Safety Bike Tail Light with Directional Signals

Question

I am a urban rider that I ride locally on a regular basis but I am always concerned about fighting with cars on the streets.

When I traveled aboard last year I ran into a manufacturer who has a tail lamp that has some unique safety features including: 1) Light-sensing hazard light that comes on when it detects dark surroundings (like going through a tunnel) ; 2) motion-sening break light that comes on when it detects deceleration ; 3) left/right/hazard signal lights that can be controlled by radio frequency using a control panel mounted to the handle bar.

This tail lamp I thought was perfect to tackle safety concerns of riding in the city streets. I currently have one that I installed on my bike and I am thinking of importing this product into the country to try to offer other cyclist who may have the same safety concern I had. However, this tail lamp is rather costly compared to what you can find on amazon or ebay these days. Its MSRP is about $90 - $100 per.

So I am posting to seek opinion/advise if anyone think this tail lamp would be worth the investment before I decide to take the plunge to import bulk quantities. Any advise is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Answer 1

All this is very much depends on how good you are as a salesman. Very good salesman can sell sand in a desert and make good living.

I'm not sure what market you are talking about, but in UK you can get very different price range for the lights, top models priced at £144 ($227). And I have seen these lights used on the streets.

So $90 makes it costly for most of the people, but certainly you would find your customers who would want the set of features you are talking about.

Answer 2

I know I wouldn't pay $100 for a rear facing light - Most fatal accidents arrive from the front.

All those extra things don't seem useful to me. They are just additional things to break and/or not work as I expect them to work.

The only thing I really care about in a rear light is brightness and beam shape.

If you are worried about cars recognising that you are signalling to turn get a bright helmet mounted light.

Answer 3

I'm afraid that while I am very focused on safety I wouldn't pay anywhere near that. I am more concerned with bright front and back lights and wheel lights for side visibility.

I'm less concerned with a light for signalling as with visibility.

Answer 4

You get much better visibility from blinking/ flashing lights. Steady lights tend to fade into the overall background "noise" of other lights at night. Where as a flashing light makes you much more visible. I would say spend $50 on a good bright set of lights that flash, like these http://ecom1.planetbike.com/3040.html. The turn signals (hand signal) and brake light seem like over kill to me.