Motorcycle safety features that will keep you alive

Rider modes, ABS, Traction control and more... this is a chat about some of the many features that are available on modern motorcycles that help to keep riders alive on public roads and trails.

The bike used as an example is the 2024 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro.

[mikemerrill]

Biggest single motorcycle safety item I’ve invested in has been continuous rider training for………..me!

[Kislay_Joshi]

2 bits on my motorcycle that I think enhance safety, :
1) Reflective strips on the outside edges of my hard panniers so that traffic from the front and back may judge the full extent of my vehicle
2) Adding yellow filters to my aux lights for foggy conditions. It’s mind blowing how much of a difference the color makes

[tomscholtes]

Thanks for your video. I'd like to mention that we should not only concentrate on our bike but also take an objective look on ourself. Physical fitness is in my humble opinion also a major safety supplement. Maybe you could make a video about the essentials fitness needs for a safe (off-road) biker?

[pjpace]

I rewired the horn to go when the headlights turn on - if loud pipes save lives, always-on horns are next level!

[wyattgoacher]

Changing my windshield to avoid buffeting. When going on long rides this makes focusing on important things much more difficult

[orangelion]

Tire Pressure Monitoring system.
2021 RP black/white owner here. I like the subtle styling changes to the 24, and really like the gray/black /red color scheme.

[davidherringgo]

Thanks for this trip through current safety features on today's bikes. My biggest safety add on was putting pivot pegs on my bike . Almost impossible to slip off, which gives more confidence while riding. Also adding 4 Clearwater lights upfront. Rode for years regular one headlight standard one light upfront, and now I can tell a noticeable difference with cars interactions with me as I approach intersections .

[multistrada]

I purchased a 2024 K1600GTL with 160 bhp on tap. Traction control means that power is fully available at all times in all conditions. It’s amazingly good and helps me ride with confidence

[kevinfergerson]

Great comments, Bret. On the road, visibility is paramount! Although black looks cool, it contributes to the invisibility of the motorcycle and rider. Visible colors, reflective tape, and lights assist in others seeing you!

[splintergg]

I understand now why BMW and other brands have asymmetric headlights.. A few years back a work mate of mine was riding home from work late, it was dark and had his headlights on. His bike had two round headlighs as some older bikes do. Very unfortunately for him a car doing a U-turn saw these two headlights and mistook him for a car in the distance not a motorcycle 50metres away, the outcome was catastrophic and life changing, he was lucky to survive but unable to ever ride a bike again. You are very right Brett when you say headlights are a safety item, in more ways than one, asymmetric headlights are a life saver too.

[shaikhmimran]

Please do a video on physical fitness for motorcycling. And anything special that motorcyclists should do to develop strength in some areas. Thank you.

[bobholley]

Just told the wife I need to order a heated seat for my Tiger. Safety Great vid!

[chaseweeks]

One of the biggest things I've started doing, not only to my bike, but also my helmet (even my bicycle and bicycle helmet) is adding some strips of color matched retro-reflective tape to the sides and rear. I bought a 25ft roll of very black retroreflective tape and added 3 strips to the front cowling, on my rear crate, and dotted around my helmet in black areas. Unless you're shining a light directly at it (like a headlight) you're not going to notice the additions. But they really pop at night.

[mihamoto]

Tubeless tyres, even on adventure bikes is a great safety feature. Keep up the good work,
Cheers, V.

[michaelkirby]

Great points Brett thank you so much for your effort and thought that you put into your video. So much knowledge 😊

[pcdglfe]

Hi Bret. Good video. My 1250GS has excellent safety features that I am glad to have, but I think the best safety feature remains frequent high quality training. I managed five days last year including two with you and two MSF classes. Nothing has helped me more as an aging rider.

As to your video, I especially liked the comments that I took as a caution about "over-lighting" your bike, something which my fellow GS riders seem especially prone to. It's sort of the BMW equivalent of loud pipes save lives. Yes, some added lighting is probably helpful to a point but so many riders overdo this, which I find annoying and a distraction both as a rider and a driver. The friend I ride with most, and who is usually behind me, has such bright lights on his bike and so many of them that I find it a constant distraction when riding with him. And I notice that his setup sort of spooks drivers ahead of us, sometimes causing them to make dangerous maneuvers to get out of our way. My guess is that they think there is some sort of emergency vehicle behind them. We need to strike a balance between being visible but not annoying.

Terry Burnes

[Fsince]

Properly adjusted mirrors, handlebars and brake lever/pedal. If you have to find them to use them, you’re in trouble.

[UncannySense]

I step into my garage and look at my 1981 XL185 with no computers and drum brakes....Yeah this video isn't intended for me.

[jude.v]

I switched to yellow lenses on my Deni's D4's... I have noticed that driver's seem look at me longer, even in daylight. The yellow lenses attract attention, which is good when it comes to automobile drivers.

[DutchLessonsByThomas]

Okay so here's my addition: In the Netherlands, Oskam Engineering is selling lighted motorcycle emblems. I've got these on my BMW R1250GS, and they are lit white when riding, and Flash orange when indicating, obviously only on the side you're indicating. This greatly helps increase your visibility straight to the side, when for instance you're changing lanes on the highway in the dark.
Also they look awesome.
Also I always ride with the "offroad" footpegs, they have an aggressive pattern of small Pins, nearly impossible to slide off of.
BTW, all the features Bret highlighted on this very nice Triumph, My BMW has had as standard (apart from heated seats and grips, those are options) since 2019. BMW has had the linked braking system for decades, but it's gotten really good nowadays.