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"Being Reflective"

24 posts Started 20 Sep 2010 Last recovered post 30 Sep 2010 Wayback Machine snapshot 8 Feb 2011
#1 zillamoto Thread starter
On my last trip which was to Ontario and Niagara Falls, and Niagara on the Lake, I was startled how little the VFR showed up in the dark when I was watching my son's video who was behind me. So... after some reflection on the matter, and studying the contours of the bike... here was my Sunday afternoon project.

Tried to make the refelectors look part of the original design, and not garish, using Black 3M Scotchlight tape , applied the width of the bag, just under the bag's "undercut" making it virtually invisible in day, and red reflecting tape for the bag corners.

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Close up shows the corner bag "markers" placed in the triangular bevel of each bag, note, although it does not look it, the markers are the same size , just flipped, the small difference in appearance is due to the size difference of the right and left bag.

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ummmm.... "Can you see me now?"

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#2 motorhead1977
Sure can! Is it possible to get that stuff in red? That way no one confuses the white reflection with the appearance of an oncoming vehicle? Just wondering.
#3 zillamoto Thread starter

[image: View Post]motorhead1977, on 19 September 2010 - 08:02 PM, said:

Sure can! Is it possible to get that stuff in red? That way no one confuses the white reflection with the appearance of an oncoming vehicle? Just wondering.


Haven't seen the Black Tape which reflects in red, but honestly I'm not sure. Looking at the pic, i see your point :p
Hmmm...

If they think I'm coming at them, certainly they will brake harder no? :mellow:
#5 BaileyRock
Looks/Works great, nice job! :fing02:
#7 carlitos92
:beer: Cheers. Sometimes you see very slap-happy tape installs where aesthetics took a back seat to safety, but I think your install looks great AND is visible. Nice job.
#8 zillamoto Thread starter

[image: View Post]carlitos92, on 19 September 2010 - 08:43 PM, said:

:beer: Cheers. Sometimes you see very slap-happy tape installs where aesthetics took a back seat to safety, but I think your install looks great AND is visible. Nice job.


Thanks! really appreciate that.
#9 timmythecop
never a bad idea. I am anti-sticker, but i put some super reflective happy faces on each saddlebag and my new helmet.


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#10 zillamoto Thread starter

[image: View Post]BaileyRock, on 19 September 2010 - 08:36 PM, said:

Looks/Works great, nice job! :fing02:


Thanks a lot! :biggrin:
#11 zillamoto Thread starter

[image: View Post]timmythecop, on 19 September 2010 - 08:53 PM, said:

never a bad idea. I am anti-sticker, but i put some super reflective happy faces on each saddlebag and my new helmet.


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I'm usually taking OFF all the stickers and reflectors, but as I will be putting major miles on this bike, many with my wife on pillion, guess I'm changing my ways.

Always nice to have a smile and to put one on someone else's mug, nice!
#12 Monk
Here's what mine looks like at night with out the lights on, with and without the hard bags. It's colour matched (close) to the surface it's on during the daylight.

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#13 VFRSuperfreak

[image: View Post]zillamoto, on 19 September 2010 - 07:55 PM, said:

On my last trip which was to Ontario and Niagara Falls, and Niagara on the Lake, I was startled how little the VFR showed up in the dark when I was watching my son's video who was behind me. So... after some reflection on the matter, and studying the contours of the bike... here was my Sunday afternoon project. /snip


Looks good!, but I'd add some "proactive" visibility; Flashing leds. safety is never outta fashion. "People die from avoiding shame" mom used to say.
#15 Monk

[image: View Post]bryan217, on 19 September 2010 - 09:31 PM, said:

This is what I did for added visibility on my 6th gen. Sorry, no night pics, though.

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That's a interesting design...Puts out a warning thought when seen.... Nice :fing02:

Maybe some under your plate, when the bags aren't on. :beer:
#16 TimC
Good stuff, folks. :fing02:

I've been meaning to install reflective tape on my hardbags. Glad I waited tho, 'cause I'm gonna use a couple of the ideas seen above. :smile:
#17 phobe
Good idea.
#18 bryan217

[image: View Post]Monk, on 19 September 2010 - 10:43 PM, said:


That's a interesting design...Puts out a warning thought when seen.... Nice :fing02:

Maybe some under your plate, when the bags aren't on. :beer:


I didn't want to go with just a solid piece of tape. I wanted something that would stand out a little more. That's an idea about under the plate. I do have some leftover tape. But I rarely ride without the bags.

I've been thinking about some kind of additional brake light, maybe a flashing one. That should really help, too.
#19 xerox
This is what I did to mine to add to the " how did that woman on the cellphone drinking coffee and smoking not see me"
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#20 2thdr

[image: View Post]bryan217, on 20 September 2010 - 09:18 AM, said:

[image: View Post]Monk, on 19 September 2010 - 10:43 PM, said:

That's a interesting design...Puts out a warning thought when seen.... Nice :fing02:

Maybe some under your plate, when the bags aren't on. :beer:


I didn't want to go with just a solid piece of tape. I wanted something that would stand out a little more. That's an idea about under the plate. I do have some leftover tape. But I rarely ride without the bags.

I've been thinking about some kind of additional brake light, maybe a flashing one. That should really help, too.


I too like your stripes...is that 1" or 2" material?
#22 bryan217

[image: View Post]xerox, on 20 September 2010 - 09:18 AM, said:

This is what I did to mine to add to the " how did that woman on the cellphone drinking coffee and smoking not see me"
[image: Posted Image]


I like the reflective Honda logo on the tank. Where did you get them?

[image: View Post]2thdr, on 20 September 2010 - 09:48 AM, said:


I too like your stripes...is that 1" or 2" material?


It's either 1" or 1.5". I don't have a ruler handy, otherwise I'd measure it. I'll check it later and let you know for sure, though.
End of thread · 24 posts recovered Wayback Machine snapshot 8 Feb 2011