I was in an accident a few months back. Lady ran a stop sign, "didn't see me".

Anywho I know that headlight modulators are a pretty sensitive subject, but I decided to give one a try. I'm glad I did.

First off their customer service is excellent. The first unit I ordered didn't quite fit right. I called customer service and the person I spoke with said that they had one with a pigtail connection that would fit, and to send the old one back and they would ship the new one out to me.

I took a ride today, mixed city and highway driving, and with the modulator on I could tell that it was making me much more noticeable. There were a few instances where I was coming up on cars getting ready to pull out of side streets that the modulator caused them to do a double-take and stop before just pulling out in front of me.

While on the highway there was one driver that was trying to merge into my lane and did the same double-take in his mirror and waited for me to pass.

I also passed a county and state police officer. Rolled on by with no problems.

All in all I think I'm sold. It's about as simple to install as changing a light bulb, and if it causes drivers to take an extra second to look before pulling out then I think it's money well spent.

 

I've seen them on the road and they do get your attention but wonder what it would be like to ride in front of someone that has them. Seems it would be distracting. Maybe report back sometime with an update ?

 

I spot them pretty quick- I think a good idea and i have been considering modulating my spots or wigwagging them- I've seen that and it works well as long as the difference in intensity is no more than 20%.

On a group ride situation, most have facility to switch off the modulation or have a light sensor...a piece of tape over it will turn off the modulations.


I will be getting in to the fairing next week to try out some fuelmoto leds ...I am going to be doing some custom wiring, maybe I'll look at a mod mod while I'm at it

mike

 

After an extended "vacation" in an ICU plus another six months of PT I am a real fan of Headlight Modulators. I've used the ones from Signal Dynamics, although there a more than a few folks that make and sell them. Mine comes with a light sensor to stop the modulation automatically at dusk (or in tunnels). Also if I toggle the High Beams on and off, kind of like you might for a "flash to pass" it turns the modulation off. If I'm riding in a group I usually turn it off. Every once and awhile I'll have someone pull up to me at a stop light, roll their window down to tell me there's something wrong with my headlight because it's flickering . . . To which I reply; "Yup, glad ya noticed!"

 

The kisan unit comes with the light sensor. To switch the modulator on, you just turn on the high beams. If it is bright enough outside the high beam will modulate, if not it will just stay on. You can also toggle the sensor through 8 or 9 levels lf sensitivity. So far I've found the default setting to be fine.

 

I run one, paired w/an Osram/Sylvania 80/100 watt bulb and the Kisan Pathblazer
Works real good.
My rear end has a B AL 1.

 

The only caution I've seen that made some sense (and only some) was to be cautious of the very slow modulating units. The fear is that they could cause someone to think you were flashing your lights at them to give them the right of way, causing them to pull out in front of you.

There is a guy here with a screaming yellow Goldwing that has a modulator that is so slow I could almost see the arguments point with regards to his. Yes, it's constantly flashing. But a person pulling up to an intersection and glancing at him could easily misinterpret his pulsing to be a "go ahead" indication.

 

I have a weird eye light sensitive thing and really hate them headlight modulators. They give me an instant headache. Plus they just make ya look silly...

 

I'm not sure of what you mean by "wigwagging them", but it implies alternating side to side. Might get you seen, but it's not legal and might draw undesired attention. Same with the very slow modulating units. There is a DOT spec that defines what is a legal modulator for street motorcycles. Kisan had a link to it back when I got mine in 2002; it's probably still on their website. There is a min/max flash rate, % change in light intensity and it also states no side-to-side.

 

UNITED STATES 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 test conditions 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.