Safety question: Turn signal locations advice appreciated

[NCAmother]

Is there an advantage or disadvantage for having bar end turn signals?  I'm curious what car drivers see and don't see.  I like the aesthetic, but if its more dangerous it's not worth it to me.  Just having a motorcycle, makes you fairly invisible.  Any thoughts on making you and your bike more visible, (in a tasteful manner) of course.   There is an advance motorcycle course that the CHP has to take, I'm thinking I might take that course somewhere down the line as well.

[rocker59]

Personally, I'd leave the turn signals where they belong, at the front and back of the bike, where motorists are expecting to find them.

White helmet and hi-viz yellow jacket are what I wear to help with visibility.





Adding running lights to form a triangle are a good idea up front.



Strobing auxiliary brake lights are a popular option at the back, especially for those who ride a lot at night, or in heavy traffic.



http://www.webbikeworld.com/lights/motorcycle-led-brake-lights/led-brake-light-on-off.gif

http://www.hyperlites.com/

[Wayne Orwig]

No direct help, but I have seen a lot of people add on these tiny little turn signals with LEDs on them. They often aren't bright enough to be of any real value. I don't think it is the short stock that is the problem as much as it is the wimpy LED lighting.
So for turn signals, use light that have real brightness in the sunlight.

Then there are other issues:

 

[NCAmother]

Thanks Rocker, thanks Wayne.  Driving an automobile I'm pretty aware of a bikes presence, but there has been lotsa deaths lately due to texting, carelessness, etc.

[NCAmother]

Rocker, I plan on doing quite a bit of riding in San Francisco and Los Angeles, so this helps a lot

[malik]

What they said. And advanced riding courses are always worth it.

Mal

[kidsmoke]

Before recently relocating, I was riding in Chicago everyday, and added LED bar end signals because they are FAR brighter, and wider higher stance meant that they were visible fore and aft and from the side, also, in daylight, it's easier to see if you've left them on after your turn is completed. They are prone to breakage. But a machined aluminum housing can address that. YMMV

this particular iteration is German made. Making it's way onto a lot of BMW's....R9 moreso than RS...



https://youtu.be/8IkCZPIZzDY

[kevdog3019]

I have them up front on my mirrors they show very plainly from the front and on the morrow portion (riders side) outer edge. This way if someone is in your blind spot (God forbid) they can see them from beyond your shoulders. I believe having them this way is very safe. They are not too close to the headlamp to be filtered out either. They can be hooked is as running lights if preferred. I'm a fan.

[ITSec]

I kept all my factory turn signals for the Norge - but I added Stelvio hand guards and put 12" amber LED strips on those, wrapped to show outwards and forward. I also added three 12"LED strips to each of the pannier bags, running upright, as far out as I could place them. One red strip is running, one red strip is brake, and one amber is turn.

I believe that having turn signals further out from the center line on the bike is a good thing. Too many modern motorcycles have turn signals less than 6" from the brake light or head light, and at night, at a distance, I'm surprised they can be seen at all.