Visibility

[Yogisan]

There have been no studies to show the modulating headlights are efffectvie.
They have been out for a long time, 30+ years. Just seems funny that no one could ever show they are helpful.
It would sure help sales.

The Feds (DOT) formally approved them for use in 1985. Now there are only three problems: 1) not all States have modified their laws to include the headlight modulator as being acceptable (which is, by itself, against the Federal Statutes), 2) not all the LEO's in states where they are approved know it and 3) no one is making any noise about it. They're too busy worrying about not being able to show off their shaved heads while riding.

This the adoption of these items was slowed down initially because everyone who got one also got a ticket for it. Not only that but remember, if you didn't look bad and dangerous in those days then you just weren't fittin' the image. Safety of any kind just didn't fit the bill. Lookin' like a 1%-er did.

I got a ticket last year for using my headlight modulator even though I'd been using it for over one year at the time. Why? Because the county LEO went strictly by the book, which doesn't address the modulator issue, just the issue of "flashing lights"; which by the way headlight modulators are not by technical definition. However, they are accepted by the MD MVA Attorney General, the State Trooper Safety division (who indicated action is in process to formally change the law), and the MD MVA as a whole. If you read the MD MVA's Motorcycle Operators Manual, pg. 19, it recommends using a headlight modulator. All the research that came up with that info also got me out of paying the ticket.

Studies are good for some things. But I don't need to wait for a study to tell me if I lay down in the middle of the street crosswise during rush hour traffic that I'll get run over. As far as I'm concerned, anything short of a fire in my gas tank that gets me noticed by people who are otherwise occupied by their own personal interests when driving is OK by me. I noticed the difference the first day I used the modulator and I see its value almost every time I'm out riding.

PS. The fact that after 30 years that they are being sold by more than one company should tell you that they must be getting bought by someone.

[ahamilton3]

I like my Pearl Yellow trike for visibility reasons - plus I like the color - plus I drive defensively and carefully all the time. No guarantees against having an accident, I know, but I do everything possible to avoid mishaps, either large ones or small ones.

[Blondie Gal]

Another reason we have enough lights on our black trike to be seen from outer space!!

[Ken45]

I've had my motorcycle license for little over a year, and I always wear blaze orange when I ride. SO FAR, I've never had a cage not see me. Also, a tip I picked up from my MSF course instructor -- keep your high beam on during the day.

I have heard that high beams from some bikes with dual headlights (like Goldwings) wash out the visibility of turn signals.

On the Goldwing trike and the FJR1300, I run adjust the headlights as high as possible but use the low beams.

As for jacket visibility, a few weeks ago I was in a group ride at a Yamaha demo days. I was wearing a flourescent yellow jacket. One of the guys in the back of the group told me that everytime he looked forward in the group, my jacket immediately caught his attention.

Our trike is silver. I kind of wish we had gotten a bright yellow one.

Ken

[MickUpi]

If you're thinking about getting a headlight modulator, do it. Don't wait for some genius guru to tell you they work. Anyone with any ability to think should know a blinking light gets cagers attention. Don't we want attention at an intersection? I've heard some say they don't want to distract or upset cagers in front of them. I do turn mine off when behind cars at a traffic light. It's only 30 seconds out of their day. Why would you care what they think? It's your BUTT!

[Sidecarbill]

My father was a truck driver. He didn't have much patience for people. Anyway he stopped in a toll booth one time got out with his ballpein hammer. Walked to the car behind him that was following for last twenty miles or so with his high beams on, Broke all four headlights out and left. I guess little things can be annoying when you have to deal with it all day.

[MickUpi]

Congrats to your Dad. I would not have been brave enough to do that, although I would have wanted to. Would he have done that for a 30 second duration of blinking? I would guess probably not. I always turn off the headlight modulator when I am close behind a truck. Their mirrors are gigantic and you can just about blind them.