revtothelimit - motorbike forum

Hi all....first post..

I have just picked up a 2023 Tracer 7, and want to add some extra lights so I have a slightly better chance of being seen on the commute...

I know that Yam do a an aftermarket fog light kit, but this comes in at ~£900 + fitting as you need engine bars, lights rail & lights...etc

Has anyone fitted after market light to Tracer / MT? or have any recommendations for aftermarket lights?

Thanks in advance

Not on a Tracer, but on a Honda with engine bars.

I used cheap 10w spots from Amazon, give me extra lights on the front so helps identify a bike. Cost about £25 including a switch. Rarely ride at night so don't need extra light on the road. If you need that probably better off with more powerful lights and maybe a bit better designed at a higher price. Even so £900 is madness.

If I hadn't got engine bars fitted Amazon/ebay have a selection of cheap mounting brackets that fit on the fork legs.

For conspicuity purposes, you're better of with lamps that 'scatter' light rather than direct it (as spotlights will).

You need to attract attention, not dazzle other drivers.

At ^ that's all without me going all 'there are better things to do'


Welcome BTW

And have a read:
https://scienceofbeingseen.org/

Horse wrote: Fri Aug 23, 2024 5:03 pm For conspicuity purposes, you're better of with lamps that 'scatter' light rather than direct it (as spotlights will).

You need to attract attention, not dazzle other drivers.

At ^ that's all without me going all 'there are better things to do'


Welcome BTW

And have a read:
https://scienceofbeingseen.org/

'Scattering' is built in with el-cheapo units.

And 10w is hardly overkill, I have seen some with 4x30w per light.

Cousin Jack wrote: Fri Aug 23, 2024 5:30 pm

And 10w is hardly overkill, I have seen some with 4x30w per light.

I haven't.

Horse wrote: Fri Aug 23, 2024 5:03 pm And have a read:
https://scienceofbeingseen.org/

Specifically this page here:

https://scienceofbeingseen.org/16-strat ... tive-drls/

'Science Of Being Seen' is my baby, created for the fire services and their 'Biker Down' courses, and I've been researching it for more than a dozen years now, so here are my quick observations.

Most early research that found positive results for Day Riding Lights (DRLs) were usually crude lab studies using doctored photos or videos. (The same goes for hi-vis vests incidentally.)

Crash stats from countries that use mandatory DRLs vs countries that don't suggest that DRLs are no more than marginally effective in real life - many 'Sorry Mate I Didn't See You' SMIDSY collisions involve bikes that had their lights on. (Once again the same goes for hi-vis vests - there's no real-life evidence that suggests riders using them have fewer crashes.)

Dipped headlights are ineffective as DRLs - the light is focused in front of the bike and down specifically to AVOID shining in anyone's eyes. Main beam to too bright and dazzling - that makes it difficult for a driver to assess distance and speed, and specifically 'time to collision'.

Whilst there appears to be some benefit to using a 'Triangle of Lights' to help drivers in identifying a motorcycle, it doesn't seem to have any effect at reducing daytime collisions in urban areas - the positives results are on faster roads and perhaps at night.

The most research research suggests that to distinguish a motorcycle in a stream of other vehicles (which are all fitted with their own white day running lights), the most effective solution is to use a different COLOURED headlight in daytime to be 'different' rather than fit more lights in an attempt to be 'brighter' (and I've told Cousin Jack this years ago . Yellow or amber lights are permitted. You could change the bulb or lens, but I have yellow perspex headlight covers on my bikes, that I can remove at night if I'm out of town on unlit roads. I leave them on at night. Or you could fit additional lights that are yellow

The most effective strategy is not to rely on the driver to see the bike. That means being alert to the locations where vehicles COULD turn in or out (everything from a field gate through a driveway to a side road), then searching those areas for turning or emerging vehicles, whilst approaching at a speed that allows evasive action. And crucially, EXPECT not to be seen - we're then mentally better primed to take evasive action than if we ride around like DayGlo Derek thinking everyone else should see and avoid us. (I've personally stopped for far too many minor collisions to help where the rider says "I had lights and hi-vis on, and the driver SHOULD have seen me". Clearly, the driver didn't.)

The most common FATAL collision at a junction involves an oncoming vehicle turning across your path - vehicles that pull out from the nearside cause most collisions, but the outcome isn't usually fatal... unless the rider is speeding - most fatal collisions in urban areas involve riders travelling over the speed limit - more energy but presumably drivers are taken by surprise by the bike's speed.

Hope that helps!

I should save this as a primer

Cousin Jack wrote: Fri Aug 23, 2024 5:30 pm And 10w is hardly overkill, I have seen some with 4x30w per light.

With LEDs it's not the wattage, it's the lumens output that matters.

The power draw legal limit was based on halogen bulbs, which at the time were the height of technology, and just starting to replace the older incandescent 'glow worm' bulbs.

HIDs and then LEDS drew a lot less power, but were much brighter.

I use them, mainly on fast roads, because I spot motorcycles in the mirror more quickly if they have 2 extra lights. I am hoping it works that way on other drivers/riders.

I know it is marginal, but I am happy to gain a few % on stuff like that.

Welcome in Noob.

Skub wrote: Mon Aug 26, 2024 1:29 pm Welcome in Noob.

Newbie's not logged in since he/she posted.

(Probably done a Pietin and bought a different bike the day after ).

Count Steer wrote: Mon Aug 26, 2024 2:44 pm

Skub wrote: Mon Aug 26, 2024 1:29 pm Welcome in Noob.

Newbie's not logged in since he/she posted.

(Probably done a Pietin and bought a different bike the day after ).

Or maybe didn't get the lights on in time to be seen.

Skub wrote: Mon Aug 26, 2024 3:20 pm

Count Steer wrote: Mon Aug 26, 2024 2:44 pm

Skub wrote: Mon Aug 26, 2024 1:29 pm Welcome in Noob.

Newbie's not logged in since he/she posted.

(Probably done a Pietin and bought a different bike the day after ).

Or maybe didn't get the lights on in time to be seen.

That went dark quite quickly.

In more ways than one.

Cousin Jack wrote: Mon Aug 26, 2024 12:32 pm I use them, mainly on fast roads, because I spot motorcycles in the mirror more quickly if they have 2 extra lights. I am hoping it works that way on other drivers/riders.

I know it is marginal, but I am happy to gain a few % on stuff like that.

And the benefit to you is...??

Ride like you're invisible!

The Spin Doctor wrote: Wed Aug 28, 2024 2:20 pm
Ride like you're invisible!

M-bikes with added lamps often are to me, you have to look away from them to stop having your retinas burned out.

The Spin Doctor wrote: Wed Aug 28, 2024 2:20 pm

Cousin Jack wrote: Mon Aug 26, 2024 12:32 pm I use them, mainly on fast roads, because I spot motorcycles in the mirror more quickly if they have 2 extra lights. I am hoping it works that way on other drivers/riders.

I know it is marginal, but I am happy to gain a few % on stuff like that.

And the benefit to you is...??

Ride like you're invisible!

I try to, but a few extra % I don't actually need that cloak of invisibility.

The Spin Doctor wrote: Wed Aug 28, 2024 2:20 pm Ride like you're invisible!

Ride to make yourself visible

Hi... sorry for not replying / acking these replies.. a few things happened,
1) I didn't put notifications on the post
2) I got knocked of a couple week after the post., I was ok, but the bike was a RO. There was a witness so a total recovery...

But Mainly I was a bit shite at check the site... so sorry to all that replied / contributed

Talking of delays, two years later ...

viewtopic.php?p=29668

Cousin Jack wrote: Mon Aug 26, 2024 12:32 pm I use them, mainly on fast roads, because I spot motorcycles in the mirror more quickly if they have 2 extra lights. I am hoping it works that way on other drivers/riders.

I know it is marginal, but I am happy to gain a few % on stuff like that.

Ahh, the triangle of light!

Taipan wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2026 12:44 pm

Cousin Jack wrote: Mon Aug 26, 2024 12:32 pm I use them, mainly on fast roads, because I spot motorcycles in the mirror more quickly if they have 2 extra lights. I am hoping it works that way on other drivers/riders.

I know it is marginal, but I am happy to gain a few % on stuff like that.

Ahh, the triangle of light!

Join the party!

Horse wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2026 10:29 am viewtopic.php?p=29668