helmet mounted taillight

[gunsmoker]

The other day I left the house on a foggy morning and I wanted better lighting on the rear of my bike I decided to order one of these for next time. $19 on Amazon.

I just got it and I have not attached to my helmet yet, but it looks useful.
Has 11 LEDs. Uses a rechargeable battery pack, and it's pretty bright. It has three different on or blinking options, plus "off."

 

[ddemair]

The oday I left the house on a foggy morning and I wanted better lighting on the rear of my bike I decided to order one of these for next time. $19 on Amazon.

I just got it and I have not attached to my helmet yet, but it looks useful.
Has 11 LEDs. Uses a rechargeable battery pack, and it's pretty bright. It has three different on or blinking options, plus "off."

I'm not sure I would use the blinking option. It could too easily be misinterpreted as a bicycle or a stationary caution light.

 

[st11ray]

I use a Whelen strip light, Hyperlites and I changed the stock rear lighting to LED. I only have the LED's in the stock taillights on the ST now as I have moved the others to my Yamaha Super Tenere.

 

[ST Gui]

I too wouldn't bother with the blinking option. I don't know there's any inherent danger. It adds a level of conspicuity. It doesn't see likely that 'confusing' a helmet light for a stationary caution light or a bicycle tail light would be problematic.

I will say that a blinking light at or near eye level could be really annoying to other drivers. An EMS strobe replacing the 1300's rear reflector flashing steadily can force cars to creep up close so the strobe's flashing is blocked by the hood of the car behind the bike. DAMHIKT.

A blinking light generally implies "approach with caution". Cue replies of "They're out to kill you!" yada yada. Possibility is not probability. So I'd keep the light steady on (LOL). Typical head movement would probably do as much as blinking, without the bother.

On a slight different tack helmet mounted brake lights might have some utility. They've been mentioned a couple of times and I thought them merely a dorky gimmick. As a discrete brake light I see merit. If they're also triggered by typical engine braking so much the better. This assumes the helmet mounted brake light stops when the bike is stopped.

Obligatory disclaimer: Yes I know no light/hi-vis/helmet color/horns/conspicuity lights replace SA and defensive driving. But some common sense additions can increase awareness of the space you occupy. Yes I know none will guarantee your safety. So ride like you're invisible.

 

[Ryan_B]

I bought the "Brake Free" (the one that was on Shark Tank). I thought it was silly when I first saw it on the program, but then I saw a rider that had one on in sunrise/sunset and it really caught my attention. Especially since typically the helmet is right in your eye-line.

It has several settings. I have mine run all lights dim, the middle sections light up bright while braking, and a hard stop all lights rapidly flash bright. Completely forget it is there, it holds a charge for several months for me (that probably translates into 10+ hours of riding). It auto turns off and when you pick it up it turns back on. You can follow the link below if you want more information. Highly recommend, even though it is pricey. Seems well built, it mounts cleanly to your helmet (it can slide off and on if you have multiple). It says water resistant, but I have been in a downpour and it didn't miss a beat.

https://www.brakefreetech.com/collections/brake-free-products/products/brake-free



Ryan

 

[ST Gui]

I only have the LED's in the stock taillights on the ST now

Not having checked out the more recent offerings of LEDs I've found several don't fully illuminate the tail light lens as well as incans for obvious reasons. They give a small "hotspot" that's brighter than stock bulbs but also smaller. Separate LED lights augmenting tail lights will probably do a better job than LEDs in the stock enclosure.

 

[Bozo]

I'm not sure I would use the blinking option. It could too easily be misinterpreted as a bicycle or a stationary caution light.

And wouldn't that misinterpretation cause people to steer clear of you? Which is the purpose, isn't it?

 

[Mondo]

I bought the "Brake Free" (the one that was on Shark Tank). I thought it was silly when I first saw it on the program, but then I saw a rider that had one on in sunrise/sunset and it really caught my attention. Especially since typically the helmet is right in your eye-line.

It has several settings. I have mine run all lights dim, the middle sections light up bright while braking, and a hard stop all lights rapidly flash bright. Completely forget it is there, it holds a charge for several months for me (that probably translates into 10+ hours of riding). It auto turns off and when you pick it up it turns back on. You can follow the link below if you want more information. Highly recommend, even though it is pricey. Seems well built, it mounts cleanly to your helmet (it can slide off and on if you have multiple). It says water resistant, but I have been in a downpour and it didn't miss a beat.

https://www.brakefreetech.com/collections/brake-free-products/products/brake-free



Ryan

I bought one at a really good price when they were in the beta phase. Since I change helmets every 5 years, I have found it to not fit well on helmets that have the aerodynamic protrusion on the back of the helmet. I have a noggin that is in between sizes so proper fit is my priority. It does work well.

Greg

 

[ddemair]

And wouldn't that misinterpretation cause people to steer clear of you? Which is the purpose, isn't it?

Well, one would think so, but I think a steady red (like a tail light) makes it easier to discern movement.

 

[Erdoc48]

I use one called a Cosmo Connected- it has a decelerometer like the Brake Free. I think I paid $79 for it years ago and use it on my J-Cruise helmet. The other helmets have an LED band on the back and a transmitter is wired to the brake lights.

 

[ST Gui]

it has a decelerometer like the Brake Free.

If I were of a mind that's how I'd roll. Amazon has some "brake-sensing" tail lights for bicycles. I might check some out to mount on the ST. I've always liked the idea of a deceleration warning light. CA allows for them in amber for a tad more conspicuity. The few I've checked on Amazon have multiple lighting modes so there wouldn't be a steadily flashing as you ease on down the road.

After reading a few product descriptions these lights use an accelerometer to activate a traditional brake light and not a decelerating warning light. They also have some variation of tail light operating. There doesn't seem to be a mode where it's illuminated only when braking. So it doesn't look like it has a CHIMSL function.

 

[gunsmoker]

Pics of my light on my helmet,
on the bike so we can compare the brightness of the helmet light
to the bike's own factory tail lights.

The pic In my yard was taken on a cloudy evening about 5:45 PM, but the second pic (with locomotive) was taken when it was already dark- the camera artificially brightened things up in a way that was much brighter than what my eyes saw.

I think my helmet- light is equal in brightness (but not in surface area) to my tail lights.

 

[Erdoc48]

What brand is that? I assume it has a transmitter wired to the back lights of the bike. Also the back of your helmet looks angry in the first pic.

 

[Uncle Phil]

IIRC, it is not connected to the bike but just has light options (flash patterns, on solid, etc.)
Brand is Versatta on Amazon.

 

[ddemair]

If I were of a mind that's how I'd roll. Amazon has some "brake-sensing" tail lights for bicycles. I might check some out to mount on the ST. I've always liked the idea of a deceleration warning light. CA allows for them in amber for a tad more conspicuity. The few I've checked on Amazon have multiple lighting modes so there wouldn't be a steadily flashing as you ease on down the road.

After reading a few product descriptions these lights use an accelerometer to activate a traditional brake light and not a decelerating warning light. They also have some variation of tail light operating. There doesn't seem to be a mode where it's illuminated only when braking. So it doesn't look like it has a CHIMSL function.

I can't see the value of a brake light for bicycles. We usually ride slow enough that it wouldn't make a difference. In a paceline, where speeds can easily get above 25 mph, it might be useful, but an expected stop is sure to cause a pile-up with or without a brake light.

When being followed by another cyclist (paceline or not), the protocol is to call out loudly any speed changes.

 

[Weaselinsuit]

I have one of the brake frees that I purchased before checking whether it fit my helmet. It doesn't. So it sits in a box somewhere. ADHD tax strikes again......

 

[gunsmoker]

Both of my full face helmets are used but only about 8 or 10 years old, and they only cost me $20 each.

So I wouldn't mind using Bondo auto body filler, or two-part epoxy, to attach an expensive high-quality helmet mounted tail light and brake light to one of these helmets.

(I mean permanently attach the base plate or mounting plate, which I understand you can buy separately from the Brake Free light unit itself (that way you can switch one light between multiple helmets.))

 

[Fenianbastard]

I have one that fits directly into my Nolan helmet. Got it from Italy, it is really bright and is activated by the movement of my helmet when braking.