Headlight Modulators?

[Silver Surfer]

Does anyone have any opinions on headlight modulators? Someone recommended kisan but I've also heard a little about diamond star too.

[randyo]

I have an opinion, probably one you don't want to hear

modulated headlights are annoying and should be outlawed

[GRS1959]

And here's MY opinion:

I have a Diamondstar, and I love it. I don't have it running all the time, but I ride through a couple of very dangerous intersections during my daily commute and like the additional visibility.

[tmcgee]

I used one on my last bike, but usually had it switched off. They help when you're feeling threatened, but as randyo sez, they're annoying.

[docsporseen]

I'm gonna go put my Diamond Star on this afternoon. Not as easy to install as the Kisan from what I've heard, but it comes with all of the connectors. I'll let you know how it goes.

[MAXSTROMBERG]

To me, they give the appearance of "GO, I'm letting you pull out in front of me." I have been riding for 39 years. Everytime I see one, I can't help but think what the cagers must be thinking. We flash our headlights to give signals. I just think it sends the wrong message.
Jim

[turboderek]

a modulator made a HUGE difference on my daily commute. during lane splitting less cars crowd the center lines when i use a modulator.

[water warrior]

A really really BIG plus for headlight modulators.

[quema]

Heck ya +1 for annoying... every time I am riding or driving and I see one coming at me from a few hundred yards I think, man look at that annoying motorcycle with modulating head lamps... then I think, hey look at that annoying motorcycle that I picked out way up there... yup, he is getting anoyingly closer, yup anoyingly closer... zoom... there he goes.

I agree they are annoying, but I want one too, because I always see them really far off.

Set them with an on/off switch for night time riding (usually people wire them up with the high beams... but what if you want your high beams at night?).

[docsporseen]

They come with a photosensor that automatically turns them off at night. California law started that.

[water warrior]

Yahoo, got another one. Leo that is. Educated another LEO about modulators and had a nice long talk about bikes in general. He didn't doubt me about the legality of the modulator or ask for proof. He is wanting to return to riding after being stationed way up in the frozen GWN for a couple years. Thanked him for the friendly chat and rode on.

[docsporseen]

Just got done putting the Diamond Star on. Big difference from what I can tell. I just did the left-side headlamp, and the only thing that was a pain was getting my big-@$$ paws into the cowling to plug everything in. Kit comes with everything, down to a couple of zip-ties to hold everything together. Now I'm modulated on both ends. I'm still trying to figure out where to put the photosensor - the manual says just below the headlamp, but I have no intention of drilling a hole in the cowling! I have it zip-tied to the clutch cable for now.

[GRS1959]

Just got done putting the Diamond Star on. Big difference from what I can tell. I just did the left-side headlamp, and the only thing that was a pain was getting my big-@$$ paws into the cowling to plug everything in. Kit comes with everything, down to a couple of zip-ties to hold everything together. Now I'm modulated on both ends. I'm still trying to figure out where to put the photosensor - the manual says just below the headlamp, but I have no intention of drilling a hole in the cowling! I have it zip-tied to the clutch cable for now.

My 650K6 had a perfect spot to mount the photo sensor with no drilling required. The black cowling peice under the headlamp assembly had 2 unused holes in it. Using a couple of nylon washers, the sensor mounted up perfectly.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/grs1959/Photo_Sensor1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/grs1959/Photo_Sensor2.jpg

Remember to mount the sensor pointing straight down towards the roadway, so headlights or streetlights can't accidentally activate the modulator.

[docsporseen]

My 650K6 had a perfect spot to mount the photo sensor with no drilling required. The black cowling peice under the headlamp assembly had 2 unused holes in it. Using a couple of nylon washers, the sensor mounted up perfectly.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/grs1959/Photo_Sensor1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/grs1959/Photo_Sensor2.jpg

Remember to mount the sensor pointing straight down towards the roadway, so headlights or streetlights can't accidentally activate the modulator.
I saw those, but I wasn't sure about how well light would get to it. Sounds like this works pretty well for you. I'll have to switch things around. Thanks!

[Kansas]

Would someone please enlighten me about modualted headlights. What are they and what do they do? Please forgive me, I am new to the motorcycle scene.

[GRS1959]

A headlight modulator dims the headlights (highbeams or lowbeams) 4 times per second as a way to be more visible to other traffic.

[docsporseen]

Silly question - when you set it up, it's supposed to modulate both high and low beams, right? Or are you supposed to set it up to modulate just one?

[GRS1959]

Silly question - when you set it up, it's supposed to modulate both high and low beams, right? Or are you supposed to set it up to modulate just one?

I suppose you could set it up to modulate both high and low beams on one side. I have mine on the high beams (on both sides). I would be afraid that with only one side modulating, the offset position of the modulating light could cause someone to mistake it as a turn signal.

[revel22]

Does anyone have any opinions on headlight modulators? Someone recommended kisan but I've also heard a little about diamond star too.

Here's my opinion on modulators. First of all I like the Kisan that's installed on my 650. I don't use it all the time. But I do use it when traffic is extremely heavy if commuting in rush hour for example when I am surrounded by cars constantly at highway speeds. I also may turn it on (flip to brights turns it on) when approaching a dangerous intersection or an intersection with a car waiting to make a left turn. I really don't care if some driver gets annoyed by it. He's protected by a 4000 lb cage and I'm not. The whole idea of the thing is to get the attention of bonehead drivers that aren't seeing you because of a myriad of reasons.

No one has ever cut me off when I have the Kisan on. More often than not, they actually move over to the slower lane. That's what you want---for them to know you are there. Ignore the people here that dismiss the modulators as stupid. Stupid is having a cycle accident because the cage didn't see you.

[revel22]

I suppose you could set it up to modulate both high and low beams on one side. I have mine on the high beams (on both sides). I would be afraid that with only one side modulating, the offset position of the modulating light could cause someone to mistake it as a turn signal.


Best solution is to modulate the high beams---in case you decide you don't want the modulator on all the time which will happen with low beams. A light sensor shuts it off at night so you can use unmodulated high beams.

[Silver Surfer]

Thanks for all the input. I ordered the kisan pathblazer P115W-D. I'm not much for splicing electric cables so I opted for the easy install. Unfortunately that decision is about $100 more but for me its worth the no hassle install. I'll let you all know how it works when I get it installed. Here's the link:

http://www.kisantech.com/view_product.php?product=P115W-D

[Tailgunner]

I'm fairly confident that they would be illegal in England and Wales. Will check for sure, but I think that legally it would reclassify the light as a beacon. £30 fine (about $55 - $60).

Just thought I'd make that clear for anyone considering putting one on over here.

[Trickyrick]

Here's the one I use. I had one on my Connie and Saturday when I picked up my new to me V, I ordered one for it too. About $89 for the dual headlight model.

http://www.comagination.com/

[turboderek]

i have the same one and it works perfect. no issues in over 15k miles of use

Here's the one I use. I had one on my Connie and Saturday when I picked up my new to me V, I ordered one for it too. About $89 for the dual headlight model.

http://www.comagination.com/

[Tollster]

Here is a link to webbike world that performed testing and installation on various modulators. there is also some added info on these units.
http://ss306.fusionbot.com/cgi-bin/ss_query?e=002&sitenbr=153738354&keys=headlight+modulators

[Big B]

Would someone please enlighten me about modualted headlights. What are they and what do they do? Please forgive me, I am new to the motorcycle scene.

They annoy and confuse pretty much anyone who sees them.:rolleyes: Sorry about the negative response, but I simply hate them. All that matters is how you feel about the false sense of security that they give ya.;)

[PonchoV]

I have never seen a police bike w/ a head light mod on.
Seen some red & blues though.

[Berserker]

was the point of having the modulator in the first place?

+1 for head and tail light modulators! Been using them for 7 years! :D

[gbart951]

Yesterday I was driving my cage behind a nice touring Harley. The next thing this amber light started flashing at the back. It got my attention and I thought "What the heck is that?". Next thing it changed from amber to fixed red and my next thought was "Jeesh, the guy is stopping" and I had to hammer on the brakes or rear end him.

Moral of the story is that the brake light modulator got my attention all right, but for the wrong reason. My eyes fixed on the flashing and I was drawn in closer to him because in that split second my mind was wanting a closer look. As a rider I know modulators are out there and realized soon enough what it was. What about the average cage driver though?

[J. Clarke]

amber light started flashing

Amber's directional signal, not stop. Brake light, flashing or otherwise, should be red[/COLOR]

[greywolf]

Amber auxiliary stop/decel lights are legal in many states. The following is from the California code.

Deceleration flasher, amber flashing brake lights, red flashing brake light

25251.5. (a) Any motor vehicle may also be equipped with a system in which an amber light is center mounted on the rear of a vehicle to communicate a component of deceleration of the vehicle, and which light pulses in a controlled fashion at a rate which varies exponentially with a component of deceleration.
(b) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with two amber lamps on the rear of the vehicle which operate simultaneously with not more than four flashes within four seconds after the accelerator pedal is in the deceleration position and which are not lighted at any other time. The lamps shall be mounted at the same height, with one lamp located on each side of the vertical centerline of the vehicle, not higher than the bottom of the rear window, or if the vehicle has no rear window, not higher than 60 inches. The light output from each of the lamps shall not exceed 200 candlepower at any angle horizontal or above. The amber lamps may be used either separately or in combination with another lamp.
(c) Any stoplamp or supplemental stoplamp required or permitted by Section 24603 may be equipped so as to flash not more than four times within the first four seconds after actuation by application of the brakes.

[gclapp]

I love my modulator, and I'm glad it bugs people. If it bugs them, they see me. Girls on cell phones behind the wheel are frightening to say the least, and I want to do what I can to help them talk, chew gum, and drive at the same time. It is the kind of guy I am.

The way I see it is that most people cannot judge distances accurately where motorcycles are concerned. They seem to think you are much farther away than you are because they are comparing you with the cars. A car that looks the size you are is much farther away, so out they come right in front of you. That headlight spot coming right toward them isn't changing size enough to give them a clue they can trust. Adding that extra motion that visual systems can tune into creates better cognitive processing everyone is happy. Flashing lights get attention and when I'm on my bike I want everyone's attention.

[adVentureMan]

Heck ya +1 for annoying... every time I am riding or driving and I see one coming at me from a few hundred yards I think, man look at that annoying motorcycle with modulating head lamps... then I think, hey look at that annoying motorcycle that I picked out way up there... yup, he is getting anoyingly closer, yup anoyingly closer... zoom... there he goes.

I agree they are annoying, but I want one too, because I always see them really far off.

Set them with an on/off switch for night time riding (usually people wire them up with the high beams... but what if you want your high beams at night?).

You hit the nail on the head of why I think modulators are an important item to keep us seen. I do use a little common sense, and switch mine off if I've been following a car for "a while" as I know it can get irritating seeing that in the rear view mirror.

All of the headlight modulators I know about sold in the USA have a light sensor that turns of the modulation when the sun goes down. Also, most of them do not modulate on the low beam. Some of them can be turned off completely, like if you want to use your high beams during the day but don't want the modulator for whatever reason. On mine I can do that by switching Hi-Lo-Hi within about 2 seconds.

[adVentureMan]

..The next thing this amber light started flashing at the back. It got my attention and I thought "What the heck is that?". Next thing it changed from amber to fixed red and my next thought was "Jeesh, the guy is stopping" and I had to hammer on the brakes or rear end him.....

He had his light configured incorrectly. The RED/STOP light is supposed to flash, no the ambers. You would have figured out right away what he was doing if the reds were flashing, right?:cool:

[adVentureMan]

I have never seen a police bike w/ a head light mod on.
Seen some red & blues though.
Headlight modulators are very common with all LEO cars and motorcycles around here (mid-South USA) when the blue lights and/or sirens have been activated. Otherwise the modulators are not used on LEO cars, or motorcycles for that matter.

[adVentureMan]

Amber auxiliary stop/decel lights are legal in many states. The following is from the California code.

Deceleration flasher, amber flashing brake lights, red flashing brake light 25251.5. (a) Any motor vehicle may also be equipped with a system in which an amber light is center mounted on the rear of a vehicle to communicate

Odd, I'd certainly never have my vehicle configured as that. It makes no sense to me, and obviously at least one person here also thought it was confusing.

[gbart951]

You would have figured out right away what he was doing if the reds were flashing, right?:cool:

Exactly!! Flashing amber just confused the issue.

[J. Clarke]

FWIW, had a conversation with someone in Canada a couple of days ago in which he mentioned that it had been proposed in the legislature to require flashing amber on all motorcycles. Don't know if it's true or if so what the status was, but there's apparently been mention of requiring such a thing.