Observation on Triangle of Light visibility

[Gone in 60]

I'm a firm believer in the "Triangle of Light" in the front of a bike for visibility.

Since much of my riding since returning to work is splitting lanes in heavy traffic, I try to think of the point of view of a driver glancing in his mirror before making a move in traffic. A single headlight in his mirror blends into heavy traffic, and looks like half of a car.

Because of this, I have two small LED lights below and to the sides of my main headlight to distinguish me as a motorcycle. Both bikes have a similar round headlight, and both run the same LED bulb. Both bikes run similar auxiliary single LED floodlights. Both have stock exhausts and I'm riding at relatively low speed, so it would be hard for a driver to hear me approach on either bike.

Here's where they are a bit different, and observing how cars react to me in traffic, I've found something kind of interesting.

On the Bonneville, it was easy to mount the auxiliary lights on an aftermarket turn signal relocation bracket, which puts them just outside the forks about two inches below the headlight.

On the CB, the aux lights are attached to the fender mounts, which put them outside the forks but much lower than the lights on the Bonneville.

Both bikes are about the same size in terms of visible frontal mass, and I wear the same gear regardless of bike. But, on my commute, I've observed something interesting. On the Bonneville, as I approach cars while splitting, a few here and there will make an overt effort to move over to give me more room. But, on the CB, a significantly larger number of cars will move over.

The only view that cars have of me approaching is by looking in their right side view mirrors and seeing my lights. Based on this, I wonder if it would appear that the light pattern of the light triangle being spaced further apart may be more visible as a motorcycle than the more closely spaced lights.

[the Ferret]

Get your wife to lead you on a couple of rides in the car and get her reaction.

When my wife followed me a couple times she said when I was wearing HI Viz I was much more visible. I rarely ride without either a hi Viz jacket or vest anymore, knowing I'm more easily seen.

I also had my wife sit at the end of a street while I rode past straight and while I rode past and did the weave. She said the weave made me much more visible to her, so I do the weave quite often when I see people getting ready to turn left or pulling out of a side street.

my wife has my best interest at heart so if she says I'm more visible when wearing Hi Viz or when doing the weave, I trust her judgement.

See if your wife will do the same for you.

[Gone in 60]

Good idea, Ferret. I do wear hi-viz frequently for my commutes, and exclusively during Standard Time, when I'm riding home in the dark, and drivers are more tired and confused in general. If I'm going somewhere "social" during my rides and can't store gear, I'll wear the brownish Olympia.

My wife has seen my bikes at night, and has commented on the visibility of the three lights. Every now and then, if her schedule puts her near my office, we'll go somewhere for dinner nearby. Then, one of us will follow the other home. I've asked her to see what she thinks of the visibility of not only my front lights, but my flashing LED bar on the brake light. She likes to swap places with me in traffic to see both the front and rear of my bike. I'll have to ask her if she thinks one bike is more visible than the other.

As you can imagine, she's concerned for my safety, so this makes her feel good. And, on a few occasions, I've spotted an odd marker or other bulb out on her car too.

Funny thing about hi-viz gear - I pass coworkers stuck in traffic. When I wear a hi-viz jacket, I'll get "hey, I saw you pass me on the freeway!"

[KiowaEagle_imp]

I do the weave anytime I see a car turning left or pulling out from a side street. More than once that driver has waved to me, I would assume acknowledging they saw me.

[Chuckk_imp]

what I have found to be interesting is, it seems I have gotten more subtle acknowledgements from other drivers now that I have installed my "foggies" .. I originally noticed them on police bikes, here in ventura ca. that's what prompted me to install them on my bike.. I could see the yellow lights from blocks away .. I wonder now, if I might be mistaken for a cop bike !! .. I seem to get a little more respect (if you will).. (my yellow fog lights, just to be clear).. hopefully authorities won't outlaw them, like they did with the blue colored lights.. I think it maybe too late for them to do so..
Chuckk ..

.

[QimmiQ_imp]

I'm a firm believer in the "Triangle of Light" in the front of a bike for visibility.

Since much of my riding since returning to work is splitting lanes in heavy traffic, I try to think of the point of view of a driver glancing in his mirror before making a move in traffic. A single headlight in his mirror blends into heavy traffic, and looks like half of a car.

Because of this, I have two small LED lights below and to the sides of my main headlight to distinguish me as a motorcycle. Both bikes have a similar round headlight, and both run the same LED bulb. Both bikes run similar auxiliary single LED floodlights. Both have stock exhausts and I'm riding at relatively low speed, so it would be hard for a driver to hear me approach on either bike.

Here's where they are a bit different, and observing how cars react to me in traffic, I've found something kind of interesting.

On the Bonneville, it was easy to mount the auxiliary lights on an aftermarket turn signal relocation bracket, which puts them just outside the forks about two inches below the headlight.

On the CB, the aux lights are attached to the fender mounts, which put them outside the forks but much lower than the lights on the Bonneville.

Both bikes are about the same size in terms of visible frontal mass, and I wear the same gear regardless of bike. But, on my commute, I've observed something interesting. On the Bonneville, as I approach cars while splitting, a few here and there will make an overt effort to move over to give me more room. But, on the CB, a significantly larger number of cars will move over.

The only view that cars have of me approaching is by looking in their right side view mirrors and seeing my lights. Based on this, I wonder if it would appear that the light pattern of the light triangle being spaced further apart may be more visible as a motorcycle than the more closely spaced lights.

Do you have a photo of your set up? I've been thinking of adding extra lights but thought of mounting them lower off the frame sliders. I thought might be more unique and stand out there. There is no lane splitting where I am.

The other consideration is costs. Yes, my life is worth plenty but a lot of the real nice kits I have looked are crazy expensive. What brand do you run? Are they switched separately from your headlights? Can you leave them on at night when approaching vehicles or do they have to be switched off with high beams.
Thanks.

what I have found to be interesting is, it seems I have gotten more subtle acknowledgements from other drivers now that I have installed my "foggies" .. I originally noticed them on police bikes, here in ventura ca. that's what prompted me to install them on my bike.. I could see the yellow lights from blocks away .. I wonder now, if I might be mistaken for a cop bike !! .. I seem to get a little more respect (if you will).. (my yellow fog lights, just to be clear).. hopefully authorities won't outlaw them, like they did with the blue colored lights.. I think it maybe too late for them to do so..
Chuckk ..

.

Nice Chuck. Do you have another angle? Can't see where those are mounted. Those look like Denalis. What model?

[Chuckk_imp]

I had done a posting on my foggies in the past.. price.. mounting to oil cooler.. small mods I had to make.. other peoples comments.. etc.. can't say I know how to search for the past posting.. maybe someone else knows how to bring it up ..

[QimmiQ_imp]

Found it. http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=14419

[Gone in 60]

When Chuckk showed his setup, I considered moving my lights off of the fender mount to the cooler. But, I decided to leave 'em where they are. If they get noticed more, great. Plus, they are close to the bike, and where I need to park it in my tight garage, if they stuck out past the overall frame of the bike, there would be a good chance that I'd bump into them as I shinny between the bike and the back bumper of my car.

On my Bonneville, I have pretty much the same lights Chuckk has, but with clear lenses.

On the CB, I have Rigid brand Ignite single LED lights that I pulled them off of my BMW before I sold it. I'm not about to pay several hundred of dollars for something that will do the job just as well for a lot less. The Ignite setup was about $150 total. On the BMW, I adapted mounts by using shower door brackets. On the CB, I just used some simple L brackets from Home Depot. They are set off of the fender mount screw with a spacer.

The lights are connected to the empty power supply plug in the headlight bucket. The wires from each light run along the brake hoses to the area behind the headlight. I mounted a small weatherproof switch to the lower triple clamp (yellow arrow). It's discreet and out of the way, but can still be reached. I leave them on all of the time anyway, so I don't need the switch up on the handlebar. The switch toggles between high, low, and off. So, when riding at night, I can give the switch a quick tap to dim the beams.

[Chuckk_imp]

good job !! .. nice and neat, with a good explanation .. I had thought about installing a switch, but then thought when would ever need it.. It may be a good idea to have the option...
chuckk ..