Motorcycle safety features that will keep you alive
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 มิ.ย. 2024
- Rider modes, ABS, Traction control and more... this is a chat about some of the many features that are available on modern motorcycles that help to keep riders alive on public roads and trails.
The bike used as an example is the 2024 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro.
www.BretTkacs.com
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Biggest single motorcycle safety item I’ve invested in has been continuous rider training for………..me!
Bravo, no feature or gizmo will ever make up for a dumb ass on top of it😂.
I rewired the horn to go when the headlights turn on - if loud pipes save lives, always-on horns are next level!
😂
Thanks for your video. I'd like to mention that we should not only concentrate on our bike but also take an objective look on ourself. Physical fitness is in my humble opinion also a major safety supplement. Maybe you could make a video about the essentials fitness needs for a safe (off-road) biker?
Absolutely. My wife is a weight lifter and trainer, and what finally got me to join her in the (garage) gym was the KLR in the corner, reminding me exactly how heavy it is. 😅
First thing have a healthy back, the rest is riding hours.
2 bits on my motorcycle that I think enhance safety,:
1) Reflective strips on the outside edges of my hard panniers so that traffic from the front and back may judge the full extent of my vehicle
2) Adding yellow filters to my aux lights for foggy conditions. It’s mind blowing how much of a difference the color makes
I'm with you Kislay. I love Reflective Solas Marine Tape. I put this on my panniers. Marine Solas tape does a great job of lighting you up at night when headlights hit you from the rear or the side.
Headlights had to be yellow in france up until 1993 because they beleived it would improve visibility in foggy conditions. This holds true when comparing yellow and white lights at the same luminosity. However, filtering white light to be yellow reduces the brightness, which reduces the effect. At the sime time dimmer lights are significantly worse when it's not foggy. So they ended up reverting to white light just like the rest of the world. Same goes for ski-masks: yellow filters were very popular for bad weather conditions but usually when visibility is very bad there also isn't a blinding amount of sunlight left so most people just use clear glasses nowadays. I have compared both many times and tbh I couldn't see a significant difference. Glad if it works for you though! And I am certainly on the same page when it comes to reflective stripes. Most reflectors on bikes point forwards and backwards but never sideways, so don't forget to put some on the sides as well.
My bike had a pair of aux lights when I got it, but the original owner aimed them straight forward. One of the first things I did was fix that. They are for fog and off-roading so they should be pointed lower and out to the left and right, not directly at the eyeballs of oncoming traffic.
@@progammler thanks for sharing! I live in the northern part of India and in my experience white light just doesn’t work in the dense smog/fog we get here. Yellow light seems to cut through a lot better. Could also be the placement of the lights, tbh.
SOLAS tape all over the place on every bike I have
Tire Pressure Monitoring system.
2021 RP black/white owner here. I like the subtle styling changes to the 24, and really like the gray/black /red color scheme.
Lol, I wouldn't mind TPMS on my bike. Had a quick flat a few months ago while doing 80mph and didn't realize I didn't have air until my rear tire started wandering back and forth. Full butt pucker moment while crossing 4 lanes of rush hour traffic to get to the shoulder.
Changing my windshield to avoid buffeting. When going on long rides this makes focusing on important things much more difficult
Please do a video on physical fitness for motorcycling. And anything special that motorcyclists should do to develop strength in some areas. Thank you.
Thanks for this trip through current safety features on today's bikes. My biggest safety add on was putting pivot pegs on my bike . Almost impossible to slip off , which gives more confidence while riding. Also adding 4 Clearwater lights upfront. Rode for years regular one headlight standard one light upfront , and now I can tell a noticeable difference with cars interactions with me as I approach intersections .
Great comments, Bret. On the road, visibility is paramount! Although black looks cool, it contributes to the invisibility of the motorcycle and rider. Visible colors, reflective tape, and lights assist in others seeing you!
I understand now why BMW and other brands have asymmetric headlights.. A few years back a work mate of mine was riding home from work late, it was dark and had his headlights on. His bike had two round headlighs as some older bikes do. Very unfortunately for him a car doing a U-turn saw these two headlights and mistook him for a car in the distance not a motorcycle 50metres away, the outcome was catastrophic and life changing, he was lucky to survive but unable to ever ride a bike again. You are very right Brett when you say headlights are a safety item, in more ways than one, asymmetric headlights are a life saver too.
I assume USA is the only country where asymmetric headlights are not legally obligatory.
Just told the wife I need to order a heated seat for my Tiger. Safety First!!!!!! Great vid!
One of the biggest things I've started doing, not only to my bike, but also my helmet (even my bicycle and bicycle helmet) is adding some strips of color matched retro-reflective tape to the sides and rear. I bought a 25ft roll of very black retroreflective tape and added 3 strips to the front cowling, on my rear crate, and dotted around my helmet in black areas. Unless you're shining a light directly at it (like a headlight) you're not going to notice the additions. But they really pop at night.
Properly adjusted mirrors, handlebars and brake lever/pedal. If you have to find them to use them, you’re in trouble.
Changed the ergonomics to my liking, lighting and did a safety course last year.
I purchased a 2024 K1600GTL with 160 bhp on tap. Traction control means that power is fully available at all times in all conditions. It’s amazingly good and helps me ride with confidence
😂question is do u really need a 1600 cc bike ?
@TheAmitkumar2010 we only really need food and shelter to survive. Anything else is a want.
Do any of us REALLY need a motorcycle? No. That’s why I have 4 including a 1600 GT
@@mikemerrill175 ofcourse we need motorcycles. In asia people's main mode of transportation is motorcycles. But getting a 1600 cc is just showing off. Most of u who own such high cc bikes r not even competent to handle that much power. Thats why u need so many riding modes and traction control and what not.
@@chrishart8548 dont forget sex. We need that too.
Tubeless tyres, even on adventure bikes is a great safety feature. Keep up the good work,
Cheers, V.
Definitely, it's the only thing that I keep thinking about while riding my 2016 AT, so that is definitely something I'm looking forward to change
@@fidanym My buddy runs a tubeless conversion on his 17 AT. 10K miles and numerous tire changes, no issues. Woodys are pricey, but you dont have to worry about them holding air and they look damn good =)
@@orangelion03 yeah I was looking at Woodys and Alpina
I switched to yellow lenses on my Deni's D4's... I have noticed that driver's seem look at me longer, even in daylight. The yellow lenses attract attention, which is good when it comes to automobile drivers.
Okay so here's my addition: In the Netherlands, Oskam Engineering is selling lighted motorcycle emblems. I've got these on my BMW R1250GS, and they are lit white when riding, and Flash orange when indicating, obviously only on the side you're indicating. This greatly helps increase your visibility straight to the side, when for instance you're changing lanes on the highway in the dark.
Also they look awesome.
Also I always ride with the "offroad" footpegs, they have an aggressive pattern of small Pins, nearly impossible to slide off of.
BTW, all the features Bret highlighted on this very nice Triumph, My BMW has had as standard (apart from heated seats and grips, those are options) since 2019. BMW has had the linked braking system for decades, but it's gotten really good nowadays.
I step into my garage and look at my 1981 XL185 with no computers and drum brakes....Yeah this video isn't intended for me.
Id like to be able to comfortably do 2 wheel drifting and be able to begin to lose the front end and save it.
Or have launch control & wheelie assist too, almost all is now possible and is dial-able on some newer bikes. The key skill that will be missed though may be found at the worst moment of the riders career...obstacle avoidance in an emergency. Whether its better skills or equipment, you often need them both to be at their best when it matters most. That's why i took lessons from Club Desmo and dirt riding clinics, both with Doc Wong. One advice he gave me was "to reduce fear of street slides, learn to ride a dirtbike where its loose all the time!". I did just that, multiple sessions at his Hollister clinics too. Now 20 some years later i have a Yamaha Tracer 9GT+ for 2up street, giving me even better equipment to go with my skills. By the way, Thanks Doc 😉, i greatly appreciate what you did and still do for me and others.
1984 Harley, the same problem 😂😂😂
I’ll add a steering damper/stabilizer to the list. Suspension for the steering is important, especially off road but also on the street. After riding on the freeway several years ago and getting a tank slapper after hitting a 2x4, I’m a believer.
I covered my bike and helmet with retro-reflective stickers, and after placing them to my liking, they both look cool (to me, which is all I care about) and make me even harder to miss.
Besides, who doesn't like stickers.
I like adding auxiliary lights, not just to see better at night but also to be seen better during the day. A single headlight could be a motorcycle or a car with a broken headlight, but a triangle of three lights is definitely a motorcycle, and unusual enough on the road that drivers seem to notice.
Right on. Two headlights on a car a far distance away appear as one (convergence). Motorcycles appear further away to motorists because the separation between light sources is less and always perceived incorrectly.
@@kannermwexactly! I notice I get cut off more often on my two-headlight V-Strom than my previous single headlight motorcycles.
Thank you Bret for keeping us safe.triumph tiger 900 owner here. I wear a white helmet. white jacket and i added fog lights.for safety
Hi Bret. Good video. My 1250GS has excellent safety features that I am glad to have, but I think the best safety feature remains frequent high quality training. I managed five days last year including two with you and two MSF classes. Nothing has helped me more as an aging rider.
As to your video, I especially liked the comments that I took as a caution about "over-lighting" your bike, something which my fellow GS riders seem especially prone to. It's sort of the BMW equivalent of loud pipes save lives. Yes, some added lighting is probably helpful to a point but so many riders overdo this, which I find annoying and a distraction both as a rider and a driver. The friend I ride with most, and who is usually behind me, has such bright lights on his bike and so many of them that I find it a constant distraction when riding with him. And I notice that his setup sort of spooks drivers ahead of us, sometimes causing them to make dangerous maneuvers to get out of our way. My guess is that they think there is some sort of emergency vehicle behind them. We need to strike a balance between being visible but not annoying.
Terry Burnes
I call it the Close Encounters look =) I bought a 17 GSA used, and it came with factory and Denali lights. It was a tad much.
Sir, I have installed a Power Deer whistle , additional Fog lights but they facing downward, I have installed all type of reflective tapes all around the bike to make it more visible. Good Video sir, even though I am paved road rider, I enjoy all of your videos and Thank you so much for creating these useful videos for us.
One thing that ive done to all of my new motorcycles, or rather i should say havent done, is removing the reflectors around the bike to "look cooler". Those are on there for our safety so keep them on and forget what your friends say about them! As always thank you so much to bringing it back to safety is priority on motorcycles. Appreciate all of your hard work bret! happy new years!
On my 2019 Africa Twin. Safety added features
Heated grips
Additional night lites
Adjusted suspension
Appropriate condition tires
Regular service to brakes
Great vid Bret and you pointed out the flashing hazard lights under heavy breaking, this is a feature other manufactures have had fitted for a couple of years now. As for a safety feature - I change the standard 'asthmatic mouse' like horn on my bikes to a Stebel air horn & fit auxilary lighting.
Thanks Bret, some very good points there.
I’ve added daytime running lights which can also be used as fog lights to my Gen 2 KLR650. I’m not sure if it makes a difference or not to other road users but it definitely makes me feel more safe. I have also added heated grips but never considered them to be a safety feature until now.
👍🇦🇺
greetings from Norway Bret
Thanks Bret, my sentiments exactly
9:44 how bout the nut crusher pad? Thats some good thinking right there, by a real off road rider.
Thanks Bret for this one! I invited a friend to ride with me as passenger. He was reluctant and didnt go. Later I told him about that new bike I wanted to buy and about the enhancement of security features it has as compared to my actual bike. He then says "when you have that bike I will go with you". Fine, but later while I was driving in city traffic, I realized that by far the most important safety feature did not come from the bike, because its the pilot and all the decisions he does all the time that makes the final safety layout.
My son and I ride Piaggio Beverly scooters, his is 400cc mine is 350. We tour and motocamp.
In addition to features you recommend we:
wear bright colors and even had reflective tape sewn onto his leather jacket,
All gear all the time,
Tall windshield during winter riding for better vision w/o buffetting,
Added brake light flasher with 3 quick blinks to alert I'm braking without annoying vehicles behind,
Pin lock behind visor to prevent fogging, Cardo on lead rider to alert of hazards.
Happy Holidays to you and your subscribers.
Good points Bret!! When I first got my Super Tenere I did braking drills trying to "outbrake" the Unified System. Needless to say I always came up going 5-10 feet further (depending on speed).
Thank you Bret for your tireless dedication to our education and safety. For added safety, I installed on my KTM 1290 SAS:
- RIGID sideshooters (120 degree sweep) add-on lights that I flash stroboscopically at the intersection, (it's no substitute for attention and front brake covering though, some dudes WILL NOT see you no matter what)
- Denali D6 flashing stop light
- panoramic mirror to eliminate blind spots (work wonders in daytime)
- BlueSkySea DV988 dashcam, configured as rearview mirror (work wonders at night), it's wired and comes with 4" TFT
Another excellent video, thank you!
For me, 100% of the time ALWAYS add a stronger to my rear light.
When a vehicle starts to change lanes into you a Denali Soundbomb horn is definitely a safety feature, in addition to normal defensive driving.
I appreciate your level of knowledge and professionalism. Keep up the good work.
Great points Brett thank you so much for your effort and thought that you put into your video. So much knowledge 😊
I have a 1200 GS 2006, and I just fitted a easy canon to the electronics, which allows me to use my computer to program all the lights to do different things. When I decelerate now I have two red LEDs on the back that strobe. When I use my horn, it's droves the spotlights and the lights on the front. At night, if I use a turn signal, it turns off the spotlights on the same side, so that the turn signal is not obstructed by the light it's a great feature for safety. And also the only way you can connect accessories to the GS computer system.
Owned a 2006 R1200GS as well. The only rider aids are ABS and the integrated front-rear link. The ABS failed on mine at 75K. In the mountains. With my wife on the back. Quite the moment. For those that dont know, that era ABS was a boosted system, power brakes. Performed a bypass and removed the servo unit, leaving the electronics section because it uses inputs for speedometer and brake light. It helped that the master cylinders are the same for ABS and non-ABS models. Brake feel actually improved, particularly off-road.
When mounting my auxiliary lights, I was told to separate them horizontally as much as possible, to change the head on look of the motorcycle at night. My stock lights are side by side Hi/Lo beams, and studies have shown that drivers mistake the two lights close together as a set of car headlights approaching from far away. They think they have plenty of time to pull out into the road, and you are really only yards away. By adding two more lights at night away from the main headlights, you reduce the chance of being miss identified. Now excuse me as I rush outside to check the alignment!! Thanks for the info Bret!
Great video, Brett!
My night vision isn’t the greatest anymore, so I mostly ride in the daytime.
But, I’m going to add driving lights to my Transalp when it gets here, primarily to be seen by drivers on the street. (Wish that it had the three-gyro traction control)
Having the 3-light pattern to oncoming or side street traffic is more likely to get their attention, I think, and also gives them a better reference to judge my distance/speed, just as with two headlights on a car would.
The new bike also incorporates the turn signals as running lights. (Great move, Honda). All new bikes should have flashing brake lights under hard deceleration too, imho.
Auxiliary lights for me are always a must addition to any Motorcycle I ride.
Amber aux lights up front are on my list. My buddy has them on his GS and no question cars see him coming from way back and are generally more likely to move out of the way (for lane splitting or just getting out of the fast lane).
My best safety feature, is a CrampBuster on my throttle. In traffic I can rest two fingers on my brake and still control the throttle without having to grip the throttle with my two weakest fingers. On the highway, I can control the throttle by resting my palm on the grip and I can immediately respond to any emergency. I have done numerous long trips with no hand fatigue.
Related to the heated grips, I wear a pair of 3-finger/lobster gloves. They allow me to use two fingers on the brake, and are also shockingly warm. (Fingers are paired rather than having the index finger separated like you would find in shooting mittens. Those shooting mittens are sometimes called 3-finger gloves.)
Added safety feature: rear break lever extension. Standard is much too small on my BMW. Maybe it's okay for people with very large feet, but it's not for me, and I want to be sure I can use my rear brake at all times. And thank you for your great videos Bret!
Simple, forward and backward radar. In sharp sunlight its hard to judge distance or see break lights. Sunglasses and Sun visors can only block so much. With a warning if someone is approaching you to fast or you them, can give you that 1-2seconds faster reaction time. All it need to do is give audio, on screen or vibrating warning, and often that is enough to stop it going from being a scary moment to a crash. I know, I just had one this summer. Did not manage to stop in time as the sun was low and straight into my face, car was coasting to a stop so I misjudged the distance as I thought it was driving at road speed. But I did get the bike down to a slow speed before I hit the car. I also did the stupid thing "oh sh*t" and straighten up my back, locking my right albow. Broke my wrist, but all healed now. Lesson learned, and onwords to a new bike season in 4-5months. But if my bike had 1 more second, it would have stopped intime and both of us would have been fine.
The no. 1 safety feature you can give yourself is a "Hi viz" fluo green helmet ! There is very little study but it is conclusive these lids are involved in fewer crashes. What there is a lot of is resistance in the motorcycle community to study this further. We still got the "not cool" brigade who don't want to look into this or be seen in HiVi ! If you've watched another biker in a fluo lid, you can see that rider from a long way away AND you didn't even notice, but you noticed that rider straight away. That lid caught your eye. If that's happening too for every car driver you pass then it's a massive safety feature !!!
A light colored helmet with added reflective tape strips on the back and sides. It helps to stand out at night and yes, don't ride around in dark gear at night without any reflective bits.
It's also _fantastic_ birth control
@@sCiphre shame your folks didn't know that 😔
@@1050cc unfortunately you can have all the protection in the world, accidents still happen. Our existence is clear proof of that.
@@sCiphre 😆 I thought you were as dumb as you sounded. Exactly. Prevention might not always work but it's always possible to try it 😉
Installed an LED headlight on my 2019 DR650. Of all the upgrades I've done to the bike this is the best for safety. I don't ride it very much after dark either. It is all about being seen during the daylight hours.
Nice video, Bret. One thing I upgraded on my DesertX that I consider a safety improvement is a high iPhone mount by Evotech/QuadLock. Having my navigation that high feels like having a head-up display, and I still keep a view of the road when I quickly look at the map.
This may have already been said, but regular and competent maintenance on the bike is perhaps one of the most important safety features!
"not being stupid by surprise" is always good life advice.
A safety upgrade I made to my kit was cooling insert to go in my jacket. I was getting too hot comuting home in the summer and it lead to me making bad decisions. The on-bike equivilant would therefore be proper ventilation, adjustable while riding. Ventilation which works with a decently vented helmet - its pretty easy for the two not to play well together if there are regions of still air or an overly strong buffet. It isn't always enough, but it helps.
A more generic safety feature is adjusting the controls to fit your hands and feet. Another one is foot pegs. The foot pegs on my recently purchase KTM 690r were a bit too narrow and I would find my big feet sometimes slipping off the peg. Wider pegs helped that, but I also have to be careful to not have my feet too wide on the new foot peg real estate. Don't want my feet to come off the pegs on narrow foot pegs and don't want my feet to get peeled off the bike and break a leg from my feet wagging out in the wind waiting for a root or rock to hit them.
Not sure if I agree with heated grips/seat to be safety feature, but I get the point. If a rider can't feel his fingers, that's a clear sign to stop and have a break (or that investment in certain areas is needed). Currently my bike has abs and tc, next one will definitely have more electronics.
Nice commercial for Triumph Tiger 900.
I wish I could afford one!
- Reflective strips on my helmet so you're seen from awkward angles.
- Tail light LED bulb that flashes three times everytime you engage brakes.
- Yellow fog light mounted on the fender instead of the chassis so it points where you're actually going.
I love your honesty🎉❤
personal top 4 items added for safer ride additional to mental/physical adequacy.
1. fog/driving light, triangulating the front look
2. additional brake light with a different pattern and location
3. TPMS
4. heated grips
On both my BMW 1200 and 650. GS's, I have added auxiliary lights to help me see better at night as well as other people seeing me better during the day.
Thanks Bret, another excellent video. I think that ergonomics are very important. That is getting the seat height correct, handlebar position and seat to pegs plus angel. On occasion
I have raised the bars and turned them very slightly plus changed the seat to get that comfortable position so that I'm not moving around on the bike trying to get comfortable. Trying to eliminate any aches.
This bike is very well set up from Triumph. I have found over the last several years bikes have been much better than in the past. The only complaint I have is they are almost to tall at the bars now since they are all catering too the "riser" crowd.
I had the 2017 GSA 1200 and was a member of the riser crowd. This is possibly due to being 6' 2" tall and 240 lbs so not your average size rider. However, I now have the KTM 1290 SAS which fits me just fine without the need for risers. I can now spend my money on something other than risers.
My CFMOTO 800MT Explore has a rear radar blind-spot system. Similar to new cars it shows a yellow warning on the left/right side of the dash and a red warning if somebody is too close! It also has backlit switchgear, heated grips and seat, cruise control, quickshifter etc and all of these help reduce fatigue on longer rides.
A few things:
I put Clearwater Ericas with amber lens covers on the front of my BMW K1600. Seriously visible on the road. For the rear, I have Billie brake lights and top case light that flash extra bright when I brake. I also have 3M reflective adhesive film on the backside of my panniers.
Beyond these, the grippiest safest tires are essential for safety. For my bike, it’s Michelin Toad Pilot 6GT. Best grip in the rain.
The best Windscreen and seat is needed to reduce fatigue and mistakes when you’re uncomfortable. For my bike, it’s 7Jurock flip screen and Russel Daylong saddle.
Thanks Bret! Another great video, and Dang Spain during the Holidays And ripping on a new bike... Santa likey Bret!😅
I am a big fan of Amber Auxiliary lights and have a set of Clearwaters on all of my bikes.
Good job, Bret. Great idea having riders turn off all safety features for practice. There's no substitute for alertness as a safety feature. Also, I like the idea of accelerometer-decelerometer activate brake or helmet lights. They willl alert drivers behind you even if you're using gears to slow down or you DCT Honda is automatically selecting lower gears on a slowdown.
Thoughtful tire selection
I'm amazed you didn't mention mirrors! The stock mirrors for my Norden were terrible, and swapping to a set of double-take mirrors is one of the biggest safety upgrades I've made to the bike. The extra durability was really just a fringe benefit.
A brake light that activates when engine breaking as per the Brake Free helmet light. Swivel front lights that track the handlebars. Luminous paint work for night riding so cars can see the outline of a bike and not just a single headlight
Good job
Being in shape is the first safety feature and is free. Second know when to fall off the bike without trying to hold her, many riders value more no having a scratch than their back. Third ride ride ride, at least one a week minimum got and push a little further.
Yep we have nice winters here, cheers from Spain Bret, enjoy!
Rain/wet ground detection and mode
Hi, nice video, I added on my Himalayan aome reflective stickers cut from a reflective tape. Few minutes of work and you can be seen more clearly at night almost for free ;)
Hi Bret. Great video. Looks like a nice bike. Safety features / things for me: a (mostly) white bike, reflective tape on front and back (includes hard luggage, in my case), white helmet (cooler, too) and adventure lights always on are the things I do / use.
Great vid changed the tyres to scorpion str rally great in the wet 👍
Purchased my 2013 Triumph Bonneville SE last Summer. I added a brake flasher module and changed my brake light to an LED. I also upgraded my headlight to an LED bulb. Next, I added a windscreen to reduce wind buffeting. My bike already had heated grips when I bought it. Tires are approaching 5 years old and I will definitely replace them ASAP. Thinking of replacing the front and rear brake pads with pads known to improve brake feel and stopping power as well.
I enjoyed this video, Bret! My adv bike is closing in on 10 years old, and doesn't have today's level of sophistication in rider controls. I swapped out the stock bars on my 1190 Adventure and the factory heated grips (left side) won't fit because they require a hole drilled in the bar... which I'm not willing to do to my carbon filled bars. So I've been using Hippo Hands for the past two winters, and LOVE them. I also purchased a helmet that doesn't get buffeted around at highway speeds, reduces fatigue and improves vision.
Number 1 safety item is training, but as far as the bike goes, most of us ride where we encounter traffic. Amber fog/driving lights each side of the forks on all the time give you an “unusual” look. Grabs other motorists attention. Reduces the number of close calls by incredible margins. Few if any last minute left turns in front of you, few people pulling in front of you from an intersection at the last minute, etc. etc. be seen, grab their attention, stay alive.
I like the analog feel, but for going a long way, gimmie the gadgets!
Also, cold hands are slow hands. Fully agree that hand heating is a safety feature 😊
Added a 2nd mini tail light (rear light + brake light) to my Tiger 850 and wired it to a GS-100A LED brake light strobe module that allows it to flash when I hit the brakes. Including the cost of some extra 22awg silicone wires (to hook up the +ve & -ve to my Healtech Thunderbox to keep the circuit separate), solder seal connectors, a wire splice (to tap into the original brake light's trigger wire) and some 3M VHB double-sided tape, the whole thing only set me back $10.
Lol, I hate strobing brake lights so much. Doesn't matter if it's a bike or a car. I could get behind it if they went full disco when you slam on the brakes, but not every single you touch the brakes do you need to warn everyone that OMG I"M STOPPING!!!! I feel the the moral of the "Boy who cried wolf" story applies here.
My current GS I’ve added *amber* riding lights.
Cages see me much earlier is all situations. Legal in California, not sure about less enlightened states. Highways, two-lanes, splitting and filtering much safer!
Especially the 🟡🟡 Amber.
Clearwater Erica lights with yellow lens covers! So noticeably better!!!
I would like either a motorized assist or a mechanism improvement for putting my BMW R1200RT on the center stand. This is a safety item for me as I've injured myself a few times in doing this.
There is a right technique for doing it. I would suggest getting some help or watching a few videos on it. If you are putting a lot of effort into it you are not doing it correctly and that is a safety hazard.
I replaced my tail/brake light to one that strobes when I first apply the brake and a louder horn. I also agree that heated grips are a winter safety feature. Nothing keeps you safer than good situational awareness and a little road strategy to avoid hazards.
Single cheapest upgrade was installing 3M reflective film on back of panniers. Unfortunately the D7’s running lights, the pulsating brake light, and Denali sound bomb weren’t so inexpensive but like they say about divorce, well worth the expenditure.
Right of weight, I like that. I've always looked at it is rider skill is plan a, rider modes is plan b (so the bike is set up for current riding conditions), and rider aides as plan c. I should be skilled enough to not engage any rider aides no matter the mode I'm in. Traction control has saved my butt on patches of black ice a few times and I'm thankful it was there. Mods I've done so far on my 2021 GSA that are safety oriented are installing Weisertech front and rear turn lights and their run-on module for the brake light, Denali Soundbomb air horn (used it quite a few times since install), added a few protection parts to keep sensitive items from getting broke by flying rocks or crashing leaving me stranded. The only other safety mod I'm looking at doing is adding some additional aux lights to the front to increase my ability to see and be seen. With the Weisertech lights and the brake free light on my helmet I"m not worried about additional lights in the back.
I own a 2012 tiger 800 xc and on those bikes the indicators are positioned quite low and are prone to braking off in a spill. So there is a guy who makes relocation kits to position the indicators up next to the headlight under the windshield, I mainly went for this mod to make them more visible to other traffic because I do a lot of commuting in the dark hours, but it is nice to keep them safe too
First thing i installed two years ago at my Ténéré before riding was the heated grips. The second thing where two foglights. Less for fog than for broader illumination of the road in tight curves.
A little later there came even wider footpegs for standing longer without getting tired.
Added LED turn signals that also double my brake light output & adjusted their lever switches so those can be triggered with minimal input that doesn’t introduce much actual braking. The ability to flash plenty of brake lights without really slowing down helps keeps drivers at a safe following distance.
Lots to add - amber Denali extra lights on my Tiger 900; Barkbusters; sound bomb….and the same on my Pan America including pivot pegs on both
I found some black reflective stickers for my helmet. They aren't very noticeable on my black helmet in the day, but extra points of reflectivity at night.
Barkbusters with built-in LED lights. It makes the bike visibly wider to oncoming traffic and less chance of overlooking the single headlight.
biggest addional safety feature for me, after many years of riding is Yellow spot lights in the front... ( not amber - which is same color as indicators) .... how many times have you heard - sorry i did not see you. With yellow lights on the front i have never again had this problem. And yes i set them to 80-100 % output during day riding.
I added yellow auxiliary lights mounted low on my engine guards. I leave 'em on all the time.
Sophisticated modes help us - to sometimes neglect the actual riding techniques ;-) Many people don't ride often and not many miles per year (average about 2,000 km in Germany), little training makes you forget your routine. The best Stradivari violin won't make a world-class musician out of you. Just my 2 ct, Günter/Nürnberg PS: Better suspension and front brake for my Transalp 600 were the most important features.
Nice bike... 😊
4 Mini strobe lights on helmet. 1 forward, 1 rear, 1 left, 1 right.
Having 50years in the saddle, this video explains why I just bought a 23 RP 1200. We are so fortunate to have such technology helping us with safety. Maybe if I was still 21 I’d say what a man I am and don’t need no stinking technology, helmets suck!
Hey, I like your content, you’re clearly an intelligent rider so I listen to what you say and weigh it up in that light. Healtech make an in-line module that when you apply the brakes it makes the light flash in the initial seconds of braking which increases the conspicuity of the action of applying the brakes greatly. After that second or two it reverts to being a solid brake light but it highlights the transition from daylight rear lighting to brake indication. I don’t know if you can get them in the states but I’m sure there is content on them. Take a look and see what you think. 👍🏻
I would go even a step further and automatically honk the horn in an emergency braking situation.