I've had a few close calls in traffic recently and I'd like to install some devices on my F to make it more visible.

1) What is the brightest bulb I can put in the stock F headlight?
2) Any recommendations for headlight modulators? I'm thinking of getting the Comagination unit.
3) I'd like to add a secondary LED brake strip above my taillight. It would be attached to a flasher to quickly flash for a second before staying on with the stock taillight. Any suggestions on how to accomplish this?

Thanks!

Not sure about the first two, but for #3 you may want to consider switching out the stock taillight for LEDs and get a taillight modulator.

I'm a fan of high vis.  What I've read is that you want to widen your profile.  Fork mounted driving lights would be good.  You want a triangular frontal light picture.  Riding with just a single bright light does nothing to help people judge your distance and speed.  You tell how far away objects are by its width, so anything you can do to give multiple points of reference should help.

One especially good way to make people notice you is to swerve and it's more fun than driving in a straight line.  A couple feet back and forth is a huge attention getter.  Do it when approaching cars waiting to turn, both those perpendicular to you on a side street, left turners at intersections, right turners at intersections, etc.

All of the above are passive changes that rely entirely on the other driver 1) seeing you and 2) making a good decision now that they've seen you.  They shouldn't be discounted, but they shouldn't be relied upon.

Active behavioral changes may help you the most since they don't rely on anyone but you.  Slow down, increase your stopping distances from the cars in front of you.  Hitting something at 40mph has twice the energy as hitting something at 30mph.

Practice full effort braking with your front brakes every time you ride.  Maintain awareness of vehicles in every direction and look as far down the road as possible.  Position yourself at stoplights and leave it in first gear so that you can zip out of the way if car coming behind you doesn't appear to be slowing down.  Always have an escape plan.  Play a "What if..." game while you ride ("What if that car in front of me slams on its brakes?", "What if the car next to me starts to merge on me?", "What if that car is going to turn in front of me?").

Those headlight modulators always worried me. I get the idea, but in my head it always just looked like someone was flashing their headlight at me, and if you're in a car not paying attention, you slow to make a left turn across traffic, look up to see a bike's light flashing at you you might think they're flashing to tell you to go and pull out infront of them without thinking it through.

I'd recommend riding with your highbeam on all day, and maybe finding a brighter bulb, but I'm not sure about the modulator.

Good advice again Rom.... I tend to leave my bike in a lower gear than I need while I am in traffic to enable the quick exit if need be.  Also makes extra noise for those around me.  I will speed up at least to the drivers windows even if I have no intent of passing them.  It just makes them aware I am there and hopefully they will remember it when I fall back again.

Another thing to keep in mind that you may already know is when you are casting a long shadow in front of you, the sun will be at your back and you may be hard to see even if you have a modulator or super bright lights.  Just tell yourself you can't be seen and be ready to act on it.

I think the full effort braking practice is a good idea to do..... I do it because it amazes me how quick you can stop.  Make sure no one is too close behind you because you can outbreak them by a mile.

If you already know this stuff, disregard my post.  Maybe someone can benefit from reading it.

Be safe....

Scott

Quote from: Firewalker on August 16, 2010, 12:18:39 PM
Another thing to keep in mind that you may already know is when you are casting a long shadow in front of you, the sun will be at your back and you may be hard to see even if you have a modulator or super bright lights.  Just tell yourself you can't be seen and be ready to act on it.

Good point.  An easy way to remember it is that your shadow points in the direction that is hardest to see you.

Quote from: Firewalker on August 16, 2010, 12:18:39 PM
Make sure no one is too close behind you because you can outbreak them by a mile.

Don't count on that.  Cars can stop as quickly or quicker than most motorcyclists.  If road surface isn't great and they have ABS, they'll definitely outbrake you.  This is one of the reasons you need to leave very ample room from the vehicle in front of you.  You'll rear-end them indignantly thinking "they're not supposed to stop faster than me!"

Good point on the braking....especially with ABS.  Just saying don't get rear ended in traffic trying to practice full effort...  I may leave a little too much room in front of me most of the time but I feel better about it.  Another thing to do which probably most people do is ride on the outer boundaries of the lane.  Would make it easier to counter steer out of the lane if someone did decide to lock their brakes right in front of you.  Emergency lane split if the decision had to be made.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LED-ELECTROPODS-RED-BRAKE-LIGHTS-MOTORCYCLE-480258-/120470143901?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories#ht_1666wt_862

These?

That's a waste of $25. 

Quote from: tt_four on August 16, 2010, 11:59:39 AM
Those headlight modulators always worried me. I get the idea, but in my head it always just looked like someone was flashing their headlight at me, and if you're in a car not paying attention, you slow to make a left turn across traffic, look up to see a bike's light flashing at you you might think they're flashing to tell you to go and pull out infront of them without thinking it through.

I thought so too, but then I saw the demo on this page: http://www.comagination.com/modSuzuki.htm

The light is blinking much to fast to be done manually. It looks more like a police officer!

I like reflective stickers on the rear fender, that we are all so fond of cutting off, on the helmet and on the bike.

I am a fan of high visibility. I'm older and if my body gets broken, it won't heal as fast as a younger rider.

1. I have a white/blue bike. Lighter colors are more visible, especially at night.
2. I wear a white and black jacket. All black is too hard ro see
3. White helmet with some reflective tape. Black helmets are harder to see and are hotter in the sun.
4. Added side marker lights (see user bike pictures, somewhere around page 64 of the photos) which are also side turn signals
5. Reflective white wheel tape
6. White LEDs inside the cowlings for added night visibility (and it looks cool!)
7. Some riders have reflective vests. I used to think they were silly - but they do work to increase visibility.
8. I won't go with flush mounts. Lights sticking out, while not as cool as flush mounts, are easier for cars and other bikers to see.
9. I added Denali running/fog lights to the lower front fork.
10 I did not remove the stock rear turn signals and go only with integrated. The wider spacing of the turn signals is more visible to anyone behind me.

You can be bright and visible and still have a great looking ride. As you ride around, pay attention to other bikes you see. Ask yourself: what made me see that bike and not the one next to it? Do things that cause you to notice other bikes and cars. Avoid things where you say "gosh - I didn't see that bike until I passed it".

LOUD doesn't work. People block out the sound and turn away because it is annoying. They try to ignore it. That car with the loud stereo - do you constantly look at it or do you turn your attention away from it?

If someone thinks you aren't "cool" by trying to be more visible and safer, ask for their address so you can send them a get well card when they get hit.

I've never used one but I've heard the modulators seriously shorten bulb life. That would certainly defeat the purpose of being seen if your headlight went out and you didn't realize it.

here is what i did to my bike......2 LED stick on strips under the frame to light up the engine bay........and i cut out a stencil on the back fender and put a white LED behind that. those are just some small things that you can do, i was having the same problem being seen.

Besides the flashing rear LED brake light how much visibility is one going to achieve during day driving? I assume if a person can't see you they just can't see you. Driving towards a vehicle is one thing but driving alongside (passing, lane positions, etc..) a vehicle may not even matter with how visible you are. I do like the flashing rear LED thing though... anyone have experience with those?

I was told that their are two drivers to watch out for on the road.
1.) Drivers who don't see you
2.) Drivers who don't care

Anyone else have pics on their enhancements for visibility? I'm curious as to what people have done.

People will pull out in front of semi trucks; don't count on any visual device to work.  It only makes it easier for those who are already looking for you to see you.

Quote from: ojstinson on August 17, 2010, 10:57:06 PM
I've never used one but I've heard the modulators seriously shorten bulb life. That would certainly defeat the purpose of being seen if your headlight went out and you didn't realize it.

I've heard the opposite.

Google has a bit to say about it: http://www.google.com/search?q=headlight+modulator+bulb+life

i've got those electropod blinkers on the back of my gs. i stuck them right next to my brake lights. my friends say they help see the brakes at night but i wouldnt know. i've never seen anyone else riding away on my bike =P

i will admit it's probably more of a peace-of-mind add-on moreso than legitimately lifesaving feature. but it blinks bright and fast and hopefully catches attention. i got mine for 15 or so shipped so it's not too bad.

i have the electropods mounted to the bottom of my plate i heard it was better because it saparates the stock light and leds and creates a bigger light area, idk if its true sets my mid at ease though 

I dont see why they would be bad. Maybe Homer could elaborate why he thinks they are a waste (fat chance  ). When riding in the sun and your light doesnt appear as bright i bet they catch attention good. Just as much at night.

i could understand why 25 bucks could be a waste.

if someone is coming up to you and they dont see your brake light on and that youre stopped in front of them, a little blinking light isnt gonna do much.

again, i've had cars rush up on me even with these lights. if they wanna see it and acknowledge it than that's up to the driver.

i wouldnt have bought them for 25 bucks.. 15 seemed more reasonable to me at the time. haha

Added side marker lights and LEDs inside the cowlings similar to Sinisterpolarbears. Helps at night. I added white reflective tape to the wheels (photo shows it when it was blue tape, but white shows up better day or night) During the day, not much you can do other than be as bright and light colored as possible. The side marker lights help a little during the day and they double as additional turn signals so vehicles to the side of me have a better chance of seeing me turn or change lanes (I said "better" chance, still not a guarantee.).