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deceleration lights for 2014 1200gsa
- Thread starter ROBERTSI
- Start date
This may not be what you're looking for. My thoughts below will be counter-intuitive to what you want to do.
My recommendation is to not install the lights. Yes, you read that right. I commute up and down the Seattle I-5 corridor, one of the worst areas for traffic in the USA. When I first started commuting, if I was going to slow down, I'd barely touch the brake lever so I could warn the car driver behind me. It's the same principle as what I think you want to do with the deceleration lights. You want to warn the driver behind you so they don't rear end you.
The "problem" I found is the car drivers behind me would follow closely, knowing they'd get a nice bright brake light warning to wake them up in time to keep from hitting me. After a year of this, I quit and just used engine compression to slow down. I'd keep an eye on my mirrors to make sure the driver behind me was paying attention, but that was all. And since I left about 3-4 seconds of space between me and the car in front of me, engine compression braking worked 90% of the time.
Here's the counter-intuitive result I found. The cars behind me backed way off. They treated me as if I had my brake lights out. Not wanting to hit me, they would drop back at least 4 seconds or more behind me. It's worked for well over 100,000 miles. I don't get drivers tail-gating me.
Just a little food for thought...
Chris
My recommendation is to not install the lights. Yes, you read that right. I commute up and down the Seattle I-5 corridor, one of the worst areas for traffic in the USA. When I first started commuting, if I was going to slow down, I'd barely touch the brake lever so I could warn the car driver behind me. It's the same principle as what I think you want to do with the deceleration lights. You want to warn the driver behind you so they don't rear end you.
The "problem" I found is the car drivers behind me would follow closely, knowing they'd get a nice bright brake light warning to wake them up in time to keep from hitting me. After a year of this, I quit and just used engine compression to slow down. I'd keep an eye on my mirrors to make sure the driver behind me was paying attention, but that was all. And since I left about 3-4 seconds of space between me and the car in front of me, engine compression braking worked 90% of the time.
Here's the counter-intuitive result I found. The cars behind me backed way off. They treated me as if I had my brake lights out. Not wanting to hit me, they would drop back at least 4 seconds or more behind me. It's worked for well over 100,000 miles. I don't get drivers tail-gating me.
Just a little food for thought...
Chris
jamesdavidhoward
New member
VoloLights have been helpful for me
I installed the VoloLights license-plate frame product on my bike about 2 years ago. It was fairly easy to do so, look nice and work well. I have definitely seen drivers behind me "wake up" when they see the blink from initiating deceleration.
I also use the grab-and-release then grab again technique for brakes as well (like the previous responder mentioned). I like to have as many things working in my favour (within reason) to get drivers to see me.
They also have a module you plug in-line with the brake light circuit. There are other manufacturers as well, but I've only experience with VoloLights.
I installed the VoloLights license-plate frame product on my bike about 2 years ago. It was fairly easy to do so, look nice and work well. I have definitely seen drivers behind me "wake up" when they see the blink from initiating deceleration.
I also use the grab-and-release then grab again technique for brakes as well (like the previous responder mentioned). I like to have as many things working in my favour (within reason) to get drivers to see me.
They also have a module you plug in-line with the brake light circuit. There are other manufacturers as well, but I've only experience with VoloLights.
zenwhipper
Member
My buddy has one of these on his RT and it works very nicely. I have ridden behind him for many miles and can attest to the functionality. I think these are a great safety improvement. I'd have to believe you can get one for your GSA. Cheers
https://clearwaterlights.com/products/billie-brake-light
https://clearwaterlights.com/products/billie-brake-light
GTRider
52184
I tend to sorta agree with daboo. If the lights are sensitive enough to activate on a mild decel you will be constantly "crying wolf" to following traffic. What you really want IMHO is a really bright brake lite that when activated, flashes a few times to let traffic know "I am slowing/stopping NOW, FOR REAL. I personally like the programmable Skene lights as you can control the flash pattern and the LEDs are very bright. No vested interested, just a satisfied customer.
Best,
DG
Best,
DG
PGlaves
#13338
Why?
Many of these decel type lights cat be set to different sensitivities to avoid that problem. It depends on how you ride your machine.
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That's the problem for me, I ride differently on different roads and conditions. It would never be in a perfect setting for me.
I prefer no lights on any deceleration, but do have aux brake lights on almost all our bikes and one has various slowing rate of flash the longer you engage it unit. They are noticeable as they are in triangle configuration, another plus for me.
On the twisties I use decel and gearing more than brakes and when I hit the brakes , it's usually to warn H of something in the road or I did sometning goofy.
If I am slightly over the limit, showing a brake light to the officer behind the hedges isn't a good play for me when a roll off will drop me to happyland for all involved.
lee
Debbie's Servant
Same for us.
We have the Clearwater brake lights with the deceleration option but I do not use that option.
Debbie likes to follow and she told me she only wants to see my brake light when I really mean it.
blender
Just another rider
This.
The Skene P3 lights have a wide option range and are easily programmable. http://www.skenedesign.com/lights/P3_Programming.shtml
Why not get the P3s? More functionality and the flicker that people see when not looking directly at them really makes you stand out. The Photon Blasters for the front work even better; since installing them I often have drivers get out of my way. And that's always good.
beemerdood
New member
Here's another vote for the Vololight. I installed one on my RT about a year ago and have had drivers back off when the lights come on, after a downshift. There's some adjustment available and it just takes a moment with a magnet to move between settings. For moderate deceleration, the lights flash slowly. For heavy braking, they flash very quickly.
No worries with the CANBus because you don't go anywhere near it. Not sure what the case is with your bike, but you can tap into the license plate light on most bikes. On the RT the taillight is the same as the license plate light (one bulb – with a clear plastic lens on the bottom of the tail light lens). Instead I tapped into the passenger power plug line. It's on and off with the ignition, staying on for a few seconds after it's shut off. I did a write up on the install, complete with photos that you can see here. https://forums.bmwmoa.org/showthrea...ion-on-a-2011-BMW-R1200RT&highlight=vololight
No worries with the CANBus because you don't go anywhere near it. Not sure what the case is with your bike, but you can tap into the license plate light on most bikes. On the RT the taillight is the same as the license plate light (one bulb – with a clear plastic lens on the bottom of the tail light lens). Instead I tapped into the passenger power plug line. It's on and off with the ignition, staying on for a few seconds after it's shut off. I did a write up on the install, complete with photos that you can see here. https://forums.bmwmoa.org/showthrea...ion-on-a-2011-BMW-R1200RT&highlight=vololight
+1 for vololight. I tapped into the rear accessory plug on my 2015 RT.
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