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Bike to Bike signalling? Bike to Bike signalling?
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Communications Connecting - internet cafes, laptops, smart phones - how to connect, use, which one, and intercom/radio systems.
Photo by Sean Howman, The Pamir highway in an unseasonably cold late October, Tajikistan

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Sean Howman,
The Pamir highway in an unseasonably
cold late October, Tajikistan



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  #1  
Old 5 Feb 2008
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Bike to Bike signalling?
I'm looking for some way to allow the Mrs (who's is always riding behind me) to signal me to stop. We used to turn the head light off on the old bikes. But we don't have this option on the current bikes.

I was thinking of a flashing light on my dash or something that she can initiate by pressing a button. Is anything like this even available?
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Old 5 Feb 2008
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i think you should patent that idea. seriously, i never even thought of that haha.
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Old 5 Feb 2008
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What? Ray.... you never thought of a wife pushing her husband's button? I would have thought it was quite common!

Not sure about the flashing light on the dash....sounds a bit 1960's Batman/ Getsmart. Do a search here on the HUBB for radios, there's a few threads here about the topic. That way you can warn her of dangers, route changes/upcoming corners etc.
Also see this thread;

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...hese-any-32325
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Old 5 Feb 2008
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Fit A Switch
I fitted a switch to my V-Strom to switch off the head light because I used to have problems when aproaching police and guard check points here in Saudi.
You can get a waterproof switch from a boat yard.
Cheers
Ian
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  #5  
Old 5 Feb 2008
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I would recommend bike to bike communication. It make riding together much easier and takes the stress out of some situations.

The only down side is cost, having tried the cheap and cheerful route, save yourself some money and get a good system first.

We use Autocom with a Kenwood radio and it works well runs 12 volt from the bike.

Steve
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  #6  
Old 5 Feb 2008
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Would recommend the bike to bike comms when you're travelling, but when we're just out for a local ride, the hubby make me ride in front - he says the view is better .
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Old 5 Feb 2008
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I have a pair of fairly cheap ( about £35 think from argos) walki talkies. All you need to do is strap them to your tanks, and use the press to call button for teh bell to ring. then stop and sort it out. they have about 3KM range.
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Old 6 Feb 2008
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Wink Who needs electronics
Quote:
Originally Posted by oldbmw View Post
I have a pair of fairly cheap ( about £35 think from argos) walki talkies. All you need to do is strap them to your tanks, and use the press to call button for teh bell to ring. then stop and sort it out. they have about 3KM range.

Funny old thing, but you got me thinking about the various ways this issue has resolved itself for me over the years.
A frantic wave of the left arm has been known to work OK but the most effective is that your Mrs simply comes to a halt and waits for you to realise; the option then is that you turn around, or she starts off again and catchs you up, now that you are stopped of course.
Undoubtedly this assumes that you are making good use of your mirrors and are cooperating fully - in effect the rider at the back is controlling the rate of progress.

Warning: lack of full understanding and agreement about such things can lead to serious disagreements!

I would think that each time you get a new wife it could lead to mis-understandings as well.
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Old 6 Feb 2008
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We did try bike to bike communications, but found it un-workable. We couldn't hear each other with all the wind going through the helmet and just all the wires gave me the shits.

She does the frantic waiving, but I don't think this is very safe. The stopping method is unfavourable with her as she freaks out with that one. Plus I would have had the freak outs myself thinking that she had a massive come off. Which in one case in Far Eastern Russia was actually the case. Her getting hit by an overtaking car ended the trip. Hence the search for something subtle.

Are there any UHF radios that having flashing LED's when someone is calling?
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Old 6 Feb 2008
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Tmotten;

I have a pair of Uniden walkie talkie that they have a "page" function - like OLDBMW was saying it bleeps and the display flashes 1/2 dozen times - might be the trick? Also what brand of radios did you use (that didn't work?)
There were some comments here about some being fine up to about 50mph - so ideal for the city / built up areas where loss of line of sight is more likely?
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  #11  
Old 6 Feb 2008
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back to basics...
what's wrong with a couple of cheeky beeps on the horn to get your attention in the mirror, followed by one of the following:
i) left arm up and down to stop
ii) point at tank for fuel
iii) point at mouth for food/drink
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Old 6 Feb 2008
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She rides too far for me to hear the horn and I've got a Stebel.

I'll look into those unidens. I've used Motorola's before with the full monty push to talk button.
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Old 6 Feb 2008
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A long piece of string?

But more seriously, surely even the cheapest walkie talkie would be fine? They all seem to have a squawk function (I think that's the word) that you should be able to hear, and while you might not be able to hear speech through it above 50 it'll draw your attention and make you slow down or stop, and then you can hear.
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Old 6 Feb 2008
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And if you have too much money.....
Garmin Rhino...... Get a pair of these walkie talkies/ GPS. When you transmit / Push to talk - it gives the other person your location. They are a fraction cheaper than a set of Titanium wheels..... but not much cheaper!
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'99 R1100GS - In a suitable shade of black

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Old 6 Feb 2008
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Radio's
I use these radio's with my mate when we go on trips, speech is audible up to 100mph and probably over. PTT fitted to the bars hasnt got loads of wires dangling, good battery life as well.

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