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Saddlebag reflective stickers

1.9K views 13 replies 8 participants last post by  Spike F800GT  
#1 ·
Has anyone had any luck finding reflective sticker cut to fit our saddlebags and top case? The ones I would like are the ones that look black during the day, but are pretty bright at night when hit with light. Something like this, although I know several companies make such things: http://www.motoequip.com/RK.htm

I had them on my K1200RS and my VFR800 and people were always commenting on how bright they were. I see where I can buy the sheets and do it myself, but I'd like the pro ones if possible.
 
#5 ·


I don't think any of the home ones are nearly as noticeable as the "pro" versions, and the price really isn't that bad. $50 for the pro ones, using the 3M stuff which from experience, holds up well. And I have to think the install is much easier with them cut ahead of time to the right shape. What is the home made cost $15-25 for the same area coverage?
 
#10 ·
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I don't think any of the home ones are nearly as noticeable as the "pro" versions, and the price really isn't that bad. $50 for the pro ones, using the 3M stuff which from experience, holds up well. And I have to think the install is much easier with them cut ahead of time to the right shape. What is the home made cost $15-25 for the same area coverage?
My homemade reflective job cost maybe $5 at most and took at most 5 minutes to apply after cleaning the had bag surface. I used black reflective tape and have great visibility in the dark. Use what you like, as will I being a cheap bastard.
 
#9 ·
Many years ago I purchased rolls of 3M retro-reflective sheeting in many colors, including black. I made paper templates of the rear of the hard cases of my K100RS (later on I did my K11RS.) I applied my cut outs with a bubble chaser squeegee and an exacto knife. I had these reflectors for YEARS on the K bikes zero problems.
When I purchased my F800GT two years ago I got my rolls out and discovered the meaning of "shelf life", a little research and I learned 3M stated a shelf life of eight years for that product. A friend of mine sells safety and signage supplies, through him I purchased a roll of black colored sheeting (3M states the shelf life of this product at two years.) Again I made my paper templates, these newer bags are certainly more curvaceous than the old K bags. Decoded this means cutting the templates, installing the sheeting and triming were a right PIA. I would recommend purchasing precut pieces. However, having more than just the precut pieces I also covered the sides of the bags and am still considering covering the belt guard and the bottom of the bags as this area is also visible to motorists from the side and behind. I also removed the rear fender and completely covered it in this sheeting.
 
#11 ·
I saw this the other day which might be worth it

 
#13 ·
Streetglo makes reflective tape for motorcycles. They have a Magic Black colour that looks totally black till you put some light on it. They also have a whole range of other colours to pick from.

On each of my previous bikes, I bought some of their tape in a 1/4 inch thickness that I used like pin-striping. People usually didn't see it till I pointed it out to them in the daylight, and then they thought it was a factory pin-striping job. All I did was to follow the lines of the bike with an eye to what surfaces would be vertical and exposed to headlights the best.

Chris