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My dad gave me $100 for Christmas with specific instructions it should be spent on something for my RR. I wouldn't mind adding a little to the pot, for the right item. I was thinking something to make me more visible, or other "safety" item. I don't know... reflectors, flashy LED brake things, headlight modulator, signal minder (yeah, I'm working on it), air bag?

My bike is pretty much stock + Aeroflow, system cases (I consider these safety items), Kaoko throttle control. That's about it. I want a heated jacket, but I'm not ready to double+ my gift, I'll just have to keep bulking up with fleece for now.

What one item (around $100) do I really need? Your recommendations are greatly appreciated.

Use some of your $100 to buy reflective tape or pre-cut reflectors for your system cases.

If you want convenience, go with the SignalMinder. If you want safety, the BRAKE! LED tail/brake light. Both are good products and will make about $100 disappear.

Add some hyper lights to the back of your ride. Everyone that rides behind me says they make a HUGE difference when it comes to visibility during a stop. Easy to install and you'll still have some $$ left over for other small accessories. By far the best investment for the money when it comes to safety in my opinion.

I second the BRAKE! LED tail/brake light. It as easy to install as changing the light bulb. AND it's effective in both day and night visibility. Just my opinion.

flashy LED brake things

Fits your budget and is a great safety feature!

I think the SignalMinder is a great asset for safety because it gives you continuous conspicuity from the constantly on, widely-seperated tail lights with the convenience of automatic blinker cancellation and easy emergency flasher activation. It's the first thing I added.

For $79.99 more I would get
http://www.ascycles.com/detail.aspx?ID=44801
Good Luck.

For about $25 you can get electropods from JC Whitney, for your flashy LED brake light thingies.

Here they are in action on my wife's bike.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvnqRIEv-0c

You now have $75 left over for other stuff.

I tried to find out something about BRAKE! LED, but did not have much luck. I found they were made by "Homebody-design.com", but their web site returns a 404-type message. Found out on BMWMOA they are now (err, back in July) trading as "Gizmomill.com" but that site seems a dead end too.

http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/archive/ind ... 18817.html

I do want to buy from someone I can reach, somehow.

Sunbeemer,
I do like the SignalMinder, it one thing I'm definitely considering. BTW, you can activate your emergency flashers by pressing both turn signals at once (or at least I can).

TicTac,
I kinda want crash bars, but not enough for right now. My pessimist buddy says they cost more than a valve cover (he might be talking 2nd hand?) and one fall and they are all screwed up anyway. Or if you get in a big one, the bike is probably totaled anyway. But he's always cranky like that.

JohnnyLunchBox,
I'll have to check this out more. Your video is might convincing. webbikeworld.com has a lot about LED and other brake light options I need to read more about.

OK, so my short list so far is: HyperLights, BRAKE! LEDs (if I can find them), SignalMinder (I think this one goes over budget, but not too far)

I just installed over the weekend the Brake! Led light kit. Paid $90 from Hammersley BMW in Lynchburg Va. Phone #800-293-4539

The difference is nothing short of amazing! The light is user programmable in terms of flash duration before it goes to steady bright.
A friend followed me thru town after installation and he said they are so bright that it almost hurts your eyes.

I did that and also installed reflective tape on the back of my cases and top box. I don't want to get rear-ended!

Good Luck!

Wayne

Another source for the Brake! Led is the Pirates Lair website. I've had one for almost 2 years. I'm on my second unit as the first one went bad within a month. I contacted the manufacturer (Homebody Design back then) and they shipped a new one, no questions asked, immediately.
I look at it as an investment in my safety.

Marty

Sunbeemer,
... you can activate your emergency flashers by pressing both turn signals at once (or at least I can).

This is a SignalMinder function, too. I didn't know you could do that with a standard bike. Got SignalMinder?

One of the best things that I bought for my bike was a set of deer whistles. They are cheap, come two to a pack and mount on the black plastic beak fender support.

You can actually see the deer changing their minds and booking it outta there with these things on. Saved me some grief on the Blue Ridge Parkway last September.

Less than 10 bucks at any decent auto parts place!

Hmmm fender extender to keep mud off your shins. Maybe a set of those right angle tyre valves to make it easy to check pressures. Maybe a sheepskin seat for long days in the saddle.

I don't have any of those things - I'd probably spent it on a track day to give my standard R a chance to boogie!!

Tom

GS handguards take some serious chill off the hands, not sure if that's a problem for you in AR or not.

Look around for a used heated jacket/vest, or else get the GS handguards.


Of course you could replace the Aeroflow with a better looking windshield.

I highly recommend the Kisan headlight modulator for two reasons.

1) Drivers really do notice you. Now days all motorcycles have a constant burning daylight headlight that does nothing. Many drivers ignore. But a blinking headlight is the safest thing I've done for my R.

2) When moving through traffic many motorists will assume you are a motorcycle cop and move out of your way. (Seriously)

A recap on a treasure-trove of suggestions:

The tail-end lighting arena seems to be the most popular category with something like 9 folks making recommendations. There are suggestions for the Kisan signalMinder (tailight cancel, running light, brake flash functions), the BRAKE! LED unit, Hyperlights and others, with the BRAKE! LED getting the most recs. My concern about the company going belly up not withstanding, I'm undecided between the signalMinder and the BRAKE! LED units myself.

fighting kentuckian recommended the front headlight modulator. I think Kisan calls it their pathBlazer. A couple o'folks suggested adding reflective tape... I know the RiderWarehouse has a selection of this stuff.

Two folks recommended the GS handguards. Yep, been thinking of these.

The miscellaneous suggestions were the most interesting and there were some very useful ones. They included:
Crash bars
Deer whistles (they say these really work)
Fender extender
right angle tire valves (good idea for convenience; I been thinking about that little dial gauge with a hose that clamps on the valve, you inflate or deflate through the gauge... but I forgot who make it, about $25).
Sheepskin seat
"Used" heated jacket (to keep me in budget)

Jeff (Biff's R) suggested I needed a better looking windshield. Thanks but I'm pretty happy with the one I got.

Everyone,
Thanks for the most excellent suggestions! I'll be acting upon them soon and will post the results.