H2 to ZX12
Needs a job
two stroke power
Posts: 3674
|
posted February 04, 2007 09:57 AM
Headlite/Tailite Modulators (flashers)
I've been aware of the "Q" switch headlite flasher since it came out in the early 80's. (Vince you may recall that Metro Courier used these on their BMW's). Many Touring bikes employ them, you've seen the guys usually with an areoschtick riding suit. Well with all the traffic, young drivers, tailgaters and distracted drivers talking on cell phones, I've decided to get at least a tailite flaher and probably will get one for the headlite as well.
In 1982, while making a delivery to the US DOT, I picked up a copy of the "Hurt Report" , a 10 year study on motorcycle fatalities and the statistics derived from the same. Making yourself aware of the these statistics and "risk factors" one can manage the risks by avoiding high percentage risks. I can't recall the exact figures but can ballpark them for you. 90% of the fatalities occured at intersections. Obviously this is where two or more vehicles may try to occupy the same space at the same time (crash). This always includes driver error: running red lights, rear ending a vehicle allready stopped at the redlight, and vehicles turning left in front of oncoming traffic and almost all of time, failure to pay full time and attention and visability are the causes. Both of these may be prevented by making the small front and rear areas of a motorcycle more visable with flashing headlite, brakelites and augmented turn indicators (which on many sport bikes have been replaced with flush mounts making the bike less visable).
with that said I've decided to at least install a brakelight flasher or addtional led's and am leaning toward the headlite delay as well. Are any of you using one of these? what brand? and have you had any touble with it ect...
   
|
vozizm
Needs a job
Got Nothing Witty To Say
Posts: 4417
|
posted February 05, 2007 05:47 AM
I dont really like tailight flashers or worst yet spinning bulbs... If i am riding behind a kat with moving tailights its hard for me to tell if he has applied brakes, Now if you are talking about lights that just shine then flash/blink when brake is applied, that is good. I have notice that some cages have the 3rd brakelight that flashes once brakes are applied
|
ridgeracer
Pro
Posts: 1309
|
posted February 05, 2007 06:41 AM
I upgraded my brain with a light flasher years ago so I don't have to put one on every bike I buy.
When I'm the only one sitting at a light I flash my brake light every couple of seconds, maybe more if I see a car coming in my mirrors. Also while traveling in traffic if I notice a possible nasty situation developing up ahead I give a couple of quick squeezes to the brake lever to wake up the people behind me.
Likewise if I'm approaching an intersection with a lefty turner and my spidi-sense starts tingling (the lefties wheeles are already turned, and he keeps creeping forward after every car etc.) I will toggle my high beams several times to make sure he sees me. If I'm on a multi lane road I'll speed up or slow down to go through the intersection with the car next to me.
An electronic flasher would probably be more reliable and less likely to get distracted but mine has worked pretty well for me these last 20 years which is how long ago I was rear ended while sitting at a signal.
|
H2 to ZX12
Needs a job
two stroke power
Posts: 3674
|
posted February 05, 2007 07:06 AM
quote:
I upgraded my brain with a light flasher years ago so I don't have to put one on every bike I buy.
When I'm the only one sitting at a light I flash my brake light every couple of seconds, maybe more if I see a car coming in my mirrors. Also while traveling in traffic if I notice a possible nasty situation developing up ahead I give a couple of quick squeezes to the brake lever to wake up the people behind me.
Likewise if I'm approaching an intersection with a lefty turner and my spidi-sense starts tingling (the lefties wheeles are already turned, and he keeps creeping forward after every car etc.) I will toggle my high beams several times to make sure he sees me. If I'm on a multi lane road I'll speed up or slow down to go through the intersection with the car next to me.
An electronic flasher would probably be more reliable and less likely to get distracted but mine has worked pretty well for me these last 20 years which is how long ago I was rear ended while sitting at a signal.
Good techniques, I use both of those myself. One thing I would reccomend when sitting at a red light alone, is move all the way to the right of the right or the left of the left lane, in order to make room for a car to run the red light without having to hit your bike in the process. Twice while working downtown, a metrobus sailed right by me and through the red light. I wouldn't be talking to you today if I'd been in the middle of the lane.
Flashing your highbeam at left hand turners and people trying to exit parking lots FREEZES them for long enought to get buy them. If you don't make eye contact with these people, you can not be sure that they see you.
|
butta4hc
Expert Class
Posts: 313
|
posted February 06, 2007 04:27 PM
quote:
I upgraded my brain with a light flasher years ago so I don't have to put one on every bike I buy.
When I'm the only one sitting at a light I flash my brake light every couple of seconds, maybe more if I see a car coming in my mirrors. Also while traveling in traffic if I notice a possible nasty situation developing up ahead I give a couple of quick squeezes to the brake lever to wake up the people behind me.
Likewise if I'm approaching an intersection with a lefty turner and my spidi-sense starts tingling (the lefties wheeles are already turned, and he keeps creeping forward after every car etc.) I will toggle my high beams several times to make sure he sees me. If I'm on a multi lane road I'll speed up or slow down to go through the intersection with the car next to me.
An electronic flasher would probably be more reliable and less likely to get distracted but mine has worked pretty well for me these last 20 years which is how long ago I was rear ended while sitting at a signal.
I always cover my throttle at a light if I pulled up to it and no one was behind me at the time I stopped. I keep a vigil in my rearview mirror once I see someone coming - judging how fast they are moving and if they are slowing down enough to compensate for me being there. Once I have that "safety" barrier between me and other oncoming cars that's only when I bump it up in nuetral and relax.
I once had this girl behind me at a light who was paying attention to the cars on her left who started to move because they had the turning signal. She started to creep up (while looking down of course at something else) so I had get on my horn like crazy for her to pick her head up and not roll into me.
Lesson learned for both of us I believe. From here on I try to cheat to the left to be as much as possible in his/her field of view. This also allows me time to squeeze in between a some cars ahead of me if someone's approaching me too fast. I also make it a habit of just revving my bike every so often just to let people know there is a bike nearby so be on the alert.
I've been bumped very lightly in some traffic but after the guy got the evil eye from a bunch of angry black bikers I'm sure he doesn't follow too close to bikes nowadays, lol. "See and be seen" is what they taught me in my motorcycle class and I live by it.
____________
Butta
Hot Commodities MC
Paterson, NJ
2006 Black ZX-14 - Recall Frame Swap, Full Muzzy GP Exhaust, PCIII, BMC Race Filter, Flies Out, Braided Front Brake & Cutch Lines, Muzzy's Radiator Fan, Engine Ice Coolant, Frame Sliders, SubFrame Sliders, Puig Dark Smoke Windscreen, Powerbronze Hugger, Cox Radiator Guard, Unswitched Powerlet Outlet under seat, Switched Powerlet Outlet On Right Duct Panel, Intergrated Tail Light, HID lights high and low beam, Blue corner marker lights, Eclipse License Plate Blackout Kit, Black Pazzo Levers, Scorpio Alarm, Lojack Theft Recovery System, Rapid Transit Triple Tree Bag, Cortech Tank, Tail & Saddle Bags and the bragging rights for being "The Fastest 14 In The Country" for a few weeks when the 14 made it's debut here in the states.
|
|
|
|
|
HOME
NEW TOPIC