Hand signaling on your snowmobile: The sign language of the northwoods

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classicman

New member
I'm not sure if riders are waving or signaling but I've had idiots halfway off there sleds with their hand extended
at night. I'm thinking they are trying to make sure i see them by getting in my headlight beam. I always think to myself
what is going through the mind of that guy !!!!!!
 
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soxfan3

Member
Our group handsignals. I think it is more for the safety of our group rather than the other guy. Hate to see my buddy (or wife/kid) get hit behind me because I did not let the other guy know he was there. Of course you have to be going at a safe speed to let go of handlebar, been times I did not signal because I had my hands full saving my own A**. But we usually do signal. When you give the fist, it is not saying it is clear to go 100mph, just that your group is done. Some people just go too fast for conditions, our group has done it ourselves, I am sure, thankfully we have never had a collision, had a few unplanned off-trail rides :eek: but no one ever got hurt.
 
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durphee

Well-known member
I usually signal but specifically if I am coming out of a corner, under control, to warn other riders of the riders behind me coming into the corner. Too many close calls in tight corners, maybe it helps maybe not. Straight shots I don't always signal since you can usually see everyone. Just my opinion.
 
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rsvectordude

New member
Last night coming home from Phoenix and we catch a group of 5 driving at their own pace and the leader was all over the trail using all of it. After a few miles we decide to start picking them off one by one and the first one we went by was a guy on an orange firecat that got a little startled as our leader passed him WAY on the left. He proceeds to try and pull over and give us a wave through and his right ski grabbed snow and almost launched him in to the trees forcing him to grab both bars and come to a stop. Now were mixed up my group of 3 in their group of 5 and people are trying to signal how many sleds were behind them to oncoming sleds not having any clue that we are mixed up. Well we finally picked off all 4 minus their fearless leader when he finally came to a stop sign he turned around to realize none of his crew were even behind him anymore!! Most of their sleds even had huge mirrors on them! It was a hand signal nightmare! The rest of the groups we came upon we passed with no problems as they all were aware of what was behind them also.
 
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Obriengotwake

New member
I think the last person in the group should put up one finger. They will spend all day looking for that last damn sled. Hopefully it will slow them down in the turns.

All joking aside shouldn't we be riding as if there is a sled around the next turn so it should not matter what the rider signals. Slow down when approaching, keep both hands on the bars, stay to the right and make it home safe. Also, Last time I checked the brake is on the left so when you take your hand off you no longer have brakes.
 
xsledder

xsledder

Active member
Obriengotwake said:
...Also, Last time I checked the brake is on the left so when you take your hand off you no longer have brakes.
Click to expand...

Not with the 4s I have. I swear, there are times it stops faster without the brake. I use the brake to signal I'm braking and then I let off the throttle to stop.
 
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