kchunks

So a month or so ago I bought a Blackburn Mars tail light. A few days later I join the forum and learn that the Planet Bike Superflash are far superior. Oh well. However, I also read some posts stating that two tail lights is the better way to go so that one can be on solid and the other on blink. Great excuse to get the superflash. Which of the two lights would you have on blink and where would you put it? Can both go on the seat post? Is it better to have one attached to the rider? Light is starting to become scarce during the morning commute an I would rather not get hit. Most of the commute has street lights but I have about a mile (maybe less) with nothing.

Schwinnrider

I have a couple of different setups. Actually I only have one bike now and am waiting on the other to be finished. On the bike I use now, I have three tailllights. I have a Superflash on my helmet(Bell Metro has a strap for mounting), one on my Carradice bag, and a BLT Super Doppler DX mounted to my right seatstay. I have a Flash Flag mounted to the left seatstay and festooned with 3M Diamond Grade reflective tape. I keep all lights set to flash.

My other bike will be set up with a DiNotte taillight(it's in my gear box right now) on the seatpost, Superflashes on each pannier, and a Superflash on my helmet. I might run the DiNotte on constant and the Superflashes on flash.

njm

I would try the PB Superflash on blink. It's bright when it's in "solid" mode, but I think there's something really bright about the blinky mode.

My PB Superflash came with a small-diameter clamp that fits on my seatstays. I use that because I have a wedge back under my seat, and have a solid one-LED light on my helmet and a solid blink clipped on to my jersey if conditions are bad.

The thinking that people have voiced on this forum is that a "solid" or constant light helps drivers better judge distance and speed. I think having that light high up on my body makes sense, but I think if you put it on the seatpost, with a blinking Superflash below it, it would work just fine.

rextwelve

Are amber or white flashing tail lights legal? Does anyone know where to buy them?

froze

The Superflash is not that bright especially from the sides. The Cateye 600 is actually brighter and from the sides is way superior if it's mounted vertically and it's less expensive.

ken cummings

Just do not use blue - Police only in California and other states. I've used white and red, and am now using flashing amber. For a truely intense flash try the Zenon strobes at www.allelectronics.com Most strobes have the advantage of flashing in all directions.

freako

I concur with froze about the Cateye LD600. I've actually compared the Superflash with my Cateye 600's and the Cateye was more noticiable and far more noticable from the sides.

Amber is not recommended for rear lights. Amber and clear (or white) are good as a front flashers but not for rear in the US. BUT, an amber light is better then no light! Some states specify that only a red light can be used on the rear.

rextwelve

I am concerned about using red for tail lights because that is the color that motorists follow at night. This is my pet theory anyway. I think that when a motorist is not concentrating on driving at night he will simply follow whatever red light he sees in front of him. If that light is me and I'm traveling a third of the speed, I would likely get run down. This is totally unsupported, I've never been struck from behind, but it makes sense to me. Does anyone know of some good studies on rear vehicle night lighting?

As drivers, on the other hand, we have been trained to avoid amber lights (they're typically stuck on stationary road signs).

So, I want an amber flasher, in addition to a red tail light. I like the idea of that Xenon strobe, by I don't like the idea of rigging a custom 12v power source (maybe it is easier than I think!).

Hoz

As an "electronic neophyte" I can attest it's pretty easy. A couple reads of the Bicycle Lighting Pages (https://tinyurl.com/2etdbs), a quick scan of the Total Geekiness pages on this board, and I had a 12v system set up in no time. Total cost was around 100 bucks including 2 headlights, horn, rear xenon strobe, wire, connectors, crimping tool, battery and charger. It could be done cheaper.

BarracksSi

I have a Mars 3.0 on one bike and a Cateye LD1000 (unless it's the newer 1100) on the other, both on the seatposts. I'm thinking of getting a Superflash to add to the left seatstay (nice of them to make the mini-bracket) to run in blinky mode.

I wouldn't use amber or white in the rear, though. Amber is for parked vehicles using their hazard flashers, for some turn signals, and as front corner side markers. White is for whichever direction a vehicle is traveling (part of why reverse gear lights are white). I just want to grab motorists' attention, not confuse them.

freako

Really? Let me see if I understand you correctly; your saying that your concerned that if you use a red light that a motorist will follow you and may strike you from behind since their moving 3 times faster...is that correct? I live in PA in a heavy population of Amish people and they use red lights and they don't worry about that and neither do I worry about hitting them. Do you worry when you drive your car?

You didn't say where you live, but you can look up your state in the internet for the motor vehicle code book and then use the index to find laws concerning bicycle lighting and check to see if amber is legal for a bike on the rear. Get back to us AFTER you've done that.

Hoz

Indiana Law

IC 9-21-9-4
Flashing lamps; requirements
Sec. 4. When a slow moving vehicle described in section 1 of this chapter is moved, operated, or driven on a highway at a time or under circumstances during which the use of lighted lamps on vehicles is

required under this article, the slow moving vehicle must display, in addition to the slow moving vehicle emblem, a red or an amber flashing lamp mounted at a height as low as practicable that is visible from a distance of not less than five hundred (500) feet to the rear. The red or amber flashing lamp may be used at times other than when lighted lamps are required. A double-faced flashing lamp may be used, displaying amber light to the front and red or amber light to the rear.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.

littlewaywelt

Add some red 3m scotchlight reflective tape and put a few small pieces of white on there, too. The white reflection will make it obvious that you're not a car.

CommuterRun

I run a Cateye TL-LD1000 on my seatpost with one bank on flash, the other steady on; a TL-LD500 on the back of the rear rack, steady on, this light is a back up to the 1000 and, being a CPSC certified reflector, covers me for the active light and red reflector legal requirement in FL; a Mars 3.0 on the back of my helmet, steady on; and a red flashing LED lighted reflective vest. Reflective tape on the bike in addition to this.

Dual headlights, one on the handlbars and one on my helmet.

Oh yeah, and when I'm towing a trailer the TL-LD500 comes off the back of the rack in favor of a TL-LD500 on each rear corner of the trailer.

I think it's pretty obvious that I'm not a car.

BarracksSi

+1 etc..

I just got my own Superflash yesterday, and yeah, its semiautomatic-firearm-doubletap-style "pa-pow" blink mode is really something to see. Definitely brighter than the Mars 3.0 or 5-LED Serfas cheapie that I had on at the same time. Whatever they did with the optics really takes advantage of the LED's output.

Having another light up high helps drivers realize that they're not seeing just another car, too. Honda's got an experimental safety-oriented motorcycle that has a second headlight up above the rider's head, and it's meant for the same effect (easier recognition, speed/distance judgement, etc). I might not use a Superflash as a high-mounted light, but any blinkie would be better than none, especially after you've caught a driver's attention with a Superflash.

nashcommguy

https://www.powerflare.com See what you think of these. 50.00 plus shipping.

Hoz

WOW, they are pretty proud of those, eh?

CliftonGK1

I use 2 PB Sf's: One in blinkie mode, attached to my rack trunk; and one in solid mode, attached to the top of my rear mudflap.

freako

PA is different then IN because in PA amber lights are not permited and the code states this:

Section 3507. Lamps or other equipment on pedalcycles.
(a) Lamps and reflectors. -- Every pedalcycle when in use between sunset and sunrise shall be equipped on the front with a lamp which emits a beam of white light intended to illuminate the pedalcycle operator's path and visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front, a red reflector facing to the rear which shall be visible at least 500 feet to the rear, and an amber reflector on each side. Operators of pedalcycles may supplement the required front lamp with a white flashing lamp, light-emitting diode or similar device to enhance their visibility to other traffic and with a lamp emitting a red flashing lamp, light emitting diode or similar device visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear. A lamp or lamps worn by the operator of a pedalcycle shall comply with the requirements of this subsection if the lamp or lamps can be seen at the distances specified.

Each state is different that's why you need to check your particular state you live in as I suggested earlier.

froze

I added another light for frontal illumination for the winter. I currently have on the front a 13 watt halogen Cygolite Metro along with an amber Xenon flasher both mounted to the bars. To that set up I added a BLT clear Flare DX that I got on sale for $24 (probably due to BLT not making it anymore); this will be strapped to my helmet. It's actually brighter then a 2AA cell LED 3 watt mag light. This light actually surprised me as to how bright it was even though it's in a small package; it has a flood pattern to it which is fine for me. The 3AAA batteries are contained within the unit thus not bulky seperate battery pouch and nor is the unit itself bulky. Now I have a light I can point wherever I want to see something or flash at a driver, or read my computer, or repair a flat with.

andrelam

For rear mounting I have the following:

I have a rear rack (Trek) has a slot with a thumb screw that allows me to insert a standard 5 LED red blinky light. I have the Planet Bike Super Flash mounted to my seat posts. I have done some non-scientific test and found the following to work best:

Bright sun - Blinkies are pretty much washed out, so using them makes no difference in safety. Wearing bright clothing helps a lot as it makes you stand out much better in traffic. I have mostly Yellow and few Orange shirts both colors work fine.

Low(er) light conditions (i.e. heavy over cast day, not dark yet, but not very bright either) - Cheapy LED on Solid, PB Super Flash on flashing mode. Don't wear the Orange shirts, they start to look dark from a distance as they don't refect enough ambient, the Yellow shirt is still pretty noticable. Hi-Vis (Yellow/ Green) would be better, but I don't own any shirts that color.

Dark - Cheapy LED on Flash and PB Super Flash on Solid. During testing my wife and I both agreed that the Super Flash on Flashing was actually more distracting than helpful in the dark. The brightness of the Super Flash in solid mode makes you nicely visible from the side and it nicely lights up the road behind me. Normal shirts are useless in the dark. Sure many athletic shirts have 3M reflective sections, but a pencil thin strip on one shoulder just doen't help much if any). I have a ANSI class II Hi-VIS vest. Now THAT is very noticable at night. Also added 3M SOLAS tape to the bottom 12" of my rear fender. My wife tells me I now light up like a X-mass tree and cars give me plenty of space at night. I also have IllumiNite tights that help make me be more visible from the side.

Happy riding,
André