Hey guys,

I'm a big fan of toggling my headlight when I approach intersections. Some people argue that drivers may read that as a "go ahead" signal saying that they can pull out in front of me.

I've been doing the normal toggling for a while now with very few problems. It breaks the monotony of daytime running lights, parking lights and other things cars often come standard with these days. Drivers seem to be trained to react to flashing and blinking lights from turn signals, ambulances, police cars, and construction vehicles etc..., so why not use that to our advantage.

I came up with a method that accomplishes two things: 1. It allows me to flash my headlight. and 2. It avoids the "go ahead" issue that comes with the usual lo-hi-lo method. Here it is... When approaching a "loaded" intersection i.e. one that has cars waiting to pull out, I do a "hi-2 lo-1" light toggle. Turn on your high beam for a two count and go back to lo for one count. It's not something like the usual flashing rhythm people are used to. Seems to be pretty affective in my experience, but I'm also a new rider.

What do you guys think?

Naturally, everyone you talk to will give you a different opinion on this.

I think you're on the right track, but if you really feel this is an effective strategy, go ahead and "bite the bullet" and get a headlamp modulator. They're a relatively simple install. These devices come with sensors that turn them off automatically at night, avoiding an obvious major problem.

I don't run mine all the time, but when traffic conditions start to get "busy" I do turn mine on.

Despite what others may have told you, they're legal in all 50 states--and also in Canada.

It's good motorcycle courtesy to turn the modulator off when stopped (at intersections, for example)--or anytime you're stuck immediately behind any vehicle(s). It's also generally good form not to use it when riding inside a good-sized group (i.e., 5 or more bikes).

Since you've described yourself as a "new rider"....also consider reading Proficient Motorcycling by David L Hough (if you haven't already). A fantastic and very interesting read for newer riders.

Hey guys,

I'm a big fan of toggling my headlight when I approach intersections. Some people argue that drivers may read that as a "go ahead" signal saying that they can pull out in front of me.

I've been doing the normal toggling for a while now with very few problems. It breaks the monotony of daytime running lights, parking lights and other things cars often come standard with these days. Drivers seem to be trained to react to flashing and blinking lights from turn signals, ambulances, police cars, and construction vehicles etc..., so why not use that to our advantage.

I came up with a method that accomplishes two things: 1. It allows me to flash my headlight. and 2. It avoids the "go ahead" issue that comes with the usual lo-hi-lo method. Here it is... When approaching a "loaded" intersection i.e. one that has cars waiting to pull out, I do a "hi-2 lo-1" light toggle. Turn on your high beam for a two count and go back to lo for one count. It's not something like the usual flashing rhythm people are used to. Seems to be pretty affective in my experience, but I'm also a new rider.

What do you guys think?

Do this in New England where I am originally from and every car at the intersection will cut you off. In fact they ignore all two wheeled vehicle, regardless of lighting technique. Furthermore, flashing, blinking whatever in that region means 'I yield right of way to you, NOW MOVE-IT!'. However, in Portland, OR where I now live, there is no need to flash or blink. Portland auto drivers yield right of way to an two wheeled vehicle.

You might want to look into a headlight modulator device. Basically, it flashes the hi/lo beam constantly for better visibility while riding.

Do that here you'll be run over. Flashing the headlight says you first!

here in pa to, that means your giving pasage to on comming trafic....like go ahead, you first.

In daylight hours I usually run with the hi beam light on full time. It might be a little annoying to drivers facing me, but it doesn`t blind anyone, as it would at night.

I like the idea of the headlight and brakelight modulators, but haven`t pried my wallet open for them yet.

Leave the lights alone, and hit your HORN. This says, in just about every place I have been .."Look out and get the Hell out of my Way!!!!"

Nothing works better, other than pulling out an Uzi and and firing a full clip into the air as you approach the intersection.
Bullets being expensive, I prefer the Horn when I am in doubt of everyones intentions.

Flashing you high beam usualy means around here either that there is cop ahead . slow down........or , zero in on my light and hit me.

You might have them confused now, but at some point some dufus is going to cut you off , and say to you as the ambulance takes you away.."Sorry, but you signaled me to go ahead."

So, next time, try the horn. And I would suggest installing a LOUDER one if you can.


KM

I do the High beam thing too.In one of my DOH! moments I asked MY CBR riding Friend why so many CBR's Had the left light out and he told me, 1 on low 2 on high and that he leaves his on high in the daytime because he wanted to be seen even if they didn't want to,I thought it was good point, so I do too now.Even if Ted did think I was a moron,I eventually catch on!!

I have a modulator and their is al,ost no way anyone will take it for "go ahead"' The flash is to quick and repetative. That said I also have 130 DB horns to get their attention if they can't see the bike and flashing lights

I put in a Diamond star headlight modulator, keeps the headlight flickering all the time.
http://www.signaldynamics.com/products/DiamondStar/dshm.asp

you better stay i your state if you get in the habit of flashing your hi beam at intersections. just this morning someone flicked the hi beams to me to let me go first. like KM said if its done on a strip it means cops or some sort of danger ahead like an accident or fallen tree.

When I would ride my scooter 50cc here in vegas. I would do the flashing high beam thing especially for pulling out cars. Since a 50cc scooter has no power what so ever. I would flash when I see the cars pull out. Intersections are sort of the same.
Since I got my VN i haven't done that yet. But I think using highs during the day or a modulator is a good idea.

I heard somtimes switching to an HID system or a brighter bulb helps for visibility during the day

So, next time, try the horn. And I would suggest installing a LOUDER one if you can.
KM

Other than not being a natural fan of using the horn I agree with everything you say. But thinking about it, especially the bit about being louder I ended up with.

Scene: A view over a junction of road and railway, with a freight train coming in from the top.

Sound of a freight train Horn

Train does a stoppie.

A bike comes in from the left

Viewpoint moves to brehind the bike with the the drivers cab in view.

Sound changes to emphasis the pipes

Rider gives a cheery wave and accelerates gently into the distance

fade to black

roll credits

I recently installed both a headlight modulator and a brakelight modulator, and am finally beginning to notice they do help some. There are always going to be a few idiots out there that are bound and determined to run over you no matter what. I also use my horns, and the 4 way flashers, especially in slow stop and go traffic. I'm surprised more people don't do this.


I used to have a 50cc Honda Met, and as was said, it had no power at all. It would go 40 mph wide open, but had almost no acceleration from a stop, and cagers around here like to floor it as soon as the light changes. I rigged up the turn signals on that to work as 4 way flashers, and left them on all the time in town. I also bought a couple of solid white T shirts, and had an orange triangle sewn on the back of them. Here, that is a sign that means "slow moving vehicle". People sitting behind you at a red light see the flashing lights and the triangle, and they don't expect you to take off like a crotch rocket. It worked, most of the time.


I have also ridden in Portland a couple of time, I have relatives there, and have ridden up to visit them. It is definitely different than Phoenix. Here everything is laid out in a NSEW grid pattern. In Portland, the streets just go all over the place, and most of them are one way. Then there are the trains to deal with. I swear Portland must have more trains than any other city in the world. It's a whole different scene. Weather is really nice though. Jerry.

I Don't use a modulator or flash my lights. I don't even know how my horn sounds as I never use that. My pipes are as quiet as I can make them. I ride like everyone is out to kill me. I plan for the most idiotic thing every driver I see can do. Almost always I need the plan. Stay safe out there.

I Don't use a modulator or flash my lights. I don't even know how my horn sounds as I never use that. My pipes are as quiet as I can make them. I ride like everyone is out to kill me. I plan for the most idiotic thing every driver I see can do. Almost always I need the plan. Stay safe out there.

I ride the same as you... every one on the roads is out to kill me, its my job to keep from being killed... I drive like this weather I am on my bike or in my cage.

Now back to the the headlight thingy... every where I have been flashing your headlight means one of 3 things, impeding danger, a speed trap, or at the intersection; go ahead. some states it is illegal to flash your high beams no matter the reason.

I don't flash my high beam but I have put it on heading into an intersection to be more visible and then return to low beam after gettting through the intersection.

Before getting the modulators, I always rode with my high beam on in the daytime. They teach than in the MSF classes, and I agree with it. Anything to increase your visibility. But, no matter how visible you try to be, it goes without saying that you always ride like you are invisible. Most cagers are not only stupid, but blind as well. Surprisingly, many bikers act the same way when driving a cage. Jerry.

Flashing 'High' beams has always meant eff you as far as I'm concerned. Flashing ones headlights means I'm yielding yo you or danger ahead, (cop, downed tress etc.) Big difference between flashing headlights and flashing high beams. At least in the trucking world where most of my miles are from.

I'm with the ones who would never flash the beamers because it means go ahead...

The modulator flashes the headlight much faster than you could by hand, and you can see it from a long way back. They are very common around here, and most everybody knows what they are. But like I said, there are a few cagers that are going to do their best to nail you no matter what you do, so while I believe in high visibility, I still have to assume I'm invisible. But I have had fewer close calls than when I used to wear all black. A rider dressed in black on a mostly black bike is all but invisible to pretty much everyone. Jerry.

Some bikes also have hazard lights or caution lights installed, if you are very afraid they won't see you, you could always turn them on, all your blinkers blink, your main head light flicks from high to low. You're a one man light show, the truth is, if they want to hit you they will. I've a friend who has ridden for quite a while and recently told me that he was riding and laid on his horn even swirved to try and avoid being hit by a truck who accelerated when he approached the intersection. The man hit him, totaled his bike, the truck had a high brush guard and that part was bent quite a bit. My friend broke his leg in two places ribs and suffered a concussion. he was laying on the ground and the man walked up before police arrived and stated "Don't worry this isn't the first biker I've hit." I was told that if not for the broken bones he'd have spared no effort to beat the living daylights out of the man. The good news was the man's insurance paid for hospital bills and a new bike. Bad news is there are people out there that think to themselves "20points!"

But if it's always flashing, not just a 'quick' flash then the cagers' will at least see you better.

Rich

Depending on how many times you flash you head light, some people might get confused and misread what you are trying to indicate. Someone could mistakingly think you are trying to tell them to go ahead.

Then there is other side of it, like mentioned above, that some people really just don't give a damn and feel that because they are bigger than you, and it's not gonna hurt them if they hit you, they have somewhere they have to be so you better slow down because they are going whether you like it or not.

There's an intersection near where I live that begs for an accident to happen every time I cross it on my 750, especially when there's nobody in it at the time . When I don't see anyone there turn on my high beams (day or night), slow down a bit and toot the horn as I approach. But when someone is already there I would never flash the high beams or toot the horn in case the idiot thought that I was signaling him to go.

In daylight hours I usually run with the hi beam light on full time.

Same here. Taught my wife to do the same.

I think you're on the right track, but if you really feel this is an effective strategy, go ahead and "bite the bullet" and get a headlamp modulator. They're a relatively simple install. These devices come with sensors that turn them off automatically at night, avoiding an obvious major problem.

I've seen bikes running with these modulators. Sort of weird to see them at first. I thought they might have just been something with the new bikes. Not a bad idea, though. You cannot mistake there is something coming.

I have a modulator and their is al,ost no way anyone will take it for "go ahead"' The flash is to quick and repetative. That said I also have 130 DB horns to get their attention if they can't see the bike and flashing lights

Yup... Run my modulator 100% of the time during daylight hours and have my 136dB air horns as back-up. People rarely pull in front of me and when they do, I wake them up.

Some bikes also have hazard lights or caution lights installed,

My 2001 VN750 had flashers on it. I don't know if that was true with every model, but I thought it was a good idea. My 2003 VN1600 doesn't have it. Kawasaki must have thought it wasn't used enough or something.

Yup... Run my modulator 100% of the time during daylight hours and have my 136dB air horns as back-up. People rarely pull in front of me and when they do, I wake them up.

Me too!

When approaching a busy intersection I don't flash the lights but instead tend to weave it just a bit right and left. Just enough to wiggle the light back and forth, sideways. The theory is to make the lights do something "different" and grab some modicum of attention.
Flashing and horns are always backups.
Let's face it, nothing will work all of the time. My head is on a swivel and my hands/feet are ready to react as quickly as I can.
It gets old really quick to smooth out the pucker mark that's left on the seat because of some bozo pulling out in front of you.

Thats why i like touring more. I still need to stay in practice though

Well the problem with flashing the bright beams at intersections may get other motorists to think that you are a police officer on a motorcycle. Which in a lot of different places you can actually get a citation for doing so because emergency vehicles have wig-wags which make your high beams flash, and used a lot at intersections. I myself am a fire fighter, and I have my emergency lights as well as wig-wags on my truck. The only time those wig-wags are used is at intersections. With this idea yes it is a good idea that you have, but there is legal things to look at with it. 99.9% of the time at intersections if you flash the high beams you are giving the ok for the other driver to go ahead and go which could result in a motorcycle vs. car traumatic accident. This is just my opinion on this topic, but with being a fire fighter, and EMT wig-wags that cause high beams to flash could cause problems, and in way it is the same as just normally flipping the switch to flash your head lights.

When approaching a busy intersection I don't flash the lights but instead tend to weave it just a bit right and left. Just enough to wiggle the light back and forth, sideways. The theory is to make the lights do something "different" and grab some modicum of attention.


+100 on that. It is what I have been doing and it works. Flashing your lights is not really a good idea, Period. It may work on some drivers, but not on all, and it only takes one to kill you.

You only can get busted for "flashing you lights" and making someone think you are a cop if your are riding behind someone here. They are not going to give you a ticket for flashing you lights to prevent an oncoming car from hitting you. You might get a warning.

If you have driving lights on each side of the headlight and have a wig-wag circuit on them, yeah, you might have a problem.

So stop messing with your lights and pay attention. Slow down for intersections and if you see a car that might violate your space coming at you, sweep the bike left and right quickly before entering the intersection.


KM