how to increase visibility from the rear?

[Optimus Prime]

On our way home from travels this weekend, I found myself behind a motorcycilist for a while in a semi urban area. It turned out to be a K1200RS with side cases and a givi trunk. What I most noticed however was that the motorcycle was incredibility hard to keep an eye on. From the rear the tail light easily got lost in other vehicles tail lights, traffic lights, and such.

In an urban area, the street lights eliminate this issue. In a rural area the lack of light pollution eliminates this issue. However, in a semi-urban area this seemed to be a real issue.

I'd like to take some measures to make myself more visible in these situations. I seem to use the RT with the topcase and no side-cases 90% of the time. I'm leaning towards some high quality reflective decals on the top case or additional lights. What suggestions, experience, etc does the board have?

[JCsman]

Well I have an R1150R that I use with side cases (almost) all the time. I added the Scotchlight sheeting on the bags (not the full set, but pretty large coverage). Folks say she lights up well. And they are nearly invisible in daylight against the black bags. I'm confident this (relatively) cheap and "unbreakable" solution has helped my visibility a lot.

But, I must admit that supplemental lights would seem to have the edge when in conditions where the guy behind doesn't have his lights on, say light fog or approaching dusk.

[DarthRider]

Jason, if you want to custom make some highly reflective Scotchlight decals, search for 'reflective tape' on eBay. You can get all colors, all sizes...cheap.

[BobFV1]

For visibility from the rear I do several things -



A white helmet - your helmet is the highest point to a driver's eye and a bright color is very important. I always wear a white full face helmet with SOLAS tape for extra reflectivity.
I have added the very fine Skene P3 lights which flickter, modulate, and brighten your LED's - they are the best piece of gear - brighter than Hyperlights, they work, unlike the Gizmomill Brake! light - best safety gear for your bike. Here is my thread on P3 light install (http://www.motorcyclistcafe.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5120&page=7) on the RT, and here is Skene's web site. (http://www.p3lights.com/)
At the beginning of the season I bought an oversize, high-quality high-vis vest and I wear it all the time over all my gear - it is lightweight and very bright and slips over my Venting Machine jacket or my Aerostitch.
Use SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) tape on the back of your top box and helmet - it is very reflective: SOLAS link (http://www.aerostich.com/product.php?productid=16513&cat=388&page=1)

http://BobFV1.smugmug.com/photos/329912469_X3NkA-S.jpgGood luck!

Oh -Stebel horn helps you be noticed when all else fails.

[Optimus Prime]

Thanks!

I was all set to order hyperlights and the reflective cut outs made for the BMW's, but I like Bob's ideas. I'll at least order some of the SOLAS tape and likely the P3+ lights. I had the stebel horn on my RR and it was really loud. I haven't been unhappy with the stock RT horn yet, but I may add the stebel this winter just for kicks.

[Dirty Doug]

Jason,
Check with cyclegadgets.com they carry a reflective tape kit pre-cut to fit most popular applications. You can see it here on the back of my GS. It's only a side shot, but you can get the idea. This kit was cut to fit the GS systems cases.



http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff296/dougbunch/DSCF0645.jpg




Dirty Doug

[Rchop]

Question: How to increase visibility from the rear....


answer...
http://www.frsengineering.com/Boxer-Brille.gif

[jamming]

Jason, if you want to custom make some highly reflective Scotchlight decals, search for 'reflective tape' on eBay. You can get all colors, all sizes...cheap.

This was my ST with the black scotch light reflective tape. I did the same thing on the Tiger. During the day its black and invisible.

http://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/65945846_T2Rjp-M.jpg

I got the kit from
http://www.cyclegadgets.com/Products/product.asp?Item=RK

I got 8.5 X 11 sheets and cut some for my Tiger as well.

[socalrob]

For my GSA I picked up some truck trailer reflective strips in red and white at WalMart and put pieces on my top and side cases. The stuff is very bright.

I second Bob's advice on the helmet; I where a solid white full face with white reflective tape on it. If I go down on a dark road I want some reflective material on me and the bike so I am less likely to get run over.

Several years ago I saw a rider who had a small light mounted on his rear rack aimed at his back (forward). It reflected off his helmet & jacket & was the most visible rider I have ever seen by maybe several orders of magnitude.

[Optimus Prime]

For my GSA I picked up some truck trailer reflective strips in red and white at WalMart and put pieces on my top and side cases. The stuff is very bright.
actually, I had some of this in a box in the garage. I used this on the RR cases a couple years ago and forgot I had it. It looks remarkably similiar to Solas tape, so I put it on the top case and my helmet.


I second Bob's advice on the helmet; I where a solid white full face with white reflective tape on it. If I go down on a dark road I want some reflective material on me and the bike so I am less likely to get run over.
I wear a light metallic silver helmet, which is the non :ymca: version of white. Actually they just didn't have yellow or white when I picked it up.


Several years ago I saw a rider who had a small light mounted on his rear rack aimed at his back (forward). It reflected off his helmet & jacket & was the most visible rider I have ever seen by maybe several orders of magnitude.
That is a fantastic idea. It should naturally light up any reflective gear you've got on...which is hopefully a lot.

[DarthRider]

Question: How to increase visibility from the rear....


answer...
http://www.frsengineering.com/Boxer-Brille.gif

Randy, you are one sick puppy.
Not the one in the image I hope...



But, to be serious for a moment, if you really want to improve rear visibility of your motorcycle, you could do no better than getting one of these:


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http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/92409740_84fnq-L.jpg

[1MPH]

http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/92409740_84fnq-L.jpg


You have the balls to call Randy a sick puppy.:104::001:

[Wild Will]

I'd recommend something like this on pillion:

http://wildwill.smugmug.com/photos/325916369_xmpPx-L.jpg

But in lieu of her, the flashing brake lights work wonders.

[Rchop]

You have the balls to call Randy a sick puppy.:104::001:

Yeah...what he said! I'd rather pet mine than yours Dave LOL

[Rchop]

I'd recommend something like this on pillion:

http://wildwill.smugmug.com/photos/325916369_xmpPx-L.jpg

But in lieu of her, the flashing brake lights work wonders.

Not sure about the one on the right there Will, I think I see an Adam's apple :yikes:

[DarthRider]

I think you'll find an adam's apples on that whole crowd...except maybe the one on crutches with a beard.

[JCsman]

But, to be serious for a moment, if you really want to improve rear visibility of your motorcycle, you could do no better than getting one of these:

http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/92409740_84fnq-L.jpg

Well it certainly should keep the tailgaters back a few (hundred) yards....

[Not even when I drank!]

[DarthRider]

Get a load of *this* one that she was travelling/riding with!
Yes, there is a "bathing suit" there...of sorts.
What a pair...Mutt & Jeff.
http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/92409739_CfgwQ-L.jpg

[socalrob]

I'd recommend something like this on pillion:

http://wildwill.smugmug.com/photos/325916369_xmpPx-L.jpg

But in lieu of her, the flashing brake lights work wonders.

Is that Dave on the far left?

[DarthRider]

Hell no, I'm the good lookin' one, far right...
What's it to ya', Cali boy? :058:

[Biff's R]

Will,
I hope you have been drinking a lot today, cause that is a man, man.

[JCsman]

Will,
I hope you have been drinking a lot today, cause that is a man, man.
:cocktail::cocktail::cocktail::cocktail::cocktail: :cocktail::cocktail::cocktail::cocktail::cocktail: :cocktail::cocktail::cocktail:
I think they [U]all[U] are ...... except for the cutie on the crutches.
:007::007::007::007::007::007::007::007::007::007: :007::007::007::007:

[Griffon]

While I understand that wearing bright colored gear is good from a safety perspective, I can't bring myself to do it. With this in mind, I love the idea of the black material that reflects white at night.

Thanks for pointing me towards Cycle Gadgets!

[Dirty Doug]

O.K. Dave,

I could over look the slam of Dad on the crutches, but when you make fun of Mom checking out the motorcycle well that's the last straw. I'm telling the whole family including my uncle Charlie Manson to cross you off the Christmas list.......

Dirty Doug

[Rchop]

Since you brought that pic of Mom Doug, what's that guy smokin' on the right?:033:

[DarthRider]

Since you brought that pic of Mom Doug, what's that guy smokin' on the right?:033:

Man, that big blunt looks a lot like a digital camera...what a disguise!

[JCsman]

While I understand that wearing bright colored gear is good from a safety perspective, I can't bring myself to do it. With this in mind, I love the idea of the black material that reflects white at night.

Thanks for pointing me towards Cycle Gadgets!

Good boy, Dirty Doug. That's where I got the Scotchbrite sheeting I noted. As I said riders behind me really made note of the difference. I only used the two pieces per side that made the "L" and it's still a big target.

I also tried to follow Bob's call for a white helmet based on research he pointed out here a while back. Pretty low on the cool-o-meter, but so is brain damage or paralysis.

Mine's a silver color called something funky like Titainium Mist. But I went to five shops - up to 90 miles away from home - looking for an Aria Profile in plain white. No luck. Now that I'm confident of the size/fit my next might be bought on-line (I think Arai is available on-line again).

[For those of you who wonder why I didn't get the fit down, then buy on-line, that's a pet peeve of mine. The dealers stocking the helmet and providing the staff to fit me deserve that first buy, in my opinion. After that I have no qualms about buying from a good internet source. YMMV.)

[Optimus Prime]

[For those of you who wonder why I didn't get the fit down, then buy on-line, that's a pet peeve of mine. The dealers stocking the helmet and providing the staff to fit me deserve that first buy, in my opinion. After that I have no qualms about buying from a good internet source. YMMV.)
That's how I feel about it as well.

[Deans BMW]

As a former dealer, I agree 100%, I have never bought a helmet on line.

[DarthRider]

As a former dealer, I agree 100%, I have never bought a helmet on line.

As a former dealer, that makes two of us Dean-O!
In the long run, even a mediocre dealer will do more for us than the best Internet seller.

[socalrob]

I've bought my white Arias at the annual MC show. The vender who runs the Aria sales booth seems to stock a whole lot of helmets there, better than local dealers, and they are good at fitment.

Other than that, you can always figure out your size by trying on any color helmet at your dealer and then have them order the correct color.

I personally like wearing a solid white helmet. I think, from the studies I've read, that the multi color helmets, while bright, break up the solid mass of the helmet like camoflauge. I would think a solid yellow helmet would be as good as white. I would worry that a silver/grey helmet would blend with background/pavement too well.

I always wonder if the studies that show riders with solid white helmets have fewer crashes take into account that only conservative old geeks wear them.

[DarthRider]

Cali Boy - that helmet in your avatar doesn't look like a "conservative old geek"!

[GPM]

A friend of mine just bought a 2XL white Arai Profile. He had to special order it. I can't ride behind him. The damn thing blocks my view of the road ahead and the glare off the huge white blob is painful.

My solution to visibility was to buy a motorcycle the size of a Winnebago. And since the bike is British, I don't go out at night.

[jamming]

My solution to visibility was to buy a motorcycle the size of a Winnebago. And since the bike is British, I don't go out at night.

Winnebago my ass...its got its own zip code :031:

Why don't ya go out at night?????? Did they put Lucas electrics on the bike? Or do your lights suck as bad as mine.....I spent some cash to brighten up the night. :biggrinbandit:

[BobFV1]

I always wonder if the studies that show riders with solid white helmets have fewer crashes take into account that only conservative old geeks wear them.

I consider that a personal attack :rofl:

But seriously - LINK (http://jeff.dean.home.att.net/white-helmets.htm)

[Deans BMW]

I always wear a solid white helmet.......

[fnfalman]

I use the Scotchlights on my tail cases and panniers, and I'm not beyond wearing one of those reflective safety vests at night either. I just have to stop early and take it off before cruising into the bike nights parking lots.

[BobFV1]

I just have to stop early and take it off before cruising into the bike nights parking lots.

:icon_lol:

Whatever it takes :023:

[JCsman]

I ran into this page from Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center. It has a list of ways to be visible. Looks like Bob has done his homework:

http://www.dps.state.mn.us/mmsc/latest/MMSCHomeSecondary.asp?cid=5&mid=279&scat=84