PartsGenius

On the surface it sounds like a good idea. Pros? Cons?

CBRVFR

They're pretty noticeable.. not so much as a really bright helmet, though.

And they are really irritating to drivers who don't know if they are being asked to move over, or being pulled over, or what?

__________________
"...the TV also never took away the screwdriver and shoved it up the repairman's ass."

Our own Mr.2nd Amendment, explaining the difference. Perfectly.

Rich Herald, the Gentle Giant

Mojave954

To me the only time those things aren't annoying is when you are on the bike. Sure they are attention getters. IMHO, too much so. Cause the cagers to become target fixated on the pulsing light. That makes you the target. Ride with your HI beams on during the day. I actually ride with them on all the time. Pisses some people off but ya know what? They see me. And that is what counts.

JohnnyDiablo

I have to agree. When I am driving my cage those things are anoying. I can easily see how a cager infront of a modulating bike could turn hostile.

I have already had a few occasions when cagers get target fixated on me when I am splitting lanes. They see me coming up between lanes in thier mirror and work to keep me in their mirror up to the point when I am about to take it out. A modulating headlight would just make this happen a whole lot more in my opinion.

Scout

Makes California car drivers stuck in traffic hate you more.

I would personally go for a setup that you could flip from regular to modulate...

__________________
“The intelligent man finds almost everything ridiculous, the sensible man hardly anything.”

quick26

+1

__________________
I am not post whoring, I am providing an abundance of useless opinion.

maxib

All good comments so far. There are lots of pros and cons including that even though legal by Federal law, your local Barney Fife may not know that it is, so you may get stopped for impersonating an emergency vehicle. (Minor inconvenience unless you were also traveling above the legal limit when you caught the eye of the constabulary.)

I like riding with brights during the day, but around here it seems to really attract the wrong kind of attention. Since modulated lights are such a rarity here, they attract more curious attention rather than the seemingly malicious attention garnered by blindness that high beams seem to produce.

I don't disagree with what mojave is saying, but I contend that any tactic motorcyclists use to BE SEEN which includes high beams, modulators, bright helmet or leather colors, neon piping or laser light shows even...all have the potential for target fixation. To put it differently and take this argument to the extreme, in order to avoid cager 'target fixation' we should be in total stealth mode blending with the background....
Uh...not for me baby. I'd rather have the cagers looking at me. I think target fixation for cagers may be a bit different than the target fixation we as motorcyclists understand.

Of course it helps if you cut off the modulator when following closely or at a stop so the person in front or directly across at the light does not get 'irritated'.

Nevertheless, I've installed a modulator on the ST for the coming season. (The ST is already torn apart for winter farkle installation so I thought I'd try this too.) Remind me and I'll let you know how it works out.

maxib

Scout, my Kissan does that easily with a flip of the high beam switch. It also has a light sensor that automatically turns off modulation at dusk, or whenever you program it.

I would think other brands also have that ability. If there is a modulator going off behind you at a stop light, it is most likely the fault of the dim bulb or nut attached to the handlebars. Yup, the same one that has the high beams on behind you at a stop light but has not got brain engaged.

My supposition is if used properly, the modulator may enhance rider safety. However like anything else, if misused it will cause more harm than good.

As an aside, I'm also farkling all my bikes with Stebel compact airhorns. They are awesome! Sounds like a big rig air horn with megadecibels to go with it! My wife's SilverWing scooter got lots of attention when we tried it the first time! I guarantee it will wake up the target fixated cager.

Scout

__________________
“The intelligent man finds almost everything ridiculous, the sensible man hardly anything.”

Tuffy6969

I agree.

__________________
He who rides Honda...rides happy!

PartsGenius

Thanks everyone! All valid points. For now I think I'll do without and rely on "other methods" to be seen.

seamus

I saw a semi with headlight modulators about a week ago. Motorcycle modulators are distracting, this was ridiculous.

CBRVFR

I had a number of British sports cars with Lucas electrics... Those headlights modulated constantly... just not intentionally.

__________________
"...the TV also never took away the screwdriver and shoved it up the repairman's ass."

Our own Mr.2nd Amendment, explaining the difference. Perfectly.

Rich Herald, the Gentle Giant