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anyone who places faith in a helmet should take a minute to read the label inside. it is a disclaimer telling you how it won't prevent injury.
Mike
Yikes! Lets not turn this in to a helmet thread! You actually made my point. Despite the fact that in some rare cases a helmet may NOT save you, it still is safer to wear one than go unprotected. (just like seat belts in cars!)
I just have this vision of a guy riding in shorts and flip flops, no helmet, butt hanging from mouth, telling everyone how bad helmets and modulators are for their personal safety. Try telling that to any experienced EMT...
if anyone would like, they can google federal mandates for modulating motorcycle headlamp and get the whole skinny on frequency of modulation and intensities of the lamp during modulation and the difference between modulation, pulsing, and flashing.
Yep, Uncle Sugar has his hand in this too with rules and guidelines.
All I'm saying is in 10 years of constant use I have NEVER experienced one single negative reaction to my headlight modulator.
You may not have been aware of it. For example, I've changed lanes so a motorcycle with a particularly annoying modulator was no longer behind me. No screaming, no finger waving.
I looked up the law mentioned above and here is the short version:
TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION CHAPTER V--NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PART 571--FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS--Table of Contents Subpart B--Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards Sec. 571.108 Standard No. 108; Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment. S7.9.4 Motorcycle headlamp modulation system. S7.9.4.1 A headlamp on a motorcycle may be wired to modulate either the upper beam or the lower beam from its maximum intensity to a lesser intensity, provided that: (a) The rate of modulation shall be 240 plus-minus 40 cycles per minute. (b) The headlamp shall be operated at maximum power for 50 to 70 percent of each cycle. (c) The lowest intensity at any test point shall be not less than 17 percent of the maximum intensity measured at the same point. (d) The modulator switch shall be wired in the power lead of the beam filament being modulated and not in the ground side of the circuit. (e) Means shall be provided so that both the lower beam and upper beam remain operable in the event of a modulator failure. (f) The system shall include a sensor mounted with the axis of its sensing element perpendicular to a horizontal plane. Headlamp modulation shall cease whenever the level of light emitted by a tungsten filament light operating at 3000 deg. Kelvin is either less than 270 lux (25 foot-candles) of direct light for upward pointing sensors or less than 60 lux (5.6 foot-candles) of reflected light for downward pointing sensors. The light is measured by a silicon cell type light meter that is located at the sensor and pointing in the same direction as the sensor. A Kodak Gray Card (Kodak R-27) is placed at ground level to simulate the road surface in testing downward pointing sensors. (g) When tested in accordance with the test profile shown in Figure 9,the voltage drop across the modulator when the lamp is on at all testconditions for 12 volt systems and 6 volt systems shall not be greater than .45 volt. The modulator shall meet all the provisions of the standard after completion of the test profile shown in Figure 9. (h) Means shall be provided so that both the lower and upper beam function at design voltage when the headlamp control switch is in either the lower or upper beam position when the modulator is off. S7.9.4.2(a) Each motorcycle headlamp modulator not intended as original equipment, or its container, shall be labeled with the maximum wattage, and the minimum wattage appropriate for its use. Additionally, each such modulator shall comply with S7.9.4.1 (a) through (g) when connected to a headlamp of the maximum rated power and a headlamp of the minimum rated power, and shall provide means so that the modulated beam functions at design voltage when the modulator is off. (b) Instructions, with a diagram, shall be provided for mounting the light sensor including location on the motorcycle, distance above the road surface, and orientation with respect to the light.
I would want to apply it to my spots on my highway bar.
Those of you supporting the use, would the spots be the logical choice being wide-set apart, or would the dual headlights be more appropriate? Like I said before I think my dual side by side headlights may give an illusion of being further away because they are next to each other.
I understand wanting to rig it up to the spot or auxiliary lights. Not sure you wouldn't find yourself in some hassle with the police for it. Modulators are legal on headlights, not necessarily other lights. Flashing lights are generally reserved for emergency vehicles, which you are not.
Not at all saying this is absolutely illegal (not sure it is or not), nor am I declaring that you will get hassled for it. Just that I suspect you increase the likelyhood of a hassling.
For those reasons, I'd be more inclined to rig the modulator to the headlight (legal), and simply run the other lights continuously.
Something else to think about is changing that stupid amber light we have on the front fender of touring bikes. I replaced mine with custom dynamics white LED and clear lense. Pretty cheap upgrade and it is much brighter than the 194 bulb under the stock lense. I also changed the rear fender tip light to LED run brake light. Again, cheap upgrade and I think they both make a difference.
WOW! What a bunch of gobbly-de-gook. You don't actually expect us to read all that do ya?
As far as the modulator, I would go with the 2 headlights modulating. I have actually seen this on Honda Goldwings. It it VERY noticeable.
Tha being said, I think the best use of the headlight modulator is on bikes with only one headlight, and no spot lights. This is because the single headlight seems to be what goes un-noticed by car drivers. If you run a headlight, plus both spotlights, your are way more visible than a single headlight only. It has something to do with the brain not registering the single headlight (in some people) There is research on this, but I forgot where it is...
Good luck with whatever you decide. Ride safely.
Those of you supporting the use, would the spots be the logical choice being wide-set apart, or would the dual headlights be more appropriate? Like I said before I think my dual side by side headlights may give an illusion of being further away because they are next to each other.
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I'm thinking all that current draw is going to wear out your stator prematurely. Unless you've upgraded to higher amp unit. I bet those lights get hot. But, to answer your question I believe the spots are in a great location.
some times it pays to read the gobbly-de-gook. ^
Its illegal to run modulating headlamps in some states after hours of darkness.
I just pulled this one from the state of Wisconsin:
347.115 Modulating headlamps for motorcycles, motor bicycles or mopeds. A motorcycle, motor bicycle or moped may be equipped with and use a means of modulating the upper beam of the headlamp between a high and a lower brightness at a rate of 200 to 280 changes per minute. A headlamp may not be modulated during hours of darkness.
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