Reflective bands (helmet and wrist/ankle) and bookbag covers

[metallimonster]

So I like to ride at night and haven't in awhile because I get nervous about people seeing me in all black leathers and dark bike.  I would get a vest but I almost always have a bookbag on and it would be useless from the back.

Anyone use the helmet halo? 

Suggestions on reflective bag covers and maybe wrist/ankel bands?

I think with a bag cover, helmet halo, the bands and some reflective tape on the top of my jacket I should be good?

Thoughts?

[DesmoDiva]

I have the helmet Halo thingy.

Seems to work pretty good from what others have told me.

I also picked up a roll of 3M relflective tape at my local auto parts store.  I can cut it and put it where ever I want it.

You should be able to find relflective ankle/arm bands at a local bike shop. 

for safe  [moto]

[ducwrx]

I've used the helmet halo. It's incredibly bright! Only bad thing is that it's  not really that elastic and isn't meant to be taken off and put back on every time.

[Slide Panda]

I have a Halo that I just leave on my helmet all the time. I remembered seeing a guy with one when I was in high school (Class of '95 to give you a scale) and being impressed at how reflective it was. Made enough impression for me to remember it 10 years later.

Aerostitch sells rolls of the 3M SOLAS tape - it's the same hexagonal stuff you see on traffic barrels. It's got a decent amount of stretch to it, so I've applied it to the heels of my boots below the heel cup. The SOLAS is about the most reflective material one can easily get right now.

They, and some other places like TapeWorks sell reflective tapes in various colors, including black. I know tape works sells just about every color in reflective, including a version that's Italian tricolore if you want so extra flash.

I had black reflective wheel tapes on my dark 620. They were near invisible in daylight, but reflected quite nicely after dark.   Someone on the board with a black frame put some big swaths of the black tape on the frame of their 696. Again, couldn't spot it in the day photos, but it sure did show in a flash photo after dark.

I 'blacked out' my headlight support tabs with that same black reflective stuff. Haven't bothered to photo it with a flash, but I figure any little bit helps. Also *in theory* it gives my front turn signals a little more presence from the side that the light disbursing matte aluminum of the the tabs in stock trim.

I picked up the idea of using some of the nite ize items from Ducati Culture
http://www.niteize.com/collections/led
- I've got one of the clip-n markers attached to the small pocket zipper on my Kreiga R-25. The nite ize items are nice as they are passively reflective, or you can switch on a small LED illuminator. That LED can be set to glow solid or flash. They have a number of sizes and shapes  - so you can probably find something in there.

Hope that helps.

[Raux]

the military makes all riders wear a reflective vest or belt (although i heard the belt isn't enough anymore). I just wish i could find a white one. tired or yellow or orange only as options for these things. the only white one i've seen is a Harley logo one.

[Slide Panda]

While in the bicycle shop the other day I spotted 'ankle biters'

http://www.bicycleeverything.com/products/Aardvark-Ankle-Biters-Reflective-Leg-Band.html

Also, I found that TapeWorks sells any of their vinyl in 14" wide bulk, by the foot. So if you order 3 feet, you get a 14" x 36" sheet. This includes any of their reflective colors. I'm in the process of doing up my helmet with the narrow wide narrow stripe set over the middle in the white reflective. If you opt to follow suit - I'd suggest no wider than 5cm for the wide stripe, or it's  about impossible to get it to lay flat. over the dome at the top of the helemt.
http://www.tapeworks.com/ColorChart/ColorChartfr1.html

[Markus]

I have a set of Applied Graphics helmet decals on my all-black Schuberth. The decals shine very bright when headlights are on them but are basically invisible in the daylight. They come in precut shapes so you can mix and match them to best suit a helmet's design:

http://www.reflectivedecals.com/moto.htm

[Spidey]

I used to use the helmet halo.  I just kept having a problem that they'd start to come off as they got old.  That said, they're pretty bright and I like that you can get them in grey so they don't stand out when it's daytime.

My messenger bag has a giant reflective stip as do the lower legs of my stich pants so I'm decently covered.  And when I wear my disco ball helmet, you notice it, even at night.  I have plans to--but have not yet--to write make the beast with two backs OFF in reflective tape on one of my older commuting helmets.  Yes, it's immature and cheesy, but I wanna do it and just haven't gotten around to it. 

The key thing is to have reflective stuff high up -- helmet and shoulders.  It'll stand out more than way.  As for your backpack/bag, just cover it in some reflective tape (or write a little message to those behind you  ) and you'll be fine. 

[Slide Panda]

I used to use the helmet halo.  I just kept having a problem that they'd start to come off as they got old.  That said, they're pretty bright and I like that you can get them in grey so they don't stand out when it's daytime.

Yeah, that halo fatigue is why I busted out the decals. My most recent one started blowing free at speeds the other weekend, no so much fun.

[Meerkat]

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/4/71/27830/ITEM/Ogio-Pack-Pelt.aspx

Here's a bag cover I found browsing around...$20 can't be beat.

[Raux]

day/night photos of this setup?

[okpanic]

i commute every morning before sun up. i got one of those reflective vests and i just wrap it around my ogio bag and pull the straps thru the arm holes in the vest. cheap vest and easy to remove once the sun comes up.

[Slide Panda]

Well there's always Kriega packs. They have large refflective panels on the backs and pretty big ones on the front too

[Lor]

Well it's not a reflective band, but this provides excellent additional visibility at night for your helmet.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250318198532&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

[redxblack]

I bought a joe rocket with a dorky graphic on clearance and wanted to make it more visible. I bought some red and white reflective tape (marketed for boats and buoys) at harbor freight for $5. I used less than 1/4 of the roll making stripes and a couple Ducati D's. That said, I'm fully expecting comments on the couch and Russ Meyer poster.