Where to get reflectors for System Cases?

[jaytee]

Hey!

 

I'm wanting to get good quality reflectors for my system side cases to put on the back of the cases. I am not interested in reflective tape, but rather a true, automotive quality reflector in red or orange that either adheres or bolts (and adheres?) to the back of the case.

 

Has anyone done this, or researched it?

 

JT

[WURTY]

Check out the reflective type that fernando has.

They are die cut and last forever.

No drilling either.

 

just a thought

[tallman]

Something like this?

[russell_bynum]

Check out the reflective type that fernando has.

They are die cut and last forever.

No drilling either.

 

just a thought

 

www.motoequip.com

 

Top notch stuff.

[Motonut]

+1 for FB @ Motoequip

 

from a very satisfied customer...

 

Products and service top notch.

[EffBee]

JayTee, I make the MotoEquip Reflective Kits everyone is talking about. So does Andy Sager at Hindsight (he doesn't make mine, he makes his own). However, if I understand your questions correctly, you want plastic automotive-type reflectors.

 

Those can be purchased at most auto parts houses. Also, a BMW dealer should have several different styles to choose from, based on the reflectors that go on the saddlebag lids, or the rear/sides of the rear fenders, etc.

 

Alternatively (and I know you did NOT prefer tape), Galls sells highly retroreflective tape in red. You can purchase it in rolls. It reflects much like the red tape you see in one of the posts above.

 

Also, I believe Andy at Hindsight works with the different colored reflective vinyls. I don't know if he has red vinyl that reflect white, or red vinyl that reflects red. But he's a board member and good guy. Contact him first. Try here.

[jaytee]

Thanks for the replies...

 

EffBee is correct, I do not prefer tape. I was looking for just a single round (or rectangular) automotive-type raised multi-angle reflector to put on the back of the inside portion of the system cases.

 

That being said, my main complaint about tape is that the tape style that I have seen looks bad during the day and tends to peel or gather dirt and gunk along its edges.

 

I was interested to see if anyone had placed one of these on their system bags, where they got it, how they affixed it and were they happy with the outcome.

 

I will keep looking!

 

JT

[EffBee]

JT, best of luck in your search. However, your concerns about reflective vinyl tape looking bad differ substantially from what I've seen over the years..

 

I can tell you that we've sold thousands and thousands of reflective kits. Properly installed, the tape will not curl up at the edges nor catch dirt. Unfortunately, SOLAS tape, which is silver in color and has prismatic modules, will collect dirt in the open modules along its edges. That may have contributed to your observation. However, there are no problems with the 3M Scotchlite Commercial-Grade Reflective Vinyl Tape we (and Hindsight) use.

[Ben_Ricci]

...my main complaint about tape is that the tape style that I have seen looks bad during the day and tends to peel or gather dirt and gunk along its edges.

 

The MotoEquip kits do not peel or curl on the edges. I have it on both my ST bags and my wife's F800 bags. It's top notch stuff and it's not really visible in normal daylight, but VERY bright at night...when you need it. It's worth another look IMHO.

[russell_bynum]

...my main complaint about tape is that the tape style that I have seen looks bad during the day and tends to peel or gather dirt and gunk along its edges.

 

The MotoEquip kits do not peel or curl on the edges. I have it on both my ST bags and my wife's F800 bags. It's top notch stuff and it's not really visible in normal daylight, but VERY bright at night...when you need it. It's worth another look IMHO.

 

+1

[ericfoerster]

Ditto what Nando said.

 

I've had his on three bikes, over 80K miles, never held dirt or came off. I am sure Andys are the same.

 

Great stuff

[11101110]

Buy your own scotchlite roles and do an origional design.

 

link

[awagnon]

2+ on Galls and cutting your own. Just make a paper template first and be careful about bubbles. I haven't had the Scotchlite curl or loosen in a couple of years.

 

 

[russell_bynum]

2+ on Galls and cutting your own. Just make a paper template first and be careful about bubbles. I haven't had the Scotchlite curl or loosen in a couple of years.

 

 

 

When a pre-made, laser-cut kit is available for a reasonable cost, why would you screw around making it yourself? I mean...unless you just need something to keep you busy one Friday night, why not just buy the pre-cut kit and be done with it?

[ESokoloff]

When a pre-made, laser-cut kit is available for a reasonable cost, why would you screw around making it yourself? I mean...unless you just need something to keep you busy one Friday night, why not just buy the pre-cut kit and be done with it?

 

$$$

Satisfaction of DIY

Customization

[jaytee]

Hmmm.. .well with all that endorsement maybe I'll give it a shot... its what, 19$?

 

If I hate it I can always peel it off, no?

 

JT

[EffBee]

Hmmm.. .well with all that endorsement maybe I'll give it a shot... its what, 19$?

 

If I hate it I can always peel it off, no?

 

JT

 

Part of the non-commercial policy of this board is that those of us who have small side businesses may answer technical questions about our products, but we may not otherwise market our products (except for a sig line link) or discuss price. However, I can tell you that Hind-Sight and MotoEquip prices are almost identical. Whichever you choose, you will not be disappointed.

[GregB]

I have a few friends that have added the reflectors and I feel they don't work as well as EffBee's system. The problem is mostly the angles where the reflectors mount. Most of them don't work unless they are 90 degrees to the oncoming vehicle and its headlamps.

Let me put it simply, When I follow my friends with red automotive type reflectores I hardly see them and I KNOW they are there. When I follow the reflective tape like in the pictures above, they stand out. The reflective tape on the Motoport/Cycleport jackets really stands out also.

Can't comment on the appearance issue.

[Mike_Brown]

My RT came with a reflective tape kit that was put on by the previous owner. It looks black during the day and you have to get very close to see that there is tape on the bags, but shows up brightly at night. I used SOLAS Tape on my LT I had a few years ago and it is bright. I didn't have trouble with dirt as I washed the bike often, and I ran a strip of it across the lip just under the top half of the top case. It showed up bright as well. But looking at what I have now on my RT, I would prefer the die-cut kits that are available now for your specific model.

 

Mike

[marcopolo]

I bought a kit from MotoEquip for my R12RT. It included pieces for my side cases, topcase, and rear "fender" (below the licence plate). It's very reflective, is unobtrusive in daylight, doesn't collect dirt, and was easy to install (with idiot-proof instructions).

[awagnon]

why would you screw around making it yourself?

 

For me it wasn't the price. All of the pre-cut reflective kits I saw reflected in white. In some states that is illegal. ( See previous threads for discussion and don't side track this thread. ) Also, I don't care if they look red instead of black in daylight. My bike is red and it makes the black cases look more like they belong on the bike. Also, if I messed one up putting it on, I could just cut another. And, price-wise, for less than the cost of the kit, I had enough tape to do both of my bikes.

 

I know Andy of Hindsite. He's a member of our club and he makes a very nice reflective kit. It would have been a great option.