Increase visibility

[badgertom]

It seems like most drivers behind you want to tailgate putting you in real danger. I would like to increase my visibility ( rear brack lights especiallyas well as signal lights). Any suggestions that will help increase light output? Different highly luminous bulbs?? Any suggestions. Thanks.

[Luca]

I bought the beacon 2 tail light assembly from www.motoelekt.com  That's Rick Jones at Motorrad Elektric.  He's great to do business with, and the tail light assembly is very bright (many LED's), and has a bright set of white LED's that illuminate the license plate and the ground under the rear fender.

After riding my neighbors Honda around the block with him on my BMW, I was very impressed at how bright and visible the tail lights were even while riding into the sun.  His lights were hardly visible.  The beacon is hands down the best way to increase visibility from behind.


I'm not exactly sure of the details, but you could go to LED turn signal bulbs if you wired some ballast resistors in or maybe used a different flasher unit.

There are devices that make your brake lights blink before staying on too.  Have no experience with them but I see them often on sport bikes.

[montmil]

My 1978 R100S "nekkid" bike has an earlier, smaller BMW tail light assembly that's tucked up under the seat's tail piece. To get a little more attention from following vehicles, I added a GYB -Got Your Back- LED brake light bar plus the optional wiring harness that permits the light bar to serve as a running light/brake light. I liked it enough to add one to my '81 R65.

Shop the internet for best price as the costs vary wildly from vender to vender. Mongo approves.

http://roadridermca.com/products/gyb-stopper-brake-light/#.VWj2ApvEZ7Q

For the turn signals, I've added multi-LED bulbs from SuperBriteLeds. You'll want to stop by your local FLAPS and buy a replacement flasher relay rated for LED bulbs. 'bout 5-6 bucks.

https://www.superbrightleds.com/cat/motorcycle/

[nhmaf]

+1 on the Beacon taillight - especially if you don't wish to add on extra lighting doohickeys.   Works very well, will last (almost) forever and will not burn/melt through your red plastic taillight lens like a larger incandescent bulb will do.

I've also become a convert of wearing hi-vis yellow motorcycle jacket and/or helmets - doesn't help so much at night, but it does make you more noticeable in the daylight.   Look for gear with reflective strips or patches on the back, too

[montmil]

Failed to mention that I've also added multi-diode bulbs replacing the incandescent in all the bikes tail/brake lights. Also from SuperBrightLeds.

[Barry]

I've also become a convert of wearing hi-vis yellow motorcycle jacket and/or helmets - doesn't help so much at night, but it does make you more noticeable in the daylight. Look for gear with reflective strips or patches on the back, too  

Me too.  You know when other road users have failed to see you or only notice you at the last minute. I started wearing a Hi Vis jacket and it made a real difference. I found Hi Vis to be more effective than daytime running lights.  I was a black leather guy until relatively recent but if Hi Vis can save my life I'll get used to it.  

[davidpdx]

SuperBriteLeds also have an LED tail/brake light for sale with a built in flasher on the brake light. The same base as 1157 bulbs so it is plug and play. Brighter and cars seem to stay back better when I hit the brakes with the flasher.

[quixotic]

I've also become a convert of wearing hi-vis yellow motorcycle jacket and/or helmets - doesn't help so much at night, but it does make you more noticeable in the daylight. Look for gear with reflective strips or patches on the back, too  

Me too.  You know when other road users have failed to see you or only notice you at the last minute. I started wearing a Hi Vis jacket and it made a real difference. I found Hi Vis to be more effective than daytime running lights.  I was a black leather guy until relatively recent but if Hi Vis can save my life I'll get used to it.  

Me three.  My bike is the dull bronco brown.  But the rest of me -- and my helmet -- is a black and yellow combo.  

[Bob_W]

I have a 250 four wheel drive pickup-full size with Diesel. It seems to me to be big enough a driver in a little econobox should be able to see it, but I get tailgated in it as well.
I can stomp the gas a give them a shot of black smoke in it.
Bob

[Luca]

Make that four on the Hi-Vis.  Since I started wearing my yellow jacket a few years ago drivers in cars seem to have a much easier time seeing me, especially when they're trying to change lanes and spot me in their mirrors.  Hi-Vis is also really, really good at standing out on cloudy days or in rain or fog.

Keep in mind that while rearward visibility is a good thing, the majority of motorcycle accidents are caused by hazards ahead of the rider.  As annoying as tailgating is, you are more likely to have somebody cut you off than run you over.