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Jim
Site Admin
Joined: 17 May 2003
Posts: 3841
Location: WHERETHEFUNNEVERENDS
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 Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2008 1:15 pm Post subject: conspicuity and safety |
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although I know there is nothing that can be done to make motorcycling completely safe (other than taking all cages off the road, or banning any 4 wheeler larger than a Smart or Mini), I still think it helps to do something to make me more visible to car drivers. I always wear a reflective vest, the Motolights and headlight modulator are always on during the day, and have hyperlites installed in tail light housing.
I usually wear a white helmet - I've noticed that white helmets are easier to see.
This study concludes that taking action to make us more visible to cagers definitely gives us an added margin of safety.
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=387473
_________________
Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000
"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed." |
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drmalacarne
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 02 Mar 2008
Posts: 762
Location: São Paulo, Brazil
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| Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2008 5:18 pm Post subject: |
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And plus all that, ride as you are invvisible to all car drivers.
Don't pass 3 seconds withouth look in the rearview mirrors.
Use your horn everytime!
Never stay on the side a car or truck more that 15 seconds.
Guilherme.
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1994 K1100LT SE n° 0267
1998 HD Heritage Springer 95th anniversary
Yes, a Hog and a Beemer can live together! |
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SugarHillCTD
Site Admin
Joined: 10 Oct 2007
Posts: 4238
Location: Now in Eastern Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2008 6:49 pm Post subject: |
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Ya' know- an Aerostich suit in Hi-viz is looking better and better each day...
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John & Cathy
'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F. |
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BlackHoof
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 12 Nov 2006
Posts: 302
Location: Near Duluth, Mn.
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| Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2008 7:01 pm Post subject: |
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| SugarHillCTD wrote: | | Ya' know- an Aerostich suit in Hi-viz is looking better and better each day... |
Unless you're a sensitive type fellow, & can't take "Hey you look like
Curious George's friend" comments...
I was wearing full-on Andy Hi-Vis at the very boring rally in Duluth this
summer, my "friends" were very critical of my resemblence to:
1) A large boned banana...
2) The afore mentioned friend of Curious George...
Screw them, sez I...
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Kent
'93 K1100LT- Blurple Colored
Lucky # 887
'27 Bugatti Replica/Kit Car-Dark Purple
'05 Suzuki Brugman/Russell Seat... |
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Mystic Red
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 28 Mar 2005
Posts: 2330
Location: Twin Lakes Idaho
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| Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2008 11:15 pm Post subject: |
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Screw them! I have guys at work that say "You don't need that jacket, it's hot out." I told one guy the pavement is just as hard, hot or cold.
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Scott Hespelt, '94 K11LT
K11 OG #466 |
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Jim
Site Admin
Joined: 17 May 2003
Posts: 3841
Location: WHERETHEFUNNEVERENDS
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| Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2008 11:37 pm Post subject: visiblity |
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It's never to hot for a jacket - it's easier to wipe sweat off than it is to wipe skin on 
As for reflective wear - I highly recommend this: http://www.visionvests.com/ I've worn mine for years - and nothing on it has even started to wear out yet.
_________________
Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000
"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed." |
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Scott_Anderson
Site Admin
Joined: 05 Sep 2006
Posts: 3128
Location: Central Iowa, USA
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| Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 7:24 am Post subject: |
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We had a group ride(around 180) back in August, and the guy behind me says "you can tell he's a beemer rider". I turn back to him and ask how's that?
He says he hasn't seen a beemer rider yet that doesn't ride with full gear. 
Of couse he wasn't in full gear.
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Ride safe.
1997 K1100LT 0302488
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1995 K1100LT 0302044(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold) |
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Flying Duck
PsyKotic Waterfowl
Joined: 27 Jan 2005
Posts: 10102
Location: Bumf***, WA
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| Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 9:37 am Post subject: |
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| Scott_Anderson wrote: | | He says he hasn't seen a beemer rider yet that doesn't ride with full gear. |
I have.
I agree with Jim on white helmets being the most visible. I think that aside from being a light color that people notice them more because you resemble a cop.
I have tons of lighting on my bikes. My motto is that if I make contact with a car I want it to be my fault.
Using your horn often is a matter of locale. In Seattle, people rarely use their horns. In fact, you can even get a tciket for using your horn if the officer doesn't think it was an "emergency." It can also lead to road rage in the US.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE |
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Sonu
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 15 Jan 2004
Posts: 400
Location: San Jose, CA
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| Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 4:34 pm Post subject: Re: visiblity |
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| Jim wrote: |
As for reflective wear - I highly recommend this: http://www.visionvests.com/ I've worn mine for years - and nothing on it has even started to wear out yet. |
Jim,
Thanks for the recommendation
Ordered mine today now that I'm commuting daily on Ziggy
Sanjiv
_________________
1997 K1100LT "Ziggy" _GarminGPS_Corbin saddle_K Guards _Hyperlights_Fog lights_Eastern Beaver Relays_Cee Bailey_4"speakers_Michelin PR4's_MoS2_Spiegler lines_TPMS_VDO
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drmalacarne
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 02 Mar 2008
Posts: 762
Location: São Paulo, Brazil
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| Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 5:51 pm Post subject: Re: visiblity |
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| Sonu wrote: | | Jim wrote: |
As for reflective wear - I highly recommend this: http://www.visionvests.com/ I've worn mine for years - and nothing on it has even started to wear out yet. |
Jim,
Thanks for the recommendation
Ordered mine today now that I'm commuting daily on Ziggy
Sanjiv |
Thanks for the great tip, Jim!
I ordered one reflective vest from Vision today, too!
Guilherme.
_________________
1994 K1100LT SE n° 0267
1998 HD Heritage Springer 95th anniversary
Yes, a Hog and a Beemer can live together! |
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Flying Duck
PsyKotic Waterfowl
Joined: 27 Jan 2005
Posts: 10102
Location: Bumf***, WA
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| Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 6:04 pm Post subject: |
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I still think this one is the best vest:
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE |
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Mystic Red
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 28 Mar 2005
Posts: 2330
Location: Twin Lakes Idaho
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| Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 9:09 pm Post subject: |
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+1!! 
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Scott Hespelt, '94 K11LT
K11 OG #466 |
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CheapJapCopy
Mad Brick Rider
Joined: 17 Dec 2007
Posts: 137
Location: Berlin, Germany
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| Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 3:11 am Post subject: |
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| drmalacarne wrote: | And plus all that, ride as you are invvisible to all car drivers.
Don't pass 3 seconds withouth look in the rearview mirrors.
Use your horn everytime!
Never stay on the side a car or truck more that 15 seconds.
Guilherme. |
This advice is worth ten hi-viz vests.
Also, keep your headlight on - there's some debate about that, but the k's headlamp is more than 6 inches across, so even the arguments against leaving it on don't stand up for our bikes.
Positioning is vital too - if you think someone might pull out on you, check your mirrors and move towards the centre of the road. The angles get a lot better then for visibility, and you're physically too far away from the vehicle for him to hit you.
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1992 K1100RS - Red and gold. |
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