Vololights: Enhanced Motorcycle Visibility
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
From: Treasure Coast, FL
Vololights: Enhanced Motorcycle Visibility
Lots of us have done or thought about doing things to enhance our visibility to cars especially as we are slowing/stopping. I ran across a 'Kickstarter' project that seems to have lots of benefits. BTW, I am neither associated with the project or have any personal benefit from it (other than hopefully owning one).
The URL for the project is:
HERE
and the home page of Kickstarter is HERE.
The neat thing about this particular rear alert system is it does not rely on a signal from your brakes, so when you decelerate using engine braking the LED's will begin to flash (has a built in accelerometer, like those that know which way your phone/tablet is facing)... so you won't have to tap the brakes as I do to let the cars know you are slowing ... anyway head over there and check it out and maybe help out some budding entrepreneurs!
Cheers
The URL for the project is:
HERE
and the home page of Kickstarter is HERE.
The neat thing about this particular rear alert system is it does not rely on a signal from your brakes, so when you decelerate using engine braking the LED's will begin to flash (has a built in accelerometer, like those that know which way your phone/tablet is facing)... so you won't have to tap the brakes as I do to let the cars know you are slowing ... anyway head over there and check it out and maybe help out some budding entrepreneurs!
Cheers
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
From: Treasure Coast, FL
One other nice thing about this approach is no load equalizer install, so it makes the price ($79) pretty attractive as most equalizers I have seen are almost that much and you still got the cost of the lights. ...... and this install is simple, one connection.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,191
Likes: 2,423
From: USA
Ok...but since it uses an accelerometer that takes high forces to actuate, I don't see what that gains over using the existing brake light switches. The only way to generate high enough forces to actuate the light is by braking. So it seems a bit of a rube goldberg aproach to actuate a brake light.
I do like the brake light frame, and the use of flashing.
Generically, I've long found Harleys to be superior with regards to light visibility. The turn signal flashers are large and spaced well out from the centerline of the bike. The auxiliary lights also make the bike stand out from the front. The brake light tends to be large and bright.
This is easily seen and understood:
This is not:
I do like the brake light frame, and the use of flashing.
Generically, I've long found Harleys to be superior with regards to light visibility. The turn signal flashers are large and spaced well out from the centerline of the bike. The auxiliary lights also make the bike stand out from the front. The brake light tends to be large and bright.
This is easily seen and understood:
This is not:
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
From: Treasure Coast, FL
As outlined on the Vololight Kickstarter page the advantage is that whenever the bike begins to decelerate the lights begin to flash ... independent of whether the brakes are actuated. In another 'related' current thread there's a discussion of how riders slow down coming to a stop. Many replies in that thread indicate lots of riders use engine compression to slow ... during this period of slowing the cars behind you may not know you are slowing and so the Vololights will alert them ...a very useful feature. I personally use a combination of engine braking early and regular breaking later and I usually tap the hand (front) brake while engine braking just to alert the cagers ... another safety thing is always welcome so the Vololights seem good ... as with all things YMMV
Cheers
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,191
Likes: 2,423
From: USA
Based on his description of the actuation forces necessary to actuate the light in either of its two modes. He's set the trigger points quite high.
From the web page:
<LI sizcache="4" sizset="5" nodeIndex="4">Two modes of operation
Deceleration by any method greater than 16 f/s2 and less than 23 f/s2 is defined as Aggressive braking. Both signal lights will flash at 2 Hz.
Deceleration by any method greater than 23 f/s2 is defined as Emergency braking. Both signal lights will flash at 5Hz. How did we decide on the threshold? We chose the same values as most major Antilock Braking Systems (ABS) engage in dry conditions.
From the web page:
<LI sizcache="4" sizset="5" nodeIndex="4">Two modes of operation
- 2 Flashes per second during aggressive braking
- 5 Flashes per second during emergency braking
Deceleration by any method greater than 16 f/s2 and less than 23 f/s2 is defined as Aggressive braking. Both signal lights will flash at 2 Hz.
Deceleration by any method greater than 23 f/s2 is defined as Emergency braking. Both signal lights will flash at 5Hz. How did we decide on the threshold? We chose the same values as most major Antilock Braking Systems (ABS) engage in dry conditions.
Last edited by foxtrapper; Jun 6, 2013 at 02:14 PM.
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Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 662
Likes: 1
From: Kelowna, BC, Canada
Wow. I think this is a fantastic idea. Since there's a modular version that you splice in under your seat, it's perfect. I also read you can shut the flashing off to make it act as a regular brake light.
Has anyone kicked in any money yet? I almost paid for one but have never done anything on kickstarter before. Do you lose your money if they don't hit their $50,000 goal?
I want to see some more opinions.
Has anyone kicked in any money yet? I almost paid for one but have never done anything on kickstarter before. Do you lose your money if they don't hit their $50,000 goal?
I want to see some more opinions.
Last edited by T_Dogg80; Jun 6, 2013 at 02:36 PM.
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
From: Treasure Coast, FL
The values they use equate to 'aggressive' being roughly a 0.5g decel rate (threshold value) and 'emergency' roughly 0.7g decel rate (threshold value). These are quite low .... one could expect to attain 0.5g with engine braking and 0.7g with ordinary braking ... MSF feels one can AVERAGE 0.8g and that includes reaction time, peak rate would be in excess of 1.0g (32fpsps ..citation HERE). So the values seem appropriate for what Vololights is trying to accomplish and what I would want from the product.
Hope everyone will do as @foxtrapper and check out the site .........
Cheers
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 90
Likes: 16
From: Somerset, KY
My wife rides her Fat Boy behind me and to the right.
When we hit twisties, she drops back because she can't react fast enough to me slowing for turns. Aside from the general safety advantages, we're hoping this will provide her quicker input as to what I'm doing and allow her to stay tighter.
We ride together around 10,000 miles a year, so any help has big impact....
Or maybe I'll just be out my $79....
:-)
Chuck