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Flashing Tail/Brake Light

10K views 22 replies 11 participants last post by  OR_rider 
#1 ·
I've been selling the MotoGadget M-Stop for awhile now. It flashes the brake light for higher visibility. Great safety feature.

The other day, I came across another similar product that not only flashes (pulsates) the brake light for 2 seconds when the brakes are applied, but also when you down shift and/or decelerate under engine braking. In essence, an inertia sensor is triggered by the sudden change in G-force.

My question to the group is: Is this too much flashing of the brake light? I don't know how I would feel following a bike equipped like this. It might trigger an epileptic seizure (80's movie reference: Andromeda Strain).

/M
 
#3 ·
I think it makes sense...braking is just a specific form of slowing...what difference does it make if you're slowing by downshifting, brake pad application, running out of fuel, engine or tranny failure? You are still decelerating and following vehicles need to know that as soon as possible.

I use the Kisan brake light flasher with a decaying flash rate. If a g-force based system could be shown to be reliable, not giving false flashes when going over bumps etc, this would be interesting to me.
 
#5 · (Edited)
Why not just flash the brake light constantly and be done with it? :dunno

It's a brake light, right? Not an all-purpose-warning-for-whatever light?

I'd like to see some evidence that running this type of "brake light" is actually helpful, but I can't imagine how a study like that would be done.
 
#6 ·
When I was following a buddy on his Bonneville over a multi day trip, I regularly had trouble determining if he was braking or not unless I actually saw the lamp get brighter. If I didn't see it actually turn brighter, it could easily be mis-interpreted as the rear lamp only, particularly in bright sun. The flasher gives a much better, unambiguous warning IMHO.

The reason cars are mandated to have third lamp that only comes on when braking is because of this very issue....and Insurance agencies used to give a discount for cars that had these (or were retrofit) when they first started appearing back in the 1980's. So they likely have data supporting lower rear end incidents.
 
#7 · (Edited)
I ride with a couple of guys who, like me, try to NOT use the brakes when we are in the twisties. We have a lot of fun when we go to SE oHIo. Having brake lights flashing at EVERY instance of deceleration would be super annoying and possibly dangerous for following riders.

I say, "HELL NO!". This is no safety device!
A "BRAKE" light should only come on when the brakes are applied!

The automotive high mount brake light is not germane to this discussion, Tornado.

Rex
 
#11 ·
Yes it is germane. It is an example of an unambiguous slowing signal for following vehicles to respond to. Insurance and DOT officials require them on cars for a reason. Bikes are only mandated to have essentially what car had 30+ years ago. Having a 3rd brake-only light would be harder to implement on a bike with limited space. A flasher when slowing achieves a similar unambiguous signal.
 
#12 ·
I have the Matchless/Cluelesss brake & indicators and they are really good. Even better when hooked up to the Kisan TailBlazer brake light flasher ;-)
 
#9 ·
Also, the brain is very good at learning to ignore superfluous information. If a driver is following a motorcycle who appears to be continually dabbing his brakes without noticeably slowing down, they will subconsciously begin to ignore the brake light. If the biker then has to slow down suddenly, the driver will take longer to register that this is a genuine braking situation. You have a potential rear end collision on your hands.
 
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#10 ·
That is why any inertially controlled brake light device must be shown to not flash for bumps etc. If the bike's slowing rate is above a certain amount , then that ii just as important as applying the brakes...so warning following drivers is ideal.
 
#14 ·
I received an email today from someone with Epilepsy who read my OP. My sincerest apologies if I offended anyone with my wisecrack. Apparently, it hit to close to the bone. <Doi!> :grin2:

My initial shipment has not arrived yet, and the Mfgr. does not publish a phone number (Hummm). So I cannot say exactly how this device works... yet. It could be an accelerometer or a simple Mercury switch.

My gut feeling is that running over bumps and potholes will not trigger the device. I -assume- there is some sort of threshold so minor/transient deceleration will be ignored.

For daytime riding, I can see the argument that a flashing light would be annoying to anyone behind you. But isn't getting one's attention the whole purpose here? At light, especially in the rain, I see (yeah, another pun) nothing but benefits.

/M
 
#15 ·
This is just my opinion - but I wish bikes came with flashing rear brake lights while applying the brakes. I would not want a flashing brake light just from decelerating. I pulse the front brake lever while I am sitting at a stop light just to try and catch the eyes of vehicles coming up from behind. Be great if the bikes system would do that for me.
Just my 2 cents.:smile2:
 
#16 ·
I pulse the front brake lever while I am sitting at a stop light just to try and catch the eyes of vehicles coming up from behind.

I do that as well, but I'm always watching as they near, ready to squirt ahead if need be.
I've only had to squirt once, about 10 years ago. Luckily the car I went around only got hit lightly.......(I would have been smushed) :eek:


Rex
 
#18 ·
OK, so I just got off the phone with the manufacturer. Lots-o-info. First-off, the module is adjustable for sensitivity, so you can have it activate at the slightest lift of the throttle, or only under hard braking/down shifting... and all points in between. The unit self-calibrates, so it need not be perfectly level to work. The frame cross member behind the battery should be perfect for mounting.

Next, the module flashes the brake light only for 2 seconds, then is on continuously as long as you have the brakes applied. A quick dab of the brakes and/or constant deceleration w/o brakes only flashes for the first 2 sec.

I ordered their smart module with the accelerometer (confirmed) that senses deceleration. There is also a module that does not have the deceleration feature at a lower cost.

/M
 
#19 ·
I installed inertia detecting modules on both my Bonneville and Road Glide. On my first ride with my buddies I was told, in no uncertain terms, to rip it out. They couldn't tell what I was doing at all. Even more so than usual.

Admittedly, I hadn't done enough calibration. That requires multiple rides with someone following to tell me which way the module needs to be shifted. Then take the seat off and move the unit. Wash, rinse, repeat.

Regardless, the collective opinion of my group of riding buddies is not to use it. They want to know when I actually hit the brakes.

I'm reminded, of course, of my riding instructor who said to blip the front brakes as I rolled off the throttle. That will tell the cage drivers that I'm slowing down. That's about the only good reason for using the modules but that plus may not be worth the aggravation caused to following riders.

Cheers
 
#21 ·
I received my shipment of the Smart Tail Light Flasher Modules and there were no new revelations. The module is very small (2.25" x 1.5" x .5") and has a 4 wire pig tail. 2 wires splice in the +12VDC switched circuit of the brake light (high beam), 1 wire to the +12VDC non-switched circuit to the tail light (low beam) and 1 wire to ground.

The unit should be mounted fairly flat and level to the ground, however there is about a 20° range that allows the unit to work on inertia. A spirit level is supplied and the unit self calibrates.

The instructions also refer to wiring in the module only to auxiliary lights, allowing the brake light to function as stock. I really like that idea and anyone with enough wiring experience to know the difference between a SPST and DPDT switch, should be able to insert an on-off switch.

Yesterday, I watched a Facebook ad for the same basic product, designed to attach to one's helmet. Motion activated. Now that's over the top. <g>

/M
 
#22 · (Edited)
Those who may want a flashing Brake light might be interested in this cheap solution by having both elements of the rear brake/running light work off of one flashing module while maintaining the running light function when the brakes are not applied. Using the LSC-100A Flashing unit - Superbrightleds.com or Amazon $5-6 dollars (quick flashes followed by several slow flashes then steady on condition until brakes are released) It's the LED module and a $7 dollar relay from Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CJ05WW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


I wired this up on the bench, tested out OK and I'll install on my bike soon.

V
 

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#23 ·
I have been very happy with this bulb from superbrightleds.com that integrates the flashing-while-braking function into the standard 1157 bulb, nothing extra required. Have installed these on all my bikes. Just received one yesterday for my Scrambler. When you apply brakes, it flashes several times then goes solid red, and its quite a bit brighter than standard filament bulb.

https://www.superbrightleds.com/mor...-high-power-led-bay15d-retrofit-car/923/2274/




Cheers!
 
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