[chazinga]

Hello all, new to the forum and to RE.  I've had my INT650 for a month or so and I'm loving it.  But in that time I have had more close calls / near misses in traffic than in years of riding other bikes.  Just the other day I was nearly taken out two different times by drivers who apparently just didn't see me.

I'm at a loss to explain this.  I'm wearing the same helmet / same gear as always.  Yes, the headlight is working.  Why am I so hard to see on this bike?

Has anyone else had a similar experience?

[Sharkguy]

It's not that you are harder to see, it's that no one is looking at the road anymore. They are too busy messing around with their phones, eating, putting on makeup, and all the other BS that idiots do everytime they get behind the wheel. Even pedestrians are distracted, they are more likely to walk out into traffic and even into themselves or a hazard like a fountain. It's unbelievable but todays new reality. Also lots of people haven't been driving for the last few months so you can add that in there too. 

[jimku]

Where are you riding?
I would add that it should be not left up to them to see you ... you should be seeing them ... in plenty of time to keep clear of them.

[NVDucati]

Hello all, new to the forum and to RE.  I've had my INT650 for a month or so and I'm loving it.  But in that time I have had more close calls / near misses in traffic than in years of riding other bikes.  Just the other day I was nearly taken out two different times by drivers who apparently just didn't see me.

I'm at a loss to explain this.  I'm wearing the same helmet / same gear as always.  Yes, the headlight is working.  Why am I so hard to see on this bike?

Has anyone else had a similar experience?

What is / was you other bike?
I haven't had that experience on my RE but I do feel a bit naked. Lot smaller than my other bikes and none of my normal array of daylight LEDs.
Its just so good looking as is ... I've been thinking, in the back of my mind, that there must be a way to add some visibility lights without changing the theme. I've even considered some fork gators with a flexible strip of LEDs inside and peep holes. Too wacky, huh.

[GlennF]

In the early 80's i rode a white Suzuki GS450 for a while. Actually quite an underrated bike with similar HP to the INT 650  but I digress.

Anyway, it was a white bike and it came with a matching white helmet and my typical riding attire at the time happened to be navy blue nylon wet weather gear. In other words from a distance I looked like a highway patrol police bike.

Interesting thing was I had zero issues with people failing to see me on that bike. I was far more "visible" than when i was riding my much larger full faired XJ900, wearing flouro hi viz gear, with lights on.

[goody59]

Hello all, new to the forum and to RE.  I've had my INT650 for a month or so and I'm loving it.  But in that time I have had more close calls / near misses in traffic than in years of riding other bikes.  Just the other day I was nearly taken out two different times by drivers who apparently just didn't see me.

I'm at a loss to explain this.  I'm wearing the same helmet / same gear as always.  Yes, the headlight is working.  Why am I so hard to see on this bike?

Has anyone else had a similar experience?

I found that too coming from a full dresser Tourer. I think people in cars were treating me like a Uber eats scooter rider.  I have since changed out from my oem halogen headlight globe to a LED H4 kit from Stedi. I feel like I am being seen much better now, plus I can see much better at night. 50% of my riding is at night.

[Haggisman]

Riders of Police bikes get hit, if they aren't seen drivers aren't looking

[Starpeve]

I found that too coming from a full dresser Tourer. I think people in cars were treating me like a Uber eats scooter rider.  I have since changed out from my oem halogen headlight globe to a LED H4 kit from Stedi. I feel like I am being seen much better now, plus I can see much better at night. 50% of my riding is at night.

Ive just ordered some 3m black reflective tape ( reflects bright white) to place strategically on fork legs, frame tubes etc. I'm pretty comfortable in traffic, but it's the dreaded side impact that scares me. I pretend NO-ONE is looking out for me, keeps me vigilant.
Steve

[Starpeve]

In the early 80's i rode a white Suzuki GS450 for a while. Actually quite an underrated bike with similar HP to the INT 650  but I digress.

Anyway, it was a white bike and it came with a matching white helmet and my typical riding attire at the time happened to be navy blue nylon wet weather gear. In other words from a distance I looked like a highway patrol police bike.

Interesting thing was I had zero issues with people failing to see me on that bike. I was far more "visible" than when i was riding my much larger full faired XJ900, wearing flouro hi viz gear, with lights on.

That's a really good point! Most of the fu#%wits manage to see coppers- it's in their best interest. It really shits me when I watch a driver evaluate you as they prepare to decide whether to pull out or not-sure as hell not going to do it if there's a semi bearing down on them but they're happy to take their chances with a bike.
Steve

[Breezin]

The real change here is the mobile phone.
Not the general, basic distraction of hands free, but actually texting while driving. Meanwhile we get ads telling motorcyclists to ride responsibly. 

[Starpeve]

The real change here is the mobile phone.
Not the general, basic distraction of hands free, but actually texting while driving. Meanwhile we get ads telling motorcyclists to ride responsibly.

In Sth Australia, we have a licencing system in which new driver's are on ' Provisional ' licences for 2 years, indicated by a red 'P' plate in front and rear windscreens. I saw a young bird with 'P' plates not long ago, in peak hour traffic, texting with about 15 % of her attention on the road, occasional glances up then back to her lap. I watched her for some time, wishing I was able to carry a pistol in this country.( My wife was driving). She had a very new car, and I swear that every panel on that car had damage. Too fcuking easy to hold a licence in this country😱. I used to think the greatest driving sins were ' not indicating' and 'running red lights' . They have been usurped by mobile phones.
Steve
Oh, that and the fact that 50% of the nation is using methamphetamine...

[Adrian II]

Long ago I came across this piece of wisdom:

"Everybody else on the road is trying to kill you until they prove otherwise.".

I hate mobile phones, even though I have one.

A.

[JettaKnight]

In Sth Australia, we have a licencing system in which new driver's are on ' Provisional ' licences for 2 years, indicated by a red 'P' plate in front and rear windscreens. I saw a young bird with 'P' plates not long ago, in peak hour traffic, texting with about 15 % of her attention on the road, occasional glances up then back to her lap. I watched her for some time, wishing I was able to carry a pistol in this country.( My wife was driving). She had a very new car, and I swear that every panel on that car had damage. Too fcuking easy to hold a licence in this country😱. I used to think the greatest driving sins were ' not indicating' and 'running red lights' . They have been usurped by mobile phones.
Steve
Oh, that and the fact that 50% of the nation is using methamphetamine...

As someone that ALWAYS carries, sadly it doesn't help... even shooting at them won't pry there attention from their phone, and ammo isn't cheap right now. 

[LongMan]

Long ago I came across this piece of wisdom:

"Everybody else on the road is trying to kill you until they prove otherwise.".

Amen....

[olhogrider]

  Why am I so hard to see on this bike?

Has anyone else had a similar experience?

It is the bike. Better sell it ASAP. When I rode an ElectraGlide and wore a white helmet it was like Moses parting the Red Sea. Except for those two nitwits who hit me because they "couldn't see" me. 

My last accident I was knocked down in the Walmart parking lot. I was on a scooter. Since I was concerned about visibility I had equipped it with an array of over 30 super bright LEDs and even added some to the running lights. He still couldn't see me.