- This topic has 31 replies, 15 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 6 months ago by Candice.
Being Seen
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October 9, 2008 at 1:52 am #13568dcJohnParticipant
Regarding the weaving, really? Uh oh. I foresee one of those conversation in my future. It’s just so relaxing and fun (not anything as dramatic as an offset cone weave while surrounded by cages, just a leisurely back and forth on slow roads when there isn’t much in the way of traffic nearby). I was doing it directly in front of a police car this afternoon for a good mile or so of road, all the while thinking how well-behaved I was being by keeping it below the speed limit on a stretch of twisty road along the Potomac that’s begging to be sped through on a bike.
October 9, 2008 at 3:38 am #13574nau_lax21ParticipantMaybe I take too relaxed an approach about visibility, but during the daytime, im on a dark bike with black gear. i do flash the brake lights when someones coming up behind me at an intersection. i do ride pretty defensively in general, and i feel most of the time i can bail myself out of trouble should it come my way.
one big thing about visibility, i wear one of these at night:
http://www.thehelmetcenter.com/Icon-Mil-Spec-Mesh-Vest-FB-Yellow-p-18497.html
it does wonders for visibility, just looks goofy as hell when youre not on the bike
October 9, 2008 at 4:54 am #13578megaspazParticipantlooks goofy as hell when you’re on the bike as well…
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If there’s anything more important than my ego
around, I want it caught and shot now…October 9, 2008 at 7:02 am #13579JirikiParticipantbrake light modulator:
will flicker your light brake light in a ritardando fashion (eventually going solid after a few seconds) whenever you apply on the brakes…. think of it as a strobe light that goes solid… link to random modulatorI am also looking into putting tape on my helmet… the best play to get it is ebay… search for scotchbrite or 3m tape and you will find some…
i don’t know how easily it comes off…
don’t weave though… if a car doesn’t see you and goes anyways and you have no control because you are weaving (can’t brake, etc) then you will go splat
October 9, 2008 at 7:04 am #13580JirikiParticipantI have a HALO that i bought for my Shoei RF-1000 helmet…and it falls off after you hit about 50 mph… definitely get tape instead…
that over jacket reflective vest is pretty slick… i’ll have to look into that..
October 9, 2008 at 9:55 am #13582crotch rocket killerGuestWhy don’t you all get bikes that have actual turn signals instead of the tiny little LED laser pointers on the ninja. While your at it maybe get a bike where your not bent over so you can actually see whats ahead instead of staring at bumpers…
Ninja 250s…tiny little death machines.
Think someone is going to miss these?
October 9, 2008 at 1:37 pm #13586AndrewParticipantNice constructive post. The original poster doesn’t ride a Ninja and the pre-2008 ninja’s all have front mounted turn signals that are big and obvious. Get your facts right first.
October 9, 2008 at 3:54 pm #13599CandiceParticipantThank you for that, I am finding it very helpful. And thanks everyone for sharing your ideas and experiences, this is all making me feel much better that I am on the right track.
So, I looked at my jacket last night and it has reflective piping/material all over it – YEAH!
I also went to Wal-Mart and bought their reflective tape and put some on my helmet, if I find I don’t like it I will try that 3M tape suggested above because that stuff looks REALLY reflective.
Munch – I like your style of waving people thru the 4 way stops, I was doing that in the beginning when I was riding through my neighborhood trying to get the guts up to encounter real traffic but maybe I do that anyways now too.
Hee hee – Andrew – I was wondering what he was talking about, Ninjas!
October 9, 2008 at 4:52 pm #13611eonParticipantI haven’t had much of a problem with my Halo yet but I have a windshield on my bike that deflects most of the wind. It has lost some of its elasticity since I bought it (it has fallen off a couple of times when I took my helmet off). I was thinking of moving the back end of it higher up the helmet so it fits tighter but I will wait till I need to. I may have to get some reflective tape eventually.
The xinglet thing was designed for joggers. It is really light weight, adjusts to many sizes and easily fits in a pocket. I have mine pretty tight so that it does not flap around. I got it at REI but I think you can order it direct from the company’s website. Note that there are two versions, one has a pocket in the front and that one costs a few bucks more.
October 9, 2008 at 5:49 pm #13615AndrewParticipantNice one Budd. Don’t mess a Ninja they have strong kung-fu.
October 10, 2008 at 2:09 am #13602BuddParticipantRocket Killer- Ninjas aren’t supposed to be seen. That is the point. I don’t know about them being tiny or little but they are death machines, They could kill you with any number of weapons or just their little toe. Ninjas are freaking awesome especially when they flip out.
Oh, you meant the ninja 250 motorcycle. I would argue that saying they were tiny and little is redundant and that they are no more death machines than any other motorcycle. I actually sit up higher on my ninja than most guys on cruisers.
“I am the best there is at what I do, and what I do ain’t nice.”-Wolverine
October 10, 2008 at 2:10 pm #13676AnonymousGuestthey miss them on a Ninja, they miss them on a Harley, they miss them on the family minivan and they miss them on a Mack truck
October 10, 2008 at 2:19 pm #13675sarcParticipantOne thing to check out is the new scorpion high vis helmet coming out in November I believe.
http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/motorcycle-helmet/scorpion/exo-700-neon/
I’ve got a white scorpion that I love, and am thinking of swapping to this even brighter one. Personally, I think the helmet is the most important part of “visible” gear. Its typically the highest point on your bike (unless you are really tucked I guess), and isn’t affected by gear choices such as a book bag that will really put a damper on your reflective jackets, etc. Combined with some reflective tape on it (that Halo stuff above looks great!), should certainly give you a little peace of mind.
Also, I do like to flash my high-beams a few times when I see a car inching up to the road, either at an intersection or just merging from a shopping center kind of place. I imagine it ticks off the people in front of me a bit since its also a “speed up buddy” signal as well, but have noticed I can make eye contact with the merger more often since I’ve started it.
And if all else fails, you could always try the air horn. I’ve been meaning to put it on my bike one of these days.
Sarc
October 11, 2008 at 1:57 am #13716chromium ghostParticipantZ1R makes a helmet with an LED strip on the back…only drawback was that the shape of the helmet itself was a bit uncomfortable…not sure where I saw the review. Now here’s a million dollar idea: A removable, battery powered flashing LED strip for helmets. Maybe in a smily face design? Pentagram?
October 11, 2008 at 2:02 am #13717chromium ghostParticipantI’ve been doing a combination of a little headlight wiggle, turn signals on and off, and flashing brights. At lights I have been putting it in nuetral, standing up and stretching my arms, revving the throttle etc. You may look a bit like a douchebag, but you will be a douchebag without missing limbs.
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