IIRC there was something last year for bicycles (I think, it may very well have been motorcycles) that did what you asked. It was either being marketed or looking for funding. It sounded like a good idea to me.

..Tom

 

Just Googled and one of the first results I cam across was this:

Black Vololights Brakeless Deceleration Indicator | Vololights: Enhanced Motorcycle Visibility


Although one review and it's negative.

There are several other hits.

..Tom

 

Vololight

I bought a vololight but I haven't installed it yet.

My problem is that I usually ride solo so I'll have to enlist my girlfriend to drive behind me in order to tell if it's working correctly.

 

I bought a vololight but I haven't installed it yet.

My problem is that I usually ride solo so I'll have to enlist my girlfriend to drive behind me in order to tell if it's working correctly.

IF you have a rear brake light enhancment it's a good idea to wire an indicator to your dash so you can see what it is doing and know it's working.

 

There are several products out there with deceleration activated lights that will come on when engine braking.

Not a bad idea.

I have my rear brake lever setup so that even just a little bit of pressure trips the switch on the peddle even if there is no actual rear disk braking kicking in yet. I will feather my rear brake pedal when down shifting significantly to slow down.

I also have a long steep downhill in my commute. For parts of it it's enough to just down shift on a bike when cars would also be braking. That is another time I will feather my rear bake lever to send a signal to someone behind me.

 

Strobe wise makes a system that uses deceleration to trigger a rear led strobe.

Here is a video of one being installed on a Vstrom

http://youtu.be/SjYgV8xTqPU

 

Be in control. If you're decelerating and there is a car behind you, tap the brake.

 

This is for bicycles,. but I can see uses on motorcycles:

Garmin may begin offering radar systems for bikes

The rear light also starts blinking when cars are coming... not the same as using an accelerometer but I suspect a similar effect.

..Tom

 

All I was able to find was the Vololight (didn't impress) although their new device sounds more like it.

Here in Lost Angeles I deal with heavy traffic all the time so I'm always looking for something to help. Granted, nothing will stop the texting driver from running into you but for the more attentive ones, this might help them recognize I'm slowing down.

 

Or

Or you could use your brake(s) to slow down, rather than engine braking. Some of the local transit buses appear to use a similar system (amber light flashes when decelerating, red brake lights) and most cagers seem to ignore it. As an alternative, might wire a microswitch somewhere in the throttle system so the warning light flashes when the throttle is closed. That way it'd trigger while stopped at a traffic light, for example, when an accelerometer would not.

 

Any additional flashing or flickering lights will do nothing but further distract drivers behind you, I am still not convinced hyperlites and the like are a good thing. Be aware of what is going on all around you, never rely on a gadget to keep you safer. Lord have mercy I have no idea how some of you even get any enjoyment out of riding.

 

It might, maybe, be handy to have three quick flashes when you first hit the brakes, sometimes, but constant flashing is hellah annoying and distracting as you said.

As for the last thing, riding is about the only thing in my life at the moment that doesn't have any anxiety attached to it. I can't imagine losing that point of calm as well.

 

Your right hand is paralyzed? That sounds like dangerous condition for riding.:mrgreen:

 

You could make a quite elaborate even wearable accelerometer brake light system using an Intel Arduino and a Flora accelerometer.

Would be quite possible to program some custom signalling too.

Even tap into the turn signal of your bike with a wireless module for the arduino.

The Arduino is a mini wearable computer.