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Gear Brake

3K views 22 replies 14 participants last post by  Jimding 
#1 · (Edited)
#6 ·
I would have to agree with you.
While leading a group ride through the Sierras on small twisty two lane roads, we had one of the wives in a chase car who's only complaint was that it was hard to tell when we were slowing as there were no brake lights. Many years ago, but it was the first time I'd given any thought to it. I'll generally depress a lever now if a sports car is behind me wanting to play, but a unit a you describe could only help.
 
#5 ·
You can also gently pull the brake lever to illuminate the brake light. I sometimes 'flash' the brake light a couple of times before actually braking, just to get the attention of the driver behind. No cost, no complication.
Yep, that's a good habit to get into. It doesn't always matter though, I have brake flashers and have still been rearended at a complete stop, and almost rearended numerous times. If you put enough miles on in heavy traffic, there is a good chance you'll be hit eventually. Lane splitting helps, but isn't always an option.
 
#7 · (Edited)
(Note: The two posts above were made while I was writing this one.)

The first indication that I had of what happened was when my head bouncing off the head rest. It even took me a second or two before I realized what had happened. The poor kid who ran into the back of me was probably in more shock than I was.

I may be an outlier here, or it may be like an automatic oiler. Yes you can remember to oil your chain routinely, but that kind of discipline doesn't come to many naturally. Having it happen automatically, every time I stop without having to give it a thought is what I'm after. For me, that is the only way it is going to happen every with certainty. I would much rather have the higher assurance of an automated feature.

It would be nice to combine the features of the back off brake hold module and the gear brake module. Brake Light Modules - AdventureTech, LLC.

Bright flashing LED add on, gear brake, and brake hold. Looks like a project for a cold winter day.
 
#8 ·
Some of the new BMW's have this from the factory. Senses slowing down from braking or just rolling off the throttle hard when in a lower gear. Some of these bikes have a LOT of compression braking.

I don't have that thing, but I do have auxiliary lights on both bikes that flash a certain way for a couple seconds before going full bright when the brake light is applied. The higher you can mount these, the better in my opinion. Follow someone with a good set of these and you will be a believer.
 
#12 ·
Some of these bikes have a LOT of compression braking.
compression? ya mean like sticking a banana in the tailpipe

vacuum braking is a better description for engine braking, closing the throttle does not create more compression, in fact, less cause the cylinders have an empty charge, nothing (or very little) to compress

engine braking is primarily caused by the vacuum created trying to suck air thru a closed throttle plate

unlike a jake brake that uses compression by letting air bypass the intake
 
#10 ·
I've always been in the habit of showing a little brake (by tapping the rear lever) whenever engine braking. It's become habit.

My friend and I were ridding behind another rider on some dirt roads recently and we noticed he had some red led lights that seemed to be randomly flashing. For the next 30 minutes or so we were conversing via intercom on what the heck they were. As I had heard of these led's that light upon deceleration, that was my first guess. But, they did not seem to coincide with his deceleration. Sometimes they did, but just as often they didn't. I concluded that they were just set to randomly light up - to keep a driver behind alert maybe. Anyways, when the guy stopped I asked him and sure enough they were deceleration lights. Decelerometer is what he called it, I believe. So i'm guessing his type works on some kind of tilt sensor (mercury switch?) that detects the forward tilt on deceleration. As I mentioned, we were on dirt roads and they were a bit rutted as well as hilly. All that bumpy and hilly stuff was just sending the sensor into a tizzy. Did not seem like a worthwhile product. Led flashing brake lights combined with showing some brake is much better/safer IMHO.
 
#11 ·
You can add Hyperlites for half that cost and just tap the brake for flashing mode. Easy when riding with 2 fingers on the front brake lever.
 
#13 ·
Whatever you want to call it. I know it as compression braking, the term racers and riders of cars and bikes have used for decades..........

As for a diesel Jacobs Engine Brake, or Jake brake, better read up on how they operate.:wink2:
 
#14 ·
The Gear Brake sounds like a great idea. Sure, you can touch our brake lever, but will you? The gear brake is great for bikes like the Vstrom that slows significantly just from letting off the throttle. I've ridden twisty roads with lots of speed change but very little braking. I've noticed in my manual transmission car, if I drive in a lower gear in traffic so letting off the gas slows me down, following drivers don't react as quickly if they don't see brake lights. They are more used to lights than they are the actual distance decreasing. A deceleration light would be very helpful on manual transmission vehicles.
 
#15 ·
In process of ordering a unit, have 2015 DL 650 so they need to verify if rear light coupling is same as earlier models as it is a plug and play in the rear light loom. May be Greywolf could help out here?
I also have the flashing LEDs for rear break but think an extra bit of warning when slowing is good.
When I get them will let you know how it goes. May be a few weeks though.
 
#18 ·
I notice that they are building (or checking for plug compatibility) on the first order for a specific model. It appears that nobody has ordered one for a 2014 V2.

"Custom Plug-N-Play Kit: We will develop a plug and play module for your bike. After you purchase someone from our team will contact you by email to get some more information about your bike and some pictures of the rear lighting connector. It's quick and easy."

Has anyone started the procedure?
 
#17 ·
I guess there is nothing that will prevent a texting driver from running into the back of you with no braking beforehand on their part. We all have different tolerances for risk and different budgets, but since it's less than a meal out with drinks at the bar I think I'll give it a try.

Should at least provide for good conversation at the next rally.
 
#19 ·
Not me. I took a detour after realizing they are not the only brake flashing unit based on a decelerometer.

Here is another, but I'm talking to signal dynamics in the hopes they can use their existing Brake Hold module (which has an accelerometer) to make a much better and less expensive unit.

Vololights: Brakeless Deceleration Indicator for Motorcycles
 
#20 ·
#23 ·
Maybe

For those of you (not me) with smartphones, seems like you could write an app to use the smartphones accelerometer, coupled to the light control module by Bluetooth. The only connection you would need would be 12V. Might even use the camera module to sense light level, and modulate the light intensity accordingly.
 
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