Getting Noticed with Extra Lights

[Brackstone]

Some actual information:
http://www.streetglow.com/forums/index. ... topic=1655

In my search for a more powerful Air Horn today I ran across an interesting product (link)

I was thinking "Wow that would be really awesome, but I'm sure it breaks some law somewhere". However I began to ask myself why.

Most modern cars have headlights and tail lights that seem to wrap around to the sides of the vehicle. Not only for styling purposes but it also tends to make the vehicle more noticeable at night the side where the vehicle usually has no lights or reflective material.

With the exception of strobes and colors used for official purposes I think this is an extra opportunity we should really be afforded to give us more visibility.

I know what some of you might say "put on a reflective vest or bright gear! well I am willing to admit that I will never wear one of those. I think a lot of other motorcyclists agree. Out of every 20 riders I see maybe 1 person wearing what would be considered "Bright" gear.

Accepting the fact that most people wont' wear brightly colored or reflective clothing what do you think?

[jonnythan]

More visibility is not always better.

When I see an oncoming motorcycle, I might be quite confused to see a flashing or pulsating red light just under the headlight. I might think it's a turn signal, a brake light, or something else.

Odd, out of place lights have no place on a motorcycle. White and yellow lights up front, red and yellow lights out back. Anything that obfuscates the orientation of the vehicle or puts bizarre, unrecognizable light colors or patterns is bad.

[Brackstone]

More visibility is not always better.

When I see an oncoming motorcycle, I might be quite confused to see a flashing or pulsating red light just under the headlight. I might think it's a turn signal, a brake light, or something else.

Odd, out of place lights have no place on a motorcycle. White and yellow lights up front, red and yellow lights out back. Anything that obfuscates the orientation of the vehicle or puts bizarre, unrecognizable light colors or patterns is bad.

Again flashing and pulsating lights are omitted as those are for official purposes. Also I'm not talking about adding lights to the front or the back of the motorcycle but to the sides or undercarriage.

Lots of people swear by the oscillating headlight and make that modification to their motorcycle. And that Government Sponsored High Viz website someone posted actually recommends you do that.

I'm just talking about under lighting, or lights on the side. Also I'd rather have a confused motorist than a motorist who doesn't see me at all. The confused one will slow down and think the one who isn't thinking at all will just plow through me.

[jonnythan]

More visibility is not always better.

When I see an oncoming motorcycle, I might be quite confused to see a flashing or pulsating red light just under the headlight. I might think it's a turn signal, a brake light, or something else.

Odd, out of place lights have no place on a motorcycle. White and yellow lights up front, red and yellow lights out back. Anything that obfuscates the orientation of the vehicle or puts bizarre, unrecognizable light colors or patterns is bad.

Again flashing and pulsating lights are omitted as those are for official purposes. Also I'm not talking about adding lights to the front or the back of the motorcycle but to the sides or undercarriage.

Lots of people swear by the oscillating headlight and make that modification to their motorcycle. And that Government Sponsored High Viz website someone posted actually recommends you do that.

I'm just talking about under lighting, or lights on the side. Also I'd rather have a confused motorist than a motorist who doesn't see me at all. The confused one will slow down and think the one who isn't thinking at all will just plow through me.

A green LED placed on a valve stem becomes a flashing, rotating green LED in practice.

Driving lights are a good idea. Side reflectors are a good idea. High visibility lights are a good idea. Large brake lights are a good idea. Supplemental flashing brake light LEDs are a good idea.

Colored LED valve stem cap lights are not. Keep it legal, keep it reasonable. Inform, don't confuse, other motorists. Anything you add to your bike that increases the chances of misunderstanding or misreading you is bad.

You want them to see you and immediately understand your orientation, motion, and intentions. You don't, however, want them to zero in and stare at your bike to figure out wtf is going on with the bizarre lights. Target fixation and misunderstandings are bad.

[Brackstone]

A green LED placed on a valve stem becomes a flashing, rotating green LED in practice.

I didn't think about it that way and you are probably correct. Since they are speed activiated I'm assuming at 15Mph they will just look like circles on the side of the wheels and you won't even see the rotation.

But I won't debate about the worthiness of these LEDs I'm just talking about more visiblity on the sides or underneath the bikes.

You want them to see you and immediately understand your orientation, motion, and intentions. You don't, however, want them to zero in and stare at your bike to figure out wtf is going on with the bizarre lights. Target fixation and misunderstandings are bad.

This is actually something I've always been curious about. Because lots of people swear by the Tail Lights that blink in patterns and others say they "Hypnotize" drivers.

The same goes for the Oscillating headlight. Some people say it's great! But lots of people in Jersey don't like it because here in Jersey giving High Beams means "OK GO!" to the other person.

I would really like to see a study on this if anyone has ever done one because I'm trying to make my next bike much more noticeable.

[jonnythan]

The add-on blinking LED taillights are, IMO, fantastic.

I bought Hyper-Lites for around $60 or $70 after seeing a bike with them in my MSF Experienced RiderCourse. They're just flashing LEDs that supplement your existing brake light, as opposed to modulators that make it look like you're intentionally flashing your brake.

I also added some strategically placed strips of gray reflective tape to certain spots on the side of the bike (side of the passenger backrest, side of the front forks) and my helmet. The strips are a flat gray in light, but are super reflective at night. You can't even tell they're there during the day.

I'd like to get some driving lights to increase the frontal profile of my bike, but it's got a notoriously weak electrical system so I'm hesitant to add so much load to it.

[slimcolo]

They also make lighted valve caps that are low pressure activated. They light up when tyre pressure is low either Aerostich or Whitehorse Press had them

[SHADOW1100T]

It's a well know fact that flashing lights draw attention, my personal observation is that if there is a flashing light on the back of a bike people will stop a lot further back, people are preconditioned to flashing lights mean trouble or emergency and they react, after i put one on my ST1100 Honda cars would stop at least 5 feet further back than with out it, but there's no accounting what a Fuc*ing drunk will do.

[JC Viper]

I put amber and bright whites on the front of the bike along with some yellow reflective stickers. On the back I put red LEDs and white SOLAS reflective stickers and red reflective plastic thingys. I'm sure my pics of my bike are still floating around here. I glow enough where people tend to notice me.

According to the law red is only for the back while amber for the front unless it's a turn signal.

Combining the lighting with a loud horn is always best since many drivers act like Ray Charles behind the wheel.

If you want check out www.aerostitch.com for the SOLAS and other reflective sticker kits. Then www.customdynamics.com for some cool LED lighting.

As for the red LEDs on the rim... I don't think there's anything illegal about it, I think it has to be on the hood to be illegal.

[SHADOW1100T]

According to the law red is only for the back while amber for the front unless it's a turn signal.

Is this what you really meant to say?, not trying to be a SA but the way I reading this is that it's OK to have RED turn Sig's on the front and that ain't so, Red faceing towards the rear and amber to the front.