Increasing visibility

[nightrider]

So after getting hit a couple times and getting a black bike which I ride to work with a black helmet, black jacket, black pants, shoes, and gloves, I am looking for ways to feel a little more visible on the road.

I was considering a headlamp modulator, but they seem to be for daytime only. My boss at work said he used to ride with brights on all the time. Is this even legal? I don't want to piss off cops or cars in front of me. OTOH, a lot of people are pulling out in front of me and doing stupid sh1te as always.

Ideas:

Brighter than black helmet. Im getting a dark red one to replace my black one, and once it arrives I will use some:

Reflective vinyl--from streetglo.net. I got a sheet of black so I could accent my bodywork, and a sheet of white for later taping of my helmet, along with the yellow leftover I still have. The stuff really works at night, its just a matter of not doing a dorky tape job. I might cut and fit black tape for the front of my black rearview mirrors, do my windscreen, etc.

Silvania Silverstar bulb which I haven't got for this bike yet

Headlamp modulator. Is it even worth it?

LED kit. Except I don't want the lame, weak ground-oriented stuff I see on cruisers or the occasional sportbike. I want something bright, intense, up-front, high, very visible, and unusual. In other words, something I haven't seen yet. I would be taking some strange cool colors and attaching them to either my mirrors or windscreen. I'd put them on my helmet but then I'd have to worry about how to power them.

Any ideas?

[ohgood]

The tape is an good idea. White and black tape = great. I'm still trying to find some white/black tape for the rim strips. What color does the black you have through back at night ?

I noticed a while back the local deputies cars have a brown stripe, and it throws back bright yellow iirc.

Get pictures both day/night whne you're done, aight ?

[nightrider]

The black reflects as white/silver. There is a thread on here search for "reflective tape" or something, I have pics on it of bike and helmet.

[rnicholas]

I have a black jacket that has reflective piping on it.  My bike is white.  I have a black helmet but am getting a silver.

As for headlight modulator, I don't think they are worth it.  Using brights is a 50/50 arguement of those that do and those that don't.  I do sometimes and don't others depending on riding conditions, amt of traffic, etc.

reflective tape is good, but I believe riding to be noticed is the most important thing.  If cars are pulling out in front of you then perhaps (1) you are concealed by something (sun, other cars, lane position etc) or (2) you are riding too fast (could be speed limit but if the speed limit doesn't allow you to protect yourself, don't do it).  I know people are jerks and don't care about a biker until they hit one, but I'm not convinced that reflective tape is any better than riding agressively to protect yourself.

that's my 14 cents.

oh and I answered "it'll wear off" becuase I liked the answer.  I think protecting oneself on a bike is #1 focus.
later

[JeremyP]

Welcome to the all black bike club!
I personally feel like LEDs have made me more visable and of course riding agressive/protectively

I think i have something like 48 LEDs on the bike. Heres a picture of it when i first did it. I recently move some LEDs to light up the rear shock. I definately stand out from everything helse on the road

[nightrider]

That is piomp. I thought the GS was a slight undercharger to start with, you must plug into a battery tender often?

[Affschnozel]

Some people don't care even though they clearly see you , defensive/aggressive riding is the way to go.

Of course it's still good to increase visibility, so that at least normal people can see more of you, with colorful helmet and light reflective gear 

Modulator is nice but can annoy people who'll think you're doing that on purpose   

[JeremyP]

the alternator puts out at most 200 watts at 5000 rpms. the LEDs only draw a couple watts of power so its not much of a problem. My stator has gone bad so now i plug it in every night! but i don't think the LEDs caused that. I hardly ever charged the battery for 7000 miles with the LEDs installed.

let us see some final night pics as soon as you have all your visibility stuff done.

[suzukimx4789]

Safe. Who cares      1 (12.5%)  - thats me   

when my bikes done it will be all black with  metal flake red frame and a red underglow ill mostly be riding with large groups either way dont much care  cus im a little off in the head like that    if i dont do it who else will? thats my motto     

[GeeP]

Other drivers look for two kinds of objects, in this order:

1)  Immediate threats
2)  Everything else

Immediate threats include:

1)  Cop car / Cop bike
2)  Road workers, fire engines, ambulances
3)  Everything else

The more you can look like 1 or 2, the more people will see you. 

For an idea on what colors will work best for this, look no further than Cal Trans or the California Highway Patrol.

I chose to go the moving traffic cone route.  Judging by the number of weird looks I get on the road, I'd say it's working. 

Regardless, your best line of defense is ALWAYS being ready for ANYTHING!  (But every little bit helps.)

[Ronin]

Alternating blue lights on the front work great...really gets their attention.

[suzukimx4789]

hey who else voted they dont care?  thats my job 

[Ronin]

Anyone heard of the BP1210/H4 headlightbulb from Napa? It's an 80/100w.Sounds like the ticket...

[kml.krk]

I take this "little fella" with me    his eyes glow so bright that everyone sees me  



but to be serious:  I wear what you see! The stripes on a jacket and pants do pretty good job + my bike is yellow, + the jacket, helmet and my gloves are partially yellow (yellow is theoretically the most visible of all colors)

I was also told by my motorcycle instructor to ride with high beam lights on during the day   I'm not sure if it's legal but it helps  

cheers
KaMeL

[Ronin]

Last I heard it's legal in all 50 states for daytime.

[nightrider]

I went and got me a Netami halogen bulb, 9003/H4, 12V, 60/55 watt (for the SV). Pepboys had Silvania Silverstars only in 60/45, I guess this brand will work just as well.

Buddy told me he rides with hi beams all the time, day and night. I definitely feel more visible with them on at night... but then again he took off his front turnsignals and his rearview mirrors too. 

[pbureau69]

I put reflective tape on my gs (its blue but it applies to all colors) Search for a topic called TRON for location on web where to buy.. (grin)

Pic of bike with reflective tape on flash at night....



and my helmet... (wife says she can see the head movement due to reflective tape about 1/4 mile away.)




cheers