Rguy

My new bike came wired with flashing brake lights. They flash rapidly when ever I come to a stop. I know in my motorcycle manual it actually says flashing your brake lights can be helpful, but are ones that stay on legal?

littlemracura

Should be legal in most states, but just check with your local police or dmv just to be sure. They're called brakelight or taillight modulators. It is supposed to enhance safety for you to attract more attention.

Do your keep flashing continuously or do they flash at first quickly and then the flashing slows down to an eventual stop?

Rguy

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by littlemracura &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Do your keep flashing continuously or do they flash at first quickly and then the flashing slows down to an eventual stop?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Pretty sure its continuous.

Power2weight

http://home.ama-cycle.org/amac...te=va

says headlights OK, should be the same for tailight.

If I cop ever pulls you for it ask him if he likes scraping bikers of the pavement.

Corey G

Sicne they teach you to do this very same thing in the MSF cource I don't think its illegal. I know when I am stoped at a light thats at the bottom of a hill I will turn around to see whats coming over the hill and when I see something I start flashing my cuase people with cell phones are stupid.

Apocalypse

For once the code doesn't have a clear answer. It says you can have a modulating headlight but doesn't specifiy if you can/can't have a modulating brake light. I guess you would have to do additional research to see what's approved by the Superintendent.

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bi...d+TOC

§ 46.2-1012. Headlights, auxiliary headlights, tail lights, brake lights, and illumination of license plates on motorcycles.

Every motorcycle shall be equipped with at least one headlight which shall be of a type that has been approved by the Superintendent and shall be capable of projecting sufficient light to the front of such motorcycle to render discernible a person or object at a distance of 200 feet. However, the lights shall not project a glaring or dazzling light to persons approaching such motorcycles. In addition, each motorcycle may be equipped with not more than two auxiliary headlights of a type approved by the Superintendent.

Motorcycles may be equipped with means of modulating the high beam of their headlights between high and low beam at a rate of 200 to 280 flashes per minute. Such headlights shall not be so modulated during periods when headlights would ordinarily be required to be lighted under § 46.2-1030.

Every motorcycle registered in the Commonwealth and operated on the highways of the Commonwealth shall be equipped with at least one brake light of a type approved by the Superintendent. Motorcycles may be equipped with one or more auxiliary brake lights of a type approved by the Superintendent. The Superintendent may by regulation prescribe or limit the size, number, location, and configuration of such auxiliary brake lights.

Every motorcycle shall carry at the rear at least one or more red lights plainly visible in clear weather from a distance of 500 feet to the rear of such vehicle. Such tail lights shall be constructed and so mounted in their relation to the rear license plate as to illuminate the license plate with a white light so that the same may be read from a distance of 50 feet to the rear of such vehicle. Alternatively, a separate white light shall be so mounted as to illuminate the rear license plate from a distance of 50 feet to the rear of such vehicle. Any such tail lights or special white light shall be of a type approved by the Superintendent.

BDiddy

The answer is that it is legal. What is illegal is to have a flashing tail light while moving. If you get pulled over for it by a cop that doesnt know, just say that you have it because you got rearended once and wanted to make sure that people saw you. Most cops will let that slide because its a safety thing.

When I put on the Moriwaki rear sets, it took a few days to work the bugs out of the rear brake switch adjustment. I got pulled over when it got stuck once and stayed flashing while I was moving. But I told him the truth and got it to turn off so he was cool with it.

Apocalypse

I'm not sure you can say with certainty since you're in a different state. What applies to one state may not apply to another.

Aren't you techincally moving when you apply the brake anyway?

bansheetah

True that

detaude

I've seen those on some of the BMW bikes, and they are just freaking cool.