Hi-viz lights on bike

[David072]

Hi Guys

I have a kid on the way, and as expected my missus is giving me a harder time than before about riding a motorbike! The recent bikesafe video being shared all over Facebook probably didn't help.

I feel I'm a pretty safe rider but of course it's often other road users to be concerned about.

To that end, I'm considering buying these for my bike:

https://www.bikevis.com/motorcycle-led-running-lights.html

Has anyone got any experience of these? Does anyone use them? I guess having a couple of lights on the side of my fairing might be a good idea, and given how cheap they are it's certainly tempting.

[pinkyfloyd]

Seen a few bikes with extra LED lights on them. But then I can spot them because I ride.

Trouble is, if a car is not going to see you at the best of times adding lights wont really help much unless its:

https://lh3.ggpht.com/-dQMYdTonTqo/UUMFxt55X0I/AAAAAAAB7AA/O_cVjIGzXfc/s630_tom-think-bike_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[weasley]

For almost the same reasons I am part way through ordering and receiving parts to bling up my bike.

I have ordered (and received) some replacement mirrors with built-in indicators. Crucially, they use bulbs (not integral LEDs like many) and they have clear lenses. I intend to replace the amber bulbs with white LEDs, then wire them to be permanently on with the ignition.

I should then end up with two wide, high white DRLs giving a greater sense of width to m'bike.

I looked at those Bullets but decided there was nowhere good to mount them on my bike that would be unobtrusive yet visible.
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[DieselASFC]

I can't see them little leds making much of a difference. People do this sort of shit on a regular basis;

https://badasshelmetstore.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/motorcycle-crash-gif.gif

Using your own guile would be much handier. I wear hi-viz textiles, but I don't fecking rely on them.

[David072]

[Taught2BCauti...]

Anything that improves your visibility to other road users has to be a good thing, but in my opinion, these small LED's can be confusing to car drivers.

A car waiting to turn right out of a T junction might only see the small light on your nearside and mistake it for an indicator and pull out in front of you.

I think it would be better to use one of the multi-LED Daylight Running Lights (DRL's) that you can get for cars, and mount it centrally, under the headlamp.

I had such a problem with cars pulling out on me when I first started riding, and it wasn't until I was driving the car one day and saw a bike approaching me with similar headlamps to mine, that I realised how dim the bulbs were. I changed mine to HID's and don't get that problem now.
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Honda Varadero XL125(V8)
www.TheFutureIsHere.eu

[DieselASFC]

[raesewell]

I have them
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Yamaha FJR 1300 Normanton West Yorkshire

[iooi]

I refer you to This thread
Flashing blues and it still made no difference.....
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[andyscooter]

In my case wouldn't of mattered how bright I was he was behind a van and couldn't see f all
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[Rogerborg]

No point, mate, it won't help against folk who aren't looking, mate, or witches, bruv, or volcanoes, innit, and it'll just attract bleedin' tyrannosaurs, truth.



Do it. I've got LED lights on my mirrors, and bells on my toes, and I will be noticed wherever I go.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Barnoe]

Riders have bikes with permanent lights on, high vis jackets, bright helmets, Noisy as fuck exhausts..... and still get knocked off :/

What more do car drivers need us to do, before they see bikes :/
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You know you are old when you're told to slow down by your doctor and not the police.

[Llama-Farmer]

In a lot of the pictures on that website, they appear to be nowhere near as bright as the headlight anyway.


If this is mostly a task in appeasing the missus' worries, then spend the money on something like a Bikesafe course or further training.

I feel it would make a bigger positive difference than fitting some LEDs.

I see cars pull out all the time whilst looking in completely the opposite direction, and thats when I'm in the car as well as on the bike... nothing will stop idiots being idiots
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Current Bike: 1999 Honda CB600 FX Hornet
Next Bike: I want a CBR-RR. And I want an F800 GS-A. And a VFR 800. Can I have all 3?
Dream Bikes: Honda VFR750R RC30, Honda NSR500, Ducati 996 R

[Dave70]

If a driver did actually spot them in the distance, I'm not sure they'd associate them with a bike or any type of vehicle tbh. Small LED's are not what they are looking for when pulling out of a junction in the dark.
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There ain't no devil, there's just god when he's drunk.

2012: R125 killed by white van. 2016 R125 killed by 30,000 miles of redline. Current: 2016 Kawasaki ER6f.

[zark]

Had less twats pulling out on me since fitting some Chinese eBay cheapies...

Might be coincidence, but it seems to help


https://i972.photobucket.com/albums/ae205/zark_photos/IMG_20140401_000942.jpg

[map]

If you're worried about been seen think also of using yellow LEDs on the side of the bike, rear mudguard and the like. Makes you more visible at junctions and they're legal.
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...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?

[Marmalade]

You'll need a bracket, but for £2.20, you can't go wrong.

I've some and they are quite bright.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331012338219?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
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Nobby the Bastard: How yo tell the difference between the actual japanese and her just screaming because she's had live fish stuck up her arse? [url=https://www.nicks-shop.co.uk/bcf-goodies-15-c.aspGet BCF stickers and things here[/url] Reflective helmet stickers - Legal requirement in france - Clicky

[David072]

[Marmalade]

I just connected mine to the sidelight wires, they use very little power so the fuse & wiring is fine with it and they are on whenever any lights ae on.

If you fancy a ride to salisbury, 75 ish miles from you, i'll wire them up.
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Nobby the Bastard: How yo tell the difference between the actual japanese and her just screaming because she's had live fish stuck up her arse? [url=https://www.nicks-shop.co.uk/bcf-goodies-15-c.aspGet BCF stickers and things here[/url] Reflective helmet stickers - Legal requirement in france - Clicky

[Matt B]

[Val]

[ScaredyCat]

I have something like this fitted. No idea if it makes a difference.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400583486542?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/188253/_bcf/small_led.JPG
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Honda CBF125 ➝ NC700X
Honda CBF125 ↳ Speed Triple

[Northern Monkey]

That's the same as the one Marm linked for 1/10th the cost, but has a little bit of metal bent for a bracket
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Fisty: after polishing the tank with the glistenng beads of sweat from my full hot scrotum, I filled the headrace bearings with 10cc of my manmilk

[_Iain_]

Lol, fuck the lights. You wanna look like a BMW fag AND still get planted by the car that pulls out?!

Get one of these;

https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/205758?r=GS&gclid=CjwKEAjwv9-gBRD5ofn2jd2N0UUSJACcdilsnkmjPOkdi1c9SrcIUdfFGVpVlko_plI1SSfnHzaFHxoCHN7w_wcB

Then say;

Look, I know you want me to be safe. So I bought something that makes me more easily seen, however it's also a full airbag so should the worst happen I'll be okay

And then when captain spastic and his Corsa full of mongs pulls out infront of you, maybe it wont hurt quite as much when you hit the floor. The cartridges are also replaceable at 30 quid a pop, so even if you do set it off it can easily be re-set.

You'll also get laid & a million brownie points as she'll likely belive airbags make you invincible
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Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[G]

Personally I would try and go for low power wider light sources such as led string / 'neon' string - this should make it easier for others to judge your vector, while point sources can make it harder.

Saying that, everyone slows down when I have my push bike light on flash mode - possibly because they're trying to work out where the alien craft is landing or whatever.