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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Are you a flasher?
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Message started by raydawg on 11/04/12 at 07:37:08

Title: Are you a flasher?
Post by raydawg on 11/04/12 at 07:37:08

With my first bike, a honda rebel, I pretty much just rode with the high beam on, thinking it gave me more visibility. Did the same with my S40 when I first got it. Still had the proverbial idiots pull out in front of me, yada, yada, yada....
Got to fooling around with the button, I think my sales guy called it a passing light switch, on the lhs of the handlebar in front of the grip. For kicks, I turned my beam to low, and when I felt the need to advise a cager of my whereabouts, I'd trip the button.....darn, it works. I've since seen people starting to roll as they are looking toward me (past) and I activate it, and they quickly stop! Its a reactionary response on their part I believe. It's not like they see me, but subconsciously their mind warns them of something that they haven't, as yet assigned value, or knowledge to, and they react by stopping.
I have since employed it while riding at night as I come upon a blind intersection or curve....its eerie, the flashing lends another element to the scene, one that is not easily missed. A cool feature, I believe it has readily improved the safety margin as such when riding :)

Title: Re: Are you a flasher?
Post by Paraquat on 11/04/12 at 08:52:34

I have a flasher on my C50. I used it once to see what it does, a second time to show my GF what it does, and that's been it.
My Savage doesn't have a flasher.

--Steve

Title: Re: Are you a flasher?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 11/04/12 at 09:18:08

Yellow Button, left side, almost on front of the housing.
I ride Low Beam, when I see someone I REally want to see me, I hit that button & move back & forth across my lane.

Title: Re: Are you a flasher?
Post by runwyrlph on 11/04/12 at 10:11:21

hmm ...

I usually leave it on high beam for greater visibility, but you're probably correct that the low to high contrast would be more attention - getting.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the yellow switch does nothing if you're on "high", right?

I have noticed at night, if you set the beam on "low" and hold the yellow button in, you get a "better than High" beam :)

Title: Re: Are you a flasher?
Post by raydawg on 11/04/12 at 11:24:02

7F6876787874621B0 wrote:

Yes....it has to be on low beam to work. As per the owners manual, what you are doing will cause damage to the headlamp, it will over heat and burn the area adjacent to where the front of the seat, rides against the rear of the fuel tank...... whats that smell? :P

Title: Re: Are you a flasher?
Post by heroicseven on 11/04/12 at 11:36:35

I do it all the time. I flash people who are pulling out and maybe see me, I feel the flasher gets their attention good. I also do it as I roll past people on the freeway to help remind them I'm there. It's not 100% tho, I almost got taken out by a fiat 500. :(

Title: Re: Are you a flasher?
Post by jvdb on 11/04/12 at 11:57:05

I prefer the technique described here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqQBubilSXU

I couldn't say which is more effective, but people definitely notice you following the advice in that video.

Title: Re: Are you a flasher?
Post by heroicseven on 11/04/12 at 12:24:11

Good video I learned a new maneuver!

Title: Re: Are you a flasher?
Post by Charon on 11/04/12 at 12:31:36

The Savage does not have a "Flash to Pass" switch. That feature was added when Suzuki changed it to the S40 Boulevard. The S40 also got four-way flashers, which only work when the ignition is ON. The "Flash to Pass" turns on the high beam, but does not turn off the low beam, so both headlight filaments are lit. If you are already using the high beam, the switch does nothing.

Title: Re: Are you a flasher?
Post by ToesNose on 11/04/12 at 15:52:03

I used to flash all the time, then I got married. Now I only flash while riding my S40 through intersections :D

Title: Re: Are you a flasher?
Post by misterbbq on 11/04/12 at 16:28:53

i put a http://www.comagination.com/ headlight modulator on my bike. i keep it flashing unless i'm lined up behind somebody at a stop light/sign, etc. then flick it off.

Title: Re: Are you a flasher?
Post by Digger on 11/04/12 at 21:18:01

I'm one who rides with the low beam on and uses high beam flashes when I think they're warranted.

Be careful if you do this, however, as some cagers will interpret a flash of the high beam as clearance to move.

The weave is good, too. I started using this during the last year and like it. I'm trying to remember to do it more often.....

Title: Re: Are you a flasher?
Post by Dave on 11/05/12 at 08:28:41

I have thought about flashing - but I have not done so as I believe the message will be misunderstood. In this area it is used by drivers to signal that it is OK to pull out......it is given as "permission" to go ahead and "pull out in front of me".

I am seriously considering adding some form of flashing white strobe to get attention. I would not have it on all the time.....and only use it when I believe I need to get some attention. I have noticed that bicycle riders have these flashing white strobes, and they do attract attention and keep you from blending in with the background.

Title: Re: Are you a flasher?
Post by ToesNose on 11/05/12 at 12:05:39

Yea Dave the school buses here have white strobe lights, they definitely get your attention.

Title: Re: Are you a flasher?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 11/05/12 at 17:07:47

IDK if its legal on a motorized vehicle, I DO know it would be Ultimate Dorkocity in action, but a whip with an orange pennant on it would Get attention,

Title: Re: Are you a flasher?
Post by verslagen1 on 11/05/12 at 17:11:26

If you don't want to look dorky, fly an american flag.

Title: Re: Are you a flasher?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 11/05/12 at 17:53:18

Id be afraid one of Als buddies would run me down,

Title: Re: Are you a flasher?
Post by Dave on 11/06/12 at 04:58:28

3C2325223F3809390931232F64560 wrote:

IDK if its legal on a motorized vehicle, I DO know it would be Ultimate Dorkocity in action, but a whip with an orange pennant on it would Get attention,

There is an absolute plethora of trucks running around here with white strobe lights running all the time. We have lots of highway work going on, and even when running out for coffee and idling in the parking lot........ these guys have their strobe lights running. Their white strobes are mounted in the grill or parking lights. I can't imagine I would get pulled over for flashing a strobe light at a car that is thinking about pulling out in front of me at an intersection. I thought about wiring it up to the button for the "flash" on the left handlebar - it would only work when you had the button pushed.