BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

In the interest of conspicuity at night I've been adding bits of retro reflective tape to my R1200R while trying not to compromise the bikes aesthetics. Apparently riding at night inreases your risks.

I've been using Reflexite SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) tape which has great adherence (not good for compound curves however) and is highly retro reflective. It is a prismatic type material, which means it is highly retro reflective as long as the light source and viewer are close together (ie. the included angle* of the ligh-bike, and the viewer-bike needs to be small). When I shine a light on my bike, the tape is very bright and if I drive by my bike it is quite visible from a distance but not close up. If I park my bike and observe from a short distance away as cars go by, the bike is more or less invisible. So I'm thinking I need to add some glass bead type tape, which reflects light back at wider angles, if somewhat less brightly.

What are your strategies for nightime conspicuity? It seems many responsible riders wear reflective clothing, but not as many add tape to the bike.

* I had to google that.

I have some black 3M reflective tape on the black parts -- slipstream deflectors on forks and saddlebags -- that don't stand out in daylight, preserving the bike's lines, but really light up in low light, like an F-18 on a nighttime carrier. I like to pretend the bike has afterburners.

I have the 3M tape on the backs of the saddelbags. I replaced the reflectors on the bags with LED lights the same size as the reflectors. P3 lights alongside the license plate. Front has Cree LED lights mounted low on the crash bars.

I have some black 3M reflective tape on the black parts -- slipstream deflectors on forks and saddlebags -- that don't stand out in daylight, preserving the bike's lines, but really light up in low light, like an F-18 on a nighttime carrier. I like to pretend the bike has afterburners.

Bill,

Where did you pick that up? Coincidentally, I was looking for retro-reflective tape this weekend and all I could really seem to find was the solas stuff Arp mentioned (Aerostitch carries it). Unfortunately, I just can't stomach using that stuff on my RR Classic. I found black 3M reflective tape online, but it seems like 50ft is the standard size - a little too much for me (and expensive, at $150+ per roll, depending on width).

Much obliged,

N8

May I suggest this?

http://search.ascycles.com/motorcycle/Reflective%20Tape

Or maybe this?

http://www.jpcycles.com/bmw-motorcycle- ... afety-tape

That's more like it! Thanks Mike

I bought a couple of blank letter-sized sheets from the local dealer and cut off strips to fit. At $30 or so for about two sheets, it was way overpriced. I first read about the black tape kits here: http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycles ... pe-kit.htm

I bought a couple of blank letter-sized sheets from the local dealer and cut off strips to fit. At $30 or so for about two sheets, it was way overpriced. I first read about the black tape kits here: http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycles ... pe-kit.htm

Thanks Bill, I did find another place online - http://tapeworks.com/. They sell the stuff off the roll.

----------------------------------------------------------------
BULK TAPE
We can sell you the very material we produce our decals from. Then you can produce your own graphic design or custom fitted shape. Cut off a 14" wide roll, we sell it by the foot length.

- Solids, Pearls, Metallics: $8/foot
- Fluorescents & CBR red: $10/foot
- Reflectives (black, white, red, orange, gold, blue, green, yellow, purple): $12/foot
- Flexi-Chrome and Flexi-Gold Chrome: $12/foot
- NEW Flip-Flop (Magenta-Gold, Cyan-Purple): $12/foot
- CarbonLOOK, 6301 is the 14 x 47" sheet for $39.95
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N8

I added reflective material to a jacket and backpack. It moves in the breeze as I ride...like a flag. The movement draws attention.

Robert

I bought a set of black pre-cut reflectorized sheets that fit the back of my R1200R BMW bags. I don't know that brand, but I bought them from Max BMW. They fit well and are nearly invisible during the day.

I ordered a set of R1200R/RT bag reflective decals from Applied Graphics:
http://www.reflectivedecals.com/r1200rt.htm
I figured if I was going to ride this winter in NJ (when reasonable), I needed everything I could get to make the cages aware
I also have Cree LED lights from Whitehorse mounted on the GS handguards - they don't provide road lighting, but are very visible - also have P3's either side of the license for increased brake warning

In the interest of conspicuity, I think we should market something like the leather tassels the bikers use on their cruiser handlebars. Day glo orange or green should do the trick...

jkhomes wrote:In the interest of conspicuity, I think we should market something like the leather tassels the bikers use on their cruiser handlebars. Day glo orange or green should do the trick...

How about day glo chains/locks for those cars who get too close. Lots of possibilities here.

Cy -
I have those black reflective type tape panels on my bags - but - it seems like they don't reflect as well as a white reflective tape. Maybe it's just me I'll have to look at yours.

mogu83 wrote:Cy -
I have those black reflective type tape panels on my bags - but - it seems like they don't reflect as well as a white reflective tape. Maybe it's just me I'll have to look at yours.

I am not sure it is as reflective as the web site shows. Neither I nor my wife have been behind the bike at night since I installed it. I have not had too many tailgaters on 295 on the ride home at night lately.