Nearly bought it today

[KLR Dancer]

I was on my way to work this morning, not light, but not dark either. I was 50 or so yards behind a truck minding my own business doing 45-50ish. When for no reason this person decides to gun his car from the other-side of the road, right where I was going to be.

Way to close for comfort. Luckily there was a Budweiser Distributorship with a wonderful wide open manicured lawn and across it I went. Thankfully the culvert was pretty tame.

Bottom line, is that this the 2nd time this has happened. Both times I while riding with low-beam. Never again!

I am sure this person never even seen me, but there was a bunch of folk behind me that seen the whole thing. Am I just unlucky does this happen to you guys too.

All in all, a good day, really.

[kzlr]

Two things:
1. Glad you are alive
2. HID headlights with high beams on all the time!

[ptxyz]

i agree, my high beams are always on unless i'm riding with a group.

may piss off the cagers but, at least they see the light...

[Coloradogoose]

I don't run my high all the time but I run a set of fogs and a set of small LED lights for visibility. Maybe I should start running the high too.
I have had a similar thing happen before back when I didn't have the extra lights on my bike. Pissed me off. I just don't get why some morons phone call is more important than a human life.

[BAMBAM650]

I use one of these all the time when commuting now. I also added some auxilliary lights.

http://www.amazon.com/Neiko-Visibili...4351040&sr=8-2

[SRTeric]

HIDs ftw. I cant believe how much a stock headlight bulb blends in with traffic from a distance. I just put 35 watt 6000ks on my 08, and its single blue-white headlight now sticks out like a sore thumb. Also installed a stebel nautilus horn, and the LED brake light circuit board is in the mail.
Helmet or not, cars and pavement are gonna hurt! Just gotta try to make them see you.

[otto]

Stay in front of the truck.

[SRTeric]

I dunno, i (personally) would rather be behind the idiots that ahead of them. If they wont see my head light, they sure as hell wont see my tail light.
My .02

[otto]

Idiots are everywhere. If I can help I don't want anyone in front of me especially a truck. I want to see the whole picture and chances are the idiots will see you better.

[GoMotor]

It was not the headlight. He saw you. He just thought he could beat you across and if not you would slow down because, well you were on a motorcycle.

[brendon11]

Originally Posted by BAMBAM650

I use one of these all the time when commuting now. I also added some auxilliary lights.
Neiko-Visibility-Yellow-Zipper-Reflective

Yeah man, I wear a bright vest over my jacket all the time. I have twisted throttle aux lights and I never thought to ride with them on during the day, but they'd definitely bring attention. Those puppies are bright at night! whatever helps, since there are TONS of distracted drivers out there!

[kawioops]

I drive a lot for my living. I would complain (bitch, if you like) a lot about others driving habits to the people I work with. The people at my company just thought I was some perfectionist jackass for a long time. Now, after several people at my company have ridden with me on occasion, they think I'm a magnet for these idiots. Even in a white truck towing a silver trailer with bright signs, I get cut off, pulled in front of, and generally meet up with every nitwit and dumbass out there it seems.
So, your not unlucky (so far, after all your still here) your just more attentive, and that's a good thing.
I think riding makes MOST people a better driver, frankly I think it should be required, even if others don't want a motorcycle.
But then, I'm a perfectionist jackass!

[John M]

Glad you didn't get whacked!

I run a headlight modulator most of the time ( I turn it off in traffic jams while crawling so the person in front of me doesn't go insane) and believe that it gets me noticed.

J.

[KLR Dancer]

Originally Posted by John M

Glad you didn't get whacked!

I run a headlight modulator most of the time ( I turn it off in traffic jams while crawling so the person in front of me doesn't go insane) and believe that it gets me noticed.

J.

A guy I worked with had a modulator on his tail light, I have never seen one on the headlight. Sure would be seen.

Is this what you have: http://www.headlightmodulator.com/

I'm kinda with GoMotor. He seen me and thought he could beat me to my spot. If I was 100% sure I would have chased him down. I thought long and hard about it.

[googlefanns1]

Just a question? Do you wear the cool riding gear. I'm talking a true Hi-Vis jacket.

I have a Hi-Vis green jacket, orange/black helmet and a set of Piaa fog lamps for low light situations. Along with a Stebel and a hyper vigilance over my situational awareness, especially these days of texting or phoning while driving. Anything to make myself stick out.
I can't say for sure it works but I have only had one situation of a trucker turning in front of me and I was waiting for it to happen, so no biggy.
A recent friend of mine has a black KLR and dressed in the not so cool all black get up. We went out for a ride together and he chortled but was impressed at how I stood out and my extra lighting. Just after that ride he went out for a 10 minute boot, got cut-off and then almost side swiped. He went out and bought a Hi-Vis jacket; he'd had it with people not seeing him.
Hi-Vis and lighting don't hurt, other than your wallet. Wearing all black, not enough light and blending in can KILL.

[Old Rock!]

This is happening more and more to me, but mostly when I'm on my KLR. Not as much on my other bikes, but they are physically larger.

I ride with the high beams on all my bikes.

[DaVeeDoeJayne]

Originally Posted by kawioops

I drive a lot for my living. I would complain (bitch, if you like) a lot about others driving habits to the people I work with. The people at my company just thought I was some perfectionist jackass for a long time. Now, after several people at my company have ridden with me on occasion, they think I'm a magnet for these idiots.

me too, I have allways wanted a t-shirt with Idiot magnet printed on it , I seem to atrack them, riding or driving. Well I've heard it said like kinds atract, makes me wonder. I can see it now someone walks up and says "whats that mean?"

I try to ride like I'm invisable even with hi vis on, after all we are invisable to an idiot.

[clogan]

Originally Posted by googlefanns1

Just a question? Do you wear the cool riding gear. I'm talking a true Hi-Vis jacket.

I have a Hi-Vis green jacket, orange/black helmet and a set of Piaa fog lamps for low light situations. Along with a Stebel and a hyper vigilance over my situational awareness, especially these days of texting or phoning while driving. Anything to make myself stick out.
I can't say for sure it works but I have only had one situation of a trucker turning in front of me and I was waiting for it to happen, so no biggy.
A recent friend of mine has a black KLR and dressed in the not so cool all black get up. We went out for a ride together and he chortled but was impressed at how I stood out and my extra lighting. Just after that ride he went out for a 10 minute boot, got cut-off and then almost side swiped. He went out and bought a Hi-Vis jacket; he'd had it with people not seeing him.
Hi-Vis and lighting don't hurt, other than your wallet. Wearing all black, not enough light and blending in can KILL.

I wear Hi-Vis jacket, Hi-Vis helmet, and Hi-Vis gloves. I have a Stebel. All of this helps. But last summer, I watched as a lady pulled out in front of a screaming red fire truck, complete with lights and sirens blowing and glowing. If a cager can fail to see a 20-ton, screaming and flashing FIRETRUCK, we bikers have no chance.

ATGATT

[John M]

[quote=KLR Dancer;1109023]
Is this what you have: http://www.headlightmodulator.com/
QUOTE]

Hey Darren, Yes. That is the one.

I wear a day-glo helmet and jacket and people don't see me. I switch on the modulator and people actually get annoyed. They flash their highbeams, wave, point, and ocassionally show me the middle finger...It means it's working....

J.