Author Topic: Smart New Brake Light Option (Read 8160 times)

Slideways · « **on:** May 14, 2013, 07:54:45 AM »

I just love the sound and feel of a snappy down shift but have often thought about the fact that no brake light is indicating my slowing, which can be fairly quick. This morning while reading a favorite blog an interesting product came up. Rather then try to explain it below is a link below which will do a better job then I can. I have no connection to these guys but like the concept enough I will donate to their Kickstarter Fund.

http://www.vololights.com/

Son of Pappy · « **Reply #1 on:** May 14, 2013, 08:13:04 AM »

Nice!! I'll be keeping my eye on this light.

gPink · « **Reply #2 on:** May 14, 2013, 08:14:40 AM »

Interesting. Too bad about Facebutt and Tweaker being the only way to follow them. Oh well.

Rhino · « **Reply #3 on:** May 14, 2013, 08:17:53 AM »

What a great idea. There have been times when I do some hard down shifting with no brakes and it's only after the fact that I realize I didn't check 6. If someone had been on my tail they would have rammed me before they even knew I was slowing down.

ljcorby · « **Reply #4 on:** May 14, 2013, 08:28:01 AM »

Interesting idea....I will be following them as well.

gPink · « **Reply #5 on:** May 14, 2013, 08:28:57 AM »

Ever been riding behind other bikes and all of a sudden you're on one because he was engine braking or did a late ABS slowdown? (I know-sightseeing kills) This invention has many benefits.

Conrad · « **Reply #6 on:** May 14, 2013, 08:40:46 AM »

Good idea! I thought about something like this a while back but instead of being mounted on the bike a helmet could have this built into the back side. Powering the thing was the issue.

mvjr1904 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 14, 2013, 09:15:36 AM »

Great idea, but that must be the "eye appealing" 8 light model.
I would like it to be made with more lights like AdMore or Hyperlites.

Son of Pappy · « **Reply #8 on:** May 14, 2013, 09:51:12 AM »

Quote from: Conrad on May 14, 2013, 08:40:46 AM

Good idea! I thought about something like this a while back but instead of being mounted on the bike a helmet could have this built into the back side. Powering the thing was the issue.

Solar panel? I mean, who doesn't want to ride around with a 15 pound helmet?

Conrad · « **Reply #9 on:** May 14, 2013, 10:04:49 AM »

Quote from: Silverdammit!! on May 14, 2013, 09:51:12 AM

Solar panel?

Little Village "Solar Sex Panel"

Caffeinated · « **Reply #10 on:** May 14, 2013, 12:32:43 PM »

FYI...This went live on Kickstarter yesterday. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/vololights/vololights-enhanced-motorcycle-visibility

I like the idea. I ride daily in heavy DC area traffic, and am always engine braking. If I have someone on my ass, I'll hit the brake as well to activate the hyper-lights and blinking LED bar on my license plate frame.

VirginiaJim · « **Reply #11 on:** May 14, 2013, 12:43:30 PM »

So they want money from us to kick start their project eh. I don't

think so. If they ain't got the clams to do this maybe they should be on Shark Tank. I will say it's a good idea for us, though. But send them money to start up? Never!

Rhino · « **Reply #12 on:** May 14, 2013, 12:47:03 PM »

Interesting idea but every shot of the lights on the video is from 2' away and they don't look every bright. I gotta see what they look like in bright sunlight from 200' away. Unless they show up obvious from 200' they are worthless.

VirginiaJim · « **Reply #13 on:** May 14, 2013, 12:53:09 PM »

Excellent point!

Rhino · « **Reply #14 on:** May 14, 2013, 12:55:30 PM »

I learned that lesson from the Projekt D in the mirror turn signals.

VirginiaJim · « **Reply #15 on:** May 14, 2013, 01:20:03 PM »

Have you had feedback on the mirror signals? I've got them on my bike and I haven't had anybody follow me that I know (except for those pesky govmt agents) to tell me how bright they are or not.

Rhino · « **Reply #16 on:** May 14, 2013, 03:29:09 PM »

Quote from: VirginiaJim on May 14, 2013, 01:20:03 PM

Have you had feedback on the mirror signals? I've got them on my bike and I haven't had anybody follow me that I know (except for those pesky govmt agents) to tell me how bright they are or not.

Only family and unless they are right up on me and looking for it they can't see them. Daylight of course. I have yet to have someone give me feed back at night.

maxtog · « **Reply #17 on:** May 14, 2013, 05:24:21 PM »

Quote from: Slideways on May 14, 2013, 07:54:45 AM

I just love the sound and feel of a snappy down shift but have often thought about the fact that no brake light is indicating my slowing, which can be fairly quick. This morning while reading a favorite blog an interesting product came up. Rather then try to explain it below is a link below which will do a better job then I can. I have no connection to these guys but like the concept enough I will donate to their Kickstarter Fund.

http://www.vololights.com/

That is actually a very interesting idea. Yes, I *have* thought about it before- many times. I can slow quite a lot with just down shifting and will sometimes tap the brake when I am aware there is someone behind me, knowing they might not expect me to slow so much without ever using the brakes.

I had also thought many years ago that it would be a good idea to change the standards for brake lights so that braking over a certain percentage (preferably in G's) would cause momentary rapid blinking- indicating a clear difference between light or normal braking and hard or panic braking. That seems to also be incorporated into their design of this plate light. http://www.vololights.com/specifications/

maxtog · « **Reply #18 on:** May 14, 2013, 05:25:32 PM »

Quote from: gPink on May 14, 2013, 08:14:40 AM

Interesting. Too bad about Facebutt and Tweaker being the only way to follow them. Oh well.

+1

I know a LOT of people (including me) that *hate* social media stuff like that. What is wrong with just posting a blog on their own site??!!! Oh well.

maxtog · « **Reply #19 on:** May 14, 2013, 05:34:05 PM »

The video is pretty informative/nice. One thing that would drive me crazy with that design, however, would be that it is impossible to "test" it so you know it is working (and how/when it is working, too). You have to rely on someone else to tell you. I still like it, though, ESPECIALLY since it only blinks/activates when actively decelerating. It would not be annoying at slow speeds or when stopped.

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Author Topic: Smart New Brake Light Option (Read 8160 times)

Son of Pappy

Son of Pappy