 Volume 27 Number 3 March 1996 Innovation of the Month Backoff Brake Light Signal Module Getting hit from behind by a motorist not paying attention is a nagging fear many riders live with daily. Motorcycles have only one brake light that is well below a motorist's line of sight, so anything that can be done to increase visibility can possibly save your life. Signal Dynamics Corporation has released the BackOff Brake Light Signal Module, a compact solid state electronic module that flashes your brake light when the brakes are applied. The pattern, three short flashes followed by on long flash, repeats as long as the brakes are applied. According to the manufactured, this pattern was not randomly determined, but based on research of the human short-term memory process, and a person's ability to remain focused on a potential hazard. This product is unique enough to have been awarded a United States Patent. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation as well as many state driving manuals recommend flashing your brake light to increase visibility when stopping. With Back-Off this is achieved without having to modulate the lever. A California Highway Patrol officer even noticed it and at a stop light commented on how well it helped the bike stand out. Installation of the BackOff unit is easy. You simply wire the unit in series with the brake light. and stick it in place with the included two-sided tape. Total installation time on my FZR 1000 was less than 10 minutes. Its small size, 1-1/2" x 2-1/4" x 5/8", allows it to be mounted on virtually and motorcycle with little problem. The solid state circuitry and weather resistant casing have kept it running for many months even through several rain storms. With a suggested retail price of $34.95, the BackOff is cheap insurance. -Ray Engelhardt Signal Dynamics corp. |