Reflective tape ?

[kballowe]

Picked up some genuine 3M diamond grade tape (red and orange) to go along with a couple strips of 3M SOLAS sitting on the shelf.

The intent was to add visibility to the side cases.  I have no artistic talent, so I had the Wife help me on the placement.  Haven't had it out on the road yet, but here are some "inside" pictures.
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Have used some other budget reflective tapes in the past, but the genuine 3M stuff sticks really well, and is much longer lived.
It also reflects better - and at a much greater distance.

The colors and brightness didn't come thru correctly with the phone camera, but you get the idea.

And HEY !  There's still room for STICKERS !!!
 
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[oldbike54]

 

 Bring some to Cedar Vale , Paul needs to fill in some bare spots around his stickers 

 Dusty

[BRG-BIRD]

I like it!

[Guzzistajohn]

Aaaaaaarrrrrrffgggg hhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! Myyyyyyyy eyyyyyeeeeeeessssss s!!!!?!???!!

[kballowe]

Aaaaaaarrrrrrffgggghhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! Myyyyyyyy eyyyyyeeeeeeessssss s!!!!?!???!!

.....I wear my sunglasses at night....
..... My future's so bright, I gotta wear shades......
......Rhinestone shades or cheap sunglasses......

[fotoguzzi]

My brother works for 3m and gave me some in white so I made a racing stripe with it.. when I would get the sun just right it was like a search light in people's rear view mirrors.

[Guzzistajohn]

.....I wear my sunglasses at night....
..... My future's so bright, I gotta wear shades......
......Rhinestone shades or cheap sunglasses......

The choice is up to you ‘cause they come in two classes............

[kingoffleece]

We use that to mark various spots where we plow.  Works a treat, even in a snowstorm.  Hit it with the hi lift lights and BINGO!

[BMCMOTO]

I prefer to keep white facing forward, amber to front sides, red on rear sides and to the rear. There are guidelines for this in heavy truck lighting catalogs and in the FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards). YMMV

Brian

[kballowe]

I prefer to keep white facing forward, amber to front sides, red on rear sides and to the rear. There are guidelines for this in heavy truck lighting catalogs and in the FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards). YMMV

Brian

I looked at some of that.  Trailers have red/white/repeating on the sides and the back.  There's not enough real estate on the side cases at the rear for a horizontal red/white, so they went vertical.  The red/white color scheme seemed correct to me.

What do you think for the sides ?  All red?  It's a very short distance and it's at the rear of the motorcycle (assuming that you meant red for the rear half of the motorcycle and amber for the front half)

There's more tape, and sitting right here on the shelf is a can of adhesive remover.   

[rocker59]

What do you think for the sides ?  All red?   

On the sides of a vehicle, amber should be on the front and middle.  Red should be at the rear.

Your tape job looks good, but sticking with convention, you should've used the red on the sides of the bags, since they're at the rear of the vehicle.

[kballowe]

On the sides of a vehicle, amber should be on the front and middle.  Red should be at the rear.

Your tape job looks good, but sticking with convention, you should've used the red on the sides of the bags, since they're at the rear of the vehicle.

Oh, thanks a lot.   

.......all this time I've been trying to find a use for this roll of amber tape.

Now excuse me while I go surf Craigslist for used school busses........

[rocker59]

Oh, thanks a lot.   

.......all this time I've been trying to find a use for this roll of amber tape.

Now excuse me while I go surf Craigslist for used school busses........

Leave it.  It'll be fine.

[kballowe]

Leave it.  It'll be fine.

That was supposed to be funny.
 

I probably shouldn't attempt humor before my second cup of coffee !


Kevin

[Kev m]

On the sides of a vehicle, amber should be on the front and middle.  Red should be at the rear.

Your tape job looks good, but sticking with convention, you should've used the red on the sides of the bags, since they're at the rear of the vehicle.

Understood, but I can't imagine one in a hundred drivers would both know that and process that in an instant if they saw a bike at night with reflective tape.

But the victory comes when they SEE the bike as anything.

[Ncdan]

Wow Kev, good idea. Very hit in the rear at night is a common fear for most of us.

[Guzzistajohn]

Hey! that biker's reflective tape is on wrong! RUN HIS A$$ OVER!!!

[kballowe]

....now queuing elevator music.....

....color change in progress..... please stand by.....

 

[rocker59]

Understood, but I can't imagine one in a hundred drivers would both know that and process that in an instant if they saw a bike at night with reflective tape.

But the victory comes when they SEE the bike as anything.

I agree, and that's why I suggested leaving it as-is in my followup post.

[kballowe]

Well, alrighty then.  The amber tape was put on about 14 hours prior to removing, and it was STUCK.  Not one to have my a** kicked by some lowly 3M tape, I persevered.

Didn't have any of that red/white/red/white/red/white/continuous stuff, so I pieced it.

(drum roll, please )
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[twowings]

Bring some of that to Cedar Vale...we can use it on Fubar to help us find him in the dark!

[rocker59]

Well, alrighty then.  The amber tape was put on about 14 hours prior to removing, and it was STUCK.  Not one to have my a** kicked by some lowly 3M tape, I persevered.

Didn't have any of that red/white/red/white/red/white/continuous stuff, so I pieced it.

(drum roll, please )
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DOT cops everywhere will be happy, now!   

[PJPR01]

Bring some of that to Cedar Vale...we can use it on Fubar to help us find him in the dark!

Good for patching leaky tents too!

I have reflective tape on the bike as well Kballowe...it's a great idea for visibility, I even put some of it on my helmet too, the white one, not the red one.

[twowheeladdict]

I even put some of it on my helmet too, the white one, not the red one.

Many Helmet manufacturers divorce themselves from liability if you apply adhesives to a helmet which may chemically react and adversely affect the integrity of the shell. 

Mainly because they can't control what adhesives you may apply and which ones might degrade the helmet material.

[Kev m]

Many Helmet manufacturers divorce themselves from liability if you apply adhesives to a helmet which may chemically react and adversely affect the integrity of the shell. 

Mainly because they can't control what adhesives you may apply and which ones might degrade the helmet material.

Not that I particularly would worry about such a thing, but I wonder how the would shake out with a rider from NJ who is technically legally obligated to apply reflective stickers to his/her helmet.

Years ago I had one of those Halo helmet bands but I switched to stickers probably around the time of the NJ law.

[twowheeladdict]

Not that I particularly would worry about such a thing, but I wonder how the would shake out with a rider from NJ who is technically legally obligated to apply reflective stickers to his/her helmet.

Years ago I had one of those Halo helmet bands but I switched to stickers probably around the time of the NJ law.

I had a Halo.  It was amazing!  I seldom ride in the dark anymore.  Who provides the stickers you are legally obligated to apply to your helmet? 

To me it is just lawyer speak to protect the manufacturers in the event of lawsuits or warranty claims. 

[Rhodan]

Nice!  Reflective tape is one of my weekend jobs on the new bags.  I like what you did and will cheerfully copy.

[Kev m]

I had a Halo.  It was amazing!  I seldom ride in the dark anymore.  Who provides the stickers you are legally obligated to apply to your helmet? 

To me it is just lawyer speak to protect the manufacturers in the event of lawsuits or warranty claims.

The Halo eventually lost elasticity and blew off the helmet onto my neck at highway+ speeds.

Rider is responsible to provide their own decals/reflective surface. I don't believe the largely unenforced statute specified any other specific requirements other than minimum surface area (I think it was 1" to either side).

[Tom]

You have to add it to the bikes out here.  You won't get a pass at the annual required inspection.  Most of the HD crowd get upset. 

[twowheeladdict]

You have to add it to the bikes out here.  You won't get a pass at the annual required inspection.  Most of the HD crowd get upset.

Out where?  I'm sure the sport bike crowd get upset as well. 

From my observation, it is only the Adventure bike crowd that embraces reflective tape all over their bikes.  LOL!