Total Motorcycle Community Forums

True, they ramp up and down the electrical supply, varying the brightness of the light from dim to bright. The end effect is the light appears to flash because of the varying brightness.

I don't see how loud pipes and these modulators aren't comparable. Is one more annoying than the other? I would say most definitely but some people like those pipes and the louder the better.

Look, I'm not saying these things are the greatest, but for me they get my attention. People run into cop cars, trains and other high profile vehicles all the time. The only 100% guaranteed way to not get hit is to stay home.

Just that loud pipes get annoying in the middle of the night for those that use that time to sleep. I remember some "O Ring" pulling away from a traffic light and you could still hear him for 2 minutes blaring down whatever distance he was at the time. I thought to myself that it will make people hate bikers even more in which may cause people to run us off the road out of anger and not lack of attention. I do admit though that loud pipes help to alert drivers on a side street making a turn that a bike is approaching (even though the driver is on the side street in front of the bike). I'm embarassed that the transit bus is louder than my bike, clean air technology my "O Ring".

Just one look at my bike and you'll see that I focus on catching people's eye and a high dB horn for those who refuse to see (sounds like a truck horn ). A headlight modulator and maybe a new headlight design is in my future just a matter of money.

Skier wrote:a modulator is I anger a driver having a bad day and they try to run me off the road.

What? 1st, I still don't understand why anyone would be "annoyed" by a modulator. 2nd, the odds that some idiot will be so annoyed that he or she would commit attempted murder is ridiculous.

shane-o wrote:

SignalDynamics wrote:It has been proven that a flashing light is more visible than one steady on. That is one reason why the U.S. Federal DOT has legalized headlight modulators for safety. Its been reported that most motorcycle accidents involve front-end collisions. What's your safety worth?

My company is the leading manufacturer of headlight modules. I just wanted to know what positive or negative experiences or comments you have about these devices.

Awesome idea !!!!

Especially if one would be desiring to achieve monstrous dork n cigarette level capabilities.

Fantastic idea, cant wait to strap on my headlight modulator so i can go riding and pull up at the first set of lights next to fellow riders when they notice I have said modulator thingymejig running and they all dismount and beat the living dodo out of me for being some pillow biting headlight modulator sporting wanker, not mention the car loads of youngins who see me and start lining me up.



Some times, its good to blend in

My don't you have some serious insecurity and anger issues.

All that name calling and anger just because someone puts a simple safety device on their bike? You should seek counseling.

As to the worries of other bikers or cagers wanting to "beat the living dodo" out of you, get real. I've head a headlight modulator on for quite some time, and the only reaction I get from other bikers is asking where they can get one. I've had one cager yell at me that my headlight was broken, but most comment on how it makes me more visible, and ask if it's legal to put them on cars.

Either way, get some help for your insecurity and anger issues.

NewGuy wrote:

shane-o wrote:

SignalDynamics wrote:It has been proven that a flashing light is more visible than one steady on. That is one reason why the U.S. Federal DOT has legalized headlight modulators for safety. Its been reported that most motorcycle accidents involve front-end collisions. What's your safety worth?

My company is the leading manufacturer of headlight modules. I just wanted to know what positive or negative experiences or comments you have about these devices.

Awesome idea !!!!

Especially if one would be desiring to achieve monstrous dork n cigarette level capabilities.

Fantastic idea, cant wait to strap on my headlight modulator so i can go riding and pull up at the first set of lights next to fellow riders when they notice I have said modulator thingymejig running and they all dismount and beat the living dodo out of me for being some pillow biting headlight modulator sporting wanker, not mention the car loads of youngins who see me and start lining me up.



Some times, its good to blend in

My don't you have some serious insecurity and anger issues.

All that name calling and anger just because someone puts a simple safety device on their bike? You should seek counseling.

As to the worries of other bikers or cagers wanting to "beat the living dodo" out of you, get real. I've head a headlight modulator on for quite some time, and the only reaction I get from other bikers is asking where they can get one. I've had one cager yell at me that my headlight was broken, but most comment on how it makes me more visible, and ask if it's legal to put them on cars.

Either way, get some help for your insecurity and anger issues.

Says the guy with Stewie beating Brian up for $50.

NewGuy wrote:

shane-o wrote:

SignalDynamics wrote:It has been proven that a flashing light is more visible than one steady on. That is one reason why the U.S. Federal DOT has legalized headlight modulators for safety. Its been reported that most motorcycle accidents involve front-end collisions. What's your safety worth?

My company is the leading manufacturer of headlight modules. I just wanted to know what positive or negative experiences or comments you have about these devices.

Awesome idea !!!!

Especially if one would be desiring to achieve monstrous dork n cigarette level capabilities.

Fantastic idea, cant wait to strap on my headlight modulator so i can go riding and pull up at the first set of lights next to fellow riders when they notice I have said modulator thingymejig running and they all dismount and beat the living dodo out of me for being some pillow biting headlight modulator sporting wanker, not mention the car loads of youngins who see me and start lining me up.



Some times, its good to blend in

My don't you have some serious insecurity and anger issues.

All that name calling and anger just because someone puts a simple safety device on their bike? You should seek counseling.

As to the worries of other bikers or cagers wanting to "beat the living dodo" out of you, get real. I've head a headlight modulator on for quite some time, and the only reaction I get from other bikers is asking where they can get one. I've had one cager yell at me that my headlight was broken, but most comment on how it makes me more visible, and ask if it's legal to put them on cars.

Either way, get some help for your insecurity and anger issues.

hmmmmm

so you would be pro headlight modulators then



I ride a totally black bike and what wasnt black on it when i bought it is now i wear a black helmet with a heavily black tinited visor, black jacket, black pants and black boots, you might say my bike and i are quite black in colour, I dont think standing out is apart of my agenda, instead, I rely on skill, observation, concentration and planning to stay alive, I dont care if cars dont see me I have never expected that they do, because I see them, the day I rely on cars to keep me alive or see me for me to be safe is the day ill prolly be taken out





lol



.

Gunslinger wrote:I don't see how loud pipes and these modulators aren't comparable. Is one more annoying than the other? I would say most definitely but some people like those pipes and the louder the better.

Look, I'm not saying these things are the greatest, but for me they get my attention. People run into cop cars, trains and other high profile vehicles all the time. The only 100% guaranteed way to not get hit is to stay home.

I'm sorry, I wasn't clear on that. They aren't comparable in terms of safety: folks buy headlight modulators in hopes of being safer, while most people buying loud exhaust either want more top-end power or to sound cooler (louder). Not many people buy pipes just because they think annoying a full city block will make them safer.

NewGuy wrote:

Skier wrote:a modulator is I anger a driver having a bad day and they try to run me off the road.

What? 1st, I still don't understand why anyone would be "annoyed" by a modulator. 2nd, the odds that some idiot will be so annoyed that he or she would commit attempted murder is ridiculous.

I'm not sure how you mangled my post, but here goes:

Some people, myself included, don't like really bright lights aimed directly into their retinas. A tailgating motorcyclist with a headlight modulator is annoying as hell to me and other folks I've talked to. Same deal with huge, lifted trucks who want to ride my bumper and have headlights shooting in both side mirrors to my face. Not exactly calming.

Even if they aren't tailgating a flashing light draws your attention (not necessarily improving your perception of distance) to the source. This can be detrimental to scanning the environment and there's plenty of folks who struggle with this without distractions.

It can take less than loud pipes or modulating lights to set someone off. Remember that story a year or two ago about a woman who forced a rider off the road to prove her point of "riding is dangerous?" Her being set off was due to a loved one dying in a motorcycle wreck. Just seeing another two wheeler made her want to hurt or kill.

Low odds, yes, but why not keep them low instead of actively increasing them?

I find headlight modulators anoying as all hell, but I like tail light modulators. But it's not that big of a deal to me if someone else has them, they don't blind me in the middle of the day. Unless the light sensor for the modulator is broken/fixed so it does it during low/no light times. Then I'll gladly shove the modulator up their "O Ring".

NewGuy wrote:

Skier wrote:a modulator is I anger a driver having a bad day and they try to run me off the road.

What? 1st, I still don't understand why anyone would be "annoyed" by a modulator. 2nd, the odds that some idiot will be so annoyed that he or she would commit attempted murder is ridiculous.

You either havn't been riding that long or live in an area where you never run into people.

PS - Meet shane-o. Good luck. The only sure outcome you'll get from arguing with him is that I'll be entertained for a few minutes.

HYPERR wrote:

Skier wrote:
My anecdotal evidence spans more than my personal opinion on the flashing lights.

Modulators don't flash the lights.

You're right! They vary the the voltage and give the headlight a slow pulsating look to it. In Californication, I believe they're only legal during daylight. To me, they're a waste of money. If anything it might be something some drunk would fixate on and plow ya!