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ARKnapp
Senior Guru
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Posted: Wed May 14th, 2008 04:15 pm | 1st Post |
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Many thanks to members who answered or tried to answer my original question, is modulation, legal or illegal? The motorcycles are now installed with headlight modulation and rear brake light pulsation. The verdict is in as far as I am concerned, the pulsation of lights does make the bikes more readily visible, as to the legalities..
With a copy of the motor vehicle act, for Ontario Canada, there is no mention to relate to the turning on and off of a headlight or the pulsation of the brake light.
Our questions to many cops, breaks down to 50% saying it's illegal and 50% saying it's legal. The consensus is they don't know. The cops that state. it is legal say that any problem will be probably matched by a younger cop, but at my insistence of a safety feature, the complaining top may disregard. I even have a sworn statement from a cop friend, who will act as a witness on behalf of myself in case I am ordered to court. Talk is cheap and time will tell.
So now we are at the experiment stage and awaiting to be pulled over, if convicted, there are currently is no points deduction, just a fast grab for more money.
At least now, with a wait and see attitude, we can enjoy greater visibility.
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retiredintime
Senior Member
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Posted: Wed May 14th, 2008 04:19 pm | 2nd Post |
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http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcycle-Safety/Modulator-regs-canada.htm
Here is a link to the headlight modulation law in Canada. I would print a copy and keep it with you....
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Bob..KF4GP
If it ain't broke, fix it till it is!
Life is ten percent what you make it, and ninety percent how you take it!
79 GL1000 46K
86 R80RT
90 K75RT
Garage won't hold any more!
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ARKnapp
Senior Guru
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Posted: Wed May 14th, 2008 05:49 pm | 3rd Post |
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Thanks for site.
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hoofman
Member
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Posted: Wed May 14th, 2008 10:58 pm | 4th Post |
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Is it possible to print a link for the USA.
Thanks
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BOB & LORI
WHATS STOPPING YOU FROM RIDING YOUR WINGS TODAY?
Prev ride 1984 GL1200I
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83GoldWinger
Very Active Member
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Posted: Wed May 14th, 2008 11:21 pm | 5th Post |
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 Head light modulators are 100% legal in all of the United States and Canada. I recently installed a PathBlazer modulator on my '83 Insterstate and the attachment below is from the installation guide that came with it.
Attachment: Head Light Modulator.jpg (Downloaded 311 times) Last edited on Fri May 16th, 2008 09:23 pm by 83GoldWinger
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83GoldWinger
1983 GL1100 Interstate
Bought New 25 Jan 1983
Candy Regal Brown (the most popular color
__________________________________________
1968 Honda CL350
Bought in 1969 (and still have it)
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ob1quixote
Very Active Member
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Posted: Thu May 15th, 2008 12:50 pm | 6th Post |
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I dug up an old modulator from the late '70's. Since it would not pass as a headlight modulator due to lack of a light sensor, and probably flash frequency as well, I was thinking about using it to modulate the bag-mounted stop lights, leaving the trunk mounted stop light as a normal light.
Wonder how legal that is?
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redbaron
Moderator
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Posted: Thu May 15th, 2008 03:52 pm | 7th Post |
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| Again stop light modulators are legal, but are you planing on leaving it flashing all the time or just when you apply the brakes????. There might be a technical issue if you let it flash all the time, but none if it only comes on when you apply the brakes....
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1982 GL-1100 Goldwing Interstate
http://www.RudysBackyard.com
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ob1quixote
Very Active Member
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Posted: Thu May 15th, 2008 04:52 pm | 8th Post |
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Just plan on the stop light, not the running lights. I may leave the stock lights alone, and rig it to an led bar under the trunk bag, set up for indirect lighting of the saddlebags, under braking of course.
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Kit Carson
GL1800 Guru
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Posted: Thu May 15th, 2008 06:19 pm | 9th Post |
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I do not see why it would not work......and save money and provide safety too. To have one set flash and another solid I think is good. It cover all the bases of all the different I did not see them excuses......I put a led spoiler on mine....and left it solid. did not hook it into the modulator......just so I would have a solid on light all the time.
Kit
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GPS GURU (NOT)
The Goldwing GL1800 is by far the best motorcycle ever designed in the world. Just to take a test ride on one is a dangerous thing, as you will just have to have one.
Returned to the Darkside, Khumo Run Flat 195/55/16
Test pilot days are over. The Khumo is the real deal.
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83GoldWinger
Very Active Member
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Posted: Thu May 15th, 2008 07:13 pm | 10th Post |
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Another option is the "tailBlazer" DECELERATON WARNING bulbs from Kisan Technologies, Inc. which I installed on my '83 Interstate back in Feb.
The link below is to a site with info on vaious applications. The plug in "tailBlazer" for the GL1200 is Kisan part #20W-D.
http://www.bikerhiway.com/brake-light-flashers-plugin-brake-light-flashers-c-62_128_130.html?zenid=174a26f3975c97f36e2521f6754b22af
Attachment: tailBlazer.jpg (Downloaded 268 times) Last edited on Thu May 15th, 2008 07:28 pm by 83GoldWinger
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83GoldWinger
1983 GL1100 Interstate
Bought New 25 Jan 1983
Candy Regal Brown (the most popular color
__________________________________________
1968 Honda CL350
Bought in 1969 (and still have it)
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deezee
Member
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Posted: Sun Jun 22nd, 2008 07:26 pm | 11th Post |
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Thanks for the info As it so happen it was about 5 miles out of Orangeville on Hy 10 where my son lives that I was pulled over . I was pulled over yesterday in B.C by the R.C.M.P. he wanted to let me know that something was wrong with the wring in my headlight after I explained to him what it was he said he had never hear of it , but thought it was a good idea and wish me a good ride ( he was about 45 years old)
Thanks Bill
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Hawker22
Senior Guru
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Posted: Sun Jun 22nd, 2008 07:47 pm | 12th Post |
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I have a letter from the head of motor vehicle inspections for NS, which states that modulators are legal in NS. I believe that the Federal law would override any Provincial legislation.
The modulator has slowed many a cage driver down for me--especially with white bike with red wings and a black jacket. Oh, they are leary.
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Hawker22(Ken)
Per Ardua Ad Astra
1997 GL1500SE--White Cloud
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Ducky
Member
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Posted: Mon Jun 23rd, 2008 04:36 am | 13th Post |
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on the contrary, I have faced numerous bikes with their modulator flickering away-I find it most disconcerting-radar trap, biker in trouble, electrical short, nervous hi beam switch finger??--I would not recommend this item. true, the unit increases visibility, but have a bike scream up behind you with its lights flashing-I, however agree with the pulsating brake lights-this one makes sense!!
ducky
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GL 1100 interstate
GL 1100 "naked"
bent rod in sig pic due to hydro lock!! 'nuf said!!
Too many bikes, not enough time!!
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exavid
Top Poster
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Posted: Mon Jun 23rd, 2008 06:31 am | 14th Post |
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| You all can have your opinions but I'm convinced the headlight modulator is a great safety addition. No one should confuse it with an emergency vehicle unless they have a serious inability to think since emergency vehicles will have the colored strobe lights and bikes obviously don't. If it causes some motorists to pull over thinking you're a cop, so be it. Eventually folks will become more used to them and that won't happen so much. I know of two times it prevented me from having to make an emergency stop, once with an oncoming car that started to make a left turn in front of me and jerked it back into his own lane and another time with a car pulling out of a driveway into my path. I'm positive that I would have had close calls if it weren't for the modulator. If someone thinks I'm signalling about a radar trap and they slow down that doesn't seem like a bad thing to me. If they think I have an electrical malfunction, well let them think it. It's my butt I'm most concerned with on the road. I won't have another bike without one.
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If you can't ride, fly or sail it, why bother?
Paul W.
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98Wing-487
Senior Member
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Posted: Mon Jun 23rd, 2008 07:10 am | 15th Post |
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exavid wrote: You all can have your opinions but I'm convinced the headlight modulator is a great safety addition. No one should confuse it with an emergency vehicle unless they have a serious inability to think since emergency vehicles will have the colored strobe lights and bikes obviously don't. If it causes some motorists to pull over thinking you're a cop, so be it. Eventually folks will become more used to them and that won't happen so much. I know of two times it prevented me from having to make an emergency stop, once with an oncoming car that started to make a left turn in front of me and jerked it back into his own lane and another time with a car pulling out of a driveway into my path. I'm positive that I would have had close calls if it weren't for the modulator. If someone thinks I'm signalling about a radar trap and they slow down that doesn't seem like a bad thing to me. If they think I have an electrical malfunction, well let them think it. It's my butt I'm most concerned with on the road. I won't have another bike without one.
That's what I was gonna say.
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sandiegobrass
Guru
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Posted: Mon Jun 23rd, 2008 02:03 pm | 16th Post |
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Ditto..
As to what someone else thinks, I don't give a rat's behind, if it saves mine!!
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If a man speaks in the forest and there is no woman to hear him, is he still wrong?
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SDB/Jim
2000 GL1500SE - 2008: 4.5k
1983 GL1100I - 2008: 4.5k
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Temporarily in Indiana
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Hawker22
Senior Guru
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Posted: Mon Jun 23rd, 2008 08:15 pm | 17th Post |
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| Yup--me too. I'm with them thar guys.
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Hawker22(Ken)
Per Ardua Ad Astra
1997 GL1500SE--White Cloud
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FatherWilliam57
Active Member
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Posted: Tue Aug 26th, 2008 06:20 am | 18th Post |
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| I did not know my trike had a headlight modulator until I accidentally hit the high beams while riding one afternoon. I run it all the time. I believe the federal law regulating their use says that they have to dim at a rate of 4 flashes per second. No one is that quick on the trigger to signal a radar trap or tell someone to go ahead and turn. In open country, they see me coming a mile away. I have noticed in town when someone is coming off a side street or alley (and obviously trying to get away with a "rolling stop"), they take one look and hit their brakes. If they get irritated, so be it. A stop sign does not mean yield. I have yet to see another bike in my area with one. I have had a couple people slow down and start to pull over in front of me. All of them (so far) have figured it out and they were actually laughing when they realized the mistake they had made. (A few have actually tooted their horn and waved when they finally turned off the road in front of me.) I think the only people with whom you will actually have a problem are the ones who would have created a problem for you in the first place...the one's who think they own the road and you have no right to be there. As for me, the light stays on. It works, and no one will convince me otherwise.
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The Rev. William B. Henry, Jr.
1994 SE Trike
1986 Interstate (currently stripped to the frame)
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Kit Carson
GL1800 Guru
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Posted: Tue Aug 26th, 2008 10:21 am | 19th Post |
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Bikes in traffic are hard to see. I notice that myself when in the work truck and running about town. Some colors are hard to see early of a morning with a little fog around.
Yesterday I took my bike for a short ride down to an equipment place to see about a part for my backhoe.....it was one of those y-turn off roads with a close blind corner just before the turn.....I saw a white pickup pulling a trailer come around the corner at a speed too excessive to stop.....I was slowing for the turn.....saw him coming behind me.....he saw my brake modulation.....he did not see me......but he saw the lights.....I am sure he had both feet on the brake pedal as the tires were smoking and the trailer was trying to come around the truck.......as for me......I had given up on the turn and just accelerated on down the road.....made a u turn and came back and turned. Would he have gotten stopped? I do not know......but I do know he saw the lights.
I have people start to pull out and then not.......every time I go somewhere on the bike......they do see the headlight modulator. I also have people pull clear off the road sometimes.......it is getting better, as more and more bikes are equipped with the modulators...and people learn what they are......get on the back roads in some of the areas and people do not know what they are yet........
I in my experience, can see the modulators work for me every time out. It is really quite simple. In a moment of daydreaming or inattention.....it may save your life.
And no matter who you are.......sooner or later....all of us do some dumb thing.....we look.......look again....and go........and where did that car come from.....yea....everyone does that.....I have.....and I know you have too. So if you are seen.....hopefully you will survive that day.
There are always going to be negative opinions about these devices ....I honestly do not know why. They do not bother me.....on a Wing they are very visible......on other bikes sometimes with the small single light...you can hardly tell they are there. Some in my club had and have the opinion that modulators are bad. I even spent an hour standing in front of them discussing it.........all the reasons for them.......getting split up in traffic and one group becoming two or three groups and moving through a large town ...no there are always those who want to pull backwards.
I will run my modulators........I really do feel they are a great tool. make you highly visible and may one day save your life. Anything that can help you cannot hurt you kind of thing.
As for the club stuff........and the controversy, hey........they can ride without me. I will use my modulator. In a group I will turn it off.......but if I get split off the group it goes back on instantly......until I am back in the formation.....out of courtesy. However I feel those who object........need to get a life and get over it.
Kit
____________________
GPS GURU (NOT)
The Goldwing GL1800 is by far the best motorcycle ever designed in the world. Just to take a test ride on one is a dangerous thing, as you will just have to have one.
Returned to the Darkside, Khumo Run Flat 195/55/16
Test pilot days are over. The Khumo is the real deal.
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98Wing-487
Senior Member
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Posted: Tue Aug 26th, 2008 11:28 am | 20th Post |
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I'm the same way Kit. If I'm in a group, I'll shut modulator off, but its back on as soon as I'm solo or in front of a group.
Also...like you...several riding acquaintences are very anti-headlight modulator, but, one guy I know of, will loosen the bolts on his HD headlight bracket so it "wiggles" and people can see him better. He's also in the "Loud pipes save lives" camp too.
To each his/her own. I feel safer with my Wig-Wag brake light modulator and my Headlight modulator.
Thankew
Thankewverimush
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