safe to remove a hand from the bars when passing other sleds head on. I have been riding along at a mild pace and hit hidden objects that caused the sled to react and without both hands and force, the sled would have been out of control. You never know what the trail has in store for you, even on a new ribbon. Telling me what I always assume anyway, that there are sleds following you, is useless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOOBEE Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 10 hours ago, lastzrt said: Some hand signals we use are not so universal. Any others to add? If I see the waiving gun I know we aren't stopping for these guys. Hammer down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRXChris Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 I'm for hand signals in tight twisty trails with blind corners and hills. The long flat area they are unnecessary as I can see past you last sled signalling he's last in line. Most time s these guys signalling last in line are unaware of the group behind them making the signal redundant. Why do people signal at night ? I'd rather people keep their hands on the bars and move the F**k over instead of running up the middle or on my side. Those guys reserve one signal for, the middle finger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneaks Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 like others, I always ride like there's oncoming traffic. For that matter some other potential obstacle or risk too. I generally use just a couple hand signals and do it 95% of the time, even if it's obvious, but only when safe. I use the arm out clenched fist for last sled (often it's just me) and sleds following (as per many I've seen in local areas, if I have mitts on it's the thumb motion, if gloves an # of fingers up for sleds behind.) And of course also the courtesy wave/thumbs up check when I'm stopped or see other people stopped, to make sure they don't need assistance. To me it's always been a bit more of the on trail acknowledgement factor, like the courtesy wave bikers do as they pass, and since they can't see my smile under my helmet (although you'll see it in my eyes) it's the 'hey we're sledding isn't this is awesome....' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pt3189 Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 hey SRX Chris, any chance you riding just West of Dunfords yesterday afternoon around 3 or so? My son and I met a SRX about 200 yards West of Highway 30. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
04nightfire Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 I used this on the weekend when I met some guys on my side of the trail coming around a corner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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