But then, as you know, when you are riding long-distance, most of the close calls are not of your own making, but of the inattention of somebody. Having been around on the tour and wrenching the big bikes, I have found out that custom rear lighting on Goldwing GL1800 is by no means about being cool. It is about providing distracted drivers with one more opportunity to see you early enough, estimate your distance properly and avoid your rear wheel.
The current traffic is more screen-distracted, denser, and faster than it was 10 years ago. A properly-maintained touring bike may even be lost in brake-light glare, in rain mist, or the visual noise of the city streets. The solution to that issue is rear visibility upgrades which make it impossible to misunderstand you: braking, turning, and hazard indicators cannot be ignored.
Why Rear Visibility Matters More on a Touring Bike
The visibility of the rear is more important on a touring bike.
A touring motorcycle rides lower than most of the SUVs and pickups, and it frequently occupies the so-called blind-zone formed by the high tailgates and colored rear glass. Put luggage, a passenger or a top box on, and the rear profile is once more altered, obscuring or reducing the useful view of the stock light.
Practically, rear visibility systems are beneficial in three aspects:
You are spotted earlier in traffic jam and at cross roads.
When the turn signals are bright and well spaced to the brake lights the drivers will grasp your intention quicker.
You make the sudden stop surprise smaller by increasing the brake light punch and reaction time.
My mind set changed when I started to ride on multi-day rides. Comfort upgrades are good, but safety upgrades can pay you back on each and every journey, at dusk, when it pours and when there is a stop and go rush-hour.
Stock vs Upgraded: Changes in the Real World
Brightness and Contrast, Not More Light
The idea is not to shine the rear mirror of a car. The idea is a contrast, clean, instantaneous lighting, which is visible against sunlight and contemporary LED car headlights. Proper LED systems generate clear on/off reaction, and separation of colour between running, brake, and turn features.
Wider Viewing Angle
A lot of factory lights appear good when looked directly on but become dim in no time when looked sideways. On roundabouts and lane splits as well as angled junctions, this is important to touring riders. Improved solutions also enhance side visibility, such that the drivers do not miss your signals whenever you are not right behind them.
Faster Signal Recognition
Drivers react to patterns. The need to reduce the I didn’t realize you were stopping excuse can be done by using a more assertive signal on the brake, a more prominent turn signal, and optional attention getter flash patterns (where applicable).
Why Tourers Trust Brake Light Upgrades
Tourers do trust upgrades brake light.
The design of these modules also aims to decrease this effect within the circuit. These modules are also designed to reduce this effect in the circuit.
An LED upgrade makes it brighter and more visible, yet does not make your rear part look like a strobe light. The finest are kept up to a clean running-light brightness, and then, on braking, jump quite higher.
What to Look For
No hot spots, uniform brightness throughout the lens.
Heat sinks and solid connectors.
Adequate matching with the electrical system of the bike.
Pulse and Modulated Braking Patterns
The pulse or modulated patterns of braking represent the second category of braking patterns.
A quick pulse during braking is aggressively sworn by some riders since it produces an effect of an attention marker in the eyes of a driver instantly. The clever (interesting) thing is that it was a flash of attention and then a constant illumination of the brakes.
Critical point: legislation is relative. When you tour provinces or countries, adopt a system that has adjustable settings that can be maintained.
Turn Signal Modifications That Lead to Less Confusion
Specialized Amber Turn Signals
Amber can be better identified as turn intent since it is what drivers anticipate. Quick recognition is impaired in cases of red lightening on brake and turn signals particularly when a driver is tired and stressed, or distracted.
Sequential Signals: Useful When Properly Used
Only when bright, spaced evenly, not too slow will sequential indicators appear premium and enhance direction clarity. In case the order is slow, the motorists can not interpret them as a real signal but consider them as decoration lights.
Its built-in turn/brake solutions are integrated on the PCB and can be customized to suit the requirements of a specific scenario or industry. Its in-house turn/brake solutions are built in on the PCB and can be tailored to the needs of a particular situation or industry.
There are some systems where the brake and the turn functions are volumeized. They can be effective provided that the design maintains a good separation between braking and turning. When your rear lighting turns into something pretty and at the same time unclear, it is no longer a safety upgrade.
Installation Issues GL1800 Riders Should Pay Attention To
Accessibility, Power Wiring Quality, and Plug-and-Play Fitment
In my practice, the problem of lighting is not often connected with the LEDs. They are a product of poor connector, bad grounding or sloppy splices and corrode following a wet season. Select an option that does not deform the factory harness, closes and does not need trial and error.
Load, Hyper-Flash, and Electrical Compatibility
LEDs consume less energy than the incandescent bulbs. On certain installations, that can cause high-speed blinking or malfunction. A properly designed kit takes this into consideration by using correct resistors or a flasher solution, without the use of cooking wiring or generation of additional points of failure.
Weatherproofing and Vibration Resistance
Weatherproofing and Vibration Resistance: The construction materials should be capable of withstanding a seismic event.
Touring bikes are exposed to rain, washdowns, heat cycle and vibration over thousands of miles. Any upgrade rear lighting must be closed, strain relieved and constructed as it were to actually travel, rather than pose at a showroom.
A Guide on Selecting the Appropriate Rear Lighting System
Match Your Riding Style
When commuting by city, government attention should be on speedy recognition and side visibility.
When you tour highways, brake light punch and distance visibility should be of priority.
When you ride in groups, do not use patterns that may annoy other riders who are following you.
Keep It Clean and Legal
The most secure configuration is one, which the drivers comprehend at the first sight. Flashing and twisting beats are bright and clear. On the indecisive side, opt to use consistent, high contrast lighting with low attention features.
Think in Layers
An excellent rear visibility plan usually incorporates:
Brightening of the brake light bottom.
Clear amber turn indicators.
Adjustable auxiliary lighting which enlarges the footprint.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it can be said that this is a small upgrade that will pay off after every ride.
One of such changes that you like without making a splash, until the time it helps you to avoid being rear-ended at a junction or even being overlooked during a change of lanes. Should you require the solution that is not based on gimmicks but is meant to be seen as clear and with its orientation on the Goldwing GL1800 platform, sometimes the following is a step taken by serious tourers who are willing to make safety feel easy.
FAQs
Will it be any difference to have brighter rear lights?
Yes, in case the enhancement is clarity and contrast. On the road, vehicles observe bright, unsmeary changes of lighting more quickly than faint stock illumination, in particular in the evenings, in wet conditions, or with colored glass.
Are brake lights that are flashing safe or distracting?
The short attention pulse is not a bad one, though flashing all the time can annoy the drivers and it might be against the law in certain places. To be on the safe side, a short pulse with a constant output brake light would be advisable.
Are LED upgrades electrically problematic with touring bikes?
They have the ability to know whether the kit is of low quality or poorly installed. The most widespread ones are hyper-flash, loose connectors or water intrusion. These issues are normally avoided by a well designed system with closed connections.
Is it better to use amber or red turn signals?
Amber tends to be more understandable by the drivers as a turn signal, particularly when the braking is done simultaneously. When it is possible to install special amber indicators, then it is usually the most obvious decision.
Is it possible to install a rear lighting upgrade by myself?
It can be installed by a large number of riders at home provided you are comfortable de-assembling the panels in a meticulous manner and adhering to wiring instructions. Patience is the key: be careful about protecting clips, pinched wire and before reassembling, be sure that everything is working properly.
