reflective materials

slow · Post by **slow** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 1:43 pm

hi all,

in an effort to be more visible thus in theory more safe, i started to look for different options for reflective clothing. at the end, i opted for the icon mesh vest.

at the time i picked it, i assumed the bright color will help during the day and the reflective material will help at night. i did a quick test in my garage with all the lights off at night with a flash light. the reflective material doesn't look like it is working at all! i was just wondering if anyone has picture(s) taken at night of the rider with icon mesh vest? i try the google way and really didn't find anything useful.

i am actually thinking of getting some 3M reflective material and sew over the existing ones my self. i think the bright color during the day is great. but, i don't think all reflective material are created equal.

any info/opinions appreciated.

Post by **taosports** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 5:47 pm

Slow,

First of all, welcome to the board.

I know little about Icon's vest, but what I use at night is a bright orange mesh vest with bright reflective stripes on it front and back. It's very similar to what highway construction workers wear and I like the fact that it is made of a thin mesh material so that it is not bulky.

This is how I look at night :

The system bags have black reflective tape as does my Pelican case top box. I also have running lights so my turn signal lights are always on, day and night. As you can see, I do everything I can to be visible. BTW, I also have reflective tape on my helmet, shoes and pants cuffs.

Here's a great source for all kinds of tape :

http://www.identi-tape.com/

Post by **JCsman** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 5:49 pm

If you've got the BMW saddle bags, there's reflective material that is black during the day (virtually invisible on the bags) and highly reflective white at night....almost glaringly so. It's not as high up as a jacket, but the area of material makes for a reflection that is mighty impressive.

I think 3M makes it and they are sold by bike model for a nice fit. Generic sizes too, if I recall correctly.

Oooopppps edit, Taosport beat me to it. Here's another source.

http://www.reflectivedecals.com/saddle.htm

Post by **NoRRmad** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 7:11 pm

You can overdo it...

Post by **taosports** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 7:24 pm

Over done is subjective and in the eyes of the beholder...if I can stop just 1 person from running me over at night then so be it...I'm gladly over done.

Post by **Buckster** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 9:42 am

I have the reflective things on my cases too. I hardly use them though so I put some of the same material on the back of my helmet.
Anything to minimize the risk.

slow · Post by **slow** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 1:19 pm

thanks for the welcome

i lurk mostly but do surface on occasion. i don't have bags or anything to paste reflective materials. i will check in on the links provided to see if i can get better grade strips so i can do my own sewing.

thanks again

priapismic · Post by **priapismic** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 9:27 am

taosports wrote:Over done is subjective and in the eyes of the beholder...if I can stop just 1 person from running me over at night then so be it...I'm gladly over done.

Michael,

Better to be "over done" than to be invisible. What I worry about is the numbly-nuts cagers that are too stupid or too inebriated to turn their lights on at night. No matter how much you jump out with reflective material, they're not gonna see you.

Good job on all your reflectivity, IMO.

slow · Post by **slow** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 9:46 am

oh btw, how do you wire so the signal lights stays on?

thanks

Post by **taosports** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 9:58 am

priapismic wrote:
Michael,

Better to be "over done" than to be invisible. What I worry about is the numbly-nuts cagers that are too stupid or too inebriated to turn their lights on at night. No matter how much you jump out with reflective material, they're not gonna see you.

Good job on all your reflectivity, IMO.

You're right, it won't help but that's why my turn signal lights have been wired as running lights - every little bit helps. Maybe I need to wrap myself in Christmas tree lights!

Seriously though, you hear of way too many accidents where the cager at fault says "I just didn't see him/her." How many times have we heard that? And how many fellow riders have been injured or killed because we are invisible to these clueless cagers? - I'm just doing my best to be more visible to them.

And most importantly, I still ride assuming they can't see me. Think I'll last longer that way.

Post by **taosports** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 10:04 am

slow wrote:oh btw, how do you wire so the signal lights stays on?

thanks

Kisan makes a product called a Signal Minder. It eliminates having to use the awkward BMW turn signal cutoff switch, cuts off your turn signal after a set amount of time and allows you to turn your turn signal lights into running lights.

More info here:

http://www.kisantech.com/index.php?cat_id=4