“For those of you who are…. Overly safety oriented..” Nice save, Spurge… lol That’s a very professional way of saying ‘Safety Dorks’ and you totally nailed it! Now… this safety dork absolutely needs one of those because I ride primarily at night. I want one! I like to be alive!
I used this on a 1600 mile ride in September with several hours in heavy rain. No issues and charge easily lasted 10 hours. Drivers often comment that it makes me more visible.
Hey! Is it also not blinking all the time when you accelerate a bit and just let it roll, accelerate again and let it roll and so on? Or is it just braking when you definitely slowing down remarkably? Hope you understand my question.
I was riding during the day and another biker passed me and he had one on his helmet and it was bright and very noticeable. That's why I'm here, got to get one.
I've had mine for 3 years and no issues yet. I'm a daily rider and usually got 2 weeks between charges. I've road in the rain (heavy rain) and from 30 to 110 degrees weather and still works like a charm.
I can think of at least one situation where this could be really useful. Most bikes these days recess their brake lights up under the seat. If you put a top box on it, the brake light will effectively disappear for people driving taller vehicles behind you. This could be a useful substitute.
This is the main reason I went with a side case instead of a top case, I had no confidence that anyone in a full-size truck or taller would still see my brake light under it.
I've had this for the past 2 years and use it every time I ride. The amount of added attention from cars is very noticeable day or night. I've done a 20 hour ride and it worked flawlessly with no issues even in cold and rain. The weight is negligible. It's really a great device especially riding in groups...it keeps riders aware and not bunched up.
@@ThePowerMoves they’re probably more referring to the weight felt when wearing the helmet. Wouldn’t want to feel significant weight at the back or it might start to cause some neck problems and overall discomfort.
I got one of these back in the spring. My bike kept blowing a fuse that was disabling all of my indicators, including my brake light. I'd been seeing ads for the Brake Free and got one immediately in case it happened again. I've had 2 or 3 complete strangers comment on the light since then. It definitely provides good peace of mind for safety in traffic.
Never understood why other MC riders haze people wanting more visibility on the road. Whether it’s wearing bright green/yellow or extra illumination like this light. Being SEEN is better than being DEAD. Period… Harley and sport bike riders need to grow up.
While I agree with the start of this post, something about "not understanding hazing" and then just grouping harley and sportbike riders together and telling them to grow up that dulls the tip of the spear. But maybe thats just me as a sportbike rider that wears hiviz and has lights on his bike?
Own it and bought extra mounts for multiple helmets. It has worked flawlessly in all weather conditions. I've gotten positive comments from drivers when they pull up at traffic lights that they were able to see me quicker when I was braking. All in all, it is worth the price and feel that it was a good investment.
@@Jimmy_Cavallo Once your are fully stopped with no motion the lights go back into standy mode. If you move your head while stopped they will light up again.
@@CorgiDaddy Thank you for the reply. I’m always nervous when I’m stopped at a light so it’s important for me to have a light that stays bright like the brake light does. Us riders or so vulnerable when we are completely stopped to approaching motorists behind us.
I like mine and have had numerous compliments/questions from drivers and other people in general. Definitely just gives a bit more peace of mind on the visibility front.
So it shows if you are decelerating even without using the brakes like with engine braking,downshifting etc. It can be in some cases even better than the bikes brake light.
I usually ride a bike from 1998, it’s got a whopping one brake light on the rear and it’s about as bright as you’d expect. Having this on my helmet is such an amazing feeling of reassurance, that at least *there is something to see at all* for drivers behind to notice. I love the strobe mode.
I already got enough brakes system for my Piaggio Mp3 250 IE! I hook up brake lights on my top case and flashing led light above taillights! I mod everything on it so lights up at night and day!💯
Someone from Revzilla clarified that it's fine in the rain as long as you put the port cover back on the charging port after charging, they just didn't explain the issue very well in the video. Obviously if the port cover gets worn out or damaged in the long term, that could be an issue.
Just purchased the Brake Free. Loved the concept. Attached to my Shoei RF1400 per instructions. No problem with device attaching to helmet mount. Clicked into place and squarely mounted. But found there is a wiggle or slight movement of the Brake Free device on the helmet mount that exists that really bugged me. Every time I bent over, went over a bump or turn my head quickly I heard and felt the Brake Free through my helmet. Emailed the nice folks at Brake Free and sent it back. Apparently the specs of the helmet mounts needed to get a nice snug, is off. This might be as a result of a particular run of these mounts or this wiggle existed and is no an issue with users. It is for me. Too bad. Because I like this device. But not accepting a jenky fitment.
I have the same exact helmet shoei rf1400. My brake free light fits perfect and is tight. No wiggles or play… im about to order another because i got a top case now and its covering my brake lights. Just have to carefully place the mount 1st and let it sit overnight 24hrs…
I've been told by drivers that my motorcycle brake lights were in their blind spot and almost didn't know I was there. I'm buying this asap! Wish I knew of this earlier. Hearing that from drivers always got me worried about not being seen especially at night.
I've had one now for about 3 months. My girlfriend is not into motorcycling and drives behind me. She says its not lighting up when I brake at stop lights, will have to contact them see if the sensitivity can be adjusted. Very easy to mount and its weight is barely noticeable on the helmet. Also, the battery life is amazing.
I have had one for about 8 months. I have received many comments from people wondering how it works . They have said it lights up as soon as I slow down. When going on demo rides people wondered where they can get one.
Thanks new rider. Just purchased this product. While getting my insurance binder for my new can cam spyder I was asked if ide be using a helmet brakelight device.
Taking Moore's Law into effect, the best possible scenario is that the Brake Free company licenses the technology to helmet makers, who use the electronics in a built in light on the back of their helmets. No need to carve out any foam to make room; there would just be a little bumped out area on the back. There could even be a port to charge both the brake light and the communicators so many of us are using. And bonus... I'm sure the big helmet makers can do an IP68 weatherproof rating and then voila, the prices drop when thousands start rolling off the lines. Economy of scale that a startup can't accomplish! And yes... if this was available in that form in a new helmet, heck yes I'd pay $100 for the option.
@@knightsljx Yeah was thinking the same thing, then every shell from a certain helmet would need to be tested with and without the brake unit installed - which would basically double testing cert fees for each model/size of the helmet. Then if you have a defect with the braking unit your helmet needs to be sent back or replaced too, similar issue to built-in comm unit helmets. IDK if brands would go down that route but you never know, BT did it.
I would love for this to be connected to my blinkers as well. This would add so much visibility and allow me to drive with more confidence. The drivers in this state spend more time on their phone while driving than actually looking at the road.
I like the idea. I think for the price I would like to see a slightly smaller housing. You see so many LED implementations now where the housing is minimal and yet the actual lights are still super bright. Other than that, I think it's a nice add on for a helmet.
@@K9River Of course they don't, but what I'm saying is for the next iteration of the design I want to see them slim down the housing while keeping the same brightness. That's really the only improvement I can think of, it's a nice product. I wonder if they'll see any competition.
I’ve had mine since pre-purchase in the beginning of 2021, biggest complaints are the charge port (wish it wasn’t a micro USB charger, but instead a Type C) and false braking from head movements looking around. This also causes fatigue and helmet buffeting, which should take into consideration on mounting location on back of helmet.
As a Goldwing rider I would love this but not until it's WATERPROOF! This would be an amazing attention getter to be seen by cagers not just on nice days but when visibility is at it's worst which is in the rain.
It's weatherproof as long as you replace the charging port cover after you charge it. There's no issue with touring in the rain using this unit, that's what IP65 is intended to certify, "exposure to water jets".
I'm not normally a go-getter for all the safety stuff that's offered but this actually seems feasible. Not too expensive, removable, easy to install, and I can see how alert it'd make a driver behind me.
Brake Free, why don’t have this on a safety vest ? Same principle, narrow and long. Have two option vests, one on the shoulder area or one mid back area for regular bikes. I like the helmet mount and great idea. However, I invested in a Carbon helmet super lite and I hate to add more weight. Also, price should go down.
I also thought of the Cosmo, but shipping to North America is almost as expensive as the unit itself, still slightly cheaper than the Brake free all told though. The size and form factor of the Cosmo are quite a lot better than the Brake Free, as is the attachment system. I like that Brake Free doesn't use an app, just turn it on and go. The Brake Free is probably quite a bit brighter and has a longer battery life. Would be great if Cosmo had a distributor on this side of the pond.
I don't know if I'm good with adding something else to my helmet - my Cardo already sticks out and ruins to smooth surface/shape of the helmet in the event of a crash - but was wondering if there's a way this could be attached to a backpack since I never ride without one (for rain gear, repair kit, extra gloves and shoelaces, etc). I feel like that would be high enough to get the same visibility benefits without having something else stuck to my helmet like a giant tech wart.
The only thing stopping you from using this itself on a top case is the curve of it. Mount a short pole on your top case and this could snap on no problem. Your helmet will always be higher, though, so having the light at the highest possible place is what keeps you more visible.
Simple Problem : Need to Improve visibility of riders at night. Simple solution- High viz helmets or Reflective strips. Complex solution - A device that needs to be mounted on the helmet increasing it’s weight, reducing the helmets safety rating, requiring a battery & waterproofing and $170. Differentiation over reflective strips- brake lights and compliments! 😀
I wonder, once stopped how long does the flashing brake light stay active. It is one thing to alert drivers behind you that you're coming to a stop and quite another to to let drivers know you are stopped. I would hope it continues to flash while stopped and only stops flashing once you take off.
Its not the stopping that i use this for, its the engine breaking because the brake free light activates also when you slow down. Some riders have a habit of tapping the front brake to activate brake light while engine breaking but i don’t
That's why you always ride defensively. Always check for traffic not slowing in other directions, and always give yourself an escape route when stopped in case of a Karen coming up too fast from behind.
It's out of stock. I hope they get more, I'd like to pick one up. The break light on my old 64 Triumph isn't great. It's a 6V system, so it doesn't have the pop my 12v bike has. One of these things on the back of my helmet would be helpful.
Great review, very helpful. When describing this product, you said this does add a "simplistic way to create a 3rd brake light" - that word doesn't mean what you think it means, Simplistic is defined as "treating complex issues and problems as if they were much simpler than they really are." The word you need is "simple" rather than "simplistic".
3:25 Look up the definition of IP65, you can literally spray it directly with a hose for 15 minutes straight without any harmful effects, the suggestion that it's not weatherproof is nonsense.
Just a heads up because I'm only now seeing that you posted a few times: I spoke with the owner/founder directly about this and they will replace it under their warranty for any water damage caused but did say that the USB port door is what would cause issues with being 100% waterproof. IP65 is still a great point to reach, but if you are riding through pouring rain all day you still may run into issues which is why we worded it that way.
@@patrickmchugh8039 that's a lot different from what the video says, thanks for addressing it. It would be a good move to add that to the description and link an annotation over that portion of the video, half of the comments here are outraged that it can't survive rain because Revzilla misled them. Thanks again for clarifying.
IP65 is "protection from water jets from any direction". You'll be fine in a torrential downpour. Beyond that is protection against POWERFUL jets or immersion in water.
It's not cheap, but that's because we use really high end components. High capacity battery, custom LED panels with 100 ultra bright LEDs, high end sensors, etc. We cut no corners in designing this product so you get what you pay for.
@@Paolo1 Yep... just buy the extra mount and stick it there. I got an extra mount and put it on my daughter's helmet and we just switch the unit to whoever is riding out at that time.
"Overly safety oriented" 🤣 AKA don't want to get run over by a distracted driver, which is a good chunk of people these days. Just ordered mine, these things will save lives.
I asked them before buying this if it would fit on my specific helmet, was told it would, and it did not! I am hoping I can get a refund without a lot of hassle.
It's probably better to have it detachable. You can swap it between helmets, remove it to charge (way easier than having your whole helmet plugged into the wall), and you don't necessarily have to replace it if something unfortunate happens to your helmet (damaged or just old). While it doesn't weigh that much at the end of the day, I hope that the next iteration is lighter.
@@packgrog it doesn't have to be fixed into the helmet, just the port pre-attached and sold together, bonus points for charging port for this unit and comms..
It’s currently sold out unfortunately. BF does smaller batch runs since they are a smaller company but we should be getting more in the coming months we hope.
Mine works fine. During my demo ride to try the Tenere 700 a couple of the riders wanted to know how it worked. When telling them about the accelerometers they told me it lit up every time I slowed down.
Not sure how legal strobing is in some particular markets. It's a great idea for an additional brake especially if it will work when engine braking. But product need to be waterproof (and drop proof) for it to make more appealing. How long does it take to recharge the battery?
Flashing lights are illegal on moving vehicles in every state in the US except for California. In about half of all other states, an exception is made for emergencies. It is weatherproof, you cannot submerge it in a meter of water (IP67), but you can spray it directly with a hose (IP65).
@@PMitchell106 Would these be considered "Flashing" lights by the state-defined rules? Curious since it isn't a random or continuous flash, yet a flash only when braking is applied, similar to the other forms of 3rd party / extra brake lights I've seen on the road.
@@patrickmchugh8039 I think so but I'm not certain. I know that BMW has a system called "Dynamic brake light" that senses emergency braking and strobes/flashes the brake light to alert drivers. It's a good idea that had to be deleted from their bikes in the US market because the brake light is required by law to be solid when brakes are applied. It's something that a vehicle manufacturer can't get away with, but a consumer making modifications probably won't be bothered for, unless law enforcement is looking for a reason to stop them. The vast majority of vehicle modifications are technically illegal for street use nationwide, but enforcement is usually low or non-existent.
@@PMitchell106 Yeah, that was my thinking exactly. I feel like I've seen hundreds of cars w/ triple-blinking-to-steady brake lights on the road, hell even a Prius with it.
I think it is something for everyone brother..this is life saving...appreciate the vid...but this should be law. If it saves one life...than its for everyone. Not an investor BTW lol
Anyone know how to get this outside of America? Tried to order on their site to Australia but from some strange reason they don’t seem to ship internationally, which doesn’t really make any sense.
Has anyone installed this on a SHOEI rf-1400? I don't think it works. There is a ridge in the middle of the back that would force the piece up high on the helmet crown.
Bought and returned--without even using. Incomplete order received. Took several emails to try to resolve what should have been simple issue. Kept blaming their 3rd party distributor, instead of taking accountability. Wanted to support a start up, but CEO was arrogant and condescending, so I'll pass.
You might be able to hand it low enough on the back to get it to work, but we wouldn't recommend it. The spoiler / aero areas are just too tight and it will be sitting low on the helmet. You *could* do it, but wouldn't be something we'd recommend.
I thought this sounded great - until you said it was only water resistant, not water proof. I live close to Seattle... if it isn't waterproof it's useless to me.
