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... Improving Motorcycle Visibility ...

newbiker

newbiker

New member
Joined
Mar 26, 2013
Location
Hayward
Moto(s)
2016 Ninja Zx6r
Hi guys,

What methods do you use?

Can we use lightning under/inside the bike? Is it legal?

Are we legally restricted to what colored lights we can use?

Can we leave the signal lights on at all times, and blink when need to be used as signals?

I'm sorry for asking these questions, but visibility is a big thing.

Thanks.
 
wear hi-viz gear.
Spray bike with hi-viz paint or cover with reflective tape.

Headlight, brakelight modulators.
 
I put reflective tape in different areas in the back of all my bikes. If motorists just catches a glimmer of my back-end, I am happy. Some folks put reflective material on the back of their helmets so the contact point is higher up and more noticeable.
 
One of the best and simplest things you can do is to wear a bright helmet. Fluorescent yellow shows up way, way better than flat black, for example.

If you ride at night, large areas of reflective material on your back somewhere helps a lot. I used to ride with a guy (Andrew, are you still on here?) who had a black jacket, but it had two two-inch wide fluorescent yellow stripes across the back. With the high contrast, that was very visible from behind at all times and from far away.

Lighting under the bike might make you show up better at Starbucks, but does close to zero on the street to make you more visible.
 
Leave the OEM reflectors & turnsignals on the bike.
 
Crotch mounted lasers.
Stand on pegs.
Thrust pelvis.
? Profit

This works better on my wee than my monster.

Srs, ride like no one sees you.
 
sfcootz said:
Crotch mounted lasers.
Stand on pegs.
Thrust pelvis.
? Profit

This works better on my wee than my monster.

Srs, ride like no one sees you.
Click to expand...

Scott's damper and handlebars will help you pull this off. The handlebars let you stand up straighter and the damper helps reduce sudden inputs from your gyrations!
:thumbup
 
Don't pretend that anything can make you more visible. The idiot driver who isn't paying attention still wouldn't see you if you wore neon yellow gear from head to toe. If you want to stay alive, you need to ride as if they don't see you. If you don't consistently plan your escape route from dicey situations, you won't have one when you need it.
 
SummerLove said:
Scott's damper and handlebars will help you pull this off. The handlebars let you stand up straighter and the damper helps reduce sudden inputs from your gyrations!
:thumbup
Click to expand...

:thumbup Finally...The wisdom of Lou The Magnificent, is getting recognized. :thumbup
 
ALANRIDER7 said:
Don't pretend that anything can make you more visible. The idiot driver who isn't paying attention still wouldn't see you if you wore neon yellow gear from head to toe. If you want to stay alive, you need to ride as if they don't see you. If you don't consistently plan your escape route from dicey situations, you won't have one when you need it.
Click to expand...

:thumbup And that is what a rider must have going in the brain, 100%...That You can rely on...
What the other person does or doesn't do..Can Not be relied on.
 
1. Don't remove any of the stock lighting or reflectors unless you improve upon them. (And no, HID aftermarket kits are not an improvement.)
2. Add auxilliary lighting like driving lights or an extra LED running/brake light in the rear.
3. Use a headlight modulator. It really gets people's attention. (And no, it won't work with HID.)
4. Get a brake light modulator/flasher.
5. Add reflective striping/accents.
6. Wear Hi-Viz AND reflective gear.

That's about it. And I don't believe those bike lighting kits are legal.

And finally, as is always mentioned in these threads, don't depend on any of your enhancements. They do help, of course, but you must ride like you don't have them.
 
Lighting under your bike is... well, gaRy. Srsly.
Get a hi-viz vest, and WEAR IT.
Upgrade to a hi-viz helmet.

Best upgrade you can get? 360° situational awareness. You should know what is going on around you at all times. PAY ATTENTION. They really ARE trying to kill you. Ride like the Prius Assassin Squad is lurking around EVERY corner- because they ARE.
No, I'm not paranoid... I just know people are, for the most part, stupid and oblivious when they get behind the wheel. Don't EVER count on them to see you- even if you have strobing crotch-lasers and a parade marching in front of you announcing your arrival!
 
CHP Guidelines directly from the sight

- Help drivers see you by wearing brightly colored protective gear and using high beams during daylight. I WOULD SAY FUCK IT AND USE IT AT NIGHT

- Be alert and anticipate possible movements by other road users.

- Be very aware of what the cars around you are doing. If a space, or gap, opens up next to your lane, be prepared react accordingly.

- Always be prepared to take evasive action if a vehicle changes lanes.

- Account for inattentive or distracted drivers.

- Riders should not weave back and forth between lanes or ride on top of the line.

- Riders should avoid lingering in blind spots.

- Never ride while impaired by drugs, alcohol or fatigue.

- Constantly scan for changing conditions.
 
Gixxergirl1000 said:
Don't EVER count on them to see you- even if you have strobing crotch-lasers and a parade marching in front of you announcing your arrival!
Click to expand...

Hell, not only will those things not keep you from getting hit, they'd likely increase the chances of getting hit. People would be too distracted. If I saw someone with crotch lasers, even I might be tempted to take them out for the sake of humanity. 'Gently, of course. :teeth
 
ST Guy said:
Hell, not only will those things not keep you from getting hit, they'd likely increase the chances of getting hit. People would be too distracted. If I saw someone with crotch lasers, even I might be tempted to take them out for the sake of humanity. 'Gently, of course. :teeth
Click to expand...

sorry for being ill-informed but what are crotch lasers?

is this it?

Destroyman--article_image.jpg
 
High beams on modern bikes are pretty damn bright, for the most part, and the last thing you want to do is blind oncoming drivers. Use the high beams with discresion. And remember, just as in motorcycling, drivers often go towards the things they focus on and there is a percentage of the driving public that will focus on something like an oncoming high beam and they'll drift over towards it.

Far better than running high beams all the time at night are running some auxilliary lighting. High quality HID or LED driving lights. A pair of amber fog lights can do wonders. If set up properly, driving or fog lamps create a triangle of light for the oncoming driver and you are therefore seen much more easily.
 
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