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Pulsating headlight

  • Thread starter Thread starter Scud
  • Start date Start date
S

Scud

Guest
Hey all, I was wondering if anyone can explain to me why some bikes headlights pulsate during normal driving. The reason I ask is that I have noticed while driving my four wheeled vehicle that some motorcycles I encounter coming the other way have a pulsating headlight. Not all motorcycles do this only some. Any thoughts why this happens?

Scud
 
To answer your original question they pulsate so that you take more notice of them. it has been shown to wake up the cage drivers 8O
 
Our MSF course instructor spoke fondly of them. In fact, part of the course materials we received was a letter from some government official saying that such devices ARE LEGAL in the state of New York.

The letter is meant to be carried by riders who have the modulators installed. Apparently quite a few law enforcement officers in the state believe otherwise.

Dave
 
I had one on my previous bike years ago. Although it had a mode of operation where it would pulse for a few seconds when I pushed the button (nessatating mounting a button/controller on handle bar), like when approaching interscetion ectera.
But the dern thing would also pulsate at other somewhat random times, quite annoying at night, so I wired it only in the high beam.
But, yah, like others said, is an after market accessory.
 
If I remember correctly from my reading a couple years ago, headlight modulators met Federal regulations prescribing lighting for motor vehicles such as motorcycles. Federal regulations take preceedence over state regulations, so even if local law enforcement knew of an opposing state regulation, a copy of the Federal law would nullify it. As far as I know, they are legal in all states by Federal law. I would have to research the topic though to refresh the exact requirements for their installation. I do remember, that flash rate, mount height, intensity and color are specified.

Earl
 
WA state law also specifies how they are to be wired in.

Michael
 
Thanks guys, and here I thought it was some sort of electrical problem....I'll stop feeling sorry for them. :)

Scud
 
Well, maybe feel sorry for the amount of money they spent. (Grin)

Dave
 
I have a modulator, and it didn't cost me much -- just a little over $30 on eBay. It's wired to my high beam, and it has a light-sensitive device that makes the headlight circuit bypass the modulator when the ambient light level goes down.

One thing I like about the modulator is that cages will often move over and let me (and the group I'm leading) get around them. They probably think I'm a cop. It works.

No difference at all in the life span of the headlight bulb, by the way. I recommend a headlight modulator highly.

They're not a new idea, as I've seen them on motorcycles since the 70's.

Nick
 
Nick Diaz said:
No difference at all in the life span of the headlight bulb, by the way. I recommend a headlight modulator highly.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure the legal specs for a modulator state that it can't shut the lamp all the way off - it has to reduce the brightness by no more than some percentage. Switching on a cold lamp is what usually causes the filament to fail.

Dave
 
You're correct. The headlamp is not shut off all the way when the modulator is doing its modulating.

Nick
 
isn't some of it just the shaking of the bike changing the exact angle we see the light reflecting from the cone? like when they hit a bump and it "flickers"?? makes it look like it's modulated?? I think I've seen this on a lot of newer rocket bikes?

seems like not all those people are so safety oriented to buy and install (or have installed) such a device!?!?
 
When a bike hits a bump and the headlight seems to flicker, the "flickering" is inherently irregular. The headlight modulation has a very fast rhythm. It's easy to tell a modulated headlight from one that flickers incidentally.

Nick
 
right, that's what I've seen more of myself. I mean really, all the shorts and T-shirts, sandals and no helmets, I don't think I'd believe one of em if they told me they had a modulator installed!! :lol: :lol: :lol:
 
What's funny is to see the squids on racing-type sports bikes ride, as you say, in shorts, sandals, t-shirt -- and a full-face helmet!

I see that in Maryland, a helmet-law State, quite often. I laugh... :lol:

I don't know which is funnier -- the clones on Harleys or the clones on crotch rockets. I'm an equal-opportunity laugher. :D

Even funnier is when they're mixed up in the same group. Each has to have a certain approved look and behavior pattern. They're all tough individualists, ain't they?

Laughing Nick
 
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