Close Call On IH-35 Today need LED's

[scope59]

I was riding my 2009 RSV South on I-35 outside of Norman OK this morning. It was before sunrise and raining when I came within a couple of feet of getting hit by a gravel hauler. I was in the right lane going 55mph when I saw this truck closing on me from the rear pretty fast (70-75mph est.) I kept waiting on him to change lanes and he did not. At the last second I went over to the right shoulder. I came close to losing it. My friend was in front of me on a very well lit HD Ultra. The truck changed lanes and went around him. So, I realize I need some additonal lighting. I turned on my hazards after that until I got out of the rain.

 

Has anyone installed the Diamond R light Bar? Are you satisfied with it?

 

 

 

I have moto-lights for the front but have not installed them yet.

 

Thanks,

 

Steve

[hig4s]

I was riding my 2009 RSV South on I-35 outside of Norman OK this morning. It was before sunrise and raining when I came within a couple of feet of getting hit by a gravel hauler. I was in the right lane going 55mph when I saw this truck closing on me from the rear pretty fast (70-75mph est.) I kept waiting on him to change lanes and he did not. At the last second I went over to the right shoulder. I came close to losing it. My friend was in front of me on a very well lit HD Ultra. The truck changed lanes and went around him. So, I realize I need some additonal lighting. I turned on my hazards after that until I got out of the rain.

 

Has anyone installed the Diamond R light Bar? Are you satisfied with it?

 

 

 

I have moto-lights for the front but have not installed them yet.

 

Thanks,

 

Steve

 

I got this

http://www.customdynamics.com/Yamaha_tail_retro.htm

 

and this

 

http://www.customdynamics.com/quad_license.htm

 

but the license plate frame is somewhat of a pain to install.

[Sylvester]

Get the Diamond R lights and change you main tail light to an LED plus all your turn signals. And definitely have passing lights.

 

[LilBeaver]

First of all, the stock rear lighting on these bikes are a total joke.

My first additions were 32 LED Tail light, 15" light bar under trunk, and a compact air horn.

 

I do not have the 'Diamond R' Light bar, however I have one that looks just like it.

It is dual function (3 running lights, then the whole thing lights up for the brake light) and it cost me a grand total of $15 bucks plus 2 bucks for the mounting bolts and nuts from home depot. Truck stops are a great place for these kinds of items. the 15" light bar is a standard trailer light.

 

One place they are available online (if you don't/cant find them at a truck stop) is here:

http://www.customdynamics.com/Light_bars.htm -- about 1/2 way down #0315 $22.95

 

It mounts directly to the helmet locks - no drilling required.

 

Also, you may want to look into an LED tail light replacement too. The Radientz lights are guaranteed for life, and VERY bright. They come in a 32 bulb and 100 bulb variety.

one place to get it is here:

http://www.customdynamics.com/Yamaha_tail_retro.htm

or

http://www.bikerhiway.com/led-tail-light-for-yamaha-road-star-and-vstar-p-176.html

 

 

*** I have nothing against Diamond R - I'm sure they are good people. Sorry, I just think $55 + S/H for that light bar is a bit of a rip.

[flb_78]

Don't forget about the Harley lights as well.

[Midrsv]

Get a Whelen strip-lite. They are far brighter than any other light stop I've seen. If you search fir recent posts by me I recently posted some photos of my rear lighting setup. I believe A4pumper recently installed one also. Here is a link to the thread with a photo: http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=53076

Dennis

Edited September 25, 2010 by Midrsv
added link to photo

[aharbi]

I have done the following to increase the lighting on the back on my bike:

1) http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=3768 (Harley Davidson License Plate Rail and Light Kit)

2) http://www.customdynamics.com/Yamaha_tail_retro.htm (100 LED Genesis II LED Tail Light)

3) http://www.signaldynamics.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=91&category_id=22&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=77 (this is the red one)

 

http://signaldynamics.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=90&category_id=22&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=77 (this the red LED with the clear lens)

4) http://www.diamondraccessories.com/ LED Rail Light Bar

Edited September 25, 2010 by aharbi

[buddy]

Putting on more lights will do you a world of good but you still have to watch these idiots on I-35 especially during the Red River show down I-35 then becomes a crash derby I hate riding on I-35 even in a cage I hate using it......

Edited September 25, 2010 by buddy

[CaptainJoe]

Confused....

With the vast majority of states in financial difficulty, why do they not see this money making bonanza?

Whatever the fines are currently they need to be raised to make people slow down.

 

It's getting to the point some don't care if they wreck you or not, just so they can go as fast as they want.

 

MPH (over) FINE

1-5 Keep same

5-10 Double

10-15 Triple

15-20 Quadruple

20-25 Pentuple? Take license for 30 days, restrict for 1 year, go to drivers school

 

Above this.... automatic jail time, you get to pay all costs including your stay at our fine establishments, plus take license for 6 month, restrict for 5 years, go to drivers school, must wear a pink shirt that says "I like to speed" in public for 1 month.

 

Community service can be substituted for fine at the rate of say $5 per hour.

 

Although parent can pay your initial fine you must prove you paid back otherwise community service at the above rate.... (to many kids pass costs on to parents).

[Lone Eagle]

I have the Diamond R saddle bag rail lights - and am very happy with the additional lighting in the rear and sides of the bike. I also added the LED's to the tail light and turn signals as mentioned above.

[massey130]

Confused....

With the vast majority of states in financial difficulty, why do they not see this money making bonanza?

Whatever the fines are currently they need to be raised to make people slow down.

 

It's getting to the point some don't care if they wreck you or not, just so they can go as fast as they want.

 

MPH (over) FINE

1-5 Keep same

5-10 Double

10-15 Triple

15-20 Quadruple

20-25 Pentuple? Take license for 30 days, restrict for 1 year, go to drivers school

 

Above this.... automatic jail time, you get to pay all costs including your stay at our fine establishments, plus take license for 6 month, restrict for 5 years, go to drivers school, must wear a pink shirt that says "I like to speed" in public for 1 month.

 

Community service can be substituted for fine at the rate of say $5 per hour.

 

Although parent can pay your initial fine you must prove you paid back otherwise community service at the above rate.... (to many kids pass costs on to parents).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I agree. most folks don't make a habit change unless there is a dramatic change to their life. our pocket books is a place to start.

[Dave77459]

Confused....

With the vast majority of states in financial difficulty, why do they not see this money making bonanza?

Whatever the fines are currently they need to be raised to make people slow down.

 

It's getting to the point some don't care if they wreck you or not, just so they can go as fast as they want.

*snip*

I guess you assume the truck was speeding? Why is that?

 

Perhaps OP, Steve, was going 20 under the speed limit. He was being cautious. Perhaps the truck could generally see well enough to go the speed limit, but couldn't *perceive* someone going so slowly. I know that I have almost rammed into cars in clear / dry / light conditions, simply because it doesn't seem possible that someone would drive so slowly.

 

It could be that the truck was speeding. You and I don't know based on Steve's post. You may make heap good sense, but it isn't on-target here.

 

As bad as the RSV is in rear lighting, the RSTD is even worse. One shabby taillight, is all. No place to easily add a light bar. I added run/turn lights and upgraded to the 100 LED taillight. I've been considering adding a yellow strobe to my trailer hitch socket. A video:

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7Xw_is07zc]YouTube - Whelen TIR6 Super LED[/ame]

[CaptainJoe]

scope59,

What was the speed limit on the section of I35 you were on?

You stated you were going 55 mph. Most Interstates are either 65 or 70 or even 75, unless your in a work zone.

 

If you were going 20 mph slower than the posted speed limit, you were not only posing a danger to your self but to others on the highway.

 

The reason I described a ratcheting punnishment for speeders is because the wider the gap in speeds people are traveling at on a particular road, the more likelyhood of a pending diasater... A lot of roads have Minimum speeds posted...

[jfoster]

For times like that (dark and raining) I wish the RSTD had came with Hazards switch.

 

Dave, at VLSUSA.com, they have the whelen TIR4's for $49.

Edited September 26, 2010 by jfoster

[JPM]

scope59,

What was the speed limit on the section of I35 you were on?

You stated you were going 55 mph. Most Interstates are either 65 or 70 or even 75, unless your in a work zone.

 

If you were going 20 mph slower than the posted speed limit, you were not only posing a danger to your self but to others on the highway.

 

The reason I described a ratcheting punnishment for speeders is because the wider the gap in speeds people are traveling at on a particular road, the more likelyhood of a pending diasater... A lot of roads have Minimum speeds posted...

 

Speed limits are posted for ideal driving conditions. Dark and raining is not ideal conditions. Drivers have the responsibility not to driver faster then conditions allow regardless of the posted limit.

 

Joe

[LilBeaver]

Let's not loose track of the original poster's point here.

 

Bottom line: The OEM rear lighting on these things is absolutely terrible.

[scope59]

The speed limit was 70 on the stretch I was on. I was driving at the speed (55) that seemed appropriate for the conditions. The bottom line was the truck driver could not see me. He never budged from the right lane until he saw my buddy who was in front of me on the well lit HD Ultra Classic. He then signaled and went into the left lane to pass. I assume my bike was throwing up a little mist and obscuring the tail light.

 

I am not complaining about the trucker. Just looking for the solution to my poor lighting situation.

 

Thanks for all the great responses.

 

Steve

[top]

The speed limit in that area is 60 mph, however no one except a few ever drive it that slow, pretty much a race track in that area.

 

If you install the Moto lights, be careful on use if you also run passing lamps, They draw a large amount of current, and will kill your battery quickly. I just replaced the 35 watt halogens with mR-16 led's from custom dynamics. They are bright and very little voltage drop.

[royalstarjac]

You could always get a bike with some real lighting. Just sayin, not trying to start a war.

[CaptainJoe]

Sounds like you just weren't seen.

Until you get some additional lighting, you could just use your hazards.

 

 

In a cage on a 70 mph road, I slow down to 65 in medium rain and 60 in a heavy rain.Personally I turn my hazards on anytime I'm going 5-10 mph slower than surrounding traffic.

On a bike, if its anything other than a light rain I pull over, or just drive the cage.(when possible)

 

You got me thinking though... Will have to look at back of my bike tonight. It's stock lighting except for a yamaha spoiler with a brake/running light led built in...