HJC Windlight LED Helmet Light

[DaveDragon]

http://blogs.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/be-seen-at-night-on-a-motorcycle.htm


Interesting.

[hopz]

Interesting... I wonder what your passenger will think about that?

[dwsdad]

Interesting... I wonder what your passenger will think about that?

Guess that would depend on if they stopped by one of those marijana vending machines first..........farout, man............

[RonKMiller]

Very clever, but two thoughts:

I would be concerned that the glue could potentially have an effect (especially over time) on the strength of the helmet shell. Unless it comes with some "approved" double sided adhesive strips I can just imagine someone using epoxy to stick it on.

If the unit does not have a capacitor type of setup it would be dark during stops, probably the most potentially dangerous night scenario.

I think the "halo" type of highly reflective tape is just as good and probably better since it can be seen from 360 degrees.

[Morley]

I would be concerned about the wind noise generated and transmitted to the helmet.

[XMagnaRider]

Very clever, but two thoughts:

I would be concerned that the glue could potentially have an effect (especially over time) on the strength of the helmet shell. Unless it comes with some "approved" double sided adhesive strips I can just imagine someone using epoxy to stick it on.

If the unit does not have a capacitor type of setup it would be dark during stops, probably the most potentially dangerous night scenario.

I think the "halo" type of highly reflective tape is just as good and probably better since it can be seen from 360 degrees.
The Halo is very effective. Drivers usually see it long before they see your red taillights. They see a very bright, white horizontal band, up high, directly in their line of sight.

The Halo has a few issues to consider:

1. Over time, the rubber looses its elasticity. The rubber usually gives out at the stitch points where their darn fabric logo is sewn on. I asked the company owner about it, and he replied that those failures are normal; the expected lifetime is only 1.5 years.

(In contrast, I used the same Jogalite motorcycle reflector vest for fifteen years. I only recently realized that the vest fabric had gotten sun-faded - the reflective strips were still fine.)

2. When the band slips off accidentally, or when it starts losing elasticity, it drops around your neck and flaps like a WWI pilot's neck scarf, which can be very distracting. You don't want to try and fix it while riding; you have to wait for the next stopping point. I suspect that most people have to remove the helmet to fix it. I do.

3. The Halo has gotten more expensive, especially considering that they only last 18 months or so. The first one I bought cost less than $6.00. Now they are up around $13.

4. The Halo doesn't fit on the popular Shoei X-11 helmets. The Halo fits very well on X-9 and earlier Shoei helmets. I don't know about other helmet brands. The problem with the X-11 is that if you position the halo band to avoid the lower vent holes in the rear, the band won't stay on the "bumps" in the helmet shape.

Despite the above points, I would still use Halo's if it weren't for issue #4, above (the Halo doesn't fit well on Shoei X-11 helmets).

[Tat_n_Telle]

Wind powered??
I can see that thing lasting about as long as the solar powered vent did in my old Chevy van..... one week (or the first time it gets wet, whichever comes first).
And, if you're sitting at a stoplight at night, the light isn't going to be on (unless, of course, it's REALLLLLY windy out). Perfect excuse for some cager with a few under his/her belt to rear end you and claim "I didn't see him!"

[RonKMiller]

The Halo is very effective. Drivers usually see it long before they see your red taillights. They see a very bright, white horizontal band, up high, directly in their line of sight.

The Halo has a few issues to consider:

1. Over time, the rubber looses its elasticity. The rubber usually gives out at the stitch points where their darn fabric logo is sewn on. I asked the company owner about it, and he replied that those failures are normal; the expected lifetime is only 1.5 years.

(In contrast, I used the same Jogalite motorcycle reflector vest for fifteen years. I only recently realized that the vest fabric had gotten sun-faded - the reflective strips were still fine.)

2. When the band slips off accidentally, or when it starts losing elasticity, it drops around your neck and flaps like a WWI pilot's neck scarf, which can be very distracting. You don't want to try and fix it while riding; you have to wait for the next stopping point. I suspect that most people have to remove the helmet to fix it. I do.

3. The Halo has gotten more expensive, especially considering that they only last 18 months or so. The first one I bought cost less than $6.00. Now they are up around $13.

4. The Halo doesn't fit on the popular Shoei X-11 helmets. The Halo fits very well on X-9 and earlier Shoei helmets. I don't know about other helmet brands. The problem with the X-11 is that if you position the halo band to avoid the lower vent holes in the rear, the band won't stay on the "bumps" in the helmet shape.

Despite the above points, I would still use Halo's if it weren't for issue #4, above (the Halo doesn't fit well on Shoei X-11 helmets).

Wow, that's not a very long life...

I've always just used a strip of reflective tape from the local Pep Boys, stole the halo "idea", but lasts the lifetime of the helmet for a few bucks.

Now only if that wind thingy could power an Espresso maker. ;)

Still, a very clever idea.

[Flash9677]

I seem to recall an LED strip that works as a brake light. It can be mounted within 5 feet or so of the tail light. The bulb in the tail light is replaced with a transmitter type bulb that signals the LED to light up. Extra brake light without the wiring. Anyone have one of these?