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Review of Comagination Headlight Modulator (to increase rider visibility)
Headlight Modulator Product Review
A headlight modulator is a device that "pulses" your headlight continuously during daylight hours (though you can manually turn it off). Its purpose is to increase motorcycle visibility and rider safety. There are several companies that make them. The one I bought is by a company called Comagination. [url=http://comagination.com/modBulb.htm]Click HERE to link to the product - SS115H4 ($69.95 at the time of posting).
To see a modulator in action, [url=http://www.ridergroups.com/1187/signal-dynamics-back-off-module-and-plug-and-play-headlight-module-review/]click HERE for a gear review video about a different manufacturer's modulator. The headlight modulator segment starts at 53 seconds into the video. Visually, my modulator looks the same. I bought it from Comagination instead of Signal Dynamics (the company in the review) because the Comagination one is compatible with our flash-to-pass feature. The Signal Dynamics person I talked with didn't seem sure. Also, the Comagination light sensor (discussed below) is more unobtrusive than its SD counterpart.
General Impression
I've had the modulator installed for about a month. In summary, I like it and find it to be a useful tool to increase rider safety. In one particular instance, a fast incoming car was going to turn left at a yellow light, perpendicular to me. Instead, she slowed down to let me ride first through the intersection. Would the driver have seen me without the modulator? Perhaps she would have - for example, I typically wear very visible clothing while riding. But the modulator certainly helped.
Police Officers
There are a lot of threads in the internet on this subject, and one common concern is that modulator use attracts unwanted police attention. I passed four police officers during this time - twice while they were incoming, and twice from behind. None of those officers stopped me or gave warnings. I was simply another motorist.
Note: I was in Los Angeles County, in California, where the officers may be more familiar with laws regarding modulator use (they are legal here) than more rural areas. Also, I'm not claiming that four encounters within a single month is a statistically accurate sample. But for the informal purposes of this forum, I think it's useful information.
Riding Habits
Some people wonder if modulator use may cause riders to ride sloppily by giving them a false sense of security. That hasn't happened with me. Modulator use is passive, and doesn't change my riding habits any more than wearing a yellow jacket does. Its more accurate to say that modulator use, like my use of visible gear, is a manifestation of my desire to ride safely.
Courtesy to Other Motorists
Some people are concerned that modulator use may annoy other motorists. Having used the modulator now, I'll provide my observations with the caveat that this is a subjective issue. Your opinion may differ from mine.
First, the modulator is not annoying at night. It has a light sensor that automatically turns the device off when you enter darkness. This auto-off feature is required to comply with applicable laws permitting use of motorcycle modulators. It's also a good idea.
As for the daylight hours - I walked in front of the bike about 3 car lengths away and didn't find the flashing to be annoying. Nor do I find it annoying when I've seen other motorcycles use a modulator when I was in a car. Rather, the modulator let me see (and thus avoid) bikes that I might have otherwise not seen. It's this visibility that led me to get the modulator for my own bike.
[url=http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=1409]Here is a link to a forum discussion that may be useful, in which I and other forum members discuss modulator use. Other members hold opinions different from mine,which may be interesting for you to read (particularly since this is a good bunch and they expressed those opinions quite nicely). But I agree with the policy decisions made by California's legislature that made modulator use legal. The legislature believed that motorcycle headlight modulator use, when done at certain frequencies and with the use of auto-off equipment, was a fair way to balance motorcycle safety with the safety of other motorists. I agree.
I hope this review proves useful. Let's all have fun riding.
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Review of Comagination Headlight Modulator (to increase rider visibility)
