Headlight modulator

[Tbone]

Is anyone using a headlight modulator and, if so, which particular model are you using? If not using one personally, does anyone have any experience with them and which brand is the best piece of equipment?
I am considering whether or not to go in this direction and always like to ask before making the jump.

[milindh]

Hey Tbone

I don't like to see them on an bike, personally. My reaction when I see one coming toward me is always, "What is that....?". Then I realize it's a bike with a modulator. That little period of wondering, "What is that?", sets my mind off from what is directly in front of me and moves me out of the present and draws my attention (and maybe my vehicle) toward the flashing light. It's kind of a momentary hypnotic thing. Yes it does get you noticed but not in a good way, in my opinion. I would think on a long trip it might actually have a hypnotic effect on the rider too. As you can tell I'm not a fence sitter on this little gizmo. I don't like to rain on anyone's parade but I couldn't let this pass without comment.

Best Wishes

[evoKENevo]

Yeah,Tbone...I'm with milindh on this one,all the way...and F.Y.I. although I don't know about other states, but here in Mich. you can/will be ticketed and fined (heavily) for lights that are restricted to "emergency vehicle"use...like flashers,etc.

Just my opinion...and a legal matter you might want to look into,before you go ahead.

[unclepsycho]

yeah, what they said.

a buddy of mine took his off.... got tired of people telling him his headlights were deffective.

[BlueBob]

I also agree. Good way to get seen, but at what cost?

[Tbone]

milindh
< My reaction when I see one coming toward me is always, "What is that....?". >
< moves me out of the present and draws my attention (and maybe my vehicle) toward the flashing light. >

Well, if you were a busy person on a cell phone, I'm thinking that this might keep you from turning left in front of me or pulling out in front of me when I'm right on top of you and have no chance to stop at 55 to 70 mph. That's what had me thinking about going to this safety device.

< I would think on a long trip it might actually have a hypnotic effect on the rider too. >

I don't follow you here. The rider shouldn't be able to see it at all. I never see my headlight in the daytime and the modulators switch off at night.

evoKENevo

< here in Mich. you can/will be ticketed and fined (heavily) for lights that are restricted to "emergency vehicle"use...like flashers,etc. >

I know that one might have to go to court in some cases but, there is a federal law that makes the modulator legal in all states.

unclepsycho

< a buddy of mine took his off.... got tired of people telling him his headlights were deffective >

Very few people talk to me.

Tbone

< The reason I am considering this is there seems to be a rash of "I didn't see him" accidents around here lately. Traffic around here is about 5 times what it was before hurricane Katrina. I don't know why, maybe all of the displaced New Orleanites or increased construction workers working to build places for these people. There are 10 times more Mexican citizens driving here now and I don't know about the rules in Mexico but, they seem to drive by rules different from those in the U.S. I've had thre near collisions with these drivers. My brother was clipped by one changing lanes. They seem to change lanes when they want to and it's up to you to avoid them.

Every one of the "I didn't see him" accidents have been fatal.

I've seen bikes around with the modulators and, even though I am a very attentive driver and it may not be a fair comparison, I definitely see them better and farther away than bikes with just headlights.

Well, that is why I am considering going in this direction. I am not trying to start an argument and thanks for the opinions.

[evoKENevo]

Hi Tbone
No arguements from me, buddy
Like I said earlier...just my opinion,etc...
Meanwhile,though...just out of genuine curiosity and/or the ability to pass info on to others...would you elaborate on the federal law that makes modulators legal in all states...along with whatever else that may cover.

[milindh]

This thing about not being seen is absolutely true. I've had a couple old Porsche's and when I had the last one, a '73 911E, I observed this phenomena first hand. People would pull right out in front of me or even cross the double yellow line on curves into my lane. Now that old Porsche was pretty small and low but it was a lot bigger than a bike and it was bright "Kawasaki" green. It was easy to see for sure but it didn't pose any direct threat to the soccer mom in her Explorer or the Dale Earnhart Jr. wannabe. Some of them would actually look right at me but not seem to either notice or care.

I wondered if I was just making up this conclusion that people either didn't see me or even care if they did but when I drove my full sized white Tundra pickup with shell and lumber rack sitting up in the air down the same roads I got a totally different reaction when I encountered a double yellow line crosser. Their eyes buggin' out and fear in their eyes. They got back in their lane pronto. I saw fear in their eyes. And I'm glad I did! That little Porsche just didn't scare people. In some cases it just pissed 'em off! Same goes with bikes. If you can't get respect then fear is the next best thing.

I always remind myself when I'm riding my bike that these brain dead or overly aggressive types are on the road with me all the time. I don't rely on being seen or respected and I never hang out near the rear quarter panel of any car on the freeway. I pull right up where I can't be missed. I have to face the fact that no bike is perceived as a threat by a car driver. Right or wrong as that core belief may be it is a fact that I acknowledge.

The bottom line is that bikers are usually either not seen or not recognized as a threat in many many cases. I remember when the headlight modulators showed up a couple decades ago and I thought to myself, "Good idea! That'll get ya noticed." I just don't think they actually get the reaction you're looking for. No fear, no respect (like with an emergency flasher). Just non-recognition and wondering, "What's that....?"

[Tbone]

Here ya go, Ken.

This Federal law supersedes all state laws and makes motorcycle headlight modulators legal in all 50 states. FMVSS 108 (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) (49 CFR Part 571.108 S7.9.4) allows motorcycle headlight modulation systems all 50 states provided they comply with the standards set forth in this section.
Title 49 USC 30103 (b1) (US Codes) prohibits any state from forbidding a system that conforms to FMVSS 108 (see copy below). Here is a web page with all of Part 571 and all of the subsections; they've now broken it up by section to make it easier to read. The Legal Information Institute at Cornell University also has a nice website where you can read the various sections of the entire Title 49 USC.

Code of Federal Regulations
Title 49, Volume 5, Parts 400 to 999
Revised as of October 1, 2000
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 49CFR571.108] [Page 236-307]
TITLE 49TRANSPORTATIONCHAPTER VNATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PART 571FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDSSubpart B--Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
Sec. 571.108 Standard No. 108;

Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
S7.9.4 Motorcycle headlamp modulation system.
S7.9.4.1 A headlamp on a motorcycle may be wired to modulate either the upper beam or the lower beam from its maximum intensity to a lesser intensity, provided that:

(a) The rate of modulation shall be 240 <plus-minus> 40 cycles per minute.
(b) The headlamp shall be operated at maximum power for 50 to 70 percent of each cycle.
(c) The lowest intensity at any test point shall be not less than 17 percent of the maximum intensity measured at the same point.
(d) The modulator switch shall be wired in the power lead of the beam filament being modulated and not in the ground side of the circuit.
(e) Means shall be provided so that both the lower beam and upper beam remain operable in the event of a modulator failure.
(f) The system shall include a sensor mounted with the axis of its sensing element perpendicular to a horizontal plane. Headlamp modulation shall cease whenever the level of light emitted by a tungsten filament light operating at 3000 deg. Kelvin is either less than 270 lux (25 foot-candles) of direct light for upward pointing sensors or less than 60 lux (5.6 foot-candles) of reflected light for downward pointing sensors. The light is measured by a silicon cell type light meter that is located at the sensor and pointing in the same direction as the sensor. A Kodak Gray Card (Kodak R-27) is placed at ground level to simulate the road surface in testing downward pointing sensors.
(g) When tested in accordance with the test profile shown in Figure 9, the voltage drop across the modulator when the lamp is on at all test conditions for 12 volt systems and 6 volt systems shall not be greater than .45 volt. The modulator shall meet all the provisions of the standard after completion of the test profile shown in Figure 9.
(h) Means shall be provided so that both the lower and upper beam function at design voltage when the headlamp control switch is in either the lower or upper beam position when the modulator is off.

S7.9.4.2(a) Each motorcycle headlamp modulator not intended as original equipment, or its container, shall be labeled with the maximum wattage, and the minimum wattage appropriate for its use. Additionally, each such modulator shall comply with S7.9.4.1 (a) through (g) when connected to a headlamp of the maximum rated power and a headlamp of the minimum rated power, and shall provide means so that the modulated beam functions at design voltage when the modulator is off.
(b) Instructions, with a diagram, shall be provided for mounting the light sensor including location on the motorcycle, distance above the road surface, and orientation with respect to the light.

Here is a copy of the relevant section of Title 49, United States Code, Chapter 301 Motor Vehicle Safety. This law prohibits states from forbidding a system that complies with FMVSS 108. The full document can be found at this link.

TITLE 49, UNITED STATES CODE CHAPTER 301 MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY SUBCHAPTER I GENERAL
Sec. 30101. Purpose and policy.
Sec. 30102. Definitions.
Sec. 30103. Relationship to other laws.
UNIFORMITY OF REGULATIONS The Secretary of Transportation may not prescribe a safety regulation related to a motor vehicle subject to subchapter II of chapter 105 of this title that differs from a motor vehicle safety standard prescribed under this chapter. However, the Secretary may prescribe, for a motor vehicle operated by a carrier subject to subchapter II of chapter 105, a safety regulation that imposes a higher standard of performance after manufacture than that required by an applicable standard in effect at the time of manufacture.
PREEMPTION
When a motor vehicle safety standard is in effect under this chapter, a State or a political subdivision of a State may prescribe or continue in effect a standard applicable to the same aspect of performance of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment only if the standard is identical to the standard prescribed under this chapter. However, the United States Government, a State, or a political subdivision of a State may prescribe a standard for a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment obtained for its own use that imposes a higher performance requirement than that required by the otherwise applicable standard under this chapter.
A State may enforce a standard that is identical to a standard prescribed under this chapter.
ANTITRUST LAWS This chapter does not exempt from the antitrust laws conduct that is unlawful under those laws; or prohibit under the antitrust laws conduct that is lawful under those laws.
WARRANTY OBLIGATIONS AND ADDITIONAL LEGAL RIGHTS AND REMEDIES Sections 30117(b), 30118-30121, 30166(f), and 30167(a) and (b) of this title do not establish or affect a warranty obligation under a law of the United States or a State. A remedy under those sections and sections 30161 and 30162 of this title is in addition to other rights and remedies under other laws of the United States or a State.
COMMON LAW LIABILITY Compliance with a motor vehicle safety standard prescribed under this chapter does not exempt a person from liability at common law.

[evoKENevo]

Geez,Tbone...all that just for a friggin' headlight ???
And,who sez our politicans,etc,ain't doin' diddley !?!
Thanks...I'll pass it on (filed for reference) if/when the occasion calls for it !!!