Reflective Tape Help, Please

ukfan4sure!

ukfan4sure!

Joined
May 30, 2022
Messages
12
Age
63
Location
Louisville, KY 40214, USA
Excuse me for being so ignorant on a fairly simple question, but what is the brand of reflective tape that is invisible except when hit with headlights? I want everyone to see me, but I loathe the thought of my bike looking like the rear of a utilities truck with all of the red/white/yellow reflective tape on it. I cringe at the thought.

Thanks!
 
You want "retro-reflective" - companies such as 3M manufacture it.
 
Find a small sign shop, most have reflective vinyl they can cut for you, may have "drop" pieces you can get cheap. You can get reflective in a bunch of colors, let it blend in daytime, glow at night 20220604_215357.jpg20220604_215343.jpg
 
You can buy reflective tape in various colours and widths. I usually buy mine in the same colour as the bike. In the daylight, it doesn't show up hardly at all, but catch it in the light and it looks like pin-striping. And of course at night, it really shows up.

Chris
 
Actually it is a very good question and I'd like to tailgate to include my unicorn tape search.
I want to defend the right side saddlebag from passenger boots. I'd love to find genuinely flexible (stretchy) tape about 6" wide. Then add in reflective and the color white.
I have a police bike and it is too late for clear. Naturally, I'd do the left side, too.
Pin stripping tape is flexible, reflective and any color. So I think what I want is pin stripping before it gets cut to 1/8th", etc. I've found flexi and I've found reflective but not at once in 6"-7" width.
 
Geez, I didn't even know there was an "invisible" reflective tape, I would have looked into that too. Maybe I'll change out the giant orange triangle off the back of my bike :shrug2:
 
The product you want to by is called 3M™ Scotchlite™ Reflective Graphic Film 680. That link takes you to the 3M Canada website, but the same product is sold in the USA & worldwide.

The 680 film is available in many different colours. I have always used black, which appears black in daylight but reflects brilliant white at night. The film is also available in different roll sizes - about 15 inches wide for tractor-feed film cutters, 36 inches wide for other applications. It is not expensive, enough to fully cover saddlebags, etc. will likely cost you about $20. The easiest place to get it is from a local sign shop, although if the sign shop doesn't have it in stock, look for a distributor who supplies sign shops.

The big advantage of using the 680 spec film is that if you apply a LITTLE BIT of heat to it, using a hair dryer (not a heat gun), the film becomes very flexible and you can easily wrap it around compound curves to achieve a very professional looking installation. To prepare the surfaces for film application, wash the motorcycle with your usual detergent & water, then lightly wipe the surfaces you will be applying the film to with rubbing alcohol to remove any contamination that might remain on the surface.

See this post: Reflective Tape Ideas? for a picture of what the 680 film looks like on my ST 1100, both daylight and night photos. This post: ST1100 Front Fork Paint shows additional photos, including a photo showing how to apply the film. This post: Painting wheels and fork legs shows the same film on the front forks of my ST 1300.

Michael
 
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I took the less is more strategy. I purchased a couple 3M rolls of tape, one of 1/4" and one of 1/2" roll of 50 ft. 3M Scotchlite is weatherized, fade resistant, etc, etc, etc. This is the 2nd bike and 3rd helmet I've "pin-striped" with them. The key is to not pull the tape tight. You want to lay it on the surface (straight if possible).

In shop with the lights on and in shop with the flash of the camera.

reflect1.jpg

From the back:
20200920_200342.jpg

At night I can pop my fanny over to one side of the seat and tilt the bike while going straight and if a guy behind me is drunk... he'll change lanes. Then I know to watch out.

reflect2.jpg

www.reflectivelyyours.com

Large Rolls | Reflective Tape

www.reflectivelyyours.com www.reflectivelyyours.com
 
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I would like to thank everyone for their input and suggestions. For some reason, I wasn't getting notifications of replies in my email like I thought I would and hadn't checked the thread until just now. The photos shown are exactly what I was looking for. The prior owner to me had put the red and white reflective tape on the rear of my bike on the back fender and on both saddlebags. It looks like a dump truck and I hate it. You all have demonstrated the look I am going for in the photos, each of you. Thanks for the links and suggestions! I really find this group helpful, especially to a newbie! I am finding the demographic that rides our bikes is the same age group as me. That might be why I see less bravado and chest puffing? It is refreshing compared to some of the sport bike groups I've been a part of (riding the Suzuki SV650 twin). Thanks again to all!
 
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CYYJ said:
The product you want to by is called 3M™ Scotchlite™ Reflective Graphic Film 680. That link takes you to the 3M Canada website, but the same product is sold in the USA & worldwide.
....
The 680 film is available in many different colours. ...
Michael
Click to expand...
Thanks for such a thorough answer.
3M is always my first stop as I search for various supplies but it is SO HUGE ...
You saved me a lot of time and avoid more clutter of stuff I bought that wasn't right but I can't bring myself to toss out.;)
 
While the inconspicuous nature of the clear tape may be preferable to some, there is something to be said for protection against a rear end collision during daylight hours too, which is when most of us do most of our riding. A dark coloured bike stands a better chance of being noticed from the rear in this case, especially if the tail light is rather small.

Bike_Plate_Blur_3.jpg
 
I have pics of mine somewhere, but basically mine is only red with clear gaps, forming a chevron pattern on the back of the panniers.

ukfan4sure! said:
It is refreshing compared to some of the sport bike groups I've been a part of
Click to expand...
I'm curious, ever a member of "The Org?" If you know, you know, and if you don't, well the answer is no.
 
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