Enough with the near hits

For those that have ridden with me you know I am very hard to miss. I am 6'5 and nearly 300lbs with a bright yellow Olympia jacket. Over the last years since owning the jacket I have been nearly taken out 5 times. Well I have had enough. I am now taking things to the next level. I am going to do this in stages. The first stage I need your help. I am puttng aircraft wingtip strobe lights on the bike that fire when the turn signals are activated. The kit I have in mind is Aircraft Strobe Lights as you can see it is designed for a 12V system. The question is how do I wire something like this that will work with the turn signal. What I want is if I turn on either right or left signal for both strobs to fire. That way if I am making a right turn the people on my left will see the strobe and vice versa.

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.

Visibility is important, but I don't think those very expensive strobes is your best bet. For the same price you could outfit the bike with Clearwater lights which would be very noticeable and much more useful. I use Kristas on the front but you could use the Glendas and fire them as turn signals if you want. Brodie uses Glenda lights with red fulters as run, stop turn signals on the back, and those are about as visible as anything I have ever seen. He also uses the Krista main lighs and Glenda marker lights on the front.

You might attract unwanted LEO attention with any flashing or strobe type light. I just think there are better ways to mark the bike without resorting to strobes.

I would humbly suggest 2 alternative things.

1) I know, some are just very against... headlight modulators.

But if used properly, my experience anyway, is they really do get us seen, and they are legal in all 50 states. There's a federal law that supersedes all state laws.

The biggest knock I've heard is that people actually mistake the modulation for "GO"... in other words... pull out in front of me! My experience is that yes... they can be mistaken by some drivers, but ONLY if you turn them on at the last second! If you have them on in and leave them on (unless stopped of course) in hectic traffic, their meaning won't be mistaken.

2) In conjunction with above... if you forget (or fail for some reason) to turn them on in time... just weave back and forth, with a steady speed. When our headlights are moving back and forth, it makes us much much much more visible. It catches peoples eyes. The same way headlight modulators do.

anyway... these are my experiences... others will have their own, of course.

In my experience with strobes, and unless things have changed a lot, those things take a shit load of power, and get really hot. I know the guys who wire our cop cars are happy that we have mostly moved away from strobe lights. However, we still use them in the turn signal housings, and I have seen them melt the reflectors and even the light lens itself.

I have also noticed that behind the lights and windshield of a MC, I have a very hard time noticing the high-viz jackets. From the side, they show really well, but even from the rear, if there's a passenger, luggage, or a trunk, they're not that good.

I know that when I ride with my brother and he fires those frigging Sol-tek El Fuego HID lights up in the middle of the day, cars move over like no tomorrow...It's amazing.

On the rear of the bike, I have the Kissan TailBlazer lightbulbs in place of the OEM bulbs and they work really well. To supplement those, I have This Light below my license plate. It strobes when the brakes are pressed, and it is bright as anything I have ever seen.

Ask SacMike, Galaxy Blue, Patch308, or any others that have ridden behind me...You know when I'm stopping or slowing.

Good luck with your endeavor, but I think you can do better than strobe lights...

azitlies said:

. . . . . just weave back and forth, with a steady speed. . . . . .

Click to expand...

That's something I started doing 2 or 3 years ago, when I see a car pull up to a stop on a side street, or into an opposing left turn lane. The headlights back and forth, combined with the lean, shows that driver (hopefully) that it's a bike not too far down the road, rather than a car way the heck far away. I really think the movement gives the driver a better range picture of his clearance, or lack thereof.

The two headlights being close together might be seen my some drivers as a car very far away. The wiggle on approach makes that impression pop very quickly.

To me, it's the movement that shows them what and where we are, rather than any lights.

That Whelen TIR3 light is great and I use a clone made by Galls. that only costs $39. My experience with the Kristas is that it is very visible to drivers and gives them a wider reference so they can judge your speed. They actually pull over and make room when splitting lanes with these.

azitlies said:

I would humbly suggest 2 alternative things.

1) I know, some are just very against... headlight modulators.

But if used properly, my experience anyway, is they really do get us seen, and they are legal in all 50 states. There's a federal law that supersedes all state laws.

The biggest knock I've heard is that people actually mistake the modulation for "GO"... in other words... pull out in front of me! My experience is that yes... they can be mistaken by some drivers, but ONLY if you turn them on at the last second! If you have them on in and leave them on (unless stopped of course) in hectic traffic, their meaning won't be mistaken.

2) In conjunction with above... if you forget (or fail for some reason) to turn them on in time... just weave back and forth, with a steady speed. When our headlights are moving back and forth, it makes us much much much more visible. It catches peoples eyes. The same way headlight modulators do.

anyway... these are my experiences... others will have their own, of course.

Click to expand...

Leave mine on all the time (unless in stop/go traffic or on motorcycle group rides) and I have enough instances of people noticing me and slamming on the brakes cause they REALIZE I'm there to make me REALLY push for modulators. It's now considered part of my ATGATT. I won't own another bike without installing this on it.
Alexi

Slappy said:

For those that have ridden with me you know I am very hard to miss. I am 6'5 and nearly 300lbs with a bright yellow Olympia jacket. Over the last years since owning the jacket I have been nearly taken out 5 times. Well I have had enough. I am now taking things to the next level. I am going to do this in stages. The first stage I need your help. I am puttng aircraft wingtip strobe lights on the bike that fire when the turn signals are activated. The kit I have in mind is Aircraft Strobe Lights as you can see it is designed for a 12V system. The question is how do I wire something like this that will work with the turn signal. What I want is if I turn on either right or left signal for both strobs to fire. That way if I am making a right turn the people on my left will see the strobe and vice versa.

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.

Click to expand...

Almost 300lbs...

BTW, if you want to wire something to run with a turn signal, a relay should work. Run power directly to it and use a positap to run a wire from the turn signal to the relay. The relay will then switch on and off as the turn signal switches on and off. Unless it's such a light load (LEDs) that you can just positap to the turn signal wire right away and use THAT for power. Then no relay needed.

Alexi

wfooshee said:

azitlies said:

. . . . . just weave back and forth, with a steady speed. . . . . .

Click to expand...

That's something I started doing 2 or 3 years ago, when I see a car pull up to a stop on a side street, or into an opposing left turn lane. The headlights back and forth, combined with the lean, shows that driver (hopefully) that it's a bike not too far down the road, rather than a car way the heck far away. I really think the movement gives the driver a better range picture of his clearance, or lack thereof.

The two headlights being close together might be seen my some drivers as a car very far away. The wiggle on approach makes that impression pop very quickly.

To me, it's the movement that shows them what and where we are, rather than any lights.

Click to expand...

Sorry I can't answer the wiring question but agree more conspicuous lighting is the way. :bigglasses:

And I thought I was the only one doing the weave dance. :drinks:

Clearwater Glendas and Whelen LIN3 rock. :yahoo:

Slappy said:

For those that have ridden with me you know I am very hard to miss.

Click to expand...

That's the problem. You actually want to be hard to hit! It's preferable for cagers to miss you! Therefore, endeavour to make yourself easy to miss.
I follow the Stealth Methodtm: I realized long ago that, as a motorcycle rider, I'm pretty much invisible anyway.

I've learned to appreciate that fact, and to take full advantage of it by remaining as inconspicuous as possible.

Like Ali famously said: 'You can't hit what you can't see'.

All my gear is black, and my feejer is a ghostly silver, both of which I believe enhance my obscurity.

I swear if it weren't illegal, I'd install a switch to turn off the head and running lights during the day in order to decrease the chances of target fixation... h34r:

Thanks for all the answers. Alexi, that is excaclty what I was looking for. Thanks.

The strobes I am going to use are not typical stobes. They are not for police cars they are for aircraft. I am going to use aircraft wingtip strobes. During the day they will get your attention like a intersection camera catching someone running a red light does. They use a 12V system and have a power supply the size of a fuse block. They are designed to run on a planes electrical system which is identical to a cars or motorcycles electrical system. The link in my original post tells about the voltage and amps needed to run the system. When I am done I will post a video.

Slappy said:

Thanks for all the answers. Alexi, that is excaclty what I was looking for. Thanks.

The strobes I am going to use are not typical stobes. They are not for police cars they are for aircraft. I am going to use aircraft wingtip strobes. During the day they will get your attention like a intersection camera catching someone running a red light does. They use a 12V system and have a power supply the size of a fuse block. They are designed to run on a planes electrical system which is identical to a cars or motorcycles electrical system. The link in my original post tells about the voltage and amps needed to run the system. When I am done I will post a video.

Click to expand...

And if all that fails I`m going to learn some riding techniques that may keep me out of trouble.

Slo.

silver spirit said:

...I swear if it weren't illegal, I'd install a switch to turn off the head and running lights during the day in order to decrease the chances of target fixation... h34r:

Click to expand...

Good luck with that.

Who's your insurer anyway...

(WTF?)

Okay Slappy, you're in California. I didn' want to go here but here is a severely annotated version of the California vehicle code. The short version is, in California you can't use flashing lights unless they are specifically allowed for your use. My reading of that simple provision that your aircraft strobes will be illegal and will be subject to citation. Choose wisely.

VEHICLE CODE Division 12, Chapter 2

SECTION 25250-25282

25250. Flashing lights are prohibited on vehicles except as otherwise permitted.

25251. (a) Flashing lights are permitted on vehicles as follows:

(1) To indicate an intention to turn or move to the right or left upon a roadway, turn signal lamps and turn signal exterior pilot indicator lamps and side lamps permitted under Section 25106 may be flashed on the side of a vehicle toward which the turn or movement is to be made.

(2) When disabled or parked off the roadway but within 10 feet of the roadway, or when approaching, stopped at, or departing from, a railroad grade crossing, turn signal lamps may be flashed as warning lights if the front turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously and the rear turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously.

(3) To warn other motorists of accidents or hazards on a roadway, turn signal lamps may be flashed as warning lights while the vehicle is approaching, overtaking, or passing the accident or hazard on the roadway if the front turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously and the rear turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously.

(4) For use on authorized emergency vehicles.

(5) To warn other motorists of a funeral procession, turn signal lamps may be flashed as warning lights on all vehicles actually engaged in a funeral procession, if the front turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously and the rear turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously.

 
(a Turn signal lamps shall be flashed as warning lights whenevera vehicle is disabled upon the roadway and the vehicle is equipped with a device to automatically activate the front turn signal lamps at each side to flash simultaneously and the rear turn signal lamps at each side to flash simultaneously, if the device and the turnsignal lamps were not rendered inoperative by the event which caused the vehicle to be disabled.
 
-c Side lamps permitted under Section 25106 and used in conjunction with turn signal lamps may be flashed with the turn signal lamps as part of the warning light system, as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a).
 
(d) Required or permitted lamps on a trailer or semitrailer may flash when the trailer or semitrailer has broken away from the towing vehicle and the connection between the vehicles is broken.
 
(e) Hazard warning lights, as permitted by paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a) may be flashed in a repeating series of short and long flashes when the driver is in need of help.
25251.2. Any motorcycle may be equipped with a means of modulating the upper beam of the headlamp between a high and a lower brightness at a rate of 200 to 280 flashes per minute. Such headlamps shall not be so modulated during darkness.

Provisions for emergency vehicles and permissive uses are deleted because they don't apply. All you need to know is your strobes are illegal.

Alexi said:

BTW, if you want to wire something to run with a turn signal, a relay should work. Run power directly to it and use a positap to run a wire from the turn signal to the relay. The relay will then switch on and off as the turn signal switches on and off. Unless it's such a light load (LEDs) that you can just positap to the turn signal wire right away and use THAT for power. Then no relay needed.

Alexi

Click to expand...

Slappy said:

Thanks for all the answers. Alexi, that is excaclty what I was looking for. Thanks.

...

Click to expand...

Was it really?

I didn't look at the strobes you are looking at but assume that they are designed to take a constant voltage and internal circuitry controls the strobe timing. The pulses of voltage from the signal relay may not produce the desired results. If you tap the trigger wire before the signal solenoid rather than the output, you will be able to provide a constant trigger to the strobes.

Also, if you tap both signals so the strobes are activated with either one, you will need diodes to prevent one signal from triggering the other. You'll have to find someone smarter than I for specifics as I have never attempted such a set-up.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

FJRGuy said:

Slappy said:

Thanks for all the answers. Alexi, that is excaclty what I was looking for. Thanks.

...

Click to expand...

Was it really?

I didn't look at the strobes you are looking at but assume that they are designed to take a constant voltage and internal circuitry controls the strobe timing.

Click to expand...

I think FJRGuy is correct. What you are looking for (I think) is turning the power to the strobes "on" when you turn a blinker on. And turning the power to the stobes "off" when you turn the blinker off. That's different from constant on-off-on-off power from a blinker wire.

Maybe an on-off toggle switch for the whole shootin' match as well, considering TominCA's input...?

those restrictions on flashing lights are pretty universal. they usually address luminosity (brightness) too. that being said, aircraft strobes tend to be pretty bright.

here's TX Transportation Code

Sec. 547.305. RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF LIGHTS.

© A person may not operate a motor vehicle equipped with a red, white, or blue beacon, flashing, or alternating light unless the equipment is:

(1) used as specifically authorized by this chapter; or

(2) a running lamp, headlamp, taillamp, backup lamp, or turn signal lamp that is used as authorized by law.

[which then goes on to specify turn signals for civilians and flashing/alternating lights for emergency and law enforcement equipment.]

...

Connecticut: https://www.ct.gov/dmv/cwp/view.asp?a=810&q=319694

etc.

For all the positive law abiding citizens that have responded to this post I do appreciate what you are saying. I do understand there are laws against things like this. I really do appreciate you letting me know and looking out for me, I really do. However, with the budget cuts in this area there is never a cop around. I take the same trek every day and I do way over the posted limit. In 5 years I have never seen a police officer. Do I deserve a ticket? NO, I deserve a good old fashing tazing with a butt whooping to boot. I am not bitching about the people not doing what is required of them while operating a vehicle. I just do not want to end up under a vehicle in the middle of the road. I have done what is Legal as far as make myself more visible. I added a givi with an admore light kit. Hasnt helped. I purchased a god aweful ugly neon yellow jacket and that has not helped. Sound such as a horn doesnt work because people where I am drive with their windows up and stereos booming. So I am stuck with some sort of visual que. I have my pilots license and I know the importance of the wing tip strobe. They work for 747's they sure as hell will work for an inattentive BMW driver.

If someone here comes up with a better idea I am all ears. Until then I will have aircraft strobes on the bike by the end of the month.