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[zilla]

Was wondering how many of you guys are going to pull the reflectors off of the lower fork sliders and saddle bag crash bars . been kinda up in the air about it. Going to be a long winter probably wont roll out in spring with them on the bike .

[9 1/2 Beers]

Take them off and throw them away, you don't need no stinking badges  

 Mine came off first day home  

 It was a hot day and i just pulled mine off, some people use a hair dyer to heat up the rubber between the reflector and the chrome, some people heat them and use fishline to seasaw the line and cut them without scratching up the chrome.

 Marty

[Harley_Charley]

Some state laws require them along with the rear reflector.

[mjb765]

Mine come off right away....here is an entire thread devoted to this topic.

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=54935.0

[RedDevil]

Conspicuity, Conspicuity, Conspicuity!!  They stay on all my bikes.

[Spiderman]

mine come off and get used on trees on the way into UPTA CAMP from the main highway

B B

[ultrafxr]

I agree that they are ugly but like Red Devil I gotta think they do help other drivers see us at night.  So I'm leaving mine on as I have on my '07.

[grc]

Rather than try to sway those who favor style over function or even safety, I'll just mention that before doing anything rash it would be a good idea to check the laws in your particular location.  In some countries, and some states in the USA, the reflectors are required and are actually checked during annual inspections.  Be a real shame to throw them away and then have to buy new ones and put them back on.  I remember personally sending a rear reflector to a gentleman in Britain to replace the one he threw away, so he could get his bike inspected and the registration renewed.  And when I lived in Virginia, the annual safety inspections checked for the reflectors as well. 


Jerry

[mjb765]

I agree that they are ugly but like Red Devil I gotta think they do help other drivers see us at night.  So I'm leaving mine on as I have on my '07.

Not to start whole big discussion here, but I can't help but wonder if they don't see the reflection off of the chrome lower fork leg, how are they going to see that reflector??

[RedDevil]

Not to start whole big discussion here, but I can't help but wonder if they don't see the reflection off of the chrome lower fork leg, how are they going to see that reflector??

The chrome lowers are a nice shiny part but they are round and therefore refract light that hits them and are not designed to reflect.  The reflectors are flat and are designed to reflect, hence their name, light back at the source.  That's why when you take a picture of your bike and use a flash, the lowers will rarely, if every, produce a "burn mark" on the photo; but the reflectors almost always will.  The different color of the reflectors also indicate direction of travel, so at night an oncoming vehicle seeing orange to the left and red to the right would know that the bike is traveling in a right to left direction, and vice versa.  (you probably can't tell that I teach motorcycle safety, can you.    )  In my humble opinion, and like Jerry stated, it's function over form.  Every little bit helps in being seen.  Now if you've never ridden your motorcycle when it's dark or don't think you'll ever ride your bike when it's dark (which means I'd never be able to ride my bike to work in the morning,  or back during the fall/winter months) then, if law permits, take them off.   

[Gettinold]

I sold all mine to Larry.

[DavidB]

I put chrome lowers on the last bike I bought and ordered the stock reflectors to stick on them. Turning left on a green arrow at night they could save a leg when some clown decides to run straight through . "Well officer I did see a green light but didn`t realise it was the left turn green, thats why I ran the red light and hit the motor cycle broad side.   Then the boy in blue says well it aint all your falt the rider removed all the dot side markers off of his scooter.That black helment, coat ,boots and chaps he just blended into the dark like  a ninja.

Actually witnessed this wreck a couple of weeks back . Biker was from michigan , truck was from  redneck town just south of here.
problem was there were 3 drunks in the cab and four in the bed. they couldnt believe a ford f250 7.3 diesel could run down and stop there POS 1994 mazda truck with one of those hypo fart cans screwed to the tail pipe. 

[Muley]

Give them a little time and they fall off on their own. Which is an omen that you didn't really need them.

[Robmay]

Hey....here's a good picture demonstrating the reflectiveness of the aforementioned reflectors.... 

[Gettinold]

Hey....here's a good picture demonstrating the reflectiveness of the aforementioned reflectors.... 

Wow those look like there led reflectors.