Modulating Headlights

[Hollow]

K I have never heard of modulating headlights. I searched you tube and seen some fz6 models with flashing front and rear lights. I am thinking about getting this. Atm though I know really nothing about them other than they seem to flash your lights to help draw attention to you so the chances of someone not see you and pulling out in front of you would be less likely. I was just wanting to see what you guys think about them that may have them already or even knowledge of them and there effectiveness. Thanks.
P.S. If you haven't seen this or heard of it like me and want to see it go to You tube and search modulating headlights.

 

[Oranje]

They always catch my attention and I would love to have some on my bike. It does its job in helping stay safe, but I never got it myself because I wouldn't want to let my guard down and stop riding like I'm invisible. They're more popular among cruisers, not sportbikes.

 

[VEGASRIDER]

This is on the top of my list. Heavy traffic hear in Vegas, emergency vehicles have them so it must work. They are legal, for motorcycles only, and if you have the dual headlight mod, they will both modulate simutaneously rather than modulating one at a time like the emergency vehicles. Here's the link.

Safety Electronics For Motorcycles

 

[Doorag]

Interesting. I wonder if they are legal in the UK.

 

[Pete]

Not a chance Doorag!

 

[Doorag]

Didn't think so.

 

[madmanmaigret]

also check your state laws...... some may be different than others.

 

[Scott64a]

OK, I work on a 911 ambulance for 24 hour shifts, and I'm here to tell you that flashing headlights do not help getting noticed.

If people don't see the big white and blue box with the flashing red lights, wig-wag headlights and 500 watt siren/horn, what makes you think they would care about a flashing headlight?

Just keep driving like they're going to do the wrong thing at the right time and expect it -just like I do when running lights and sirens to calls.

Be cool and be ready.
Constant vigilance!


Just my opinion, but I don't like the flashing lights. I always thought it was a faulty headlight circuit rather than intentional, and find myself looking at the light and not where the rider is going.

Like fishing lures, they're made for the buyer.

 

[VEGASRIDER]

OK, I work on a 911 ambulance for 24 hour shifts, and I'm here to tell you that flashing headlights do not help getting noticed.

If modulating headlights don't work, why do every emergency vehicles have them? There must be a reason. It may help, but I will agree, it is not the primary device that will determine whether you will be seen or not.

My first experience from a motorcyclist having a modulating headlight, I was on a two lane highway coming back from California and from a distance, it appeared that someone was shining a mirror. As I got closer, I noticed that it was a motorcycle with a headlight modulator. It seem it stood out much better from the rest of the vehicles who also had their head lights on, which I thought was the most important reasoning about the modulator. It makes you stand out from the rest. Different colored headlights from HID bulbs is also another way to stand out from the rest of the group.

 

[Hollow]

So you all know I only meant getting these to HELP make me noticed. I know never trust or depend on a human being to do whats right or at least see me. Also as far as state laws go its a federal law to allow cyclest to have modulating headlights if they want. I believe this link eplains more. Motorcycle Headlight Modulator Regulations Small Size - webBikeWorld well thanks for the replies.

 

[rbesr]

Legal in all 50 states and Canada. I have one on my Venture. Works like a charm. Even had a few folks pull to the side of the road thinking I was a cycle cop a few times.

As a sidenote, I carry a copy of the law with me. Been stopped a few times by Barney and Enos because they didn't know they were legal on bikes.

 

[bmccrary]

For the rear lights look into the Hyper light system. It has a couple settings, but it is only for the rear brake light.

Just thought I would throw that out there.

-bryan

 

[Scott64a]

Hey, use them if you wanna, but I don't see how confusing the idiots on the road can help at all. I mean, if they pull over, you have the added hazard of them being even DUMBER, if you can imagine.

We have idiots slam on the brakes, turn to the LEFT into oncming traffic, and basically just get retarded when we come up all lights and sirens...

I see enough of that at work to know I don't want to induce "light flashing pandemonium" on my bike.

-I'm just saying...

 

[VEGASRIDER]

For the rear lights look into the Hyper light system. It has a couple settings, but it is only for the rear brake light.

Just thought I would throw that out there.

-bryan

Yup, got those too! They work great! I wrote a review on them under Hyper Lites.

 

[CCHOUSEKY]

I've thought about a headlight modulator, but here's what's stopping me. I worry that a car on a side street will misunderstand and think I'm flashing my lights to indicate that he/she can pull out. That's a common thing around my part of the country (Kentucky), to flash your high beams letting someone know that it's ok to proceed. The last thing I need is some soccer mom, on her cell phone, drinking her latte, thinking that I'm telling her it's ok to pull out in front of me!

Like she's not going to do that anyway...

 

[VEGASRIDER]

I've thought about a headlight modulator, but here's what's stopping me. I worry that a car on a side street will misunderstand and think I'm flashing my lights to indicate that he/she can pull out. That's a common thing around my part of the country (Kentucky), to flash your high beams letting someone know that it's ok to proceed. The last thing I need is some soccer mom, on her cell phone, drinking her latte, thinking that I'm telling her it's ok to pull out in front of me!

Like she's not going to do that anyway...

Thats a very valid point, and I'm thiniking the samething. Wonder what kind of response and reasoning we would get from the people who makes these modulators about this subject.

 

[bmccrary]

Yup, got those too! They work great! I wrote a review on them under Hyper Lites.

Yea but isnt there a way to use your factory light and not the added lights?

I could have swore there was a wiring harness you could buy and you just splice it into your factory tail light wiring.

But I think I am also going to get "The Stopper" That LED strip that runs along the bottom of your licence plate.

Well now they have the Versa-Light, which has Running lights, brake lights and turnsignals in one strip.

G Y B Products - Versa Light - www.motoemporium.com

-bryan

-bryan

 

[rbesr]

In the years I've had the modulator on the Venture, not once has a vehicle pulled out in front of or turned in front of me. I can't make that claim with the FZ or the ZR7. The modulating light draws attention to the fact that a bike is there.

I have Back-Off modulators on the back of my bikes. Easy install and very noticable.

 

[VEGASRIDER]

Yea but isnt there a way to use your factory light and not the added lights?

I could have swore there was a wiring harness you could buy and you just splice it into your factory tail light wiring.

But I think I am also going to get "The Stopper" That LED strip that runs along the bottom of your licence plate.

Well now they have the Versa-Light, which has Running lights, brake lights and turnsignals in one strip.

G Y B Products - Versa Light - www.motoemporium.com

-bryan

-bryan

There are various methods for flashing brakelights. I think what you are referrring to is an item called "Backoff" which you use the exhisting brakelight for it to flash. But the Hyper Lights are additional lights, which are LED's and act as running lights as well as flashing brake lights, which are 10 X brighter than your stock light. They are so bright, that it drowns out your stock light. You also have the option of getting these lights to act as additional turn signals.

 

[bmccrary]

There are various methods for flashing brakelights. I think what you are referrring to is an item called "Backoff" which you use the exhisting brakelight for it to flash. But the Hyper Lights are additional lights, which are LED's and act as running lights as well as flashing brake lights, which are 10 X brighter than your stock light. They are so bright, that it drowns out your stock light. You also have the option of getting these lights to act as additional turn signals.

Oh ok. I will ask dad what he carried at the old shop in Salisbury, because I remember both items being there. Those lights seemed bright, I imagine I could find some place to put them that would still look nice. Did they stick on or did you bolt them on?

-bryan