Keeping visible in the depths of winter.

[Steam]

Really? Do they sell it in rolls or strips or something? How much? I would like to get some self adhesive reflecto strips?

They do indeed. I got 2 meters of "Shoulder Sash" strip, it cost me $10 per meter. But that was cheaper than normal because the shop guy is a biker too and gave me all sorts of discounts.

The coolest reflective stuff you can get is self-adhesive, it looks BLACK in daylight but at night it is as good a reflector as any, and looks white when you shine a light on it. Very weird. It also costs $10 per meter and is available from good Pushbike shops.

[Bnonn]

Such as what pushbike shops? I dunno which ones are good (: I'm trying to find somewhere in Hamilton that stocks self-adhesive reflective tape and I'm having the devil of a job. Repco sells four miserable colors, NZ Safety sells nothing self-adhesive, and Supercheap Autos sells white tape in 0.6 m lengths. Lame. Bring on the pushbike shops for some white and black by the metre...

[Morcs]

I find that wearing my white honda leathers and looking like a 'raving homosexual' as many have said, makes me soo visible that people stay well away from me...

wonder why...



But seriously, wearing anything but black is a big visibility plus.

[Disco Dan]

They do indeed. I got 2 meters of "Shoulder Sash" strip, it cost me $10 per meter. But that was cheaper than normal because the shop guy is a biker too and gave me all sorts of discounts.

The coolest reflective stuff you can get is self-adhesive, it looks BLACK in daylight but at night it is as good a reflector as any, and looks white when you shine a light on it. Very weird. It also costs $10 per meter and is available from good Pushbike shops.

Cheers for that, will look into it.

[Bnonn]

Thought people might like to see what the secondary headlights I recommended in a previous post look like. Since I ride a naked FZ6, I only have a single headlight. I always have this on high-beam, because I am painfully aware of how many accidents occur because a car fails to see a bike coming and cuts across its path. However, having had a couple of close calls already, I obviously am not visible enough! A few of the Hamilton people have added secondary headlights to their bikes so as to increase their visibility to cages, and also to give them more light at night when riding the twisties. Since these lights are only $25 a pop at Supercheap Autos, I decided to give it a go myself.

My rationale is mostly that, when it comes to visibility, more is more. The additional lights are, I believe, actually very helpful, because cagers tune out to anything which doesn't fit into their expected set of "things to see". We all know that they do not look out for motorbikes. They look for other cars, and that's it. So when they see a single headlight, either they are confused, and may react unpredictably, or they simply ignore it because "it isn't a car". This may sound stupid and irrational, but ask yourself how many cagers are not stupid and irrational? It only takes one to kill you. Therefore, multiple headlights, I believe, are a big plus when riding. Even ignoring the cager psychology aspect, I have found that the dual headlights such as those on Buells and S3s are much more noticeable, and from a greater distance, when riding. A single headlight, for some reason, confuses the eye more (perhaps because there is no parallax?) Two headlights is great; three makes you sit up and look.

Anyway, I decided it would be worthwhile to try this mod, so here are the results. Sorry for the very poor quality; my camera is very cheap!

[oldrider]

Thought people might like to see what the secondary headlights I recommended in a previous post look like. Since I ride a naked FZ6, I only have a single headlight. I always have this on high-beam, because I am painfully aware of how many accidents occur because a car fails to see a bike coming and cuts across its path. However, having had a couple of close calls already, I obviously am not visible enough! A few of the Hamilton people have added secondary headlights to their bikes so as to increase their visibility to cages, and also to give them more light at night when riding the twisties. Since these lights are only $25 a pop at Supercheap Autos, I decided to give it a go myself.

My rationale is mostly that, when it comes to visibility, more is more. The additional lights are, I believe, actually very helpful, because cagers tune out to anything which doesn't fit into their expected set of "things to see". We all know that they do not look out for motorbikes. They look for other cars, and that's it. So when they see a single headlight, either they are confused, and may react unpredictably, or they simply ignore it because "it isn't a car". This may sound stupid and irrational, but ask yourself how many cagers are not stupid and irrational? It only takes one to kill you. Therefore, multiple headlights, I believe, are a big plus when riding. Even ignoring the cager psychology aspect, I have found that the dual headlights such as those on Buells and S3s are much more noticeable, and from a greater distance, when riding. A single headlight, for some reason, confuses the eye more (perhaps because there is no parallax?) Two headlights is great; three makes you sit up and look.

Anyway, I decided it would be worthwhile to try this mod, so here are the results. Sorry for the very poor quality; my camera is very cheap!

Have you been for a warrant check with that set up? John.

[TerminalAddict]

boyds say they are illegal .. but follow up by saying its a dumb rule, and won't fail me

of course, to remove them is pretty simple, so I might do that at WOF time just incase mr inspector is in, checking that boyds are doing a good job

[bert_is_evil]

. I always have this on high-beam

Do people get angry and flash their lights at you? I've considered it but don't want to dazzle oncoming traffic causing them to swerve into my path

[Bnonn]

I haven't been warranted yet, but I actually can't see how they could enforce this as being illegal. There is no limit specified to the number of headlights you are allowed to have, to the best of my knowledge. Many of the larger cruisers and tourers have three headlights in front, and they're damn bright. The total brightness of these ones would not exceed many cars' high beams, so I doubt they could make a fuss about that. And they are easily turned off since switching to low beam kills the secondary lights as well as the primary ones. The only possible problem with them could be dodgy wiring or attachment, but I am happy for my handiwork to be checked.

I got my bike from Boyd as well, so it's good to hear that, even if they think it's illegal, they probably won't fail me.

As for dazzling other drivers, I have deliberately angled the secondary lights downward and inward slightly. This gives me a better view of the road where the low-beam would usually be shining (the high-beam shines further ahead and leaves a nasty dark patch in front of my wheel), and it ensures that they aren't directed toward the windshield of a car. They are still real bright to look at; you won't miss them—but they're unlikely to dazzle you, even at night. I very, very seldom have anyone flash their lights at me, night or day. I think a lot of people just figure that since everything on a bike is more powerful than on a car, the headlights must be too!

The short of the long, though, is that I'd rather dazzle someone and have them see me, than not dazzle them and be hit by a car.

[Krusti]

Such as what pushbike shops? I dunno which ones are good (: I'm trying to find somewhere in Hamilton that stocks self-adhesive reflective tape and I'm having the devil of a job. Repco sells four miserable colors, NZ Safety sells nothing self-adhesive, and Supercheap Autos sells white tape in 0.6 m lengths. Lame. Bring on the pushbike shops for some white and black by the metre...

You could allways try TWL (Transport Wholesale Ltd) Specialise in truck related stuff. All sorts of shiny stuff on back of trucks!

My two cents....

[Templar]

I do too, so last week I went to the safety shop and got some reflective strips and sewed big red chevrons onto my Ventura pack. Bright!

Why did you use Chevrons out of interest? I think someone not paying attention is going to look up and see that and turn right. Looks like a detour type sign.

I like what you've done with your lights Bnon.

[TerminalAddict]

Bnonn:
Maximum number of high beam head lights on a motorcycle is 2
max on a car is 4

it's in the WOF book .. I looked it up with Linden one day while mooching about at boyds

[avgas]

Repsol leathers do it for me, people will run for miles in fear of infection

[Grahameeboy]

Rermember folks that car drivers do not see cars.

I drive a People Carrier and I would say that I get just as many other road users 'not seeing' me as I do on a bike.

I think that making yourself more visible cannot be a bad thing, however, in my experience, you will only be visible if the other road user actually looks in the first place or if you are lucky the second place.

Too many road users over here either do not look or they vaguely turn their head or worse still just do not care and expect the other road user to avoid them.

The only difference is if we get hit on a bike, we come off worse.

I ride with both headlights on high beam. My Bike is red. I am 6ft tall (no this is not a lonley hearts ad!!). Around town I wear a red jacket with a graphic coloured helmet and ride close to the centre line marking so should not be easy to miss but I am still missed.

So like I said, it is because the other road user:

- Does not look at all (so no difference whether you are a christmas tree)
- Look and don't care or are going to fast upto an intersection, look and cannot stop and do not care.

It is our visible minds that keep us out of trouble

[Bnonn]

Bnonn:
Maximum number of high beam head lights on a motorcycle is 2
max on a car is 4

it's in the WOF book .. I looked it up with Linden one day while mooching about at boyds

Lame. I guess I'll just have to disconnect one of them before the WOF then O.o

Too many road users over here either do not look or they vaguely turn their head or worse still just do not care and expect the other road user to avoid them.

Man, you ain't wrong there. I am amazed how often someone will see me coming, look right at me, KNOW they don't have enough time to make it in front of me and up to speed, and pull out anyway. I have taken to riding up beside them and banging on their windows with my carbon-fiber knuckles now and yelling at them asking what the hell is wrong with them, are they blind or malicious or both. Given the image bikers have (rightly or wrongly) as being violent gang types, it probably will only take one such encounter before the pillock driver will think twice about pulling out directly in front of a bike doing 60 with a pillion on the back. Twats. Utter twats.