| Author | Message | ||
     Swordsman |
So, how many others are sick of people freaking over a headlight modulator? I've gotten rude gestures, people pulling off the road, and all kinds of other nutty reactions. I mean, c'mon, I've been behind you for 5 miles with ample opportunity to pass, looking at scenery. Do you really think I'm singling you out with a perfectly timed finger on my high beam switch? Not only that, but I only have it on one of my two constant headlights, just so I won't look like some kind of emergency vehicle, and still I get the crazy stuff. Anyone got any good stories? ~SM | ||
| Nillaice |
i got windsheild-sprayer fogged a while back cuz i had my accessory high beam lights on. how do i know? cuz i pulled up next to him at a looong red light and we exchanged a few words. that was the reason he gave. nothing like getting all up in someone's 'bubble' when they are blocked in on every side of their vehicle. i got some good closure out of that. i think that's what encourages people to act so boldly on the roadways. everybody (my self included) is too chicken to make bumpers touch, so there's practically no consequence/feedback. but a little face-to face chat is nice when you can pull it off.  next time it happens to you; follow em. they'll stop eventually. recommend anger management classes to really get em fired-up!  | ||
| Ratbuell |
wait. you expect people on the road to be aware of their surroundings? and to be....PAYING ATTENTION? puh-leeze... | ||
| Tepiddeath |
Here's my theory on this issue: If they noticed your headlights, it means they have noticed you, and thus are aware that you are there! And if they were paying attention in the first place, instead of talking on the phone or worse, texting, then we would not have to do all this stuff that pisses them off to get their attention. So it really is their own faults. | ||
| Tbolt_pilot |
I think the modulator just confuses people and causes them to do even stupider things. I'll stick with bright lights and keep riding like I'm invisible. The Jardine helps too if your close enough. | ||
| Tepiddeath |
I am looking for the perfect place to mount one of the compact air horns to my xb12ss, and I have the headlight rocker in the sweet spot in the middle so that both headlights are on all the time. my ol man says it is annoying as crap because it is so bright, which means it is accomplishing exactly what I want it to- visibility plus the slow cars tend to get out of the way of the light!! | ||
| Aldaytona |
I used a headlight modulator on the BMW years ago, but only in heavy city traffic, with good results. I have been riding/driving in rural scenarios, no cross traffic and had old geezers on touring bikes follow me with modulator on for miles. I must admit I wanted to kick the shit out of them or at least their headlights. Even good stuff can be annoying when used in excess. | ||
| Nevrenuf |
can't stand being in front of someone with them things going. gives me a migrain. i normally just speed up and get outta there. to many whackjobs out there as it is. | ||
| Swordsman |
Funny, they don't phase me at all when I'm in my car. It's not like they're blinding... it's broad daylight. I always thought they were relatively easy to tune out, after they've gotten my attention. ~SM | ||
| Fahren |
Modulators are meant to make you less invisible to others. Any story we hear when someone has a reaction to you and your modulator means that it is working. I'd rather deal with a confused or pissed off driver than have to suffer from someone who never saw me. It's all part of the "driving as if you were invisible" tactics: get noticed, and even still, remember it's all up to you, since you still assume they don't see you. Also remember, you can be the sweetest guy on the planet, but the cager who sees you wrapped in leather on your badass bike no doubt is scared shitless of you. Heh, heh. | ||
| Swordsman |
"Also remember, you can be the sweetest guy on the planet, but the cager who sees you wrapped in leather on your badass bike no doubt is scared shitless of you. Heh, heh." As it turns out, I am the sweetest guy on the planet! What a coincidence!  The thing has definitely saved my butt a few times. More than once there has been a car (usually a woman driving an SUV) that has almost pulled out in front of me, but at the last minute hit the brakes. I'm certain it was because of the modulator. ~SM | ||
| Andymnelson |
Even tho I am an avid motorcycle enthusiast, and a freak about safety and I watch out for bikers as much as possible....here is what happens to me when I see a modulator verses not: No modulator: I see a bike, I keep my eye on him as much as possible the entire time he's near me. I want to know exactly where he is at all times, so that I don't get any surprises when he makes a move. Modulator: It hurts to look at, honestly just plain annoying. So while I may end up seeing him a split second sooner than without, I don't want to watch him at all. I find this scenario far more dangerous for the rider, as I am not watching his every move. Just my 2 cents, to each their own. I tend to think that things that annoy cagers are not good for our safety. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I also hate to confuse cagers. They're confused enough as it is. | ||
| Fahren |
The modulator is just one tool in your safety kit. Used properly, with intelligence, it's a good tool. I also take anything a rider says about noticing bikes with a grain of salt: we are all billions of times more conscious on every level of other riders than a caged non-rider will ever be. | ||
| Oldog |
I have HID hence no need to modulate, on the X1, its also a bit of a fag bike so if they cant see or hear it they dont need to be driving, on the '25 higher bars, seat and hid are next after a set of skins.. HID, because besides being able to see at night, it takes the "I did not see them" away from the cager in the event of a mishap..... Dont just ride safe or smart ride tacticaly. | ||
| Swordsman |
Yeah, I'm hoping to get an HID setup for the M2 headlight I'll be installing this winter. If I do, the modulator is gone. ~SM | ||
| Jb2 |
Other than our large Harley contingent the second most popular motorcycle seems to be the Gold Wing trike in these parts. Several have dual modulators and almost every time I see them people in front of me are cramming their on brakes and trying to pull over only to realize it's a trike. Then they shoot back into traffic, without looking, assuming everyone behind them was following suit. Outlaw them I say! I'd rather have guided missiles attached to either side of the bike so I can take out the texters. Let's be proactive in our motorcycle riding!  | ||
| Buelet |
I've been yelled at for the modulator on the Uly once before. I also have a TailBlazer (Brake light modulator) & the driver was trying to tell me at a stoplight that the light under my "lunchbox" thing was acting up, as well as my high-beam. I thanked him & told him it was to help people notice me and prevent accidents. Like a switch - He flipped out & cussed me, telling me it was !@$$!ing annoying & I should fix it. The light changed & we went our separate ways. To each their own. The only thing we'll agree on here is that we'll never please 100% of the people, 100% of the time! | ||
| Oldog |
I'd rather have guided missiles attached to either side of the bike so I can take out the texters. wheres that picture of the OCC jet bike with the missles, +2 JB2 some days..... } | ||
| Badlionsfan |
I hate those things when you get some tard that wants to take forever passing me at night in the truck. Having a strobe light in my mirror and reducing my visability is annoying, and a good way to get a cigarette, ice cubes or half a bottle of diet coke emptied on you. I see the point in metro areas for those, but a dark highway with little to no traffic every spec of light gets a truck drivers attention, no need for those things. | ||
| Swordsman |
"I hate those things when you get some tard that wants to take forever passing me at night in the truck. " They're not supposed to work at night. Every commercially available modulator is supposed to come with a photosensor that prevents the unit from operating when ambient light levels get low. Mine starts kicking off not long after the sun drops just past the horizon. ~SM | ||
| Fahren |
Yes, strobes, if you're not a cop, and nighttime use of modulators, are strictly verboten. |
