Non typical lighting a hazzard

[gmiguy]

Originally Posted by windmill

I have always been against use of high output high beams as a "safety" (crutch) device,

Originally Posted by windmill

Like you, I run brighter than stock lights adjusted so they don't blind others. Additional lighting is a good thing if done intelligently.

So what's distinguishes a "crutch" from a "good thing"? Just the aiming?

[windmill]

Originally Posted by ttpete

We didn't need modulators until they started putting daytime running lights on cars. The federal government then made modulators legal nationwide as a way to differentiate motorcycles from other vehicles. I have a two bulb headlight on my Versys, and I run a yellow low beam lamp and modulate the white high beam.

I know you don't care, but isn't modulating the high beam illegal except for emergency vehicles?

[DAKEZ]

Originally Posted by windmill

I know you don't care, but isn't modulating the high beam illegal except for emergency vehicles?

No. 50 state legal

[windmill]

Originally Posted by gmiguy

So what's distinguishes a "crutch" from a "good thing"? Just the aiming?

It is a good thing if it helps others see you without negative affects.

It is a crutch when it is done to force others to pay more attention to you so you don't have to pay more attention to them.

[ttpete]

Originally Posted by windmill

I know you don't care, but isn't modulating the high beam illegal except for emergency vehicles?

No. Per federal law, it's legal in all 50 states.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcyc...lator-regs.htm

[duck]

Originally Posted by Aussijussi

Forgot to ask, what sort of light's are they on your BMW?

They are CATZ XLOs.

I get them from this guy: (not affiliated except as a customer)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CATZ-FET-XLO...ht_19206wt_991

He used to have a surplus of them and sell them for $90/pair but raised his prices about a year ago.

I run them on ALL of my bikes and swear up and down by them and, though I don't take it for granted, they really do radically increase the bike's conspicuity in traffic. The first time I saw them in person on a riding buddy's bike I just HAD to have them.

The one caveat if that they're 70W each so you need to be sure you've got enough extra alternator output to run them.


Side note: I sure wish somebody would have the good sense to come out with some nice amber LEDs.

[GP640]

So why is it that the majority of bikes I see with modulators are nearly the size of a small car (Goldwings)?

[IheartmyNx]

Originally Posted by ttpete

No. Per federal law, it's legal in all 50 states.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcyc...lator-regs.htm

Now, see... THIS is exactly why we need MORE government...


We'll need an office plaza to house the new branch, and maybe even an ENTIRE fleet of cycle checkers, each one complete with his/her own Toyota Prius so we don't hurt the environment...

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 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.

[Bill Harris]

Side note: I sure wish somebody would have the good sense to come out with some nice amber LEDs.

Whelen Engineering has a line of Super LED lightheads that are reportedly very bright:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=199827

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=222278

http://www.whelen.com/_AUTOMOTIVE/lightheads.php

I use a pair of Truck-Lite 60-series LED tail light modules as amber daytime running lanps:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=586134

[duck]

Originally Posted by Bill Harris

Whelen Engineering has a line of Super LED lightheads that are reportedly very bright:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=199827

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=222278

http://www.whelen.com/_AUTOMOTIVE/lightheads.php

I use a pair of Truck-Lite 60-series LED tail light modules as amber daytime running lanps:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=586134

I wonder how many lumens those put out. Whelen doesn't seem to have any tech info on their site.

[High Country Herb]

I really like the modulated tail lights. They flicker fast enough to make it obvious that the rider is not "brake checking", so nobody is annoyed. Standard LED tail lights actually modulate on their own, but it is faster than the human eye can detect (consciously), but the eye is still drawn to them.

I would not personally want to run the modulated headlight, though. Like the story in the original post, I think you risk causing a traffic hazard you will have to navigate. Even if a crash is caused by confusion or stupidity, it is still a crash. Small amber LED lights would do the trick.

Having a bike and gear that isn't the same color as the road also helps. The other day, I saw a rider on a grey bike, wearing all grey gear. It was raining, and I barely noticed him/her. On the flip side, I followed a guy at night who was wearing gear that was completely outined in reflective pin striping. It literally looked like it was electrically powered!

[Mgbgt89]

Originally Posted by Bill Harris

Safe "typical" lighting is like this:

I've gotta say, those low mounted lights really work great. (from the observers POV, I don't have them, yet)

Seems like where you can really run into an issue, is at night, when a single headlight offers very little help to depth perception. The "triangle of light" or whatever you guys call it helps you judge the oncoming riders distance and speed much better. Having amber or orange colored ones seems to help even more, they don't blend together as much.

As far as modulators go, I wouldn't run one, i find them irritating. But if it helps you be seen, go for it. If a driver is too fucking stupid to tell the difference between a headlight and a lightbar from an emergency vehicle, then they shouldn't be behind the wheel.

[abhibeckert]

Originally Posted by dwoodward

Q: Are the flashing lights red and/or blue?
A1: Yes. It's an emergency vehicle, react appropriately.
A2: No. It's not an emergency vehicle.

Strobing high beam HID lights in my mirror or way off in the distance up ahead always succeeds to get my attention long before I see the blue light. And the red light isn't visible until a fair while after I see the blue ones (or maybe it's the other way around?).

I have also been pulled over by an unmarked traffic patrol car which did not have any blue/red lights, he just flashed his headlights at me (which I assumed was road rage, and presented my middle finger... lucky he took that the right way ). He followed me for quite a while, at the speed limit, until I finally turned off at an intersection where he cut me off and thrust his badge out the window.

Flashing headlights should be used for actual communication only.

[DAKEZ]

IMO a set-up like Duck is about as good as you can get and more effective than a modulator. Couple the triangle with the low horizontal and a lane weave and you are not going to get much better.

Of course one should always ride in such a way as to avoid anything that comes lights or no.

[ttpete]

Originally Posted by abhibeckert

Strobing high beam HID lights in my mirror or way off in the distance up ahead always succeeds to get my attention long before I see the blue light. And the red light isn't visible until a fair while after I see the blue ones (or maybe it's the other way around?).

I have also been pulled over by an unmarked traffic patrol car which did not have any blue/red lights, he just flashed his headlights at me (which I assumed was road rage, and presented my middle finger... lucky he took that the right way ). He followed me for quite a while, at the speed limit, until I finally turned off at an intersection where he cut me off and thrust his badge out the window.

Flashing headlights should be used for actual communication only.

It's different here, and legal. Re the unmarked car, that doesn't necessarily go here. We had one incident where someone pulled a doctor's car over using a private guard badge and proceeded to shoot and rob him. We have official unmarked cars, but they have concealed lights and siren, and they use them. I personally won't stop for someone in an unmarked car who flashes his headlights and a badge, especially at night. I'll pull into a well lighted gas station while calling 911.