The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2

Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: montmil on December 18, 2010, 02:38:49 PM

Title: Reflective tape for safety
Post by: montmil on December 18, 2010, 02:38:49 PM
The Givi side bags pictured are  for my Triumph Trophy.

To aid nighttime riding safety, I recently ordered two 8"x10" sheets of 3M Scotchlite pressure-sensitive vinyl from Cycle Gadgets. http://cyclegadgets.com/Products/product.asp?Item=RK

The reflective material is 3M Scotchlite engineer-grade, 7-mil, 7-year black reflective. I chose the black vinyl that reflects white light. The stuff is also available in silver. The 3M material is simple to cut into shapes and sizes desired.

Pre-cut kits are also available for later models of BMW side bags, plus a couple Rice bikes.

Monte

daytime view:
The tape is barely visible. Photo taken during local earthquake, hence the blurry image.

(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi196.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa1%2Fmontmil%2FGiviDay.jpg&hash=0bc4e4050a6281e6074f5adfa2acf6f01ef82620)

Nightime reflection: [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi196.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa1%2Fmontmil%2FGiviNight-1.jpg&hash=b0a0060467651bac822a3df79fd7f9e855fe0b1b)

Title: Re: Reflective tape for safety
Post by: Rob Valdez 79 R65 on December 18, 2010, 02:45:00 PM
I see no pictures!
Title: Re: Reflective tape for safety
Post by: msbuck on December 18, 2010, 03:05:28 PM
Ditto!  No pictures.

I'd call that invisible, not reflective.   :D
Title: Re: Reflective tape for safety
Post by: montmil on December 18, 2010, 03:42:54 PM
Strange... the pics show up on the initial posting to the forum. Got some checking to do.  :-/

Monte
Title: Re: Reflective tape for safety
Post by: montmil on December 18, 2010, 03:54:45 PM
Photobucket is "improving" their service...? See if this works. The daylight photo may be way big. Sorry 'bout dat.

Monte


(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi196.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa1%2Fmontmil%2FTriumph%2520Trophy%2FGiviDay.jpg&hash=38ce293306de50dbec8a6fbe1fe324e6d56049ae)


(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi196.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa1%2Fmontmil%2FTriumph%2520Trophy%2FGiviNight-1.jpg&hash=e54ce1ddc8daf51e9c8883502ceb66cf07bd1d01)

Or these links might work:

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa1/montmil/Triumph%20Trophy/GiviDay.jpg

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa1/montmil/Triumph%20Trophy/GiviNight-1.jpg

Title: Re: Reflective tape for safety
Post by: Ben_Carufel on December 18, 2010, 04:44:22 PM
Looks good. I'm planning to use the stuff on a helmet. I am in love with the design of this Bandit/Alien brand "Integral" helmet (http://www.alienhelmets.com/Alien-Integral.htm), but since it's neither DOT or ECE approved I'm not really willing to use it. So, I'm going to get a modern plain white helmet from a reputable brand (Shoei or Arai most likely, so that I can use the Transitions auto-tinting visors) and give it the same stripes as that Integral helmet, but using black reflective tape.

Best of both worlds, I think.

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Adhesive-Reflective-Tape-Kit/dp/B000NPNXP6
Title: Re: Reflective tape for safety
Post by: montmil on December 18, 2010, 04:50:46 PM
Quote
Looks good. I'm planning to use the stuff on a helmet...

Ben, Some members reported not being able to see the two originally posted images of the Givi bags. Did you get 'em or use the links? trying to figure out what's up with Photobucket. TIA,

Monte
Title: Re: Reflective tape for safety
Post by: marcmax on December 18, 2010, 05:35:31 PM
That 3M tape is great. I have it in a multitude of colors left over from a graphics job. I'm still using it 10 years later. A couple of things I have done with it are to use a paper hole punch and make a bunch of little reflective dots to put around the edge of the rim on both my push bikes and motorcycles. You hardly see them until a headlight hits it. Then the combination of motion and persistence of vision makes a circle of light where the rim is. I have also taken the black tape and cut small strips and placed them on the outside edge of frame tubes, around the shock covers and any place that they will not be noticed. That is until a cage driver lights you up at night. There is no way they can't see you then.
Title: Re: Reflective tape for safety
Post by: Ben_Carufel on December 18, 2010, 09:31:51 PM
Quote
That 3M tape is great. I have it in a multitude of colors left over from a graphics job. I'm still using it 10 years later. A couple of things I have done with it are to use a paper hole punch and make a bunch of little reflective dots to put around the edge of the rim on both my push bikes and motorcycles. You hardly see them until a headlight hits it. Then the combination of motion and persistence of vision makes a circle of light where the rim is. I have also taken the black tape and cut small strips and placed them on the outside edge of frame tubes, around the shock covers and any place that they will not be noticed. That is until a cage driver lights you up at night. There is no way they can't see you then.

That's a really cool idea. If you have any spare dots leftover, I'd love to take some off your hands! Happy to pay postage and whatever incidental costs you might incur...
Title: Re: Reflective tape for safety
Post by: Ben_Carufel on December 18, 2010, 09:32:29 PM
Quote
Quote
Looks good. I'm planning to use the stuff on a helmet...

Ben, Some members reported not being able to see the two originally posted images of the Givi bags. Did you get 'em or use the links? trying to figure out what's up with Photobucket. TIA,

Monte

The original ones ain't workin' for me either. The newer ones you posted are.
Title: Re: Reflective tape for safety
Post by: montmil on December 19, 2010, 08:10:55 AM
Those of y'all interested in using reflective tape might consider stopping by a local sign shop and buying a few scraps to play with. As a former sign shop operator, I have personal experience with the amount of waste material that the customer actually pays for but gets tossed in the dumpster.

3M is a major supplier of both sheet vinyl in colors and reflectives to the sign industry. I used to give away waste vinyl to anyone that would take it.

Monte
Title: Re: Reflective tape for safety
Post by: Semper Gumby on December 22, 2010, 07:16:43 AM
In this vein..does anybody have a link for some reflective fabric.  I have an old tail bag I'd like to sew some visibility on.   8-)

It's part of my wintertime BritBike riding project.
Title: Re: Reflective tape for safety
Post by: marcmax on December 22, 2010, 07:23:52 AM
Here's a couple for ya.

http://www.identi-tape.com/sew-on.html

http://www.reflectivelyyours.com/
Title: Re: Reflective tape for safety
Post by: montmil on December 22, 2010, 08:29:42 AM
Quote
Here's a couple for ya.
/quote]

Good ideas in there. Thanks for the links. I bookmarked 'em.

Monte
Title: Re: Reflective tape for safety
Post by: Semper Gumby on December 22, 2010, 09:23:25 AM
Thanks Monte.
Title: Re: Reflective tape for safety
Post by: montmil on December 22, 2010, 06:27:30 PM
Quote
Thanks Monte.

Uh, you're welcome, Bill, but it was another Georgia Boy, Marcmac, that linked us to the reflective fabric materials.

There's some neat "kid history" stuff in the ReflectivelyYours site for those of us of a certain age. Anyone else remember these catalogs?

http://www.reflectivelyyours.com/generic89.html

Monte