| Author | Message | ||
     J2blue |
I had my first lay down due to a blind driver over the weekend. Any wreck you can walk away from is ok I guess. The bike got scraped up a bit and I had to replace a turn signal. My Blast questions are: 1) To mount crash bars or not?(How?) 2) Accessory lighting to get blind drivers attention? | ||
| Ezblast |
Your peg arms are built in crash bars - and semi easy to replace and not that expensive, and are hammer adjustable lol. Those pulsing light kits - Reuel (sorry for mis-spelling your name) sells one - are the ticket. EZ (Message edited by ezblast on May 05, 2008) | ||
| Reuel |
My design has 12 bright LEDs replacing turn signals, but I've been looking at getting LEDs that are about 6x as bright and putting 6 (or more) in each front signal to flash with the horn. That'll get their attention! Extra money is going to the ECU project for now, but I can certainly one-off a system or a partial system... | ||
| J2blue |
EZ, you are so right, the right foot peg absorbed most of the fall. I was a bit concerned that it may have bent inward toward the engine some but it doesn't seem to have moved enough to have punctured anything. I had to replace the right-hand deflector screws because the heads were scraped off and the rubber/copper-insert backing nuts were all messed up. Reuel, I would be interested LED turn signal lamps. The local H-D gave me their custom parts catalog(Fat?) on CD and I found some socket based LED cluster lamps but they are 3/4" socket sized and the Blast lamps appear to be 1/2" sized. I would like to convert them from signal only to signal/running along with the flash activation through the horn switch. I'd kind of like a pair of headlamps to mount on either side of the main headlamp, too. I think people don't know how to judge the distance of a single lamp approaching them. If you have links to any good suppliers I might be able to assemble something like what you describe. I guess my other concern is to not overload the alternator and battery. I'm not familiar with how many additional electrical devices can be added. | ||
| Reuel |
Here is where you go. The link is in my profile, too. Go to the LED signal page and look at what I have. Take a look, but keep in mind that I can set it up however you like. What I do uses your stock light housings. I make an insert that fits where the bulb is right now. Like I said, the LEDs I'm using can be replaced with some that are more than 6 times a bright. We could go yellow for signal and white for super-bright horn flashes in each unit. 8 regular LEDs are just a tad brighter than the stock bulb Take a look, then PM me if I can help you further. Oh--as far as power goes, they use much less than the stock bulbs. (Message edited by reuel on May 05, 2008) | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Welcome J2blue oooh...Flashing lights very dangerous. When flashing lights at a car you're inviting them to do something (and you wont know what). Signal Minder from Kisan tech sells a Flasher unit that will convert all your turn signals to running lights, emergency flashers and self cancelling. Will also allow the use of LEDs. WhiteHorse press sells accessory lighting (and Signal Minder). While not the cheapest source they usually have a good selection. Invest in a bright headlight. I run dual 100w and 60w headlights along with an electric vest and can start the bike with everything turned on. You wont have any problems. They sell very small and super bright (PIAA) fog lights which could be attached to your forks also. Dont forget when in doubt Use Your Horn. You cant brake for every Yahoo that might turn into your path, but you can let them know you're there. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Obviously I'm not a fan of weirdly flashing lights, but thats my opinion. A thread that gives alternate opinions: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/201 64/324145.html | ||
| Reuel |
I tried the horn thing on October 9, 2006. Wish I had a truck or train horn that day. I'm still paying for getting run off the road that day! If I had something like a strobe that I have now, he just might have seen me. Flashing lights? Not if they flash like a signal flashes, at 1-2 Hz. I'm talking a quick strobe (5 flashes in 1/2 second) to get someone's attention before he finishes that right turn from the left lane while you're on the right side of his trailer. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
"You cant brake for every Yahoo that might turn into your path, but you can let them know you're there."=That means you must have some kind of trust that the other drivers wont pull into your path, otherwise you'd be on the brakes all the time. Are you talking flashing signals or flashing headlights? Dont expect the average driver to know what strangely flashing lights mean. They are easily confused and a flashing headlight generally means "go ahead". I'm still paying the price (and will continue to pay) for an accident 4 years ago and it still doesnt seem (to me) like a good idea to have weirdly flashing lights. The 'lady' would have just given a different story and it probably would've been my fault if they could have proven I somehow gave her the "go ahead" by flashing lights. I'm saying be careful on what you use and know (if you can) the potential misinterpretation of them. | ||
| Reuel |
I agree, but what I'm doing is a strobe that will accompany the horn, so when someone is actively running you off the road and can't hear your horn, there's just that chance that he'll see lights flashing in his mirror and look back and see who he is about to squash in time to give me room on the shoulder to not crash. Diba? | ||
| J2blue |
Hey folks, thanks for the good ideas. I do want to make most of the mods Reuel has suggested, though I'm most interested in plug-in LED replacement bulbs for the turn signals. I would also like to get a pair of mini headlights that I can mount about 18 inches apart. I think the first thing I get will be a replacement bulb for the stock Blast headlamp since it seems so damn dim. More creatively I've imagined active laser imaging that can draw boxes around the bike and spell "STOP" on the persons windshield before they turn in front of me. I'm also thinking about some crazy blinking 6 foot long catfish whiskers mounted at the four corners of the bike. | ||
| Ezblast |
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| Gearheaderiko |
Got it Reuel! Maybe you could hook it up to the momentary high beam flasher. Optional honk only or honk with strobe high beam. J2blue: Nice thinking! The catfish whiskers will get you noticed and possibly committed! There may be a cheap Headlight HID kit that would also fit the Blast housing, but I'm sure the Blast can handle the brightest Halogen you can get for it. | ||
| Reuel |
Have you seen Hornblasters.com yet? They sell train horns! The videos are outrageous! Truck's driving by, they blast the horn, and one guy grabs his hat and runs! The cat is hilarious, too. Cat whiskers? Hmmm... JCWhitney might have some fog lights that you can figure out a mount or something. That high beam flasher would actually be quite easy. | ||
| J2blue |
On a more serious note, my neighbor keeps mentioning some kind of yellow-green flashing headlamp setup. I've not come across that description in any catalogs, does it sound familiar to any of you? I think my first step, due to money constraints and time, will be to replace the headlamp bulb with a brighter version, or possibly use the setup my neighbor describes if it is just a bulb and flasher module. | ||
| Rainman |
I tend to wear an obnoxious hi-viz yellow vest that I purloined from a department of transportation construction crew and no one has cut me off or tried anything stupid while I wear it. If I take it off.... Sure, it's uncool, but then, so am I. | ||
| Reuel |
Haven't heard of that headlight. Do you run with your high beams in the daytime? I saw a HD rider with a bright orange shirt with big white letters: "Can you see me now a$$hole?" | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
"I tend to wear an obnoxious hi-viz yellow vest that I purloined from a department of transportation construction crew and no one has cut me off or tried anything stupid while I wear it." I believe all active military are required to wear them. How cool are you now? (answer: very) | ||
| Walterj |
'"I tend to wear an obnoxious hi-viz yellow vest that I purloined from a department of transportation construction crew and no one has cut me off or tried anything stupid while I wear it."' "I believe all active military are required to wear them." hopefully not the ones in the middle east, although that would explain a lot if they do.  | ||
| Gbaz |
i just bought a joerocket mesh jacket for the summer.... white and black, and the gate guards let me on base with it  i have a firstgear scout 5 leather jacket i was using, and they made me use a vest with it.  | ||
| Reuel |
I'm thinking of just sewing some white and orange vertical stripes into the fabric. Forgot my vest last week and I was already half way to work! I told them I had a vest at my shop, and they let me on. | ||
| J2blue |
For day time riding I do use the high beam, but the impetus for this thread was about my being seen at night. Until I upgrade my lighting I will ride with the high beam on at night, most people will not think it too bright...and if they do at least they noticed me. As for the high-viz upper torso apparel, I hadn't bought any thing yet, but I definitely am wanting to now. The vest aren't that expensive so I'll probably get one of those and store it under the seat when I'm not riding. | ||
| Reuel |
The stock replacements are definitely brighter. I'm thinking about attaching something to my helmet that ties into the brakes and turn signals, but there's a good chance I won't. Let us all know about how your LEDs look when you get them. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Walter.  Nice to hear from ya! Reuel: Somebody does make a helmet mounted brake light, but I forget who. | ||
| Waldo1 |
Here is a nice air horn for about $40.00. http://www.bikerhiway.com/index.php?main_page=shop ping_cart&number_of_uploads=0 The one on my Jeep cost more than that, but is not rated that high a db. Stay safe, Waldo1 | ||
| Reuel |
$44.94. Ordered! | ||
| Waldo1 |
Keep us posted on the test results! Stay safe, Waldo1 | ||
| Gbaz |
wireless hat-mount break lights. $8 https://www.sciplus.com/singleItem.cfm/terms/14329 enjoy | ||
| Reuel |
Those are neat! I'm at my limit for spending money until my wife says otherwise. | ||
| Gbaz |
come on, $8, skip lunch one day o and the sci plus is one of the best sites, they have all kinds of crazzy stuff |
