Bikes with good blind spot visibility

[LowTread]

Morning

Had lots of bikes over the years. Currently a K1300S in the garage.

In a bit of a stty situation. I went blind i my right eye suddenly last summer. All happened in about 24 hrs from seeing odd things to nothing at all. Trip to A&E with blackness in one corner, then while waiting in A&E it pulled across like a blackout curtain.

Detached retina.

Surgery a few days later. Horrible ordeal. Waiting on a 2nd op that might yield some vision, but surgeon isn't hopeful.

I'm driving no problem. 20:20 in left eye. Monocular vision isn't a disability or even a reportable condition to the DVLA. The brain is an amazing thing. Depth perception is fine while moving and i adapted after a few weeks. I've bought a Tesla as my daily drive now because i find the cameras, blind spot monitoring, etc a useful back up.

The K13 went to a mate's house while we moved house last autumn. I rode it a few miles home in Feb and loved being back in the saddle, but the lack of over the right shoulder visibility for a shoulder check was a worry.

I used to commute by bike all year round but wouldn't want to without shoulder checks on dual carriageways.

So

A) hang up my lid
B) stick to local back roads and minimise situations requiring a good blindspot check to my right. Ride defensively. Not sure how easy or safe this would be.
C) look at bikes with either amazing mirrors BMW RT, Kawasaki GTR, etc, or ones with blind spot monitoring. Do high end BMWs have that? Or retrofit something??

Thoughts welcome.

I'm not after sympathy. I've come to terms with it now. Just after practical advice. If that's "don't ride" then that's fine.

Edited by LowTread on Thursday 25th April 06:16

Edited by LowTread on Thursday 25th April 06:18

[trickywoo]

H2SX has it.

Loads of aftermarket options too. Reviews on the face of it seem good.

[LowTread]

trickywoo said:

H2SX has it.

Loads of aftermarket options too. Reviews on the face of it seem good.

Reeeeeally?? Ooh i didn't know that. H2SX was on the list before all of this happened.

Off to autotrader...

Looks like new models only. £16.5k. Bit steep, but if it gets me riding again maybe that's ok, or put it on finance.

Thanks v much!

Edited by LowTread on Thursday 25th April 06:31

[trickywoo]

It’s new to bikes so will hopefully trickle down.

I think multistrada, tiger and KTM adventure have it on the high end models. May be a bit cheaper than the H2.

[Donbot]

[black-k1]

LowTread said:

trickywoo said:

H2SX has it.

Loads of aftermarket options too. Reviews on the face of it seem good.

Reeeeeally?? Ooh i didn't know that. H2SX was on the list before all of this happened.

Off to autotrader...

Looks like new models only. £16.5k. Bit steep, but if it gets me riding again maybe that's ok, or put it on finance.

Thanks v much!

The '22 on H2SXSE has it and, as a former K1300S owner (2 of them) I can say that everything that was good on the K1300S (and there was a lot!) is better on the H2 SX, with the exception of long distance seat comfort.

I'm not sure if the standard SX has it but I know the SE has.

I'm just getting used to the blind spot detection on mine. It wasn't on the pre '22 bikes. It's pretty good in that the warning triangle comes on just before you lose the vehicle from your mirror then goes off after it's arrived in a position slightly in front of the bike, so very few false alarms.



ETA The new price of a 2009 K1300S with ABS (no other extras) was £11,060. If you use RPI, that's the same as £19,822 in March '23 VAT in 2009 was 15% so 5% of any "price increase" goes directly to HMRC. I know it still comes out of the buyers pocket but it's not as a result of a manufacturers or general market increase.

Edited by black-k1 on Thursday 25th April 07:56

[LowTread]

Donbot said:

[croyde]

Horrible situation mate. Hope that things get back to normal.

The higher end Triumph Explorer 1200s had blind spot detection a couple of years ago.

Not suggestion that Lambretta above but maybe extra rearview mirrors for a simpler solution.

[trumpet1608]

Have you considered a rear facing camera which if suitable could be fitted to your current bike. See link below

https://www.4kam.com/bikeeye_wireless_rear_view_ca...

Or maybe a aftermarket radar system like this.

https://innovv.co.uk/shop/motorcycle-radar-system/...

Hope this helps

Dick

Edited by trumpet1608 on Thursday 25th April 08:57

[squishy]

Suzuki V-Strom - big paddle mirrors that reduces a lot blindspots. Horrible for aerodynamics and wind noise, but good rear visibility. Also big enough to stick on a couple of convex blind spot mirrors strategically if required.

[carinaman]

Donbot said:

I thought that was a Golf Mk1 in the background, but now wonder if it's a Marina van.


OP, fair play on getting a Tesla for the cameras.

[PurpleTurtle]

Sorry to hear this, must make a huge amount of difference to your riding experience.

I have never ridden one, but am considering a Kawasaki K1400 GTR as my next bike - I like the idea of a big comfy cruiser with lots of weather protection.

In several reviews I have read they are often rated for their excellent (car like size) mirrors, which may help?

Would a decent dashcam help, something like this? You could mount on the left handlebar for vision with your good eye, with the rearward facing camera covering the area over your right shoulder that you would normally look into for your lifesaver?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08CGL7DX6

Good luck. Deffo don't give up riding!

Edited by PurpleTurtle on Thursday 25th April 10:52

[KTMsm]

Loads of cheap cameras and monitors on ebay - shouldn't be an issue to retro fit one to any bike

[LowTread]

Thanks chaps. Some good options.

[pcn1]

I test rode a V4 multi with blind spot detection last week, at the time I rode off I didn't know it was fitted.
I heard of this tech, but never thought of it as useful or something I must have.

Within 1 mile of leaving the dealer I noticed this ambler light flashing on the RHS mirror. So at this point I was looking in the mirror.
I thought it was the indicator so started looking for the indicator cancel button.
Anyway suddenly my mate popped into view in the mirror on his bike. He had been in a "blind spot" and the system detected him.
It also warned me a few times on the motorway.
So yes the tech works well, and if you feel this would make you safer on the bike, I'd say go for it.

[LowTread]

After 20 years of riding, commuting in all weathers for about half of that, it feels alien to want more rider aids.

But needs must.

Will get over to Peterborough next week when i'm passing to sit on an H2 SX.

If that doesn't feel good then i'll look at aftermarket stuff. TBH the K13 is so good i'm reluctant to spend that + £10k on a bike i'd probably hardly use. But, new-shiny-thing-syndrome may take hold

[Caddyshack]

BMW GS1300 has blindspot recognition if you tick the rear radar option.

The V4 multistrada Ducatis also have it. The Mirrors are also excellent. The lights are also better than on any car I have ever driven.

[CT25]

There is a product called ‘Riderscan’, which is essentially a rectangular convex mirror that you mount somewhere in the middle of the bike. If that doesn’t give you quite enough coverage (never used one so not sure), you could mount it angled to the side slightly to get the vision you need.

I’m sure there will be reviews on YT.

[LowTread]

Thanks for that. Big mirror mounted up in front. What a great (and simple) solution. Cheers

[Panclan]

https://www.chigee.com/products/aio5-lite is a camera/navigation system with blind spot monitoring