How bright is too bright?

[Bill Harris]

+1 TTPete. It's not so much absolute brightness as it is brightness in a pattern, which can give s sense of depth without glaring

For most of it's life my /5 has had auxillary tail/brake lights. They started out in the '70s as incandescent lights and evolved to LEDs.



--Bill

[ttpete]

Originally Posted by Bill Harris

+1 TTPete. It's not so much absolute brightness as it is brightness in a pattern, which can give s sense of depth without glaring

For most of it's life my /5 has had auxillary tail/brake lights. They started out in the '70s as incandescent lights and evolved to LEDs.



--Bill

I also use a headlight modulator on the high beam. It's white, and the low beam uses an ion yellow bulb. People really notice the combination, probably because it's unique. I'm working up a set of LED auxiliary fronts that use a module that induces a random flicker effect similar to a bad connection.

[jacksgp]

I have led electro pod lights that flash mounted on either side of my licence plate. Wakes up the cagers every time, very inexpensive. Check them out!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ELECTRO-PODS...4f86c6&vxp=mtr

[Bill Harris]

In front I went with a pair of 60-series Amber turn signal LED modules for conspicuity lighting (daytime running lamps, in addition to the headlight). Bright in full sun and the color is attention-getting



--Bill

[CSI]

When I had my HD Ultra, I had a tail light on it sold by a compan called BriteAssLights. It was exactly that, if you had the brightness cranked all the way up.

In running light mode, I had it set on level 2 of three......as a running light, it was about as bright as a stock M/C brake light. For braking, I had the brightness turned all the way up, but had the mode set to flash in two sets of three flashes, then stay solid on.

An aquaintance also had one....he had set his brake let to constant strobe....it didnt take but about 10 minutes of following him, before asking him to change it. Yes, it was noticeable......and VERY irritating.

[J_White]

police, fire, and ambulances shouldn't have those intense flashing lights on them, either.
.[/QUOTE]

Well, since that's been brought up...
The state troopers' cars here now, blindingly bright flashing led blues -
Common to see them with a speeder pulled over on the right shoulder of the four lane,
stupid lights so bright that instead of the normal slow 20 mph or so and
move left, you have to almost stop as you approach. So freakin bright
you can't tell what's in the road past them, wreck, dead deer or what.
Has gotten totally out of hand! Sometimes they're even blinding when
they're on opposite side of the median.

[ttpete]

stupid lights so bright that instead of the normal slow 20 mph or so and
move left, you have to almost stop as you approach.

+1. They finally found a way to make drivers do what they SHOULD do.

[STUFF2C]

Hey Bill- Did you ever watch "the worlds fastest indian".
Your yard reminded me of Burt Munro's yard.
He mowed it with a match.

Not chapp'n on you, it was just the first thing that popped in my head... It Friday.

Originally Posted by Bill Harris

In front I went with a pair of 60-series Amber turn signal LED modules for conspicuity lighting (daytime running lamps, in addition to the headlight). Bright in full sun and the color is attention-getting



--Bill

[DC2wheels]

I have done a group ride with someone who had a headlight modulator. For the first 20 or 30 miles I was immediately in front of him. Drove me nuts.

For the remaining day I made sure to NOT get right in front of that #!%$#$$! bike again.

IIRC, those things have an on/off control. Ride on your own? Have at it.

But in a group, IMHO, not needed or appreciated by other riders.

[windmill]

Yes, being visible makes sense, being thoughtless doesn't.

I'll never understand why a few feel the compulsion to go over the top, being a nuisance and a hazard to others for a feeling of security.

If non invasive lighting isn't sufficient, you are the problem motorist.

[ttpete]

Originally Posted by windmill

Yes, being visible makes sense, being thoughtless doesn't.

I'll never understand why a few feel the compulsion to go over the top, being a nuisance and a hazard to others for a feeling of security.

If non invasive lighting isn't sufficient, you are the problem motorist.

I switch the modulator off if I'm riding with friends. Those who I don't know, I'm not behind them for very long.

There are some people who get pissed off just noticing you, lights or no lights. Fuck 'em.

[Brokein2]

When someone pulls up next to me at a light and tells me there is something wrong with my headlight cause it is flashing, I usually tell them I am glad they noticed.

Other times really pissed people yell at me at a light and I tell them I run a modulator to try and avoid meeting all my dead friends that were killed by motorists that did not see them.

Flashing headlight or frickin nuclear reactor powered tail lights......NEVER believe people see you - ride defensively no matter what.

[Bill Harris]

Originally Posted by STUFF2C

Hey Bill- Did you ever watch "the worlds fastest indian".
Your yard reminded me of Burt Munro's yard.
He mowed it with a match.

Not chapp'n on you, it was just the first thing that popped in my head... It Friday.

No offense taken. I'd rather ride than mow.

To quote Burt Munro: "At my age any day above ground and vertical is a good day."



--Bill

[Frankenfeejeer]

I'm pretty sure fewer motorcyclists are killed by people who were pissed off at the rider than were killed by people who didn't see the rider.

If someone is a little frustrated at the brightness of my lights (I actually have ODOT grade retro-reflective decals on the back of my bike), while I can empathize with them, my wife, my kids, my parents, students, friends, and folks at the coffee shop, (not to mention the annoyed driver), and I are VERY happy they saw them.

Why is this even being debated?

[DAKEZ]

Originally Posted by DC2wheels

I have done a group ride with someone who had a headlight modulator. For the first 20 or 30 miles I was immediately in front of him. Drove me nuts.

Why didn't you ask him to turn it off?

Originally Posted by Zukizjsheller

Why is this even being debated?

Because obnoxious riders make it bad for ALL riders. Overly bright lights are obnoxious.

The non riding public tends to lump all riders together.

Any rider that can't ride safely without being obnoxious to the general populous should NOT be riding.