Illumination

[harnesen]

I'm looking to make myself as visible as possible on my '03 K1200GT without getting too tacky. I put on a pair of PIAA 1100x's under the fairing, and that helps (I run them day and night). But the back and sides seem less visible.

If you have any suggestions - with pictures even better - please pass them along.

[dzimbric]

I wear one of these and BMW offers some clear tape that turns reflective for your hard cases.

http://www.olympiamotosports.com/ast_ladies/ladiesastjacket_split.jpg

[harnesen]

Has anyone added more lights to their bikes?

[Bobmws]

Check out Cyclegadgets.com for some rear lighting solutions. LED running/brake light combo's. There are also black reflective panels that illuminate white available custom fit to your bags.

[CuAnEm]

I'm looking to make myself as visible as possible on my '03 K1200GT without getting too tacky. I put on a pair of PIAA 1100x's under the fairing, and that helps (I run them day and night). But the back and sides seem less visible.

If you have any suggestions - with pictures even better - please pass them along.

Pirates Lair offers a retro fit LED brake light that's awesome. I've been told by others that it really makes the bike noticeable.

http://piratesk12site.net/LED1.htm

[harnesen]

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I think I'll go with the LED brakelight from Pirate's Lair. But it'll have to wait. I'm tapped out with $. Getting married.

[warredon]

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I think I'll go with the LED brakelight from Pirate's Lair. But it'll have to wait. I'm tapped out with $. Getting married.


You'd better buy it before you get married, ........ just sayin'!

[harnesen]

You'd better buy it before you get married, ........ just sayin'!

Oh.
Um, I may place that order sooner. (and you'd think I'd have learned from the first time 'round.)

[bmwrider88]

BMW offers some clear tape that turns reflective for your hard cases.


i have actually been thinking this tape is a great idea. invisible in daylight but is retro-reflective and really lights up when light hits it at night!
i think Bob's BMW in maryland sells it, seems to be cut-to-fit specific side cases?

i do have a brighter colored hein gerike jacket (as an alternative to all my black leather) but have stopped short of the retro-reflective over-vest look...

[toddlamp]

This is what I did:

http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=30723&highlight=reflectors

I also have one of these on the back:
http://www.cosmicleds.com/knightriderz/

If that weren't enough, I added the 3M reflective tape to the back of my side cases. I got 2 sheets of it from Bob's. They have the pre cut stuff, but with 2 full sheets I have plenty left over to add some to my helmet (and I think I have at least a full sheet left over).

[harnesen]

Driving back from NYC to home some yahoo passed ME on the right - next lane over - and proceeded to change lanes (into mine) about 3' ahead of me - at highway speed with plenty of light in the day. I laid on the horn, and he swerved back over. I passed the yahoo, kept my middle finger to myself, and he rolled down his window - "Sorry, I didn't see you." Did I mention he passed ME?

Yahoos will be yahoos, I understand, but I want to give visibility the best possible shot, without looking like the Vegas strip.

Thanks for all the excellent suggestions.

[58058D]

I think we all have had the same experiences. For the folks in front of me, either actually checking their mirrors or looking towards me from a side street or in the oncoming lane, I went to the Photon Blasters from Skene Design at http://www.skenedesign.com/ It is a neat high intensity amber LED set up and seems to work. From dead on, they appear to be bright amber with a steady light. When looked at slightly off center or if your eyes are not looking At them, they tend to flicker and draw attention. I have no hard data, but I have gotten the feeling that it does draw the desired attention from oncoming vehicles even in daylight.

[Paul_F]

I'm looking to make myself as visible as possible on my '03 K1200GT without getting too tacky. I put on a pair of PIAA 1100x's under the fairing, and that helps (I run them day and night). But the back and sides seem less visible.

If you have any suggestions - with pictures even better - please pass them along.

Like you, I have a set of very bright lights under the faring's headlamp, on night and day.

I have placed black reflective tape on my top box and panniers. As well, the Givi top box has clear reflective tape under the red reflector. My dealer installed hyper brake lights inside my tail light section. A vendor at West Bend put two large sets of hyper lights below the rear lens. I also installed running lights inside my rear turn signals. I don't believe the ignition is on and consequently you don't see the running lights in this picture.

When being tailgated, I simply have to barely touch the rear brake pedal and presto, the tailgater disappears. A friend who rode behind and followed me to Vermont a couple of years ago, said that he went into panic mode every time my brake lights lite up. He never got used to the array of flashing lights.

I have been thinking of putting some reflective tape on the side of the cases for visibility from the side.

Hope the picture gives you a better idea of how well the black reflective tape works at night.