Nighttime visibility.

**janno** · 30th June 2007, 10:17

Was driving last night after dark and a coupla motorbikes turned across me at various times - just as part of the traffic movements.

What really hit me is that from side on in the dark, a rider in black or dark gear becomes near invisible!! And of course most of the gear we wear is . . . black or dark coloured.

As in - one minute bike, next minute blank space, then turn completed, rear light visible.

I quite often wear the mightly Nana Vest at night, but now I'm seriously thinking of sewing hi vis tape down the side of my overtrou.

Is it legal to have reflectors on the side of your bike like the trucks do along the side of their trailers?

It really surprised me at how dam hard I would be to see at night without the Nana Vest on.

**Drum** · 30th June 2007, 10:38

Plenty of bikes have reflectors on the side.

I would say though, that you are better off not putting yourself in a position where they are needed. If it's going to be that close a call, just let the car go through eh?

**Waylander** · 30th June 2007, 11:27

My bike has reflectors on the side of the radiator so it's perfectly legel.
I've even gone one up on them and installed a set that has LEDs in them nd wired them to my headlight.

**inlinefour** · 30th June 2007, 13:15

My codura gear, leathers and enduro gear all had reflective material as part of each piece of kit. Did not look like much in the day time, but at night it all sticks out like a sore thumb.

**janno** · 30th June 2007, 13:23

Originally Posted by Waylander

My bike has reflectors on the side of the radiator so it's perfectly legel.
I've even gone one up on them and installed a set that has LEDs in them nd wired them to my headlight.

Sounds a good idea. Do they have to be a certain colour ie red only?

**Steam** · 30th June 2007, 13:29

This is what I sewed onto my ventura bag.
And I put stripes on my soft panniers too.
I also wear the nana vest at night.
I do more than 50% of my riding at night.

I understand there are no rules regarding what you can wear on your body, including such illogical things as white reflectorised bits facing back (like on the nana vest) and red reflectors facing forward. Illegal when attached to the bike I think, but legal when on your clothing.

**Waylander** · 30th June 2007, 13:30

Originally Posted by janno

Sounds a good idea. Do they have to be a certain colour ie red only?

Mine are yellow.

**Steam** · 30th June 2007, 13:31

See this thread, exact same topic, just one month ago.
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=14070

Useful topic though, worth repeating.

**Steam** · 30th June 2007, 13:42

Originally Posted by Waylander

...and installed a set that has LEDs in them and wired them to my headlight.

Have they gone through a WOF yet?
Side running lights like a truck has are sadly not permitted on a bike.
You can have illumination to the side as long as the light source is not visible from side-on, like the picture I have drawn.