Possibly *depends where I am.
For the last few years, I've wanted to buy a product for my bike called a Back Off brake modulator...specifically the Wig Wag model.
I first saw them while riding in a group a few years back and a couple of members had them on their bikes...and when they applied the brakes, the brake lights flashed in a pattern. This pattern was very useful in getting ones attention behind you as many accidents are from rear-end collisions.
However, there is an issue in some places. Some states / towns have laws against these devices for some reason or another...primarily because the sequence makes it 'look like' a emergency vehicle. I can understand that.
However, I don't really care. This wasn't an easy choice. Im not a fan of breaking the law, but at the same time...I have a certain affection for being alive and not dead. With motorcycles, very often, if you get hit from behind (or any otehr area for that matter) the results for the biker arent going to be good. If I can do something to make the bike more visable and it's reasonable...Im going to try and do it.
Ok well maybe saying I don't care is a bad choice of words. The thing is...many states that have issues with this...the way they word their laws, you can read it either way. Some states have wording such as flashing...which technically these lights don't do because the bulb doesn't completely turn off. As werid as it sounds....sometimes that information right there is all that is needed for these to be approved. Take SD for example...they have a thing where a bike can't have more than two headlights. lol...what defines a headlight in SD? My bike already has two from the factory....but Id like to light up the road more. Many Wing owners take advantage of the cowl lighting option and add two lights down there as fog lights or additional highway lights. Stil others want even more and add two more additional aftermarket lights under the original headlights. All this is done to improve safety on the bike. For seeing and being seen.
So last month, I bought some new helmets for Marcie and I, along with this modulator. I bought this Wig Wag model because of its sequence. The best description I can give is straight from its website: "Emits a visual signal of 5 alternating quick flashes of the left and right brake lights, followed by 3 short flashes of both brake lights and then the brake light remains steady until the brake is released. "
On my bike, I have 2 sets of rear lights. One set on the trunk and one on the rear of the bike. I also have never done any electrical work, so that was fun too.
Installation. I had to take off the bike seat and disconnect a wiring harness. Then I had to practically take all the plastic off of the trunk of the bike and the rear fender in order to get to the wiring in the back of the bike. I stripped the insulation and electrical tape away and took off the wiring insulation as well and did the splicing with a solder gun I bought. I did manage to mess up as I accidentally hooked up the wrong wire for another setting (the mode you chose depends on how you wire the modulator)...but I cut and redid the wiring the way I wanted to with that wire and I tested it out...worked like a charm. All in all, if I had done this before...it would have only taken me 45-60 minutes...but it took me the better part of a day because the directions I had were confusing and I had to use lots of pictures from other people who did the same on their bike. I wanted to use some heat shrink wrap for those connections...but I struggled so much...I just went overkill with the electrical tape and put everything back in place. Put the plastic back on and tested later at night and they are nice and bright...well not really any brighter than normal brake lights...but they are noticeable.
If I get pulled over, Ill make my case...if I get a ticket...Ill pay it. But this is a borderline thing for me. I don't want to be illegal (and some places I will be), but at the same time, I don't want to get hit either and having this modulator on will greatly improve my visibility from behind.