Conspicuity

Motrax Visilite belt

I went into the garage to check specifically as to the mfr of the reflective sam browne-type belt that I wear. It is made by Motrax. According to the Motrax website, it is known as the Visilite belt.

My belt is XL and there is a high degree of adjustibility. The belt is easy to get on and off over a leather jacket or rainsuit. See:

http://www.motraxonline.com/acatalog/clothingvisilitesafetyrange.html

Although the decision has been made, a quick comment on Aerostich suits.

I have a red two piece I bought in 1992. It's a tight fit now. It has faded, but that's affected the brightness and not the shade. It's still a good match for my Honda Hawk GT, which is what I also bought in 1992.

I bought a yellow two piece in 2002. I haven't ridden much since. But for what it's worth the yellow is still very bright and highly visible. I wrote to Aerostich years ago asking that they make a yellow suit (I'm sure that isn't what led to the decision) and I promised to buy one if they did. I'm very happy with the product, though it does make some observers believe I'm a firefighter.

Conspicuity is terrific. But what tics me off are drivers who I know see me, because they make eye contact -- and then they still turn in front of me. There is some weird cognitive problem going on here, involving only registering what you expect to be there; I'm sure psychologists have a name for it.

119204 said:

I read that some simply paint their black helmets white. Besides voiding warranty, does this do any damage to the helmet?

Paul

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I'll bet if you attempted to do it yourself it would look bad, and would not last that long before flaking or peeling off. A professional would make it look nice and I doubt if it would cause any damage to the unit, regardless of what the manufacturer says. Naturally, this would make the helmet doubly expensive; so, why not just buy a new one of the desired color? Just an opinion.

Why not do like the 'Wing guys and tape, wire, bungee cord or bolt 1500 lights on the bike. Wear the loudest outer gear available: the 'stitch "high viz" neon green. Bull horns, twin mounted front and rear, would complete the rig. Once the grid is fired up, you'll be visible--a terran borne magellanic cloud--hurling down the boulevard.

Seriously though, I agree with nemanr19 that frontal visibily is the real concern. I put the Kisan Pathblazer on and seem to get everyone's attention. For outerwear, I use an old hein gericke first gear jacket.

What a difference...

I got some 3M Scotchlite and put it on the back of my Jesse's, and a couple arrows on the sides of my Jesses... and a lime green high-vis ansi class II vest to which I added another strip of 2" SOLAS tape... and put a bit more scotchlite on the back and sides of my helmet...

People actually respected my space tonight on the way home.... it was as if I was in a police car. Amazing.

Probably because they thought only a cop would wear something that ugly !!!

Whatever works :=)

Back when I was doing a major refurb on a K100RT, I was advised to paint it with GMC white, and wear tan pants with a leather jacket, black knee boots and a white half-helmet when riding so that people would think I'm a cop and stay away. I thought it was pretty funny but cops don't look like that around here. Worse yet, I see lots of funeral-escort riders who look so much like cops (not just generally- the resemblance to our local PD guys is astounding) you have to look close to tell the difference.

Hey, theory holds, I can't tell you how many times I've scooted out of the way of a Crown Vic to find out he wasn't an officer after all.

Belg said:

Hey, theory holds, I can't tell you how many times I've scooted out of the way of a Crown Vic to find out he wasn't an officer after all.

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Ha!
I love my Merc.
Full leather and lots of people scoot! Albeit, less in this state.
Maybe one day I'll figure out a way to make the lights flash like a cop car, without breaking the law. I need to look into that one ...
Cheers!

3M tapes

Where can I get small quantities of 3M tapes. Couple of websites I went to, they want to sell you like 30+ feet!! or some like that.

I'd be interested in getting a black reflective tape for my black saddle bags, and also, where can one purchase reflective vests.

picked up 12x15" sheets of black reflective from whitehorse gear. if you want SOLAS tape, I'd have to check my reciepts, but I found 2" tape dirt cheap compared to everywhere else... any length you want, as I recall, 2$/foot. I want to say... in fact I'm pretty certain... landfall navigation (online retailer) and for reflectvie vests, tuffrhino.com

edit: yep, $1.95/ft for SOLAS tape, www.landfallnavigation.com

Most average size cities have a store that specializes in this gear for highway workers. I have seen pillons, vests, reflective tape and the like... See what is available locally. I know some SOLAR's tape is available from Aerostich, www.riderwarehouse.com, happy hunting..

I just have to chime in here a bit. I've had a bit of experiance with visibility.
<------I tried riding dressed like a Cop. It does work but then you have to realize that there are those who would like to take you out. Two edged sword there. It also didn't make any difference in a lot of cases as in heavy traffic they STILL don't see you.

I don't worry too much about rear end situations. I have been hit from behind but a vest and fancy lights (if the lights had been available back in 76) wouldn't have made any difference to the drunk that hit me at 2:00 PM.

At night it is a different situation. The more the better for visibility. The LED lights coupled with good reflective material on you are good.

Daytime visibility, I am a very BIG proponent of the flashing headlight. While not totally foolproof it does get the attention of most in front of you. (All too frequently even the "magic" red and blue flashing lights dodn't work either.) It is not infallable, as there are those who again will not see anythinjg smaller than a semi and sometimes not even a semi is safe. I had a flashing headlight on the day a guy turned left in front of me and cost me my career.

You can dress how you like, wear all the reflective tape you like, have your bike lit up like a Vegas Casino and people will STILL not see you. Drive like they are out to get you because, they are. Whether it is intentional or not matters not a bit when you are on the pavement because some one didn't see you.

Good post ...

I found a set of LED running lights at the local auto parts store. Wired them into the regular lights ... near zero power draw and they really help for LOW, LOW dollars. I think I paid $5 or less for the pair. They fit very nicely on the reflectors on each side of the rear fender opposite from the license plate mounting.

A bit out of focus with the ultra closeup, but you see how cleanly they mount.

I have the 'arrow heads' from Rider Wearhouse (pg 29) on the back of my black Suthbert S1 and and all comments have been VERY positive, except for my wife. She claims that at night when a cars headlight 'lite up' the arrows it nearly blinds her !!

Jim

Solas

Belg,

Thanks. After doing some research on 3M's site, I found that SOLAS tape has two part numbers 3150-A and 3155 with slight difference. 3155 can also go on Nylon, Polyester and Cotton fabrics. I've sent an email to Landfall Navigation asking if they carry 3155 in addition to 3150-A. SOLAS has higher coefficient of Retroreflection than Reflective film 680, supposedly more brighter during day too for marine usage.

I was thinking of also getting 680 in black, to go with my black saddle bags. Black has coeff of 30, while white is 100 and yellow is 60. So I decided to pursue the SOLAS Silver tape.

Montauk said:

Belg,

Thanks. After doing some research on 3M's site, I found that SOLAS tape has two part numbers 3150-A and 3155 with slight difference. 3155 can also go on Nylon, Polyester and Cotton fabrics. I've sent an email to Landfall Navigation asking if they carry 3155 in addition to 3150-A. SOLAS has higher coefficient of Retroreflection than Reflective film 680, supposedly more brighter during day too for marine usage.

I was thinking of also getting 680 in black, to go with my black saddle bags. Black has coeff of 30, while white is 100 and yellow is 60. So I decided to pursue the SOLAS Silver tape.

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Have you tried www.reflectivelyyours.com? I found them (from a post) early in this thread, ordered and am satisfied with black arrows (I cut out) on my black helmet (like arrowstitch)

Montauk said:

Belg,

Thanks. After doing some research on 3M's site, I found that SOLAS tape has two part numbers 3150-A and 3155 with slight difference. 3155 can also go on Nylon, Polyester and Cotton fabrics. I've sent an email to Landfall Navigation asking if they carry 3155 in addition to 3150-A. SOLAS has higher coefficient of Retroreflection than Reflective film 680, supposedly more brighter during day too for marine usage.

I was thinking of also getting 680 in black, to go with my black saddle bags. Black has coeff of 30, while white is 100 and yellow is 60. So I decided to pursue the SOLAS Silver tape.

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I think you'll find it's the 3155 because they sell it to go on gear, liferafts, etc. I have no adherence problems on my nylon stuff that I have noticed yet. I can check p/n's when I get home...

Reflectively Yours .com

Torags,

Thanks, I also ordered 3 sheets of 5.25" x 9" for $20 (shipping included), Black to White. These will go on my black saddlebags.