Headlight Modulator debate. Modulator or no modulator.

lacofdfireman

Member
2014 Site Supporter
Joined
Sep 15, 2014
Messages
339
Location
St. George
Haven’t read the entire post but wondering if Headlight Modulatir will work with the cyclops LED bulb upgrade?

Im a Fan of the modulators. Had one on an RT and it was like the parting of the seas.
 

EricV

Riding, farkling, riding...
2011 Site Supporter
2012 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
2014 Site Supporter
Joined
May 22, 2011
Messages
8,227
Location
Tupelo, MS
lacofdfireman said:
Haven’t read the entire post but wondering if Headlight Modulatir will work with the cyclops LED bulb upgrade?

Im a Fan of the modulators. Had one on an RT and it was like the parting of the seas.
Probably work with the LED conversion. As for the rest, pay closer attention. Especially outside the LA basin. Watch for the negative reactions, and in St G, the unpredictable reactions you will get here. People move aside because they think you are LEO or Emergency responder, (you happen to be, but not on your bike). Once they realize you're not, there is generally a negative response.

Besides, every knowledgeable rider that sees you will know you're a dork. ;) Now go back and read the entire thread. Please.
 

lacofdfireman

Member
2014 Site Supporter
Joined
Sep 15, 2014
Messages
339
Location
St. George
EricV said:
Probably work with the LED conversion. As for the rest, pay closer attention. Especially outside the LA basin. Watch for the negative reactions, and in St G, the unpredictable reactions you will get here. People move aside because they think you are LEO or Emergency responder, (you happen to be, but not on your bike). Once they realize you're not, there is generally a negative response.

Besides, every knowledgeable rider that sees you will know you're a dork. ;) Now go back and read the entire thread. Please.
Haha. I’ve decided since I’ve done the Cyclops LED’s that I’m not going to take my chances for a “might” work. I did like them on my RT but I like the LED upgrade to much to mess with it. I’m happy just the way they are. So no modulator for me. (Plus it keeps me from having to read this entire thread. Haha)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

lacofdfireman

Member
2014 Site Supporter
Joined
Sep 15, 2014
Messages
339
Location
St. George
EricV said:
Probably work with the LED conversion. As for the rest, pay closer attention. Especially outside the LA basin. Watch for the negative reactions, and in St G, the unpredictable reactions you will get here. People move aside because they think you are LEO or Emergency responder, (you happen to be, but not on your bike). Once they realize you're not, there is generally a negative response.

Besides, every knowledgeable rider that sees you will know you're a dork. ;) Now go back and read the entire thread. Please.
Haha. I’ve decided since I’ve done the Cyclops LED’s that I’m not going to take my chances for a “might” work. I did like them on my RT but I like the LED upgrade to much to mess with it. I’m happy just the way they are. So no modulator for me. (Plus it keeps me from having to read this entire thread. Haha)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

jaquima

Live young, die fast, wear clean underwear.
Joined
Mar 6, 2011
Messages
37
Location
High Desert
I like mine. I do not care if it is annoying or confusing to other drivers. If they react with annoyance or confusion, that means they see me. I live in an area where impatience, distractions and entitlement reigns and I want all the help I can get. Regardless if they will help or not, I consider my modulating headlight as important as my situational awareness, helmet and gear.
 

EricV

Riding, farkling, riding...
2011 Site Supporter
2012 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
2014 Site Supporter
Joined
May 22, 2011
Messages
8,227
Location
Tupelo, MS
jaquima said:
I like mine. I do not care if it is annoying or confusing to other drivers. If they react with annoyance or confusion, that means they see me. I live in an area where impatience, distractions and entitlement reigns and I want all the help I can get. Regardless if they will help or not, I consider my modulating headlight as important as my situational awareness, helmet and gear.
So you feel entitled to create confusion and are willing to accept the resulting confusion of other traffic, and their unpredictable reactions just so you feel better? Gee, how special. ::)
 

OldRider

Well-Known Member
Vendor
Joined
Jun 7, 2013
Messages
2,111
Location
Western Kentucky
EricV said:
So you feel entitled to create confusion and are willing to accept the resulting confusion of other traffic, and their unpredictable reactions just so you feel better? Gee, how special. ::)
I agree 100% and throw in those riders that run around with their bright lights and/or led running lights on. Even in the middle of a bright sunny day, bright lights still blind oncoming traffic.
 

jaquima

Live young, die fast, wear clean underwear.
Joined
Mar 6, 2011
Messages
37
Location
High Desert
EricV said:
So you feel entitled to create confusion and are willing to accept the resulting confusion of other traffic, and their unpredictable reactions just so you feel better? Gee, how special. ::)
I guess I have not yet seen this driver confusion you describe resulting from my modulating headlight.

Also, thanks for validating my specialness.
 

Dirt_Dad

Well-Known Member
Founding Member
2011 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
2014 Site Supporter
Joined
Sep 21, 2010
Messages
5,955
Location
Northern Virginia, USA
Tenman said:
Some people will never get it.
I'm always a bit surprised by that. It took me 30 days of having a modulator installed to realized it was the most dangerous thing I'd ever done to a motorcycle. I removed mine for my own self preservation. I rarely see them on the roads now. Be glad when they are completely gone. Dangerous stuff.
 

jaquima

Live young, die fast, wear clean underwear.
Joined
Mar 6, 2011
Messages
37
Location
High Desert
Dirt_Dad said:
I'm always a bit surprised by that. It took me 30 days of having a modulator installed to realized it was the most dangerous thing I'd ever done to a motorcycle. I removed mine for my own self preservation. I rarely see them on the roads now. Be glad when they are completely gone. Dangerous stuff.

You win.

I removed the headlight modulator, but kept the brake modulator.
 

EricV

Riding, farkling, riding...
2011 Site Supporter
2012 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
2014 Site Supporter
Joined
May 22, 2011
Messages
8,227
Location
Tupelo, MS
There is no win or lose. Just education.

It's not other road users responsibility to see you. It's your responsibility to see them. Only you are responsible for your safety. Nothing you do will change that. No amount of bright colors or lights will alter the simple fact that you are still responsible for your own safety. Pay attention when riding, it's important.
 

brianhen

Member
Joined
May 14, 2017
Messages
48
Location
Winnipeg, Manitoba
The report that EricV talks about in his reply to this original post is called the HURT report. the author William Hurt did a pretty big study on motorcycle accidents in California and although the report is very old there was some very useful information in the report. I agree with EricV that we as motorcycle riders need to take the bull by the horns so to speak when it comes to driving in traffic. We need to adjust our speeds, lane positions, etc. Anything to avoid a collision. As my dad always said and this I think applies to motorcycles more than anything. "you may have the right of way, but are you willing to die to claim that right of way?" I see people get angry and state that I had the right of way some such silliness. In the end the car or truck is gonna win whenever it comes to motorcycle accidents. With regard to headlight modulators I think they are a waste of money and I agree that they probably do more harm than good. Just my thoughts.
 

magic

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 6, 2015
Messages
743
Location
WISCONSIN
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC387473/ I remember reading this study done in New Zealand. There are several references to wearing fluorescent or reflective clothing. It also mentions that white colored helmets can reduce your risk of an accident by making yourself more visible. Interesting reading. I agree at the end of the day you are responsible for your own safety. I also believe wearing bright visible protective clothing and helmets are part of that responsibility.
 

Sierra1

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2016
Messages
14,812
Location
Joshua TX
The report that EricV talks about in his reply to this original post is called the HURT report. the author William Hurt did a pretty big study on motorcycle accidents in California and although the report is very old there was some very useful information in the report. I agree with EricV that we as motorcycle riders need to take the bull by the horns so to speak when it comes to driving in traffic. We need to adjust our speeds, lane positions, etc. Anything to avoid a collision. As my dad always said and this I think applies to motorcycles more than anything. "you may have the right of way, but are you willing to die to claim that right of way?" I see people get angry and state that I had the right of way some such silliness. In the end the car or truck is gonna win whenever it comes to motorcycle accidents. With regard to headlight modulators I think they are a waste of money and I agree that they probably do more harm than good. Just my thoughts.

Since I started riding on two wheels, by pedaling, I've always practiced riding like I'm invisible. I take it for granted that they do not see me, and ride accordingly. I make sure that I'm not in their path, even if I have the "right of way". Because you're right, bikes NEVER win in crashes; even if they're by themselves. I, personally, don't like the modulators. The reason that they're effective is that they appear to be emergency responders. Which, in many states, are the only authorized users. I DO use my high beams in the daytime, but I DON"T think they blind oncoming traffic. I've seen plenty of bikes, and cars, with their highs on in the daytime, and I've never been blinded; but I did seem them coming a long way off. But, it does have to be FULL daylight, before sunset.
 

jbrown

Active Member
Joined
Sep 25, 2012
Messages
373
Location
Novato, CA
My commuting is split between a small car (mgb) and the bike. My eye level is considerably lower when in the car, and oncoming high beams *are* an issue for me even in daylight in the car. Even cars behind me with high beams on in the day can be a problem. I am extremely cautious about driving with high beams on because I know it can cause a problem for at least some of the drivers. I'm a firm believer in not out driving your headlights at night, and my solution isn't more light, it's less speed.
 

Dennis

New Member
Joined
Feb 6, 2019
Messages
2
Location
Vidalia, LA USA
I have bought a Modulator kit and plan to install it on my Super Tenere'.
Does anyone have any tips, instructions or any input at all on how to do this.
A video would be awesome. Thanks in advance.
 
B

ballisticexchris

Guest
Since I started riding on two wheels, by pedaling, I've always practiced riding like I'm invisible. I take it for granted that they do not see me, and ride accordingly. I make sure that I'm not in their path, even if I have the "right of way". Because you're right, bikes NEVER win in crashes; even if they're by themselves. I, personally, don't like the modulators. The reason that they're effective is that they appear to be emergency responders. Which, in many states, are the only authorized users. I DO use my high beams in the daytime, but I DON"T think they blind oncoming traffic. I've seen plenty of bikes, and cars, with their highs on in the daytime, and I've never been blinded; but I did seem them coming a long way off. But, it does have to be FULL daylight, before sunset.
There is no win or lose. Just education.

It's not other road users responsibility to see you. It's your responsibility to see them. Only you are responsible for your safety. Nothing you do will change that. No amount of bright colors or lights will alter the simple fact that you are still responsible for your own safety. Pay attention when riding, it's important.

Well said guys. I go to a lot of effort to not annoy other drivers. It's all about riding habits. Headlight modulators do nothing but cause road rage. Taillight modulators are of some help to just alert drivers you are slowing. But a bright light flickering in your rear view mirror or coming toward you sucks.
 

SicDuc

Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2018
Messages
33
Location
Minnesota
I have a friend with a headlight modulator , his daylight sensor wasn't in a very hidden place. When I would ride behind him at night with my auxiliary lights on it would trigger his modulator, what a shit show that became. Not my cup of tea. Not so sure they are legal in many states anymore?
 
Top