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My quest to make motorcycle riding that tad bit safer

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Re: My quest to make motorcycle riding that tad bit safer

#381

Post by Manuel_D »

lqet wrote: post #310

I live in a mountainous area that attracts huge amount of motorcyclists on weekends. Most of the fatal accidents I recall in the last years (usually around a dozen per year) were caused by right of way violations by cars, by excessive speeding of the cyclists, or by risky overtakes. I am not sure how a brake light would help there. Also, serious off-topic question to the motorcycle enthusiasts here: how do you cope w…

> how do you cope with the fact that your weekend leisure ride is often a massive noise disturbance for hundreds of people and animals?

If you don't modify the exhaust of a motorcycle, it's noise levels are not different than a car, and substantially quieter than a semi truck.

Re: My quest to make motorcycle riding that tad bit safer

#382

Post by exadeci »

braunshedd wrote: post #71

When I was commuting daily in the SF fog, I discovered that putting on of these [1] on my helmet did wonders to keep cars further off my tail. It moves the brake light up to eye level for people in SUVs and also triggers on engine braking. Wish it were cheaper, but was a worthwhile investment for me. Also, consider looking into airbag vests if you ride regularly. Also expensive but (supposedly) make a huge difference…

There are some ridiculously cheap "smart" bicycle brake lights that already react to slowing down

Re: My quest to make motorcycle riding that tad bit safer

#383

Post by fsckboy »

1970-01-01 wrote: post #30
mygnu wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am considering adding a watchdog logic in the microcontroller that holds a mosfet gate, if there is any signs of failure in logic it would pass through the normal light signal.

Consider adding logic to test if the bulb is open. That would be a killer feature for sales.

it's all LEDs now, i would think, is "open" still a thing?

Re: My quest to make motorcycle riding that tad bit safer

#384

Post by fsckboy »

sergiotapia wrote: post #325
pnut wrote: post #317

Earlier quoted context omitted.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/noise-camera-tech... The UK is trialling noise pollution cameras that mail fines to your home, same as for speeding. It's an externality whose days are numbered.

Sickening use of tech. Living in a true surveillance state

>Sickening use of tech. Living in a true surveillance state

people with loud exhausts are shouting "look at me, look at me", so think of it like a clickwrap license agreeing to be surveilled

Re: My quest to make motorcycle riding that tad bit safer

#385

Post by markbnj »

nemacol wrote: post #360
markbnj wrote: post #178

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As an almost-daily motorcyclist with 15k miles on my current machine (Suzuki DL650), I absolutely agree that the increased proportion of pickup trucks on the road increases the risks for riders, however I suspect it is mainly because the larger, heavier vehicles aggravate the effects of a general deterioration in driving skills and attitudes. One thing about riding a motorcycle is that you are, unless you have a deat…

> a general deterioration in driving skills Is that a measured observation? Not trying to nitpick - genuinely curious if this is your observation from experience or there are some studies that you are referring to.

>> Is that a measured observation? Not trying to nitpick - genuinely curious if this is your observation from experience or there are some studies that you are referring to.

It is from my experience as a rider, as I said in my post, but there are also plenty of studies showing increased deaths and injuries among pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

Re: My quest to make motorcycle riding that tad bit safer

#386

Post by jo-m »

camtarn wrote: post #345
GJim wrote: post #323

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> even though the lever that is the rear brake on the bike is the front brake on the motorcycle Then your bicycles brakes have been put back on the wrong sides (is home maintenance by a previous owner to blame?). The front brake should _always_ be on the right. Just like a motorbike. EDIT: Correction. It appears US and UK bicycles have their brakes on opposite sides. How bizarre!

In the UK, British standard cycle brakes also have the front brake on the right. I think bike brakes being swapped is only a continental Europe thing.

Maybe it coincides with the road driving side - apparently Australia, NZ and Japan also have front brake right, while the US does not.

Re: My quest to make motorcycle riding that tad bit safer

#387

Post by radlad »

stonogo wrote: post #286
daleswanson wrote: post #272

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a regional difference in terms. I would generally call a limited access highway, a "highway". https://brilliantmaps.com/wp-content/uploads/big-fast-road.j...

'Freeway' is a regional term, but the Federal Highway Administration describes them as limited-access with directions of travel separated by a barrier. https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/processes/statewide/relate... The Federal definition of highway is basically any public road. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-26/chapter-I/subchapter-D...

Yes and I believe when OP said highway they meant it colloquially, as in a freeway, hence using that term in my reply. A highway wouldn't really make sense since it encompasses just about every road, as you say.

Re: My quest to make motorcycle riding that tad bit safer

#388

Post by yial »

GJim wrote: post #358
yial wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m trying to understand this comment - are you saying that there’s an advantage to drivers behind you not thinking you’re braking? As in - you don’t want them to think you’re coming to a complete stop when you’re regulating your speed? Or are you saying that you don’t want them to think you have a skill issue ? I live in a semi mountainous area, where people driving automatics ride their brakes most of the way down…

Ummmm When one is driving downhill with a car in gear, one is maintaining speed, not slowing down. Hence there is no need to show a brake light. Driving down a long hill using (friction) brakes to maintain your speed is a quick way to cause excessive wear on your brakes and, in extreme cases, lead to overheating and brake fade or failure. This is required knowledge for the UK driving test BTW.

Sorry - I should clarify I downshift. I understand the difference. I drove manual most of my life. (Somewhat unusual in the USA )

However, I frequently see drivers fly down the mountain behind me, and then brake heavily. The drivers in front of me, have their brake lights on in front of me usually the entire time or nearly.

However: high compression engines will slow you at a rate similar to light braking in many circumstances, unless your gearing and the slope of the hill is just right.

On my motorcycle, if I’ve downshifted to an amount that it will stop acceleration due to the slope, it will begin to decelerate me.

Even in my current car, the difference between 3rd and 4th is 4th allowing the car to continue to accelerate to ~20 mph over the speed limit, where 3rd will hold briefly but begin to decelerate the vehicle as the slope decreases. While I can shift between them to moderate the speed, it’s not always worthwhile. Again, I’m applying specific scenarios where the “mountain” road is maybe 1-1.5 miles maximum.

The specific scenario I dislike is that if I’m using engine braking(say to maintain 35-43 mph in a 35 zone), and don’t tap my brake lights - people fly down doing 60, and the brake heavily, tailgate for a period, and then follow at a normal distance.

If I tap my brakes to trigger the lights as they approach, they begin to slow further away and don’t do the hard slowdown.

Anecdotal of course.

The difference may be that where I am in the USA many people are not using engine braking.

Re: My quest to make motorcycle riding that tad bit safer

#389

Post by yial »

whalesalad wrote: post #143
yial wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m trying to understand this comment - are you saying that there’s an advantage to drivers behind you not thinking you’re braking? As in - you don’t want them to think you’re coming to a complete stop when you’re regulating your speed? Or are you saying that you don’t want them to think you have a skill issue ? I live in a semi mountainous area, where people driving automatics ride their brakes most of the way down…

engine braking is not braking - is what I am trying to imply holding your speed or decellerating mildly is not the same as braking. if i gear down into a higher rpm and hold my speed, or perhaps decel ever so slightly - its not worth alerting the driver behind you. most people over-react to brake lights and will see your brakes as "I should apply brakes too" when in this particularly case, they should not. I can't th…

I think perhaps this may be different drivers. The scenario I dislike is that drivers seem to fly up behind me, and then brake even heavier, when I’m using engine braking and then tailgate for a period. (For example, I’m going 40 in a 35, and they flew up behind me going 60).

If I tap my brake lights as they’re approaching, they slow more gradually and follow at an appropriate distance.

This is anecdotal of course.

I think the issue is that I’m using engine braking, while those around me are not.

Re: My quest to make motorcycle riding that tad bit safer

#390

Post by n000ne »

lqet wrote: post #310

I live in a mountainous area that attracts huge amount of motorcyclists on weekends. Most of the fatal accidents I recall in the last years (usually around a dozen per year) were caused by right of way violations by cars, by excessive speeding of the cyclists, or by risky overtakes. I am not sure how a brake light would help there. Also, serious off-topic question to the motorcycle enthusiasts here: how do you cope w…

I own a 2023 Ninja 650. This bike makes less noise than most cars :) Not all of us create major disturbances!
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