My Thumb Hurts, or Those Damned Turn Signal Switches

[TimTyler]

So I got some new quality riding gloves and they're not broken in yet. They fit well but actuating the right turn signal switch while maintaining throttle control is painful and a little dangerous. I have the same issue with my bulky cold-weather gloves too. During a four-hour ride last weekend I found myself thinking twice before signaling for right turns or cancelling the turn signal, both which require the right thumb.

I seem to recall other non-K bikes I've ridden where all the turn signal switching was done with the left hand.

Maybe I should rewire the horn switch to the right turn signal?

Anybody got any suggestions beside thumb yoga?

Maybe I should look  into this http://www.bikebandit.com/k-s-compact-motorcycle-multi-switch?m=81

[Motorhobo]

I love those thumb switches. They're effortless -- I had a CB550 that had more standard switches you had to change the position of the hands to get to. The turn signal config is on of the main reasons I stick with the K75. Isn't that where your thumbs naturally hang out out? But I dunno, maybe my thumbs are deformed.

The other reason to make that mod would be because the OEM combo switches are expensive and the second-hand ones are getting old.

[johnny]

i gotts bluetooth switches... from my helmet intercom... i say left and my left signal comes on... i say right and my right signal comes on... i say cancel and the signal turns off...

j o

[bocutter Ed]

Two of my bikes are old enough I have to use the signaling devices I's born with. Nice thing about them is you tend not to forget to turn them off. Then I'll switch to the brick and forget that it has 'em.

[wmax351]

Those are also set up for 7/8" bars, not the metric ones on K's. The thumb paddles are definitely a better design, it's always annoying to deal with the old ones on my dad's R75.

[billday]

The paddles are great.

It's the unnatural upward motion (to cancel the turn signals or sound the horn) that bugs me.

[Chaos]

It might help to rotate the switch/clutch/brake assembly up or down a little on the handlebar.  Mine was uncomfortable after changing bars until I played around with it. 

[Motorhobo]

The paddles are great.

It's the unnatural upward motion (to cancel the turn signals or sound the horn) that bugs me.

After 14 years of bricking, anything else seems totally unnatural to me. I rode an F650 a few years ago and it pissed me off that signaling took so much effort, thinking, and finger gymnastics.

[mystic red]

Seriously...love the switches....jo told me he would hook me up to the blue tooth but I said, NO, love the switches.

[TimTyler]

OK. Fine. I'll make it work. 

I'll try rotating the switch assemblies too. Good suggestion.