Being seen on the road is something pretty important to us motorcyclists, especially when commuting. Most hi-vis gear still leaves a lot to be desired in the fashion department but can be one of our best lines of defense out on the open road. There are other options out there like headlight modulators, auxiliary running lights and so on but let’s face it, we’re still pretty invisible to cagers.
I was pretty impressed when I first saw the new technology that Los Angeles-based start up Lumenus has created, and even more impressed when I learned about how the products work. They’ve created fashion-conscious jackets, vests, and backpacks and more integrated with smart LEDs that automate turn signals, brake lights, & strobe through intersections making you more visible. The gear is not just applicable for motorcyclists; runners, cyclists, and pedestrians can all benefit from being seen more readily.
Lumenus gear synchs with Google Maps so it essentially knows where you’re going and when you should be turning, automatically engaging turn signals in an amber color. You can control the color and behavior of the lights through their app via Bluetooth. The gear can also determine when you’re decelerating and deploys brake lights, or flash lights when going through intersections. Some pretty trick stuff right there…
Having personally been catapulted over the handlebars of my Ducati last year in traffic and having been run off the road on my Triumph by a sketchy van a few years before that, my wife is more than hounding me to wear nothing but neon and reflectors every day. I’m stoked to see there’s an alternative out there and can’t wait to see what the future holds for Lumenus. I could see a full range of moto-specific gear down the line with all sorts of cool features smartly packed in.
They’re on Kickstarter now. Go to their project here, back them up and let’s get this project off the ground!
Lumenus: Web | Facebook | Instagram | Kickstarter
