Headlamp modulator-has this happened to you?

[BigBoyinMS]

This actually happened a week ago... I had just left work and in a rush to get home so I was pushing a little. The right lane was slow so I jumped in the left lane and was doing ok until this young girl in front of me puts on her right turn signal and suddenly starts slowing down until she is stopped waiting for cars in the right lane to pass. When she finally gets over I blow past her and look over to see her looking at me with a 'what did I do wrong' look on her face. THAT'S when I realized that me on the Venture with my black half helmet and black leather jacket and flashing headlight must have looked like a cop in her young mind and she thought I was pulling her over. (Yes, I did laugh) I've noticed others looking close or slowing down when I get behind them.

Has anyone else had someone pull over for you?

[Gary N.]

Happens all the time. Headlight modulators get their attention and should be made manditory and installed on all bikes at the factory (IMHO). Then John Q. Public needs to be educated.

Another local rider was killed a mile from my house yesterday and her husband is in hospital because a twenty year old female pulled out in front of them from a stop street. How could she not see two bikes coming at her on a beautiful clear day.

[BigBoyinMS]

Either the modulator and the Stebel have saved my butt a few times.

[Bummer]

I've been running a modulator since spring '06 and it's happened a lot. I no longer laugh all that much. Some simply move over a lane, while a few have pulled off the road and stopped. My concern is that once they figure out I'm not a LEO they'll get upset. I don't need a POed cager chasing me down the road.

 

It doesn't help that the other day I saw a Trooper in an unmarked Mustang hanging some paper. His headlights were modulating. Together. I was under the impression that we have to modulate synchronized because only LEOs can have headlights that flash in an alternating pattern. So here's one that modulates in sync. Great. Like everybody isn't confused enough already.

 

No matter. I still run the modulator. I also have a modulator on my passing lamps that's activated by the horn button along with air horns, and a set of extra loud electrics. Can you tell I've been run over by someone who said he didn't see me? Next one's gonna have to say the flashing lights blinded him.

[Pic]

I don't have one on my Venture yet, but is on my list to add. Had one on my VSTAR and it definetly made a difference. I noticed many times people doing double takes when they saw the modulating headlight, don't know if they thought I was a cop or not. Anything to get noticed by cages is a big plus in my book, but there are better alternatives than really loud pipe IMHO. I have noticed with my LED Accent lights I do get seen easier at night, even though I do not ride alot at night. Way to many animals out where I live in the Boonies.

[Al Bates]

I don't believe in them, to many times they cause drivers mostly young drivers to do some unpredictable weird stuff. Drives me crazy when there's one behind me Just being honest

[JohnnyB]

This actually happened a week ago... I had just left work and in a rush to get home so I was pushing a little. The right lane was slow so I jumped in the left lane and was doing ok until this young girl in front of me puts on her right turn signal and suddenly starts slowing down until she is stopped waiting for cars in the right lane to pass. When she finally gets over I blow past her and look over to see her looking at me with a 'what did I do wrong' look on her face. THAT'S when I realized that me on the Venture with my black half helmet and black leather jacket and flashing headlight must have looked like a cop in her young mind and she thought I was pulling her over. (Yes, I did laugh) I've noticed others looking close or slowing down when I get behind them.

Has anyone else had someone pull over for you?[/quote

Yes

[JohnnyB]

I don't believe in them, to many times they cause drivers mostly young drivers to do some unpredictable weird stuff. Drives me crazy when there's one behind me Just being honest[/quote

 

Before 1990 most cars did not have there headlights on in the daytime Here in Canada. Since then All New Vehicles are wired so you cannot drive without the headlights on. It is a safety thing.

Now that all vehicles have headlights on, drivers are not aware of a motorcycle because there are so many lights out there.

Now comes the new age, flashing lights. You notice them. If they are driving you crazy they are working. That is what they are meant to do. That is why police,fire,any emergence vehicle has flashing lights.

In the last couple of months I have been cut of 3 times whilst driving my car. All by middle age people.

Please do not be offended by this.

I have them on my bike and would not drive without them.

Johnny

[BEER30]

Last year going to Rolling Thunder in DC , I had a flock of cages pull over to the side of the road as they were entering the highway thinking I was the law in pursuit . They saw my modulator . This year and same place , I was not running my modulator and dam near got hit 6 times within a 2 mile stretch ! I was running rear of the group as I was the only bike pulling a trailer and was being curtious to other bikers ahead of me by not running the modulator . It wasn't long that other bikers in the group saw the near misses whom knew I had a modulator , radioed to me to turn that modulator on ! Not a near miss happened the rest of the trip .

I had a cager catch up with me after doing a u-turn , just to tell me that my headlight must have had a loose ground at it was flickering . I thanked him for his concern and told him that my headlight was OK , that it was on a modulator . He was a new biker and unaware of modulators . Then told me that he was going to get a modulator right away caused he noticed me right away and didn't give other bikers much concern as he didn't see them from a distance .

I am a believer of the modulator and will continue to use mine .

 

BEER30

[pegscraper]

I don't believe in them, to many times they cause drivers mostly young drivers to do some unpredictable weird stuff. Drives me crazy when there's one behind me Just being honest

 

I'm with you. Plenty of evidence right here in this thread that flashing lights confuse cagers, and cagers don't need any more excuses to get confused than they already have. Plain and simple.

[Bummer]

I don't believe in them, to many times they cause drivers mostly young drivers to do some unpredictable weird stuff. Drives me crazy when there's one behind me Just being honest

I certainly understand your concerns, Al. The weird stuff can be pretty disconcerting. And troubling to deal with at times.

 

FWIW I've learned to turn off the modulator when I'm in a group of riders. I don't really like to have one behind me either. On the other hand, if I'm leading, it's on.

[Hummingbird]

All you have to do is have a modulated headlight in your rear view mirror for a couple hours and you'll never ride with that bike again.

 

Anybody that thinks it humorous that cars pull over because of an approaching modulated headlight is apparently NOT as courteous as they expect others to be to them.

 

What ever happened to a persons left thumb and the ability flash the high beam ?? Don't have time to do that ?? Slow down.

 

Perhaps you've noticed by now that I'm TOTALLY against headlight modulators but then everybody has an opinion and you're just as right to run them as I'm right to object to them.

Doesn't make either one of us bad guys

[Riderduke]

I'm not sure about them. I've talked to many drivers that have trouble judging the distance that the bike is away when they are at a stop sign. They said that the flashing light makes it hard for them tell. I saw my wife almost take off from a stop sign because she didn't realize how close the bike was to her. IMHO I see the benifits but not sure that they out weight the risks.

Just my

[royalstarjac]

I could not count the times I have had cars start to pull out of driveways, side streets and parking lots only to pull up short and stop. I'm convinced it's due in large part to the modulator. It only takes one time to end your life. If some people are annoyed by it, that's their problem. Unlike loud pipes they don't annoy everyone within a quarter mile.

[Venturous Randy]

I run the strobes in my headlight all the time, even at night. I also seem to have people move over when thay have been lingering in the left lane. They are noticable and I hope they keep working as well as they have so far.

I also am not comfortable with modulators. I want to be seen, but I don't want some one in a state of panic trying to get out of the road, possibly causing an accident that could involve me and others.

It seems to me that years ago young drivers seemed to have more "road sense" than they do now. Maybe it was because they spent time on farms, or riding a bike on the road or whatever. Now I see young drivers and others that seem to be paying more attention to everything else rather then driving. A modulator may get their attention, but I'm not sure the panic involved is the best thing. So far my strobes get attention, but they seem to realize I am not an emergency vehicle or police.

All that being said, my next ride may be my last.

RandyA

[SLOW HAND]

I really need to get an owners manuel (or at least spend more time flipping switches), I didn't Know it could be turned off & on I thought you had it or you didn't .

[Freebird]

I have the modulator and really like it. Mine works on high beam only so if I want to turn it off, I just switch to low beam.

[Hummingbird]

One BIG problem I have with modulators is that a flashing headlight is and has been the signal that the vehicle flashing their light is relinquishing the right of way to the vehicle in front of it.

 

So - just as many times that you think you are safe because of a modulating headlight, you could be telling an old trucker to go ahead and turn/pull out in front of you. just my

[V7Goose]

All you have to do is have a modulated headlight in your rear view mirror for a couple hours and you'll never ride with that bike again.

 

Anybody that thinks it humorous that cars pull over because of an approaching modulated headlight is apparently NOT as courteous as they expect others to be to them.

 

What ever happened to a persons left thumb and the ability flash the high beam ?? Don't have time to do that ?? Slow down.

 

Perhaps you've noticed by now that I'm TOTALLY against headlight modulators but then everybody has an opinion and you're just as right to run them as I'm right to object to them.

Doesn't make either one of us bad guys

Sure is good to see a couple of comments here against those horrible things. This quote pretty much sums up my feelings. Putting anything on a vehicle that is intended simply to annoy another driver is unacceptable to me. I not only hate seeing them on another vehicle, I would absolutely refuse to ride a bike with one installed.

 

I have had to ask other riders to turn down their brights when following me, and I won't ride in front of a flashing headlight. Period. I'll either move to the back of the group or just leave it before I allow myself to be distracted and irritated by it. IMHO it is dangerous and less than smart to do that to other drivers and riders.

 

Isn't it great how we can all have different opinions?

Goose

[BEER30]

With all said , "I don't Play Cop " ! I plan to be seen for another day or two . I know I am doing the most I can to be seen . If the other driver/s are uncertain to know what is going on , then they should take another second or two to reevaluate the situation and not make a rash decision just because of their ignorance . Shifting the blame to the biker because he has a modulator is pretty lame . I and many of you have came to a point in life or any circumstance to where you should stop , take a step back , observe and then proceed , not just push through like a bull in the china closet . If we have these youngsters or old geezers whom think they cam just shoot out in front of anything , then a modulator , sirens , strobes , or BIG BERTHA's BUTT up on the front fairing isn't going to slow them down .

Modulator , put them in place of an ambulance , troopers , county coppers , firetrucks and such with their lights , sirens , strobes , bells and whistles , How many people do you see to fail to yield to them ? People at any time just do not pay attention at any particular point or time . Just look upon every incidents ...........NOT ACCIDENTS . So no matter what you do or they do , when your number is up , your number is up . Just be safe in the mean time .

 

 

BEER30

[stardbog]

I'm pro headlight modulator, And I'm probably one who is PO Al . I use to have modulator on Venture, now I have modulator on Stratoliner. wired same way as Freebird's on high beam, but i do have on / off switch if i want to use high beam, or just flip lo beam. Mostly I use modulator in urban areas and intersections. That helps pick attention of old lady's, asian lady's and teen's behind a wheel.

[Moped]

Adventure 1943, maybe it's only where we live but many people flash lights to give right away. A biker friend got hit for that exact reason at a four way stop. I to can never ride in front of one. In certain circumstances they can be dangerous. Don't know how many on this site have them but the last time I seen modulation was a trip to Tenn. where I seen a number of Gold Wings with them. I can't remember the last time I seen one riding around my area (OH, KY, IN.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Maritimer]

Sorry double post. Please remove.

Edited June 2, 2009 by Maritimer

[Maritimer]

I have them on my bike and would not drive without them.

 

I am a believer of the modulator and will continue to use mine

 

This is my feeling also. If/when I get a new bike the first thing to go on the bike would certainly be the modulator. The pros certainly out weigh the cons. Many times ppl were pulling from side streets in front of me and stopped short when they noticed my lights. I am certain I can be writing this today because of my modulator.

 

Anybody that thinks it humorous that cars pull over because of an approaching modulated headlight is apparently NOT as courteous as they expect others to be to them.

 

If I ride behind a cager for a length of time, I will turn it off. I also turn it off in a group of bikers unless I am leading. 12 of my buddies were going to a wedding last year (no modulator) a cager went over the center line and took out 5 including the groom. The groom lost a leg below the knee and my buddy is still in a wheel chair. The cager said he saw them but thought they were a car that was much further. I think a modulator would have gotten his attention.

 

you could be telling an old trucker to go ahead and turn/pull out in front of you.

 

I had that happen to me once....the trucker thought I was signaling to him it was safe to pull in front of me...nearly took me out. Now when a trucker passes me, I turn it off. Mine is also wired on the High Beam. Easy on/easy off.

 

I would never ride without again.

[StarQ]

I understand the desire to be seen, I teach the motorcycle safety course. However, me personally, I am somewhat like Homer Simpson when it comes to flashing lights. My eyes are light sensitive and easily attracted to shiny, moving objects. I have found myself almost running into another biker's backend because of target-fixation on their flashing LED brakelight. Headlight modulators are the same way. I'm not saying get rid of them or don't use them, just understand that you may be creating a new hazard while solving another.

 

I, too, would not ride in front of another bike with a modulated headlight.

 

Sure is good to see a couple of comments here against those horrible things. This quote pretty much sums up my feelings. Putting anything on a vehicle that is intended simply to annoy another driver is unacceptable to me. I not only hate seeing them on another vehicle, I would absolutely refuse to ride a bike with one installed.

 

I have had to ask other riders to turn down their brights when following me, and I won't ride in front of a flashing headlight. Period. I'll either move to the back of the group or just leave it before I allow myself to be distracted and irritated by it. IMHO it is dangerous and less than smart to do that to other drivers and riders.

 

Isn't it great how we can all have different opinions?

Goose