Sorry you've missed our campaign. Brake Free is ready and can be purchased now! Please check out our new website for all the details.

Brake Free is an ultra bright smart LED brake light that instantly improves a motorcycle's visibility.

It mounts on the back of the helmet you already own and with its constant LED light at a driver's eye level, you'll be more visible both day and night.

Brake Free design, development, certification testing, and road testing is complete.

Production of our first mass production run is underway. 

"it makes you more visible to other motorists whether you're braking or not."
- Uncrate

"California startup Brake Free wants to make your helmet useful in preventing the emergency in the first place, but mounting a highly visible automatic LED brake light on it, where car drivers are more likely to notice and respond."
- Dan Carney, MAXIM

"The ultra bright smart LED brake light multiplies your visibility on the road, and the best thing? it has no wires, nothing to install on your bike, and works with no apps!"
- Bless This Stuff

"A bright red LED at their eye level that gets even brighter every time you slow down could make the difference between getting to your destination or winding up on in the hospital or worse."
- Bruce Brown, Digital Trends

Click HERE to view our press kit

Brake Free utilizes accelerometer and gyroscope sensors to autonomously detect when you're slowing down no matter how: braking, engine braking, or downshifting. When it does detect you braking, its LEDs glow brighter letting drivers around you know instantly. And there is no wired installation or connected apps with your phone for it to work.

Just mount it, turn it on, and ride.

Brake Free is able to detect 3 types of braking and respond accordingly:

• Regular Braking: engaging front or rear brakes
• Engine Braking: decelerating without touching your brake levers
• Emergency Braking: triggers special light pattern

This is what makes Brake Free special: it's not just a passive LED light that is constantly on (and in this case, it's on the continuous flash mode--more on that below).

It responds to how you ride and alerts everyone around you when you're slowing down making you even more visible at this crucial point to prevent being rear ended.

Above, you'll see Brake Free's CEO Alex Arkhangelskiy riding with the unit on, looking left and right, and bobbing his head in which the unit's LED lights did not glow brighter. Only until he pulls up to a stop, the LEDs then glow brightly syncing with his tail brake light wirelessly thanks to the accelerometer and gyroscope sensors onboard.

We get asked a lot if the lights on Brake Free can be seen during the day time and the answer is a definite yes. The above is a raw clip from a GoPro mounted on the backpack of Brake Free's CEO Alex Arkhangelskiy slowing down during a day ride on the freeway.

In fact, the lights are typically so bright that the camera's sensors are usually saturated from the 100 red LEDs.

"After nearly 42 years of working in the motorcycle industry, and 17 specializing in helmets, one thing continues to prove true. A rider can NEVER be too visible. The Brake Free system is about as simple as it gets, yet offers a level of visibility unavailable prior to its introduction. It’s easy to install and will help riders to be seen when it counts the most. Brake Free is a simple, effective device that will dramatically improve the safety margin for all riders, regardless of skill level."

"Riding a motorcycle is like being invisible. To increase your odds of survival, it is crucial to increase your visibility. I use hi viz gear, headlight modulator and reflectors, and I will be adding Brake Free to ensure drivers see me."

"As the owner of a DIY motorcycle repair club I see so many bikes come in that have been clipped by cars that just did not see them or give them enough space for a turn. The novel idea of the Brake Free is a wonderful addition to increasing the visibility of all my riders - right at eye level for car drivers and without interfering with the riders reactions or responses. I'm recommending it to all the members!!"

Attaching Brake Free 

Brake Free attaches to almost any helmet with our unique universal clip mount

• Quick and effortless transfer between helmets
• Dovetail design for secure installation
• Mount attaches to the helmet with 3M VHB adhesive
• No damage to helmet surface

Mounts seen in the main pitch video are early prototypes and their look has changed from magnetic snap mounts to a mechanical clip mount.

Turning Brake Free On

Brake Free is easy to turn on even with gloves thanks to its one-touch button. When it does turn on, it flashes to indicate its battery level:

• 3 flashes = 75-100% battery
• 2 flashes = 30-60% battery
• 1 flash = < 30% battery

Continuous Flash Mode

Brake Free also has a continuous flash mode which can be used as a hazard light. You can still wear it during this mode in which the light will function normally letting others know when you're slowing down by glowing brighter.

Turning Brake Free Off

And it's just as easy to turn off: Simple press and hold the one button for 3 seconds to turn off the unit.

Charging Brake Free

When it is time to charge Brake Free, simply use the included micro-USB cord to fully charge it in 2 hours.

Each BRAKE FREE unit comes with:

• Micro USB charging cable
• 1 helmet clip mount
• User manual

We've gone through a series of prototypes prior to settling on the final Brake Free design. We got feedback from countless riders and industry insiders to help steer our design. We worked hard to keep the design slim, stylish and versatile. 

We've come a long way since our first proof of concept prototype. This prototype helped us validate our idea of being able to use sensors to detect deceleration. 

This was our test rig for tesing our algorithm with our sensor package collecting data from the helmet while riding. It involved lots of packaging tape, but it served its purpose. Don't try this at home.

Conducting measurements of the final design's LED brightness.

Our team has worked tirelessly for almost 3 years designing, developing, testing and iterating Brake Free. We connected with many industry professionals, motorcycle groups, influencers, and riders to make sure we are developing a product that is truly valuable and needed in our community.

We invested countless hours and close to $100,000 of our own money to get Brake Free to the stage it is at now. We iterated our design 4 times and we now have working prototypes that look and function like the finished product.

We cannot take this project any further without your help.

Alex Arkhangelskiy

Avid rider and founder of Brake Free. After receiving his bachelor's degree in Business and Entrepreneurship, he set out on a mission to develop products that satisfy his two passions: product development and motorcycling.

Ian Dunn

Professional Industrial Designer with 10 years in the powersports industry as a motorcycle designer, working for major OEMs across Europe and the US. Ian's been riding almost 20 years.

Johan Boot

An experienced and skilled engineer specializing in electro-mechanical system design, mechanical engineering, robotics and sensors. He has developed our custom sensor fusion algorithm which is the brains behind our platform.

Henry Li

The newest member of our team. Henry is a brilliant mechanical engineer with years of experience in designing cool products that have to work in very tough conditions. His experience in concept development, simulation, plastics design for both rapid prototyping and injection molding, testing, and proof of concept implementation is invaluable to our team and will undoubtedly help deliver Brake Free to all of our amazing backers. Did we mention he also loves to ride?!

Dave Hadden

Although his academic training was in Electronic Engineering, Dave is basically an inventor with a more natural affinity for mechanical engineering and a variety of manufacturing processes. In his 40+ entrepreneurial career he has 10 patents, 3 patents pending and over 100 products under his belt.

We are committed to delivering on our promises and bringing you a great product, and we won't settle for anything less.

We realize that some of you may have been burned in the past with a previous crowdfunding campaign that was highly successful that promised the ultimate motorcycle helmet...However, we are committed to rebuilding your trust and faith in motopreneurs with Brake Free.

We realize that taking a product from the prototype stage through manufacturing will present many challenges. We have done our best to anticipate and account for many of them in our timeline and budget. And while there may be some unforeseen complications throughout our journey, we promise to let you, our backers, know first and be transparent.

Click HERE to view our press kit

How much does it weigh?
Brake Free weighs 170 grams (6 ounces).
For easy comparison, it weighs a little less than an iPhone 7+.

How does it connect to my motorcycle?
It doesn't. We use sensors inside the unit along with our special algorithms that allow Brake Free to detect all types of braking; normal braking (applying front brake and/or rear brake) and engine braking.

Isn't this a huge safety issue?
The Brake Free unit attaches to the helmet using a universal clip mount. The clip mount uses a 3M VHB adhesive (much like GoPro mounts) to attach to the helmet. It is designed to break away from the helmet in case of an accident. It won't cause torsional damage to your head and neck. You are much safer with it than without it.

How long does the battery last?
Short answer, 8-10 hours on average. Long answer, it depends on the type of riding you're doing and the mode you select.

How long does it take to charge?
Brake Free takes 2 hours for a full charge.

Can I charge it on the go?
Yes. If you have a power bank or any other power source that can charge a device using USB cable, you can charge Brake Free while you ride.

Can I use it with multiple bikes?
Yes! Brake Free is completely wireless. It does not have any connection to your motorcycle. So use it on as many bikes as you want.

How do I know it fits my helmet?
The Brake Free unit is designed to fit all helmet shapes with horizontal or vertical feature lines. If the unit does not fit on your helmet let us know and we will come up with a custom mount solution.

What type of helmets will it fit on?
The Brake Free unit fits helmet sizes XS to XXL, matte or gloss finish, full face or half helmets. We have attached the prototype unit to road race helmets, street helmets, touring helmets, adventure helmets, modular helmets, and more.

How Do I install it on my helmet?
Brake Free requires a clear spot of about 6 inches by 3 inches on the back of your helmet.
First time installation:

1. Take a second to plan where you'd like to mount brake free on the back of your helmet
2. Clean the selected spot with an alcohol swab for better mount adhesion
3. Attach the universal clip mount to Brake Free backplate (slips into female receptor slot on the back plate of Brake Free)
4. Peal off the adhesive backing on the back of the universal clip mount
5. Carefully align Brake Free to the selected spot (center it on the back of the helmet)
6. Press Brake Free against the selected spot on the helmet for at least 30 seconds
7. Done!

Will it fit if I have a Bluetooth module on my helmet?
Majority of Bluetooth headsets mount to the side of the helmet. Brake Free mounts to the back of the helmet. You should be able to add both products to your helmet without any issues.

How do I switch it from one helmet to another?
The easiest way is to order an extra helmet mount(s) and install one on each of the helmets you plan to you with Brake Free. Brake Free is designed for easy removal and installation. You can do this with one hand (without taking your gloves off)!

How can I tell how much battery charge is left?
When the unit powers on it will indicate the battery status. We are currently using the center LED panels to do that.
3 blinks = full battery, 2 blinks = 2/3 battery, 1 blink = 1/3 battery.

How can I tell it’s working?
When the unit powers up, it indicates the battery level. If the unit is in sleep mode, simply picking up the helmet will wake it up. You will see lights flashing as it wakes us. If picking it up or a quick shake did not wake it up, simply press the power button.

Will it make noise on my helmet?
No. The shape was designed to work harmoniously with the natural air flow around a helmet. You won't even notice it's there.

Can I ride with it in the rain?
We are aiming to get Brake Free IP64 certified, which means you can ride with it in the rain.

Can I clean it?
Yes. Use a dry or slightly damp cloth to clean the unit. We recommend using microfiber towels to prevent scratching the surface.

Is it legal?
In the United States there are no regulations preventing use of lights on helmets. Brake Free uses red LEDs that adhere to all DOT vehicle requirements.

How bright is it?
It is the brightest helmet accessory on the market by far. It is brighter than most motorcycle brake lights.

Can I swap batteries?
The Brake Free unit is sealed. At this time our design prevents user access to the battery.

Will my friends think I look awesome?
Yes! Totally.

Can I wear it while riding in a group?
Yes! As a matter of fact, it will improve your safety as a group. Riding in tight formation with other members' bike noise can make engine braking even harder to detect. The Brake Free unit will generally detect deceleration quicker than the naked eye and alert the riders behind, giving them an extra split second to react to you.

How is it different from other helmet mounted lights?
We are the only truly wireless helmet accessory. Brake Free is completely autonomous. It uses sensors and our algorithm to detect braking. Other units require a transmitter to be spliced into the wiring harness, causing potential electrical problems in the future. We also use lights that are thinner and brighter than anything out there.

What kind of light source does it use? E.g., LED?
We are using 4 custom shaped LED panels. There are 100 LEDs in total. These LEDs have a wide viewing angle of 120 degrees.

What color is the light?
The lens is red and so are the LEDs that are being used. These lights are so bright that they typically over-saturate the sensor on most cameras, making them look orange.

How bright is the light relative to other brake lights, both OEM and auxiliary (both incandescent and LED)?
Brake Free is brighter than most OEM brake lights. There are motorcycles coming out now with really bright brake lights, but they are still out of the line of sight of car drivers. The helmet lends itself as the perfect place to add more visibility.

If it uses an adhesive, does it damage the helmet (or leave a residue) when removed?
We are working with a 3M chemist to make sure we use an adhesive that will not damage your helmet when it is removed.

Can I claim multiple perks?
Yes, if you'd like to claim multiple perks, please make a new contribution for each perk.

Can I get a refund after the campaign has ended?
The money raised here on Indiegogo will go into product development, purchasing of materials, and manufacturing to deliver Brake Free to you. Refunds will only be issued if we can not deliver the final product after exploring all possible options. We will always be transparent and keep you updated on all developments.

Will the product vary from the design above?
While we have the preliminary design and prototypes built, we may still make some minor improvements. We love hearing from our supporters and if you have any suggestions we will be more than happy to consider it.