Increasing Visibility?

[RedRover]

I am an old bike rider that's a new Spyder rider. I realize that the bigger frontal area of the Spyder makes it more visible to those that might pull out into your path but have been turning on the fog lights as well to increase visibility.
Anybody else use fog lights? Any downside to this practice?

 

[JKMSPYDER]

My fog lights are on any time I ride my Spyder. The more light, the easier to be seen IMO.

 

[Highwayman2013]

Wear hi viz gear.

 

[MONK]

I leave them off on sunny days when I'm on a 4 lane. Any other time, they're on.

 

[troop]

Hi viz gear and lots of lights..

 

[Steve W.]

Our fog lights are pretty much ON all the time, but it would be better if they weren't so near-sighted.

True, they should never shine into anyone's eyes, but their "hot spot" is only about 30 feet in front of the bike, instead of the 100 or so feet they should be. THAT would make them a bit more visible from the front, too. :thumbup:

.

 

[ChapMikeM25]

Don't have the fog lights but have added SPYDER POPS "2020 CAN AM SPYDER RT DOUBLE VISION DAYTIME RUNNING LED LIGHTS (2-PAIR) FOR THE FRONT A-ARMS (SPY397)" Great Visibility
Also added their "2020-UP CAN AM SPYDER RT 2020 VISION LED LIGHT PACKAGE. INCLUDES FENDER AMBER RUN/TURN, MIRROR AMBER RUN/TURN STAY-ON'S & RED SADDLE BAG RUN/TURN LED'S.(SPY402)" I do a lot of large group rides as a CHaplain/Medic weaving in and out of traffic and plattons so the more VIZ i have the better.

 

[ARtraveler]

More lights and high viz gear are recommended. In AK, it was common practice to drive with the high beams on in the daytime. It works if they are not directed to high. Blinding oncoming drivers can get you into big trouble though.

Now, in AR, I do not use the high beams except at night to see better. I do have signature light, led lighted bumpskid, fog lights, mirror lights and vent lights in front. The back is also lit up well with extra LED's. And...I recently added a Brakefree light on the back of my helmet. That lights up really bright even in the daytime.

You can't have to many lights. :yes:

 

[JimH]

I am an old bike rider that's a new Spyder rider. I realize that the bigger frontal area of the Spyder makes it more visible to those that might pull out into your path but have been turning on the fog lights as well to increase visibility.
Anybody else use fog lights? Any downside to this practice?

I would also recommend a Bright Ryder light from LaMonster - it is easy to install and works great.

 

[Mazo EMS2]

I used to have the A-arm lights, but they didn't really seem to add much, so I added a set of driving lights onto the A-arms. They are awesome, very visible (much more so than the stock fog lights) and they offer "useable" light for driving in the dark. Otherwise, the lights stay on high beam, and occasionally I'll turn on my fog lights as well. Light it up on those sunny days....

 

[Wmoater]

I run my fog lights all the time. The bumpskid with LED from spyderpops is also a really good eye catcher. I have lots of people say “ wow that really catches your attention.” I actually think it catches more eyes than the fog lights. If its legal in PA its legal everywhere. My local state police approved and they are pretty hard noses with underbelly LED’s on cars, trucks, sleds and bikes.

 

[Navydad]

Lighting and high visibility gear used here. Switched everything in front to LED bulbs and have LED strips on the A-arm. Defensive driving and be alert. Remember, people pull out in front of fire trucks and freight trains every day. They aren't going to acknowledge your lights and fancy bright colors.

 

[Bfromla]

:firstplace: SpyderPops led bump skid hyea: halos around the fogs & brights on till dusk (in traffic). Them fools will pull out in front of freight trains :sour::lecturef_smilie:they sure don’t see us. :gaah: do turn fogs on but rarely thanks to bumpskid wired to driving lights

 

[cruisinTX]

Old time motorcycle rider here. In addition to having all the lights on all the time. I'm also an "all the gear, all the time" guy. A couple of years ago, I spotted a guy on a bike wearing one of those high-vis yellow/green helmets. I could see his helmet from several blocks away. That inspired me to add reflective tape to my helmet in the same color; I later added the red reflective tape thinking the contrasting colors might garner even more attention. The helmet is the highest spot so it makes sense to have something bright up there.

 

[bigbadbrucie]

I always have the fogs on. I just put LED headlights in and thought that should make a difference so I stopped the highbeam during the day. I think I’ll turn them back on as well. I never considered the high reflective tape on my helmet, but that sounds like a good idea. Going to do that as well.

 

[Gwolf]

The best way to increase your visibility is to take their cell phones away.

 

[cruisinTX]

I always have the fogs on. I just put LED headlights in and thought that should make a difference so I stopped the highbeam during the day. I think I’ll turn them back on as well. I never considered the high reflective tape on my helmet, but that sounds like a good idea. Going to do that as well.

From having done mine, I can recommend you make paper patterns to fit each spot without wrinkles then cut you tape pieces to match. That way your reflective tape will be easier to install without wrinkles. That can be a big deal as the glue on the back of that stuff is very sticky and pretty much ruins a piece if you lay it down in the wrong spot or don't have a good pattern on your first try.

 

[Navydad]

The best way to increase your visibility is to take their cell phones away.

I agree, but that seems to as big an issue with motorcyclist as it is auto drivers these days. I was on two wheels last year heading for a week in the mountains. I looked in my mirror and didn't see my buddy's headlight. I turned around and found he had cleaned out the ditch. Honda was toast, he was scuffed but ok. Reason? He was fiddling with phone mounted on the handlebars.

 

[cruisinTX]

I agree, but that seems to as big an issue with motorcyclist as it is auto drivers these days. I was on two wheels last year heading for a week in the mountains. I looked in my mirror and didn't see my buddy's headlight. I turned around and found he had cleaned out the ditch. Honda was toast, he was scuffed but ok. Reason? He was fiddling with phone mounted on the handlebars.

yep, that right there is the reason I've been trying to make the point of forgetting about ALL of the electronic devices while on a bike or Spyder. Sadly, no one seems to think they will be the next victim of their own negligent behavior. If that hurts someone's feelings; too bad. It's the truth and it is getting a whole lot worse with each passing day. One of my main points about distracted driving on a bike, trike or car is this: at 75mph you are covering 110 feet per second. In the 4 seconds you take to stare at a phone or GPS, you have covered a more than the length of a football field. A lot of bad things can happen in 440 feet.

 

[Lew L]

I agree, but that seems to as big an issue with motorcyclist as it is auto drivers these days. I was on two wheels last year heading for a week in the mountains. I looked in my mirror and didn't see my buddy's headlight. I turned around and found he had cleaned out the ditch. Honda was toast, he was scuffed but ok. Reason? He was fiddling with phone mounted on the handlebars.

How many times have I heard the halfwit who almost hit me say " Sorry I didn't see you" --- With a phone in their hand Da^^n cell phones.