Invisible paint!

MSHax

MSHax

Drive fast & take chances
So I'm beginning to feel invisible; last month I was on 580 and an explorer ran into me on my bike because he "didn't see me" causing some damage to my bike, leg, ribs, hand, etc...

Since the SF ride is tonight it makes great sense to ride to work. This morning I left for work on my bike came up to the corner, applied my brakes and went into the turn. About half way through the turn I hear a horrible screach from behind me. It was a ford f150 locking up their brakes attempting not to hit me. When I looked back, his bumper was at my rear wheel and had actually bent my swingarm mounted license plate, so...yeah he was close! At the next light, the guy rolled down his window and say "sorry to scare you, I didn't see you". So I went home and grabbed my Minivan, everyone can see a minivan.

So here are my thoughts:
A. My bright NEON orange paint job isn't bright enough

B. The guy did see me but thought I was going to power through the turn at 50mph on a city street, realized I wasn't going to, got to close, then used "couldn't see you" as a way of covering his butt from breaking the law.

C. My custom paint job on my bike was actually painted with invisible paint, but this don't make sense because I painted my bike after I was hit last month. Besides, we all know invisible paint don't stick to plastic :rofl

Or
D. People in Ford trucks are trying to kill me! :(

Anyone else have the custom invisible paint job?
 
fast4ward

fast4ward

Tired and Emotional
... all except police moto's - these people usually have no problem seeing them, reinforcing the idea that they do see you, they just don't register it in their tiny brains as they don't fear you (like they would a cop).

Maybe a headlight modulator (as has been discussed elsewhere on the board recently)?
 
Aluisious

Aluisious

Well-known member
People are STUUUUPID. You think a bike is "hard to see," I've had people turn in front of my Barcelona Red RAV4 with my headlights and fog lights on.

What they are is deer with driving licenses. Ever notice a deer can't figure out WTF to do when it's crossing the road, and often runs right at you? Exactly.

Edit: if they can't see this, they won't see anything.

JTMBD32VX75068908-1c.jpg
 
kawikaze

kawikaze

ǝzɐʞıʍɐʞ
Bravnik said:
I think all bikes come painted that way. At least that has been my experience.
Click to expand...
True, but I think this proves that he got the quality he paid for. A truly invisible paint scheme.:thumbup

Glad it wasn't worse Rocky, we still get to :ride
 
ns3v3n

ns3v3n

Well-known member
Glad you're ok, that F150 was really close. If the paint on the bike is invisible, wear a clown suit to compensate :laughing. i'm sure they'll see that. But seriously, glad you're ok man. :thumbup :ride safe.
 
mikeemei

mikeemei

.*.*.*.*.*.
I think what we need are one of those big ass orange Caution signs on the back of our bike. :thumbup

Is there someway to make our helmet glow? So, we be riding around like a big ass light bulb. :rofl
 
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Karbon

Karbon

Hyper hoñorary
get used to it.

Don't rely on trinkets to save you.

No matter how hard you brow beat the idea of "ride like you're invisible", for a lot of riders, the point will never be driven in home until you have had the defining exprience and epiphany of someone almost plowing into you.

You're gonna get pissed off initially. Like, "hey asshole, look where you're going", antagonistically towards the offender.

They you realize you should be directing that anger at yourself and thinking, "hey asshole you're invisible".
 
N

Norbs

Well-known member
Think as the weather is warming up this is becoming more and more common... I think people are just too relaxed driving their 3500lb vehicles.
 
mweitz

mweitz

Well-known member
fast4ward said:
... all except police moto's - these people usually have no problem seeing them, reinforcing the idea that they do see you, they just don't register it in their tiny brains as they don't fear you (like they would a cop).

Maybe a headlight modulator (as has been discussed elsewhere on the board recently)?
Click to expand...

This is an interesting observation.

My take on it is people only register things they see that pose a threat to them.

Small motorcycle = no threat

Big motorcycle = bigger threat, but still not enough

Big motorcycle with red and blue lights = Pretty darn large threat

On a moto, we worry about almost evertything. A a rabbit crossing the road can take you out (well, you know what I mean).

I had a guy look right at me on my bicycle, and I was wearing a bright yellow windbreaker and a minute later he almost ran me over pulling into a parking space.

I confronted him and he apologized. He said he was, in short, daydreaming and it never registered I was there.

FWIW.
 
MSHax

MSHax

Drive fast & take chances
mikeemei said:
I think what we need are one of those big ass orange Caution signs on the back of our bike. :thumbup

Is there someway to make our helmet glow? So, we be riding around like a big ass light bulb. :rofl
Click to expand...

LOL, you'ves seen my helmet, it does glow :rofl
 
MSHax

MSHax

Drive fast & take chances
mweitz said:
This is an interesting observation.

My take on it is people only register things they see that pose a threat to them.

Small motorcycle = no threat

Big motorcycle = bigger threat, but still not enough

Big motorcycle with red and blue lights = Pretty darn large threat
Click to expand...

Hmmm...you guys might have a good point. Maybe a BMW R1200 is my next bike :laughing
 
K

kooshball

Well-known member
i just recently put some 3m reflective tape on the back of my helmet. it's silver on silver so not that noticible during the day but i do think it makes a difference from far away.

i first saw this on a guy riding at night a while ago and there was a big diamond shape reflective tape on his helmet and it was waaay brighter than his tail lights, and i saw him from maybe half a mile away.

also im beginging to see a lot of minivan cabs around sf that has a white stripe of reflective tape on the rear bumper, which makes them super visible as well
 
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