Reflective tape?

Anybody use reflective tape on their Swings? I think Honda_Silver Bill uses 3M SOLAS tape? I was thinking of striping or even checkering my bike with some reflective tape. I wonder if I would get into trouble for looking too much like an emergency vehicle? Well, at least, like a British panda car...

I just wanna be extra visible and if I can make someone think they need to give me a wide berth, that'd be even better.

I know Cyndi (Scoot-over) over on the .org forum has used reflective trim-tape on her scoots, both her S'wing and her Reflex.

Several IBA members had animal strikes during the IB5000 this past week and they were all daytime strikes. Given the amount of riding I do and that no matter how good someone's timing is, dark riding is necessary if you want to average at least 1000 miles a day on a rally. I want to make myself as visible as possible for those situations but also for when there's traffic and I want cagers to be able to see me. I figure an orange, yellow and silver checkered Swing will be hard to miss!

For daytime--Aerostich Hivis Darien yellow jacket. Don't think animals know difference.

Tape all over bike Aerostich as silver reflective tape in small rolls ----put at corners of bike helps a little at nite.

Deer are just risk of riding since Govt's won't allow year around hunting to almost wipe them out.....Ride a lot and you will hit one. I hit one 1990 Switzerland daytime, real thrill. Deer dead, me ok except for neck stretch from impact. Again before you get one, there are usually a bunch of close calls.







John Grinsel

I already had 2 deer cross the road in front of me at Valley Forge. Amazingly, and this is no joke, they both did it at CROSSWALKS! This year's IB5000 had one guy hit a moose right out the blocks, and I believe a bear, a deer, and a cow also took out other riders during the daytime.

I'm saving up to buy an Aerostich DarienLight jacket in Hi-Viz yellow. A Roadcrafter's just too expensive and I get too hot very easily.

I'll check out their silver reflective tape. I was looking at this:
http://www.reflectivelyyours.com/generic156.html

Hammy wrote:

I'll check out their silver reflective tape. I was looking at this:
http://www.reflectivelyyours.com/generic156.html

I used the 3m Solas tape ( http://www.identi-tape.com/tapespecs/SOLAS_Specs.pdf ).

I did not find any comparison between the "Solas" and "Diamond grade".

I think the Solas can be stuck to clothing but the Diamond is thick enough to be riveted.

I'm thinking of using a Battenburg design with alternating yellow and green or blue and green.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battenburg_markings

Quote :

The research showed the human eye is most sensitive to blue/green shades at night and yellow/green in daylight. The battenburg design typically comprises 2 or more rows of alternating retroreflective squares or blocks, usually starting with yellow at the top, then the alternating colour, along the sides of a vehicle. The battenburg livery is not used on the rear of vehicles, with the majority of users using upward facing chevrons in yellow and red to the rear, in line with the markings used by other road users.

Ideally I'd like to make it look just like

I doubt any police office would bother to pull you over for reflective material, especially if you don't match their color scheme exactly (and as long as you don't do anything deceptive like spell "police" with it or something ).

I think it was someone here who mentioned this (maybe Bill?), but there was a guy on one of the Burgman forums who was selling reflective material on the side. Don't know if he still is or not, but here's the thread. Seemed like pretty good prices, although I never got around to buying any.

Thanks Ed!!! For those who might be interested, I found his flyer: http://www.quosig.com/burgman/reflective/Reflective_Material_Flyer.pdf

Definitely a lot cheaper than trying to buy elsewhere if he has what I want in stock -- blue and yellow.

edbancro wrote:

I doubt any police office would bother to pull you over for reflective material, especially if you don't match their color scheme exactly (and as long as you don't do anything deceptive like spell "police" with it or something ).

I have seen several motorcycles with the letters "Polite" in reflective material.

Lol, that reminds me of the thread where only the first and last letters of every word are correct.

Heehee... I was actually thinking of spelling UR2CLOSE on the back but then I think folks would just move up closer to read it!

Hammy wrote:

Heehee... I was actually thinking of spelling UR2CLOSE on the back but then I think folks would just move up closer to read it!

I betcha they would not do that that if it said "Police" or "Polite" with white reflective and black letters.

:lol!:

DuggleBogey wrote:

Lol, that reminds me of the thread where only the first and last letters of every word are correct.

It really does work - I didn't catch on that he had written "polite" until the third time I was scrolling through the replies

Maybe POLITE INTERJECTOR on the sides!

Hammy wrote:

Maybe POLITE INTERJECTOR on the sides!

There you go On a more serious note, I wonder what they would do if it was determined that you looked too much like a police officer? Just make you take it off? or charge you with something more serious?

I don't think they have Battenburg markings like those here in the US... I'll just say I'm trying to be more visible so that they don't have to come write up a report if someone runs into me because they claim they can't see me.

I do know that impersonating a police vehicle will get you fined... but I've never seen a local police vehicle with Battenburg markings, so they shouldn't be able to say I'm impersonating one... If anything, I'd be helping them by having folks slow down if they thought I was on a police bike...

Maybe instead of making Battenburg markings, I could just outline the panels all in fluorescent yellow and add a few random squiggles to make it look like it's from Tron... That MIGHT be easier than trying to do the Battenburg, and probably would look better at night.

You can buy reflective sheets in various colours, red, blue, green, white, yellow and black. I have A4 sheets which I can cut with a vinyl plotter. I get my supplies from ebay.
If you want to be seen during daylight hours then reflective materials aren't much use, you need fluorescent colours for that. On my scooter I have red (rear facing) and yellow (side facing) fluorescent patches. Again purchased on ebay.

The sheets I buy are five year vinyl quality so not much chance of them fading before I come up with another scheme.

Cheers,

Didn't consider that -- thanks! I might get a red merlion symbol for the back (I am originally from Singapore). There's a company that does custom reflective decals (but of course the link is floating somewhere in my email and I have to go look for it). I'll probably just do something simple but fluorescent along the sides. Maybe the POLITE INTERJECTOR on either side in fluorescent yellow if I can find a place that can do it in custom fluorescent tape cos I really don't wanna have to cut it out myself.

Hammy wrote:

... (I am originally from Singapore)...

Who knew? Singapore has the best food on the planet! -Well, maybe next to New Orleans, but man I could go for some Hainanese Chicken Rice, or some fresh made Roti and curry from the hawker centers, or maybe some nasi lamak, or laksa. OMG I'm drooling.

Sorry about the thread hijack. I'm sure you'll find the right reflective materials.

Dude! You KNOW about roti prata and curry and nasi lemak and laksa. Brother, you are all that much more cool to me now, heehee... My fantasy would be to live and ride and work here but go back to Singapore to eat. I miss all the stuff you just mentioned (well, not the chicken rice; my family loves it but I'm a laksa and satay fiend).

I'm wondering if that custom guy can make the letters in fluorescent decals, not just reflective...

Speaking of going off topic, Sweeney, r u gonna come join us at the MidAtlantic Rally this weekend?

Okay, back to topic. Has anyone found if the heat from the exhaust will affect the adhesiveness of any tape on the right side?