I've been riding Japanese motorcycles for three decades and have nearly 1/2 million miles on the street. And my Griso I bought last month is my very first non Japanese motorcycle.
Since not only horn and turn signal switches on the Griso reversed as compared to Japanese switch gear. It's also longer reach to the horn button on the Griso.
So I've been giving plenty of inattentive car drivers the "angry turn signal cancellation" when they violate my right of way.
I've been trying to practice using the horn button when on empty roads. (I've woken up a few cows and horses. )
I've only put 2,500 miles on the Griso so far.
How many miles or time has it taken other Guzzi converts until they began to instinctively use the horn button in emergency situations ?
It's only called commuting if you are using four wheels; if you're using two wheels it's called riding.
I do not use the horn button "instinctively" in emergency situations. I use it after I have gotten the F@*k out of the way. My bigger issue was honking when I meant to signal. It did not take me more then a few thousand miles to get used to it (also many miles spent on normal bikes) but every time I ride one of my other bikes there is an acclimation period of a few button hits to get used to a normal bike (several of them are also Guzzi's) and then when I get back on the Griso he process is repeated. It takes me a few honkings of the horn when I meant to signal before I get it back. But I have done worse, like different shift patterns. It is annoying but it does kinda make sense the way the Griso is,the turn signal button is more commonly used (at least by me) so it does make sense to make it the easier button to hit. It could be worse, it could be a BMW. I was never able to get used to the way they do it when I borrowed my brothers Beemer. I am sure it also makes sense but I could not get it.
I used to own a R1150R, have 2 Japanese bikes and a Griso.
Whenever I switch from one to another, it will take one or two traffic light junctions to program my mind to operate the turn signals and horn switch correctly.
In an emergency situation, my thumb reflex will jump to the default Japanese mode so I will get a “meep” from the Japanese bikes, a left turn signal light from the beemer and nothing happen from the Griso.
BTW, I noticed MV Agusta has the horn switch at the wrong place too.
After 50k miles on my 2 Grisos I am used to the switch position.....but it still pisses me off that Guzzi chose to put the horn where the indicators are normally found. It's the only bike I've ever had that has that layout.I find the thumb stretch to reach the indicators if I have the clutch lever pulled in impossible and it's annoying that with the big factory tank bag on the horn sounds on full left lock. But I don't have any trouble swapping to my other bikes.....it's more important to remember which side the gear shift is and which direction it goes!
Guzzis: White Griso 8v, 1954 Airone & 1962 Falcone. Previous Guzzis: Black Griso 1100 (deceased, RIP), 1966 Ercole Motocarro (Gone, but not forgotten)....and why did Stupid sell his 'Ultima Edizione' Le Mans MkV???? Others: Ducati 250 & MZ ISDT G5
After 10000k on the Griso i find the indicator normal and at least i can see the indicator light which i couldn't on my Yamamoto, however still can't instinctively reach the Guzzi horn, but I don't tend to use the horn just raises my road rage better just to get out of the way and stay calm.
When first riding my Griso, I too was frustrated by the number of times I honked the horn when I meant to signal. Finally I had to start looking at the switches when turning, a habit that now causes me to brake early and take hard turns more slowly. The jury is still out as to whether this is a good thing or a bad thing. By contrast when on my VFR signalling and turning are mindless. Sooo....
PS The horn button also makes winter riding gloves a pain in the neck.
2007 Griso 1100 - Pazzo levers, Mistral can, H-B Junior bags, Mana bar, CRG Arrow bar end mirrors.
"In any world menu, Canada must be considered the vichyssoise of nations, it's cold, half-French, and difficult to stir." Stuart Keate
in driving my Harley for 20 years, I wasn't used in using turn signals. My Harley doesn't have them, so I point my direction with my foot... It works... Sometimes I drove the Yamaha XV from my wife, with the buttons "the normal way". On my Griso, in the beginning, I first honk when I want to take a turn... than I use my signals... Aaah, look at the possitive side effect, everybody is looking what you're going to do!!
in driving my Harley for 20 years, I wasn't used in using turn signals. My Harley doesn't have them, so I point my direction with my foot... It works... Sometimes I drove the Yamaha XV from my wife, with the buttons "the normal way". On my Griso, in the beginning, I first honk when I want to take a turn... than I use my signals... Aaah, look at the possitive side effect, everybody is looking what you're going to do!!
Ad B
While at some motorcycle races last summer I noticed drivers sometimes use their left foot to signal to indicate they are going the the pits. Maybe you were a GP Racer in a past life?
)
It works... 
than I use my signals... 
