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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: jeremy_nash on March 18, 2008, 10:49:21 PM

Title: neutral light
Post by: jeremy_nash on March 18, 2008, 10:49:21 PM
I was sitting at a stop light today and realized that most motorcyclists don't hold the brake when at a stoplight.  I was thinking about installing a relay so that whenever I put the bike in neutral, that it will light up the brake-lights.  since alot of people don't notice a motorcycle cause they are too busy talking on the phone or whatever.  has anyone tried this? or does anyone know of anything else like this?
Title: Re: neutral light
Post by: seamax on March 18, 2008, 10:59:27 PM
Isn't dangerous to be in neutral at a stoplight or even in traffic. What if you need to move immediately out of the way of another vehicle.
Title: Re: neutral light
Post by: cd on March 19, 2008, 12:18:32 AM
its only dangerous if you are unaware
Title: Re: neutral light
Post by: Jay_wolf on March 19, 2008, 02:14:22 AM
i agree , i dont put my bike in neutral , im looking at my mirror then in front , to check the light , hand on the clutch ready to go , that split second to grab the clutch put the bike in gear could be to short
Title: Re: neutral light
Post by: rnicholas on March 19, 2008, 06:38:10 AM
I put my bike in neutral at stoplights when there is a car in front of me and in back of me already stopped.  If no one is behind me, then I keep it in gear in the event I need to get out of there.

I'm not sure you would want a relay keeping the brake light on in neutral though.  One big important thing is the communication of our actions to other drivers.  If you bike is moving around and yet the brake light is on....  Or your driving and decide to put it in neutral to cost, or scratch an itch with your left hand, etc......  You could inadvertanly misscommunicate something to other drivers.  And they already don't know what they are doing. 

Instead, just use your foot to make the brake light flash a little when cars are moving around you.  A solid light is less noticable than a blinking/flashing one anyday.
Title: Re: neutral light
Post by: scottpA_GS on March 19, 2008, 07:01:28 AM

The correct thing to do is stay in gear ready to move.  :thumb:

I always repetedly squeeze my front brake to flash the light as drivers come up behind me  :thumb: I kinda have a habbit of flashing my brake light any time I am stoping, just so the person behing can see something is going on  :thumb:
Title: Re: neutral light
Post by: gmark on March 19, 2008, 02:24:28 PM
The MSF class will gig you for stoping in anything other than first so I'm allways in first.
Title: Re: neutral light
Post by: jeremy_nash on March 20, 2008, 07:11:16 PM
that's why I asked here.  to check on any points I hadn't thought of.  all very good points. thanks everyone..... so that wasn't a great idea then.

what about a small 12v strobe inside the brake light cover hooked to the brake light?  it would flash extra bright when you apply the brakes for all the drivers on cell phones ........................I normally tap the brakes a few times when I slow down, but a strobe would make it more noticeable
Title: Re: neutral light
Post by: GeeP on March 20, 2008, 07:19:19 PM
First gear, left foot down, left hand on the clutch, right foot on the brake, right hand gripping the throttle, head on a swivel. 

Even if there are three cars behind you, if a semi hits the last car hard enough you're still a Mackwitch.  Best be ready for anything and have an escape route ready.  I usually aim or locate myself so I can shoot up a gap between lanes, or hit the sidewalk if I'm in the far right lane.
Title: NEVER TRUST CAGES
Post by: ohgood on March 21, 2008, 04:58:29 AM
Cage drivers will slam into each other @ 60 mph while paying attention only to their stupid cell phone.

(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m130/busadawg/mc20zhills20IMAGE_088.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m130/busadawg/mc20zhills20IMAGE_087.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m130/busadawg/mc20zhills20IMAGE_083.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m130/busadawg/mc20zhills20IMAGE_079.jpg)

The dodge was stopped behind the 3 bikes. The idiot in the chevy was on his cellphone, apparently texting his lover instead of driving. The three bikers are ok after being run over by the dodge.

I think a flashing brake light while in neutral sounds like a good idea to me, wouldn't help in this situation though, unfortunately.
Title: Re: neutral light
Post by: rnicholas on March 21, 2008, 06:36:46 AM
Wow.  That is intense. :nono:  I'm going to rethink my neutral position (pun intended).   :dunno_white:

I do love the dude's shirt in the last pic.  Who's up for Wed at 7pm   :thumb:
Title: Re: neutral light
Post by: Cal Price on March 21, 2008, 06:58:39 AM
The "official" teaching and advice here is, First gear, left hand holding-in clutch (obviously) right foot on brake, left on ground (again obviously) Right hand spread so that you are able to use brake lever or throttle as appropriate.
Title: Re: neutral light
Post by: Toogoofy317 on March 21, 2008, 12:59:17 PM
I love the BYOB and yes that is where I am typically on a Wednesday night.(it was photoshopped in right?) I am actually trying to get into the Christian Motorcycle Club down here they have an off shoot called Fast Lane for Sport Bikes and such which is cool. We go out to Bike night at Old Town and Bless Bikes. Some of the stories the bikers have told us after their bike was blessed make you scratch your head and thank God they are standing there talking to you. I think it is a great thing to do I've been blessed with a bike that I love and if I can use it to serve God then that is cool too!

Mary S.
Title: Re: neutral light
Post by: ATLRIDER on March 23, 2008, 06:58:50 PM
Wow that scene's a mess :o 

jeremy,

Here's a link to company that sells a kit to does what you described.  Doesn't work with cable speedos though.

http://www.signaldynamics.com/products/Modules/brake_hold.asp

When I finally get my bike on the road I'll be holdin the clutch with it in gear.
Title: Re: neutral light
Post by: ohgood on March 24, 2008, 05:09:20 AM
Quote from: Toogoofy317 on March 21, 2008, 12:59:17 PM
I love the BYOB and yes that is where I am typically on a Wednesday night.(it was photoshopped in right?) I am actually trying to get into the Christian Motorcycle Club down here they have an off shoot called Fast Lane for Sport Bikes and such which is cool. We go out to Bike night at Old Town and Bless Bikes. Some of the stories the bikers have told us after their bike was blessed make you scratch your head and thank God they are standing there talking to you. I think it is a great thing to do I've been blessed with a bike that I love and if I can use it to serve God then that is cool too!

Mary S.

no ma'am, that's just as i found the pictures on tampasportbikes.com

there are allot of them here, or maybe they're hells angels trying to sneak by ? ;)
Title: Re: neutral light
Post by: suzukimx4789 on March 25, 2008, 06:34:20 PM
what about taking one of the wires to one brake light bulb for brights and putting a flasher fuse in line?  you can get flasher fuses that have a slight delay before they kick in so if ur hitting the brake to slow down it dont necessarily flash but when at a light stopped it will begin to flash on one bulb as the other stays constant bright  :dunno_white: