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[Richard230]

Here is a review of an interesting safety device that seems useful: My daughter bought a Brake Free helmet light for my birthday at the recent Northern California Motorcycle Show during a visit to the company's exhibit. It connects to the back of your helmet via a permanent stick-on clip and is easily removable by pulling upward to remove or pushing down to connect. It is completely self-contained and does not need any sort of transmitting device to be connected to the motorcycle as was the case with a similar brake light that was on the market a few years ago. It contains a non-replaceable rechargeable battery that is said to last for 9 hours of operation on a charge. Recharging takes 2-3 hours via a USB port.

The device lights up when you slow down with a large series of 100 red LEDs. It is sensitive enough so that it will flash on at a walking pace and then coming to a stop. You can also purchase two additional helmet clips for $13. You get one clip with the Brake Free light and I was given a package of 2 extra attachment clips. I now have the clips fastened to three of my helmets so that I can move the brake light from one helmet to another. There is a mode button at the top of the Brake Free light, which allows you to turn it on and then cycle through three modes: all LEDs on; all LEDs blinking; and a "stealth" mode with just 16 LEDs when steadily riding but with all 100 LEDs flashing when slowing down, which is the one that I like to use. Pushing the button again will turn the light off for storage or recharging.

The light seems like a good safety device for my type of riding, which can be in heavy fog at times and when slowing down while riding my Zero electric motorcycle and using its regeneration feature, which does not turn on the bike's brake light unless you operate bike's brakes to come to a stop.

If you are interested in checking out this brake light, here is a link to the company's website: brakefreetech.com.

Unfortunately, the device is not cheap. Its price is $170 USD. But I don't think there is anything else like it on the market and it seems to be well made and it does function as claimed.

[Crissa]

https://youtu.be/T7dKqMSVNcI?t=3s

Doodle has a review of it, too.  She kinda sells me on it, in her review, she shows how it works even on foot!  Hah!

https://youtu.be/fkxnnXlXA2U?t=134s


-Crissa

[DonTom]

I have the brake light in my Norland N100-5 Helmet Bluetooth thingy.


I wish I could select a beep for when it is lit.  The way they do it makes it impossible to set the sensitivity in the day time.


-Don-  Cold Springs Valley, NV

[flynnstig82r]

I've had one of these ever since I was rear-ended on my MV Agusta. I don't go anywhere without it, and consider the $170 (which is a significant expenditure for me right now) to be well worth it.

[Richard230]

BTW, I just weighed the Brake Free light on an electronic scale and it weighs exactly 7 ounces, or 198 grams.

[MrMogensen]

Already knowing it might be difficult to find it from an EU shop...

You mention that is is very sensitive (as shown in Doodle's video).
What if I quite fast shift position on the bike. Would it be shortly flashing? Wouldn't be unsafe for me but the guy behind me braking might get rear-ended cause he panic braked due to my flashing helmet?

[Richard230]

Already knowing it might be difficult to find it from an EU shop...

You mention that is is very sensitive (as shown in Doodle's video).
What if I quite fast shift position on the bike. Would it be shortly flashing? Wouldn't be unsafe for me but the guy behind me braking might get rear-ended cause he panic braked due to my flashing helmet?

It will flash if you giggle it when off the helmet and it will flash when you are walking at a normal pace, say 2mph, and then stop suddenly.  I have no idea if it will flash if you adjust your position on your bike, but I wouldn't think so unless you do so violently. But, if that happened it would flash once and then go into stealth mode again, if that is what you had selected. However, one of the other two modes keeps the light on all the time, so that might not be all that much of a surprise to a following vehicle. But if you are really concerned how it would work under a particular condition, you might want to contact the manufacturer and ask them your question.

[MrMogensen]

But if you are really concerned how it would work under a particular condition, you might want to contact the manufacturer and ask them your question.

I might do that. I will check if the product is available in EU. Otherwise I think I might choose to add something on the bike instead.

[Crissa]

You're not responsible if someone panic-brakes because you tapped your brake light, intentionally or not.

-Crissa

[MrMogensen]

I know that whoever is behind me would be responsible but I don't like the possible confusion.


Doesn't EV bikes taillight lit up when regen braking. My Model 3 does this?

[DonTom]

Doesn't EV bikes taillight lit up when regen braking. My Model 3 does this?

Energica=yes. Zero=no.


Energica and Tesla flashes the brake light with regen, stays on steady when you touch the brake.


Perhaps because he Regen on the Zero is so low even at a max setting, they don't bother with it.


But perhaps on the SR/S and SR/F things are different. I don't know about those bikes. Perhaps somebody here with a SR/F or SR/S can chime in.


-Don-  Reno, NV

[Oldun]

I have two of these Brake Free lights - I think they are excellent.

I tested the first one with my beloved following in her car and videoing the back of my head  It lights on braking and not when turning my head or shifting my head position.

A good way to see how it 'triggers' is leaving it on when you're shopping and carrying your helmet by the strap :-)

And since I'm now in the EU for work for 6 months, would be great if you find a local seller - I'll queue to buy another one while I am here.

(I already emailed the manufacturer to ask if they sell through an EU agent but since they are backordered to late August because of WuPox supply chain issues, I doubt they need to).   

Disclaimer: I have no affiliation withe the manufacturer other than buying two of their units in quick succession.

[MrMogensen]

OLDUN => Thanks I will consider it again