LightMode - Electroluminescent (EL) kit

[csn]

Hello, has anyone tried, or does someone use EL kit on the helmet or bike?

Like on this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbj0T_2ttRI

Is it worth to buy something like that for more visibility/safety?
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Just love bikes

[Shinigami]

if you did fancy it then you can DIY it for a fraction of the cost, all of the parts are freely available online and pretty much plug and play.

I personally wouldn't fit to mine, i bet they look mega shit during the day and most of my riding is in the day
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Current: Honda City Fly CLR125 2003 Honda CB600F Hornet 2008 Yamaha FZ6 S2 + 1991 Kawasaki GPZ500
"Once you realize what a joke everything is, being the Comedian is the only thing that makes sense.

[csn]

Thanks Shinigami, I just saw it online and thought it could be interesting, but I'll try to see on eBay.

Maybe it'll be handy to go riding in the night or if I have a really early or late shift.
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Just love bikes

[Teflon-Mike]

I wear a Shark evo flip, that's supposed to light up like that apparently..
Old tech Phosphorescent, charges up under UV then glows in the dark... allegedly!
Had to check the 'manual' to find out of it was true, though, 'cos I never saw it; and only discovered the 'feature' when I bumped into some-one else with one who asked if I'd ever seen mine light up... 'cos he'd never seen his do it either! Lol.

EL wire? Now that might actually stand a chance of lighting up.....

My daughter, for a school photography project got an ELWire kit of e-bay to stage some 'light painting' pictures, which got me 'thinking'..... Lots of daft notions of how to use the stuff on a motorbike; using it to wire up indies or tail lamp, or bedding it into lacquer on the tank to make 'light up' pinstriping.... a little 'messing' though didn't suggest pleasant or even successful results would be all that easy, and that EL-Paint, as they use on car dash-panels so the numbers light up, would probably be the more likely to 'work', but, even more demanding to do.

BUT, revolves back to the question 'why'?

For Tron-cool custom effect, there's potential, BUT, all it is ever going to be is Tron-cool custom effect, and whether it works or not will ultimately be down to how well its executed and whether you can avoid it looking 'tacky'.

For conspicuity? Well, I suppose anything is better than nothing, but if Batenburg Bimmers with flashing blue lights on a pole can get SMIDSY'd? The 'odds' aren't going to be much improved by much at all really are they? so is it really worth the effort, and could you get as much added 'conspicuity' far more easily, and far more reliably from something more basic like fork-leg running lights, or side markers, or auxiliary tail lamps.

Lighting up the helmet, is something of a double edged sword, I think; first potential 'advantage' is that it 'may' side-step 'vehicle' lighting regulations, if the light-source isn't permanently attached or powered by the vehicle, but I say 'may' as wordings don't say that, and for example state it's an offence to show red-light at the front of the vehicle... as rider, if you wore a push-bike tail light on your hat and did a shoulder check, so red-lamp on hat shone forwards, you'd still be showing red-light 'ahead'.. so could be deemed in contravention....

That 'mobility' though; giving light movement with your head, will add to conspicuity, but conspicuity is only part of the story; you want other drivers to see, then take note of what they see, THEN take apropriate action for what you have shown them. JUST getting thier attension isn't enough; and if they see 'colourful' lights, they wont necesserily give it any more attension than they would a kid on the pavement in flashy trainers or playing with a toy.

One of the self-defeating 'problems' of conspicuity 'aids'... you grab attention, BUT, without any 'iconic' association to tell who-ever's attention you have grabbed 'instantly' what they are looking at; they will even more readily dismiss it as 'not important'.

So actually, idea that added conspicuity 'cant hurt' might not be so true.

Bottom line is, no I haven't tried it; as far as safety goes, I think there's an awful lot of areas that can do far more to improve my survival odds than mucking about with lamps. While for 'style'.. the futuristic tron-esque fantacy style, is something that's been done, its not so 'novel' and risks a lot of 'cheese' for the aesthetic results likely. either way, lots more 'useful' ways to waste my time or money.
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[csn]

[jjdugen]

Must have a first gen Fireblade though, it will look crap on anything else.
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The CBR900RR has been sold. Aprilia Falco worms its way into my heart.
Try Soi 23 on Amazon for a good read.... Self promotion? Moi?

[MCN]

[Pete.]

Looks a lot light 'showing a white light to the rear of a vehicle' to me.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[csn]

[Alpineandy]

It depends if you want to wear dark clothing/helmet then I guess this isn't a bad idea but I suspect bright clothing and helmet would be more noticeable...
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The above comment isn't necessarily the truth and anyone that says it is, is only correct if it's the truth or they're bigger than me.

[Shinigami]

if you get some you need to affix it in the shape of a big floppy cock on your lid. It's the law...I read it somewhere.
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Current: Honda City Fly CLR125 2003 Honda CB600F Hornet 2008 Yamaha FZ6 S2 + 1991 Kawasaki GPZ500
"Once you realize what a joke everything is, being the Comedian is the only thing that makes sense.

[Rogerborg]

[Shinigami]

bare in mind Shark now sell a range of helmets with LED lighting built in, these are green lights however
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Current: Honda City Fly CLR125 2003 Honda CB600F Hornet 2008 Yamaha FZ6 S2 + 1991 Kawasaki GPZ500
"Once you realize what a joke everything is, being the Comedian is the only thing that makes sense.

[csn]

Shinigami I'm not a helmet expert, the last one High-Tech I saw was one with a camera on the back and a little LCD on the visor to work like the rear-view mirror in cars.

About the colours and and shapes, you can do as you wish...everyone has their taste

I'll try to search the Shark helmets, but for start I'm thinking of buying a simple full-face or a flip-up one.
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Just love bikes

[Teflon-Mike]

[Shinigami]

[ScaredyCat]

[csn]

[grr666]

Skwal. Purpose made for the job. And not silly money either.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[ScaredyCat]

[Shinigami]

[ADSrox0r]

I've used EL panels in a topbox lighting project last year. The finished effect was pretty cool and certainly had the desired effect. The problem was the panels don't like moisture and rapidly degraded.

EL panels/wire also degrade over time anyway they lose brightness so it's a bit meh.
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Current bikes: '08 VFR 800 VTEC(yo) , '07 ZZR1400 Winter hack: '95 Aprilia 650 Pegaso Currently lusting after: RC30

[ScaredyCat]

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[ScaredyCat]