I am a BIG believer in motorcycle visibility. I've got lots of led lighting on the front wheel, side covers, trunk & bags. The headlights are modulated as well as the brakes. I recently purchased a new brake modulator because the old one was...well OLD. When you hit the brakes, the lights would flash 3 times then go on solid for a few seconds, then start flashing again. A number of fellow riders told me it was annoying but I still want motorists behind me to notice I'm braking. People these days are so busy talking on the phone, or even worse texting that I want every advantage I can get. Finally I found a modulator that fit all my requirements. It's small, waterproof, user configurable, has an inertia function that lets people know I am braking HARD and comes with a lifetime warranty. Plus, at 30 bucks on Amazon, it's affordable.
It's available on Amazon or from the manufacturer's website http://3rdbrakeflasher.com/ There is a video that walks you through the programming steps...
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I would recommend using a setup like they show with a 9V battery and an led light to do the programming BEFORE installation. The programming steps themselves aren't difficult, but it took me awhile to get it setup just the way I wanted it. Once that was done, it was simple to install and works great!
Be careful out there!
Brake light flasher
Re: Brake light flasher
I would prefer, in my opinion, that a couple flashes and then staying on to be the best for proper response of those behind.
In my mind if the cycle is repeating, you're NOT stopping, you may just be tapping the brakes to slow down.
Flash, flash, STAYS ON, means you are staying on the brakes for reason, and therefore I should be also, if I'm following.
But hey, that's just my logic.
In my mind if the cycle is repeating, you're NOT stopping, you may just be tapping the brakes to slow down.
Flash, flash, STAYS ON, means you are staying on the brakes for reason, and therefore I should be also, if I'm following.
But hey, that's just my logic.
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ghostvet
- Posts: 133
- Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2012 8:08 am
- Location: Rogersville, TN
- Motorcycle: 1982 GL1100A
1997 GL1500SE
Re: Brake light flasher
Nope.
I want a relay to strobe flash my existing lights, not an add-on that destroys the OEM look of my bike.
I want a relay to strobe flash my existing lights, not an add-on that destroys the OEM look of my bike.
Re: Brake light flasher
Oh fer Pete's sake. The only 'add-on' is the flasher itself. The light in the video is just for setup purposes. I wouldn't put a clunky looking fixture like that on my bike either!
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hondapotamus
- Posts: 51
- Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2014 6:22 pm
- Location: Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
- Motorcycle: 2001 GL1800A Goldwing
Re: Brake light flasher
When you say "flash" do you really mean "modulate"? I would be worried that flashing lights (all the way off to all the way on) might be illegal - I know that to be true for headlights in a large number of jurisdictions. Modulators typically go from 85% to 15% brightness.
As for the comment about them being annoying - GOOD! It did what it was supposed to do - got their attention! Let them get over it, better yet, get their own for the own safeties sake because they have seen just how effective they can be.
I do appreciate the annoyance factor when riding with a group and you are getting it regularly - but, the real reason for them is not to necessarily get the attention of folks who are riding along with you but the inattentive driver (of anything) following you.
As for the comment about them being annoying - GOOD! It did what it was supposed to do - got their attention! Let them get over it, better yet, get their own for the own safeties sake because they have seen just how effective they can be.
I do appreciate the annoyance factor when riding with a group and you are getting it regularly - but, the real reason for them is not to necessarily get the attention of folks who are riding along with you but the inattentive driver (of anything) following you.
Lead, Follow or Get out of the way!
IBA 37676
IBA 37676
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Fiberthree
- Posts: 674
- Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2012 4:06 pm
- Location: Behind the windshield
- Motorcycle: Black 1999 GL1500SE
Re: Brake light flasher
I'm with you on that! Some people can't get out of the box because of over-thinking something. I work with a guy that needs EVERYTHING spelled out and even then he gets things twisted around.
Ed
WARNING: All posts are subject to influence from an uncontrollable dominant sarcastic gene. Offensive remarks may or may not be intentional.
WARNING: All posts are subject to influence from an uncontrollable dominant sarcastic gene. Offensive remarks may or may not be intentional.
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Uncle Fester
- Posts: 1181
- Joined: Tue Jun 26, 2012 6:21 pm
- Location: Moore Oklahoma
- Motorcycle: 2004 GL-1800
Re: Brake light flasher
Other than looking a bit complicated for my feeble mind to set up, I like this flasher set up and in my case, I would just wire it to flash my spoiler light. Just a FYI, on my bike, I wired the spoiler light as a brake light ONLY, so making it flash too would really grab your eye I think.
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.
So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor.
Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore,
Dream,
Discover!
Mark Twain
So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor.
Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore,
Dream,
Discover!
Mark Twain
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Fiberthree
- Posts: 674
- Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2012 4:06 pm
- Location: Behind the windshield
- Motorcycle: Black 1999 GL1500SE
Re: Brake light flasher
The flasher I have only has four wires to connect. Power, Ground, and two wires for the brake lamps. The two wires replace the ground wire
connections for the lamps of your choice and those are the ones that will flash. By switching the ground side, the running light circuit is not affected. Pretty simple solution.
connections for the lamps of your choice and those are the ones that will flash. By switching the ground side, the running light circuit is not affected. Pretty simple solution.
Ed
WARNING: All posts are subject to influence from an uncontrollable dominant sarcastic gene. Offensive remarks may or may not be intentional.
WARNING: All posts are subject to influence from an uncontrollable dominant sarcastic gene. Offensive remarks may or may not be intentional.
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harvey01
- Posts: 873
- Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 7:14 pm
- Location: Henrico, Virginia
- Motorcycle: 2004 GL1800
Re: Brake light flasher
You might also consider HyperLites. Easy to install and don't effect the Wings normal lighting. Website: http://www.hyperlites.com/
harvey
Ride Safe and Ride Often
Ride Safe and Ride Often
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AZgl1800
- Posts: 2932
- Joined: Thu Oct 30, 2008 2:46 pm
- Location: Lake Oologah Indian Territory USA
- Motorcycle: 2009 Piaggio MP3 250cc https://imgur.com/foGDjgv
'02 GL1800 lives in Dawsonville, GA now.
My son is going to enjoy it for many years to come.
Re: Brake light flasher
I totally agree that Brake Lights should never have Running lights in the same fixture. Brake Lights should be Separate so as to grab the viewer's attention to: "Hey! that guy is stopping/slowing down...."Uncle Fester wrote: ↑Wed Sep 20, 2017 10:20 pm
I would just wire it to flash my spoiler light. Just a FYI, on my bike, I wired the spoiler light as a brake light ONLY, so making it flash too would really grab your eye I think.
Which is why my trailer has totally separate stop light ( SEMI truck type ) and a separate Strobe Flasher in the center of the rear box.
Not one time, in pulling that trailer over 4,000 miles has anyone run up on me since I did that. Invariably all traffic now backs off slightly to see what it is that I am up to....
Win Win.... catches their eye, increases my Safety environment.
The Strobe Flasher is a Pulsar brand, 10 flashes and goes solid on.