modulated headlights

[Chowdown]

why dont i see more of them on the road? i cant see a downside to them, what am i missing and can any recommend a decent one?

[Mic]

There seem to be two major opinions of them.

1. Headlight Modulators are more distracting and draw cage drivers attention away from things that they should be paying attention to, confuse people because they don't know what it is, cage drivers looking to turn left across your path may not see it anyway if they aren't paying attention, bikes are already wired to run their headlights when running, *may* cause road rage in drivers you are behind, and they are annoying.

2. Headlight Modulators greatly increase visibility from the front. Other drivers are aware of your presence from a long ways off meaning they are less likely to pull out in front of you. People 'See You' a lot more often. You can turn it off whenever you want. People may be annoyed but that means they see you.

I'm kind of in the middle of the two opinions. I run mine any time I want to make myself more visible like when approaching intersections where I can see cars waiting to pull out (like a grocery store parking lot), or at a light were a left turn car is approaching or creeping into the intersection. I know that it works as I have seen peoples heads 'snap' over to look at me when I have it on. A small side benefit is that people seem to get out of my way more often when I run it.

I have one from Comagination. Installation was quick and simple, just plug it in line with the light bulb wiring. It was a less than 5 minute job on my bike.

[StarWatcher]

I have read of incidents where other drivers have thought it was an emergency vehicle and gone to unusual lengths to get out of the way. I have also read where it has triggered other drivers to turn in front of the bike thinking the blinking headlamp was a signal from the motorcycle that it was OK to proceed much the same way that truck drivers will flash their headlamps when it's OK to pull back into the same lane after you pass them.

I just find them very annoying and is the last thing I want to see flickering in my rear view mirror for any length of time.

--Mike

[StarSapphire]

What about the modulating brake light mechanism? Anyone have experience with it? I'm thinking about adding one to my bike and wanted to get some feedback before I splurge.

[MSl77384]

My headlight modulator is my left thumb and I modulate the headlight when I deem it beneficial to my health and well being ;-)

[dukey33]

I had one on my Vulcan (went with the bike when I sold it). I liked it especially since the Vulcan had a small headlight. Made drivers look. Made some get out of the way.

What I didn't like was the light sensor that turned it off in twilight and early mornings when I wanted it on. I recall someone else put a LED near the sensor to trick it into modulating.

If it annoys a cager, at least they saw you.

[kurt]

I never cared for the headlight modulators. It got attention in the wrong way IMO. People seemed to think I was an emergency vehicle from a distance but once they figured it out, they often did rude things to make up for it. My hyperlight brake light modulator is another story though. It seems to prevent people from running up on my rear as fast with no ill effects afterwards.

[Desert Skies]

I'm more on the "opinion #1" side of the fence myself. I witnessed a group with them running down the interstate freaking out cagers causing them yield then get annoyed when they realize it was only a group of wingers out for a ride. One cage even filtered into the middle of the group once he realized what was going on.

I rather prefer simply having good solid lighting on the front.

[Mic]

What about the modulating brake light mechanism? Anyone have experience with it? I'm thinking about adding one to my bike and wanted to get some feedback before I splurge.

There was a whole thread about them a couple weeks ago :-)
http://www.twtex.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30265

What I didn't like was the light sensor that turned it off in twilight and early mornings when I wanted it on. I recall someone else put a LED near the sensor to trick it into modulating.

I understand that you want it on, but technically bypassing the low light level sensor would make it illegal.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcycle-technical-articles/Modulator-regs.htm

(f) The system shall include a sensor mounted with the axis of its sensing element perpendicular to a horizontal plane. Headlamp modulation shall cease whenever the level of light emitted by a tungsten filament light operating at 3000 deg. Kelvin is either less than 270 lux (25 foot-candles) of direct light for upward pointing sensors or less than 60 lux (5.6 foot-candles) of reflected light for downward pointing sensors. The light is measured by a silicon cell type light meter that is located at the sensor and pointing in the same direction as the sensor. A Kodak Gray Card (Kodak R-27) is placed at ground level to simulate the road surface in testing downward pointing sensors.

[StarSapphire]

There was a whole thread about them a couple weeks ago :-)
http://www.twtex.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30265

Got it, thanks! ;-)

[shadow247]

I am out on them. I think they look goofy and the downsides have already been mentioned. I rode with a guy on a CBR Blackbird that had one and it was downright annoying. I kept seeing a flash in my mirrors and thinking i was getting pulled over!

[Boxercup Dave]

I was in our car when a vehicle with a flashing light came up so we moved out of the way. Turned out be a goldwing with a modulator. I'm a rider and was not happy.

It seems some of the modulators flash too quickly which indicates to most drivers it's an emergency vehicle.

[sprale]

I agree with the headlight modulator being a mixed bag. It may draw attention, but not necessarily the intended sort I want. A Sylvania SilverStar would be about all I would add to the front lighting. (not enough extra power for much on the 250 :()

After being rear-ended on my bike, I installed a Back-Off! brake modulator and added bulbs to the two empty side pods that come on the pre-2008 Ninja 250. i do notice cages giving me more room out back now, with no unwanted aggression.

[DFW_Warrior]

I didn't like them in the last thread and still don't like them now. If you want attention why not do wheelies? They too get all the attention in the world, just the wrong kind. IMO the same goes for the modulators.

[Wastrel]

I run both head and tail light modulators. The headlight modulator only gets used in foul weather or in the time just after sun up or just before sun down. Basically, when visibility is at a premium. I had to wire a LED in line to "trick" the light sensor into working in these situations, but it is more than worth it and with the flip of a switch gives me back my normal high beams. When installing the brakelight modulator be sure to check the wiring and select the3-5 second flash then steady burn, as this is the only type that is legal in all 50 states. Most come with the option of continous flash or the short burst then steady burn depending on how they are hooked to power. The continuous flash is legal in most states, but not all.