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Is this headlight modulator legal in California?

VinceDee

New member
Joined
Jun 24, 2008
Location
Berkeley, Ca
Moto(s)
84 Yamaha Vision, 91 Honda ST1100
Previous owner installed a "Pathfinder" headlight modulator on my bike and it seems awfully bright to me. Look at the video and tell me if you guys think this is legal in California. Watch for the back-and-forth flashing of the two sides of the headlight, like an emergency vehicle. Seems iffy to me, but I'd like confirmation.

Video of headlight modulator

EDIT: Just discovered that it's not "Pathfinder", it's a "PathBlazer" modulator (made by the folks who make the "TailBlazer" taillight modulator)
 
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No, its not legal.


Flashing Headlamps on Authorized Emergency Vehicles
25252.5. (a) Every authorized emergency vehicle may be equipped with a system which flashes the upper-beam headlamps of the vehicle with the flashes occurring alternately from the front headlamp on one side of the vehicle to the front headlamp on the other side of the vehicle. The flashing of the headlamps shall consist only of upper-beam flashing, and not the flashing of any other light beam.

(b) "Upper-beam headlamp," as used in this section, means a headlamp or that part of a headlamp which projects a distribution of light, or composite beam, so aimed and of such intensity as to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least 350 feet ahead for all conditions of loading.

(c) The system provided for in subdivision (a) shall only be used when an authorized emergency vehicle is being operated pursuant to Section 21055.


This is what is legal on a motorcycle.

Motorcycles: Headlamp Flasher
25251.2. Any motorcycle may be equipped with a means of modulating the upper beam of the headlamp between a high and a lower brightness at a rate of 200 to 280 flashes per minute. Such headlamps shall not be so modulated during darkness.
 
Actually, YES they are! Under a Federal Safety Standard, which I learned from here almost 2 yrs ago but could not find again, A MODULATING headlight, (note not FLASHING), IS leagal in all States! BUT, they can only be used during daylight hours, be attached to the hi beam, I think it says. You can even a "flashing" brake light too!! I had both on 2 of my scoots, '04 Honda Silverwing 600cc and 2000 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic. Had NO problems with LEOs, infact had many give me the "thumbs up". It also made me more visable to the caging public! I know this due to the fact that before I installed the Headlight Modulator, i had many cagers pull right in front of me. After they were installed, I never had another "pull out" on me!! I think all bikes should come equipt with the modulators and brake flashers!!!
note: the head light modualtors should have a photo cell on them to automatically turn the modulator on for daytime, off at dusk or night time!!

I will keep looking for the Federal Standard. I always kept a copy of it on the bike with the registration, "just in case"!!



Previous owner installed a "Pathfinder" headlight modulator on my bike and it seems awfully bright to me. Look at the video and tell me if you guys think this is legal in California. Watch for the back-and-forth flashing of the two sides of the headlight, like an emergency vehicle. Seems iffy to me, but I'd like confirmation.

Video of headlight modulator

EDIT: Just discovered that it's not "Pathfinder", it's a "PathBlazer" modulator (made by the folks who make the "TailBlazer" taillight modulator)
 
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This is what is legal on a motorcycle.

Motorcycles: Headlamp Flasher
25251.2. Any motorcycle may be equipped with a means of modulating the upper beam of the headlamp between a high and a lower brightness at a rate of 200 to 280 flashes per minute. Such headlamps shall not be so modulated during darkness.

Watching that video, it looks like it *may* fall within the above definition.:nerd
 
here's a link re: legality and standards:

http://www.ddmiller.com/hlm/faq.asp#OK_is_this_really_legal

"OK, is this really legal?
Headlight modulators are legal in both the United States and Canada.
In the US:
In the US, FMVSS 108 (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) (49 CFR Part 571.108 S7.9.4) allows motorcycle headlight modulation systems in all 50 states provided they comply with the standards set forth in this section.

Furthermore, Title 49 USC 30103(b1) (US Code) prohibits any state from forbidding a system that conforms to FMVSS 108.

I have posted a copy of the US laws here for reference. I have also provided a copy of the laws in RTF format so riders can print it out and carry it with them here.

If you want to see the full citation of the laws on a site operated by the government:
For the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) click here (will open in a new window). In the search enter 49 for Title, 571 for Part and 108 for Section. The paragraph that discusses motorcycle headlight modulation systems is S7.9.4

For the United States Code (USC) click here. (will open in a new window). In the search enter 49USC30103

These searches will include the full section where I obtained my excerpts."
 
No, its not legal.


Flashing Headlamps on Authorized Emergency Vehicles
25252.5. (a) Every authorized emergency vehicle may be equipped with a system which flashes the upper-beam headlamps of the vehicle with the flashes occurring alternately from the front headlamp on one side of the vehicle to the front headlamp on the other side of the vehicle. The flashing of the headlamps shall consist only of upper-beam flashing, and not the flashing of any other light beam.

(b) "Upper-beam headlamp," as used in this section, means a headlamp or that part of a headlamp which projects a distribution of light, or composite beam, so aimed and of such intensity as to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least 350 feet ahead for all conditions of loading.

(c) The system provided for in subdivision (a) shall only be used when an authorized emergency vehicle is being operated pursuant to Section 21055.


This is what is legal on a motorcycle.

Motorcycles: Headlamp Flasher
25251.2. Any motorcycle may be equipped with a means of modulating the upper beam of the headlamp between a high and a lower brightness at a rate of 200 to 280 flashes per minute. Such headlamps shall not be so modulated during darkness.

Modulated vs. flashing isn't the issue. Feds allow for modulated headlamp on the high beam of motorcycles, and the states can't prohibit it.

However, flashing alternately, as JPM ponted out, is the no-no.
 
If its flashing alternately (I can't watch the video) it was installed wrong.
 
I cannot see the video either.

If it is alternating from side to side (wig-wag) it is not legal.
If it is modulating (high-low beams) it is legal during the daytime and must have a daylight sensor to revert back to standard operation at night.
 
You might need the DivX plug-in for Windows Media Player.

It's a Honda ST with what appears to be side-by-side, dual-element headlights. In the video, it looks (I say looks because the video is pretty jumpy...just look at the background masts) like the high beams are alternating rather than in synch.
 
Thanks, I look for almost an hour and couldn't find the stupid thing!! Wish i knew how to get around the Web!! To old and dumb to learn much more!!!!


here's a link re: legality and standards:

http://www.ddmiller.com/hlm/faq.asp#OK_is_this_really_legal

"OK, is this really legal?
Headlight modulators are legal in both the United States and Canada.
In the US:
In the US, FMVSS 108 (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) (49 CFR Part 571.108 S7.9.4) allows motorcycle headlight modulation systems in all 50 states provided they comply with the standards set forth in this section.

Furthermore, Title 49 USC 30103(b1) (US Code) prohibits any state from forbidding a system that conforms to FMVSS 108.

I have posted a copy of the US laws here for reference. I have also provided a copy of the laws in RTF format so riders can print it out and carry it with them here.

If you want to see the full citation of the laws on a site operated by the government:
For the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) click here (will open in a new window). In the search enter 49 for Title, 571 for Part and 108 for Section. The paragraph that discusses motorcycle headlight modulation systems is S7.9.4

For the United States Code (USC) click here. (will open in a new window). In the search enter 49USC30103

These searches will include the full section where I obtained my excerpts."
 
Actually, YES they are! Under a Federal Safety Standard, which I learned from here almost 2 yrs ago but could not find again, A MODULATING headlight, (note not FLASHING), IS leagal in all States! BUT, they can only be used during daylight hours, be attached to the hi beam, I think it says. You can even a "flashing" brake light too!! I had both on 2 of my scoots, '04 Honda Silverwing 600cc and 2000 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic. Had NO problems with LEOs, infact had many give me the "thumbs up". It also made me more visable to the caging public! I know this due to the fact that before I installed the Headlight Modulator, i had many cagers pull right in front of me. After they were installed, I never had another "pull out" on me!! I think all bikes should come equipt with the modulators and brake flashers!!!
note: the head light modualtors should have a photo cell on them to automatically turn the modulator on for daytime, off at dusk or night time!!

I will keep looking for the Federal Standard. I always kept a copy of it on the bike with the registration, "just in case"!!

In the video, if you watched it, the light is alternating between one light and another (Side-by-side) in a two light/bulb system NOT modulating one single bulb. Illegal.

Now if it was wired to modulate one light, it would be legal.
 
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Actually, I think "Modulating ONE light" is illegal. I thought you had to modulate both IN PHASE.

The previous owner deliberately installed it wrong, or installed the wrong one. The proper Kissan unit for a 2-bulb bike uses a master/slave arrangement so they blink in sync.

(My bet is installed the wrong one: installed two individual units instead of one common unit)
 
Again, without seeing the video, I stand by what I posted in #8 above.

Wig-wag (alternating) is illegal.
High-Low (modulating) is legal, per the code, if it meets the other requirements set forth in 25251.2 CVC, which is quoted above. I THOUGHT the daylight/darkness sensor was actually required by the code. I do not see it in the appropriate section, so I guess I was mistaken about that. :(
 
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