Modulating Headlight/Taillight - Opinions?

[c0emgen]

I was recently rear ended while stopped at a yield sign. I am seriously considering installing a modulating headlight and taillight as well as brighter bulbs. I am interested in opinions about the pros and cons of this approach to greater visibility. I think it will definitely make me more visible but will it confuse drivers? Will drivers I am following think I am a police car and drive erratically? Will drivers behind me be confused by the oscillating pattern of the taillight and think I am turning but won't know which way, left or right?

 

[sgoat]

I was recently rear ended while stopped at a yield sign. I am seriously considering installing a modulating headlight and taillight as well as brighter bulbs. I am interested in opinions about the pros and cons of this approach to greater visibility. I think it will definitely make me more visible but will it confuse drivers? Will drivers I am following think I am a police car and drive erratically? Will drivers behind me be confused by the oscillating pattern of the taillight and think I am turning but won't know which way, left or right?

Nothing wrong with more visibility. I can't speak from experience about the headlight modulator as I've never used one. I think they may even be illegal in some states so check your local laws. As for rear modulating taillamps or LED strips, I think they're a fairly inexpensive way to become more "conspicuous". I've run the Signal Dynamics "Backoff" taillight modulator on my last three bikes. There's plenty of good, affordable solutions out there so it's just a matter of picking which one is right for you. Good luck!

 

[noob]

I've done these mods on 2 bikes I've owned.

Here's my recommendations:

Brake Light Modulators: Hyper lites. https://www.hyperlites.com/unikits.html

these are very easy to install, especially if you use their license plate bracket thing. The wiring is very simplistic, I choose the option of 5 second flashing then steady as opposed to constant flashing. If you're worried someone isn't seeing you as they approach, release brake and re apply and they flash 5 secs again.

these also are a million times easier to install then "back off" modulators, which have to be spliced into the wiring harness, sometimes entailing cutting up the harness to find where the front and rear brakes merge, so both brakes activate the unit.

HeadLight Modulator: https://www.comagination.com/

these work great and are plug and play, no wire splicing etc. they are activated when you put your brights on, and off when the brights are off. They are also ofcourse off when it's so dark out the sensor doesn't allow them to work.

One bit of advice, when you are approaching heavy traffic, turn them on 'before' you get there. Some people think headlight modulators inadvertently signal "go ahead" to other drivers. I found after 10k or more miles of use, that only happens if you turn them on right at the second someone is looking to make a left in front of you, or pull out on you. In other words dont wait till the last second to use them, you want to be noticed wayyyyyyyyy before the last second.

After having these I wouldn't own a bike without them, they definately help in being noticed. With the brake light modulators you'll find some people will even stop a couple car lengths behind you

edit to add: federal law, allowing headlight modulation, supercedes all local laws. ie they are perfectly legal.

regards,

 

[JimLor]

This is my personal opinion - I like the brake lights that flash initially and then go steady - don't have then installed, but a buddy here at work literally just dropped of a BackOff module 'cause it doesn't work on his bike.

I absolutely hate modulating headlights. I find them, and I've only seen 2 bikes with them, to be extremly irritating. Guy at work has one on his Victory and says people will pull over to get out of his way, he has been stopped twice by LEOs to ask what the heck they are -yes, they're legal in VA. Yeah, they make you visible, but I also think they can easily make you the target of road rage. People think you're a LEO and that's why they pull over (cute); you can bet your *** that there's a fair chance that some guy won't like it much when you pass him and he see's you're in fact not a LEO.

So, brake light modulators - great idea.

Headlight modulators - dumber than a dumptruck full of doorknobs.

That's my opinion.

 

[otrfjr]

I have the Backoff XP modulator hooked up to a 6" LED light bar attached to the luggage rack on my FJR. This allows the brake light to light up solid while giving a flash effect above it. I like this combination & it's extremely effective in low-light conditions.

I was recently rear ended while stopped at a yield sign. I am seriously considering installing a modulating headlight and taillight as well as brighter bulbs. I am interested in opinions about the pros and cons of this approach to greater visibility. I think it will definitely make me more visible but will it confuse drivers? Will drivers I am following think I am a police car and drive erratically? Will drivers behind me be confused by the oscillating pattern of the taillight and think I am turning but won't know which way, left or right?

 

[cougar8000]

This is my personal opinion - I like the brake lights that flash initially and then go steady - don't have then installed, but a buddy here at work literally just dropped of a BackOff module 'cause it doesn't work on his bike.
I absolutely hate modulating headlights. I find them, and I've only seen 2 bikes with them, to be extremly irritating. Guy at work has one on his Victory and says people will pull over to get out of his way, he has been stopped twice by LEOs to ask what the heck they are -yes, they're legal in VA. Yeah, they make you visible, but I also think they can easily make you the target of road rage. People think you're a LEO and that's why they pull over (cute); you can bet your *** that there's a fair chance that some guy won't like it much when you pass him and he see's you're in fact not a LEO.

So, brake light modulators - great idea.

Headlight modulators - dumber than a dumptruck full of doorknobs.

That's my opinion.

I know +1 does not cut it anymore So I will add a few words.

modulating head light also makes you a great target fixation.

I would not ride on front of someone that has that light. It is a huge distraction.

Oh and lets not forget. DO NOT think for a minute that once you install the flashing tail light you never have someone hit you from behind. It is only as good as a person paying attention on what is going on.

BTW. flashing tail light in some states if not all is illegal.

 

[.paul]

I've seen some systems on the BMW's on the way to and from work that have a small light bar (7" or so). When the brakes are pulled, the lights flash very quickly then stop flashing and stay on. It's difficult to explain, but when they flash they go from fast to faster then eventually stay on, it happens within a 3-5 second span. It's kind of hard to explain, so sorry if my explanation sucks *** :-D I'll see if I run into one of them at a light one day on the way home from work, I'll ask 'em about it.

 

[NightShine]

BTW. flashing tail light in some states if not all is illegal.

Yep, a constantly flashing brake light is illegal; however, the laws vary from state to state. The comagination unit, for example, claims to conform to Kalifornia DOT regulations, flashing for 3 to 4 seconds and then remaining constantly on.

 

[Pierre]

Use Hyperlite in the rear and Kisan lamp modulator on the front.

Hyperlite flashes for 5 seconds when I apply brake and then stays on.

When I see a car approaching in the back I use my lever to have the Hyperlite flashes a few times

to make sure the driver sees that I am stoped.

Very happy with the Kisan also, the only thing is that some people think that my light

have a problem and they stopped me to let me know that I have something wrong

Some others think that I am a cop and just pull over

 

[FatNakedGuy]

Personally, I almost pulled out in front of a motorcyclist just the other day... looked left, looked right, looked left again and started to pull out. it was at the last moment that I saw a very dim headlight of the motorcyclist coming from my left side. Instead of stopping in the middle of the road I jammed on the gas and got through the intersection and the motorcyclist went behind me. Very scary not seeing him although I am ALWAYS looking for motorcyclists. That's how much he blended into the background...

I have the Kisan Headlight modulator and have actually seen cars START to turn left in front of me and then jam on their brakes. I know they are seeing the modulating light. Don't care if someone thinks I'm a cop or whatever, all I care about is that they are seeing me. Of course, in a group-ride, I turn the modulator off...

Had the Kisan tail light modulator on the bike up until the cruise was installed but it caused problems so was removed. I wonder if the hyperlite setup will work??

 

[Thumperbike]

I have and use both front and rear modulators and find them to be very effective. I do not use the front except in the situation where Noob says not to use them. Approaching any left turners, I turn them on (yes, sooner is better) and it freezes them. To say using headlight modulators is dumb, is dumb.

My opinion.

 

[noob]

Personally, I almost pulled out in front of a motorcyclist just the other day... looked left, looked right,
snip for brevity...

was removed. I wonder if the hyperlite setup will work??

FatNakedGuy,

your response is pretty much the same as my experience with the headlight modulator. I turn it off when appropriate, sitting at a light in traffic etc.

But anytime in heavy traffic, cell phone drivers barely aware of whats going on around them, drivers darting in and out of traffic, people turning left at the last second without signaling with a blinker ahead of time... and on and on. I want to be seen, screw the "it bothers me". So long as yer not being obnoxious like tailgating someone expecting them to get out of yer way because yer headlight is modulating, people seem to understand why you use them.

And yes, the hyper lites will work in your situation. They tap into one wire, the one that sends power to the existing rear light for stoping. They use so little power there's no issues doing it that way. And they are very very bright. Much brighter then your normal bulbs.

go for it, you wont regret it,

 

[Zodiac]

I've done these mods on 2 bikes I've owned.
Here's my recommendations:

Brake Light Modulators: Hyper lites. https://www.hyperlites.com/unikits.html

these are very easy to install, especially if you use their license plate bracket thing. The wiring is very simplistic, I choose the option of 5 second flashing then steady as opposed to constant flashing. If you're worried someone isn't seeing you as they approach, release brake and re apply and they flash 5 secs again.

these also are a million times easier to install then "back off" modulators, which have to be spliced into the wiring harness, sometimes entailing cutting up the harness to find where the front and rear brakes merge, so both brakes activate the unit.

HeadLight Modulator: https://www.comagination.com/

these work great and are plug and play, no wire splicing etc. they are activated when you put your brights on, and off when the brights are off. They are also ofcourse off when it's so dark out the sensor doesn't allow them to work.

t of advice, when you are approaching heavy traffic, turn them on 'before' you get there. Some people think headlight modulators inadvertently signal "go ahead" to other drivers. I found after 10k or more miles of use, that only happens if you turn them on right at the second someone is looking to make a left in front of you, or pull out on you. In other words dont wait till the last second to use them, you want to be noticed wayyyyyyyyy before the last second.

After having these I wouldn't own a bike without them, they definately help in being noticed. With the brake light modulators you'll find some people will even stop a couple car lengths behind you

edit to add: federal law, allowing headlight modulation, supercedes all local laws. ie they are perfectly legal.

regards,

+ 1 Same setup and use!!! It works great!!! Just be courteous in traffic!

 

[Shadow]

May be more trouble than it is worth.

Here

 

[Jetmaker737]

Modulating headlights are friggin annoying. Maybe the eqivalent of "loud pipes save lives"

 

[bramfrank]

I run my headlight modulator whenever I am riding - group or not. If I ride sweep, then the lead can always tell that we're all there - otherwse they just don't care.

Modulating the high beam makes the machine more visible daytime because rather than pointing down as the low beam does, the light is aimed higher - that alone is reason enough to use a modulator. And they are legal for daytime use in all states and provinces in the US and Canada, though, as was pointed out and I responded in the thread on fjrowners.com New York MIGHT pose a problem, though I seriously doubt it, since I ride there with my modulating headlight every second week-end on average and I have reseived Performance Awards and no one has ever commented on my headlight.

A word of warning - if you are using a modulator, leave it on or leave it off. If you switch it on in traffic, the public WILL think you are a cop and you might be eating someone's rear bumper for dinner if the cell-phone-using, makeup-applying, fast-food-eating cager immediately ahead of you is startled by the change in lighting modes.

Tail light modulators are not enshrined in the federal statutes like the headlight modulator are. And many states prohibit red flashing lights (constant or not) unless you are an emergency vehicle. Having said that, my old C10 had a GREAT LED tail light replacement that was a lot brighter than the OEM one and had a fast flash, fading to solid-on feature that made people following me to brake hard.

Unfortunately, the manufacturer does not yet have one for the FJR, so I live with the OEM light bulbs for now.