Almost hit in the fog - time for some visibility improvements | GTAMotorcycle.com

Almost hit in the fog - time for some visibility improvements

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backtobikes

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I had my first serious close call last night around 5:30.

I know my new bike has visibility issues, but I've been pondering what to do about it. I hadn't meant to be out after dark - especially in fog, but the fog was thick and seriously slowed my ride home.

I was rounding the corner from the Red Hill onto the Linc (in Hamilton) when I saw the traffic was stopped ahead. Fog was thick but you could still see two or three hundred yards. Thank god I thought to hit the flashers at the same time as the brakes. A car coming up behind me passed me on the right about 5 seconds later, 90% in my lane, 10% on the shoulder. I can't believe the car didn't hit my leg it brushed by so close. The idiot almost nailed the car in front of me as well. I know visibility was less than ideal, but the driver wasn't making any great effort at stopping - probably on the phone.

Regardless, it was a wakeup call that my bike needs some visibility improvement. I think I'm going to get one of those crazy reflective vests. I have some of that transparent reflective tape for the saddle bags - just haven't put it on thinking it might look like crap.

Any suggestions?
 
Better to look like crap than be smeared over the roadway....

I vote for visibility
 
You can get tape that looks black until light hits it, then it glows like a mf (some unmarked cop cars use this stuff).

Reflective vest is the easiest and cheapest method. Bright helmet (or at least reflective stickers on the helmet) help a lot.

Do you have an undertail kit? 99% of those are worse than ***** and should be thrown in a wood chipper and replaced with the brightest tail light assembly you can find.
 
What previous poster was talking about.^

My bike is black so I bought some of that 3M scotchlite and put it around the bike. You can't really tell it's on there during the day. Just got it from e-bay.
 
I have reflective tape on my bike and helmet. When I'm riding at night, I wear a reflective vest. I've had people in cars comment to me that I'm really visible and they feel more at ease when they're driving since usually just see a small tail light.

I'd rather look like crap then look like road kill.
 
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When I started riding at the beginning of this year, I didn't want to look like crap either. I also changed my Hindle muffler to stock in the middle of the summer. After almost getting run over on hwy 401 by different vehicles on several different occasions (sometimes on the same run), I put the Hindle muffler back on, and got a super bright orange sweater with reflective stripes (like the vests have) and I haven't had any trouble since then. Coincidence? Maybe, but it's provided me with peace of mind. I highly recommend, if not the loud exhaust, then at least a bright vest and reflective tape. Ride safe! :)
 
I also have a loud Hindle exhaust. I don't rely on it for people to notice me though. It's very difficult to pick out where a vehicle is in traffic using sound as your only guide. That's why I rely on the power of reflective vests.
 
backtobikes said:
Any suggestions?
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Yup. Take a picture of your bike and put it on his phone. That way he'll see you next time.

But in all seriousness, I agree that making yourself more visible can't hurt, and will save your life when the 75% of people that aren't texting while driving are behind you.

Personally, I suggest a high visibility vest.
 
How about a few bright white LEDs aimed backwards,
set to turn on if the bike is in neutral and the brake is on?

Lots of stupid drivers can ignore a bushel of red lights,
but a white light might wake up the idiot on the phone.

If you are thinking of telling me this is illegal,
please cite the specific HTA reference to prove that.
 
I did this but I know its not for everyone, But alot of people have said they noticed me from far away :D
And still on the wall for legality lol, alot of people have said its illegal but I have pulled up beside a cop at the lights and he told it looked good.

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Salos Dafee said:
How about a few bright white LEDs aimed backwards,
set to turn on if the bike is in neutral and the brake is on?

Lots of stupid drivers can ignore a bushel of red lights,
but a white light might wake up the idiot on the phone.

If you are thinking of telling me this is illegal,
please cite the specific HTA reference to prove that.
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No way in hell I stop and put my bike in neutral!!! I'm always ready to move should I need to. I know people who have got hit from behind. Your idea is silly - think about it - you stop in fog or rain and worried you cannot be seen so put it in neutral - what if the vehicle behind you doesn't stop? Ie skids... Won't help you if you're in neutral
 
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kiwi said:
No way in hell I stop and put my bike in neutral!!! I'm always ready to move should I need to. I know people who have got hit from behind. Your idea is silly - think about it - you stop in fog or rain and worried you cannot be seen so put it in neutral - what if the vehicle behind you doesn't stop? Ie skids... Won't help you if you're in neutral
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x100! The only time I put my bike in neutral is if everyone behind me has already come to a complete stop and I'm sure they've seen me.
 
jeffjones said:
And still on the wall for legality lol, alot of people have said its illegal but I have pulled up beside a cop at the lights and he told it looked good.

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Hey it works for visability but that can't be legal. A cop admiring it does not make it legal. I could be wrong tho.
 
daisoman said:
Hey it works for visability but that can't be legal. A cop admiring it does not make it legal. I could be wrong tho.
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I read through the HTA and the only thing I found about it was:
You aren't allowed blue lights facing forward - Mine cut off about 2-3" behind the front tire and no light are facing forwards.
You aren't allowed to have them flashing - Which I don't do.

Alot of people here say they are illegal but no one can't point out a law against them??

I hae driven past, and beside plenty of cops and not one have them have ever stopped me?
 
jeffjones said:
I read through the HTA and the only thing I found about it was:
You aren't allowed blue lights facing forward - Mine cut off about 2-3" behind the front tire and no light are facing forwards.
You aren't allowed to have them flashing - Which I don't do.

Alot of people here say they are illegal but no one can't point out a law against them??

I hae driven past, and beside plenty of cops and not one have them have ever stopped me?
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As long as they don't face forwards, backwards, sideways, or flash, they're all good from what I remember.
 
Stuff like this, on the license plate bracket, might help with visibility from the rear. As I already had a set of Givi V35 bags mounted, I bought their signal/brake light kit for those. I've already had several drivers hammer the brakes behind me, to an unnecessary degree, when they've come on in daylight. If they had a kit for my E340 top box, I'd have gotten that too.

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Retroreflective tape helps. Retroreflective stips on your suit can help too. If all else fails a construction vest, with retroreflective X on the back, can be carried under the bike's seat for those times when visibility is poor.

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PLau said:
As long as they don't face forwards, backwards, sideways, or flash, they're all good from what I remember.
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Well which way is left to point lol.

On mine all of the LED strips are hidden so there is no direct light shining out, Just glowing.
 
PLau said:
As long as they don't face forwards, backwards, sideways, or flash, they're all good from what I remember.
Click to expand...

You cannot have the bulbs visible either. Thats a big difference
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