Reflective Tapes

[docsporseen]

Just a quick, if mebbe weird, question - is there a limit to how much reflective surface you can have on a bike? I'm looking at putting reflective tape on at least the forks and swingarms of my Wee, but don't really know how much I should, or can, put on. Any ideas? I already ride with an Icon Milspec reflective vest, but still want to know that EVERYONE can see me. Thanks!

[zed88]

There's no limit but I think you can do it and still make it look stylish. Most important thing to do is accent your helmet. It sticks out way above your bike, and since it moves at night it draws attention. I've ridden behind my helmet at night and its great!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v46/zed88/bike/misc/DSC05913.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v46/zed88/bike/misc/DSC05909.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v46/zed88/lights/DSC01815-1.jpg

I'd also highly recommend a set of orange LED lights on the side. They make it easier to judge distance, see you on the side, draw almost no power, only cost about $15 and take maybe an hour to install. I think they should be stock :) I've never had a car pull in front of me, nor been moved on. I'm very cautious but every bit helps.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v46/zed88/DSC03397.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v46/zed88/DSC03393.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v46/zed88/DSC03399.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v46/zed88/DSC03382.jpg
Eric

[kwkride]

Looks nice zed88!
You can definitely add reflective tape and still have it look stylish.

http://www.hotrodder.com/kwkride/reflect.jpg

[zomby]

I've ridden behind my helmet at night and its great!
Is this some kind of warp speed thing ? :mrgreen:

[bobosmite]

Just a quick, if mebbe weird, question - is there a limit to how much reflective surface you can have on a bike?

If you really want to load up your Strom with reflective tape, go here and get some black-to-white reflective tape. http://www.reflectivelyyours.com/ You don't notice it in the daytime and it works well at night.

[zed88]

Is this some kind of warp speed thing ? :mrgreen:

Heh the strom is so fast that I'm left looking after it as it disappears around a bend :) I was letting my father have a test ride as he's not sure if he wants a 650 strom, or a DRZ500 super motard. It was pretty neat to see how the bike looks from everyone else's perspective.

[docsporseen]

Thanks for the ideas - I went ahead and ordered some of the 3M black-to-white tape. I owe the wife $10 for it, but I'm getting four 3x18 sheets - figure I can share with the guys at work. I'll definitely have to look into the side-LED's. Looks like a really good idea! Have a good one, guys!

http://a.pcb3.cherrytap.com/08/00/310080/3909908385.jpg
Why I'm not on the bike right now...

[awd505]

I placed an order at Reflectivelyyours for the black. It will go with the black and silver bike.

[SCraig]

I agree with Zed's comments about the helmet. I've got reflective stripes on the back of mine, and I've seen the difference they make at night. Those little reflective lights bobbing around where no lights should be tend to grab someone's attention very quickly.

Sorry about the foot. Maybe you could use a piece of broom handle to shift with ;)

Personally I'd love to take the tiny one in the garage for a run around the block!

[awd505]

Maybe the pocket bike was the culprit to the injured foot. Looks dangerous and intimidating.

[JayR]

Shh, don't tell anyone. I work at a municipality that makes its own signs.

[docsporseen]

Hmmm...methinks a friendship could be beneficial! The little crotch-rocket is my friend's son's. Hadn't even seen it before I broke my foot. My bike sits in his garage - I go over and gaze at it longingly every now and then. What kinds of tape do you have access to? Hypothetically, of course!;)

[Spikester]

What about those reflective wheel stripe kits on ebay, anybody have them on a bike, they are cheap.

[iron_llama]

I picked up white-to-white tape at Autozone, and they had a few other colors there as well. Truck stops and boat shops often have retroreflective tape as well. If you're on a Navy base, maybe you can stumble across some of the water survival gear, the retro tape we used for marking buoys and PFDs and such in the Coast Guard was some powerfully reflective stuff.

[STrider]

Doc,

Here's a couple I just took of my '07 Wee. The reflective is all the black/white stuff. There are a couple of pieces hidden under the saddlebags. (edit: note the non-PhotoShop license plate dithering.)

[BooneDog]

I like the reflective tapes. Here are a couple places I've got tape from, but also I've bought some on E-bay. I've put it on bikes, horse trailers, my motorcycles, etc. I even use left over bits and pieces in the right colors, and fit them into the graphics on mine or my kids helmets or bikes.

http://www.flighthelmet.com/
http://www.identi-tape.com/hi-intensity.htm

I've bought from both of these places with good luck.

Here are a couple of photos of side and back of my V-strom and helmet, in daylight, and with flash.

Daytime (like my new black frame covers? that's a 2004 silver frame)
http://www.hbw-usa.com/triumph/VstromSideDay.jpg

Now with flash... (black to white tape on fork / engine guard. Ebay black to white wheel tape, orange on helmet)
http://www.hbw-usa.com/triumph/VstromSideNight.jpg

Here is the back...
http://www.hbw-usa.com/triumph/VstromRearDay.jpg

And with flash(no lights are turned on, see taillight is completely dark. With tailight and flashing Hyperlight, it's quite the sight!)
http://www.hbw-usa.com/triumph/VstromRearNight.jpg

Hope this gives you some good ideas. I'm always adding things. From what I see here, I think I need some more color on the sides.

[Yad]

I picked up white-to-white tape at Autozone, and they had a few other colors there as well. Truck stops and boat shops often have retroreflective tape as well. If you're on a Navy base, maybe you can stumble across some of the water survival gear, the retro tape we used for marking buoys and PFDs and such in the Coast Guard was some powerfully reflective stuff.


Is what you used called SOLAS tape? I bought some of this. It's really good but there are many sources for it (Google "SOLAS reflective tape") so I don't know if the quality is all the same. Also it's got a honeycomb pattern that's not really stylish, if that's your goal. Think road signs.

[iron_llama]

Yep, that's SOLAS tape. We called it retro tape, though. Great stuff.

[stanstrom]

Thanks for the ideas - I went ahead and ordered some of the 3M black-to-white tape. I owe the wife $10 for it, but I'm getting four 3x18 sheets - figure I can share with the guys at work. I'll definitely have to look into the side-LED's. Looks like a really good idea! Have a good one, guys!

Corpsman First Class,

Thank you for your service to our country.

Stan.

[riff42]

everything is black reflective sheeting/racing grid, minus the bottom of the fork, which is DOT tape.
I also have white/red along the edge of the luggage rack, and red square on my
carbon 3rd brake light (no pics yet....)
I want the rim strips though!!!

[docsporseen]

I just got done putting some on the bike. Cut the Suzuki logo out of white-to-white tape and put it on the swingarm and the "S" logo on the fork. Kinda lost my mind with the black-to-white tape on a bunch of the black surfaces. Okay, the helmet, too, but I figure that the more visible I can get the better. I have headlamp and taillight modulators on the way, too. I guess I just have something against greasing some idiot's axles.

[FireMedicATL]

Here are some night shot of mine, I love some DOT tape.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/FireMedicATL/gap%20trip%20greg/DSCN4295.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/FireMedicATL/gap%20trip%20greg/DSCN4286.jpg