is something like this worth it? I always hear these stuff are too dim to be of any use to someone in a car. I currently have cat eve light combo and they are really bright and nice, not so the headlight though.
But these laser stuff look really cool. Creating your own lane paths but what do I get thats very powerful the ones on amazon the reviews say they are garbage.
The problem with red laser light is that it's naturally too dim to be effective. In the Navy we used red lights at night because red light is easy on the eyes, and this remains the case with laser light. Green laser light is naturally the brightest for any given power output, but the main disadvantage of using green lasers is the high cost. The best brightness-to-cost option would be a 445nm blue laser. Blue laser light is substantially brighter than red, and a blue laser can now be made for the same cost as a red one.
Is that light some sort of force field?
If you get it mounted crooked will it cause your lane to turn? Thus causing you to end up in some unknown neighborhood.
Seriously, its a gimmick. Wont be any more effective than a blinky mounted on the seatpost. If anythink it looks like you are giving a motorist something to look at and marvel before they finally pass.
This is more of a psychological trick to make you feel safer. I cant see how a car coming up at speed behind you is ever going to notice those thin lines.
Now if it could project a hologram next to you, maybe of a brick wall or a concrete pillar, that would be cool.
I have not seen one of these devices in action, but I think the criticisms are probably accurate. I don't they could ever be bright enough, or visible far enough away, to do much good. The answer to visibility from behind is still the same, seems to me: multiple bright lights (blinking and steady), reflective material (on body and bike parts), and light-colored clothing.
IMHO, just a standard flashing light at the back either on the seat post or on the helmet is sufficient for motorist to see you from behind.
Pretty much all my close encounters have not been from the back, but from the front. Often it's motorist pulling out of a driveway or street to see oncoming traffic. Even with blinking lights up front they seem to have a hard time seeing me...
The only close calls from behind I've had, have been right hooks. That said, the vast majority are those pulling out right onto the street, who look right through me, almost hit me, then either completely ignore me or flip me off.
So I agree completely. Btw, using my reflective belt seems to help...
What about it? It's bright; bright enough to light up the road far enough at moderate speeds, and certainly more than bright enough to be seen. I use a MagicShine of similar power on the handlebar, along with the helmet light.
And you still need something in the back, at least two IMO, one steady and one blinking, with some spatial separation between. Personally, for winter commuting, I have red lights from low on the back fender to the back of my helmet, and several places in between. Plus reflective stuff.
I have a 650 lumen night rider and the blinky mode drives oncoming motorists crazy, unless it is daytime. I even tried to pitch it to the side a little so it is not directly hitting them. I only use it until early dusk, then just switch over to a low beam until it gets dark enough to crank it up. I have learned to use the blinky during daytime just as some added insurance.
In the rear I have a Planet Bike Superflash. That little thing works great. Batteries last a long time. I use it in blinky mode most of the time. It has an osculating pattern that seems to be effective.
I do notice that when it is blinking cars approaching from the rear move further over, compared to when it is solid. Sometimes on the narrow backroads the cars move so far over, oncoming traffic honks at them.
The helmet light is a great idea for winter, or for me the mid summer too!
I couldn't use the blink on my NR in the dark man, waaaay too rave-like, but it IS bright and the blink does help during the daytime. Between that, a super flash, a cygolight hotshot, and a Blackburn flea on me...my I SHOULD be pretty well visible. I've had more problems during the day, than dark recently.
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