I'm considering installing a brake light modulator on my 2006 S40. Have been looking at the Signal Dymanics 'Backoff". What do you guys think of these devices in general, and would you recommend this particular brand , or something else.

Right now the tail/brake light assy. on my bike is stock, with an 1157 bulb.

I've been eyeballing the bikes I encounter while riding around, and I have yet to see one of these things on the road.

A few light jabs with the toe & ,, well,, you get the idea..

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 10/10/12 at 08:53:50:


Yeah, I do that now. My thought was that in a situation where I had to get on the brakes  hard, the automatic flashing might wake up the guy benind me if he wasn't paying attention.

Demin, I wasn't aware of the bulbs you mentioned. I'll try to find one. Eight to ten bucks is a heck of a lot better than the $35 or so that I've seen the "Backoff" unit advertised for.

Demin,
    Checked the link. That's still cheaper than the "Backoff" but if I understand the ad correctly the lights on this rotate when the tail light is on and flash when you hit the brake. I'm pretty sure that would be illegal here in New York. I don't think red running lights that flash or move are allowed here.

$14.95

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LED-FLASHING-BRAKE-LIGHT-1157-CLEAR-TAIL-LIGHT-BULB-/...

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 10/10/12 at 15:39:59:

I think this is probably the kind of circuit that the "Backoff" thing uses.
If you're sugesting I try to build something like this myself I think thats a ways over my head. I'm pretty comfortable with wrenches but electronic stuff - especially small electronic stuff - is out of my comfort zone.

I'm actually liking your first suggestion - tapping the brake lever - more and more.

I'd still like to hear from anyone who actually has something like this on a bike and is has used it for a while. If you think it makes any difference from a saftey standpoint or is just a gimmick.

I've had the BackOff on mine for about seven years now and it works just fine.  I believe the current models will handle LED lamps where my old one requires resistors to be added.

Savage_Rob wrote on 10/11/12 at 15:51:18:

Well, I think that pretty much settles the question of how reliable the "Back off" gadget is. At least to me it does. I think if I decide to go with an add-on that's the way I'll go.

I want to thank everyone who replied. This forum is amazing !