Adjust your headlight up. Makes a big difference.

 

You make a good point and I've always had the same understanding that halogen bulbs were sensitive to voltage variations outside their 12V comfort zone. Here's what Kisan says on their site:

The PathBlazer circuit modulates the hi-beam current - from 100% ON to about 17% OFF. This is accomplished by using a p-channel MOSFET, which is inherently safe. The MOSFET is designed to fail in the ON state. For additional safety, the circuits DO NOT utilize the lo-beam whatsoever!

PathBlazer uses a soft-switching technique. It throttles the current flow through the bulb filament, so that there's no "thermal shock" due to a sudden inrush of current, which can damage the bulb filament or shorten its life considerably. This is far superior than maintaining a small voltage!

I'm not sure if this is the same thing as reducing the voltage to modulate the headlight output, which is the way I stated it earlier. My quote of 20-100% was based on my old PathBlazer, so I guess this has changed since that time to 17-100%. I got the 60% figure in my last reply by averaging the two, and I hope that is a technically correct assumption. Anyway, the bottom line is that the modulator reduces heat considerably and thus should lengthen the life of the bulb. I believe this, as these bulbs last for years in my bikes. I can only remember changing one in the 13 years I've been using the 80/100W bulbs, and the one my '07 now was in my old RK for several years before transferring it to the new bike. I bought my first modulator in 2004 and it was replaced last summer with a newer model.

I can only give you my experience with the Kisan PathBlazer, and I've had no trouble at all except the first one died after six years. The new ones use a different design and according to Kisan the components have a longer lifespan. When my old one failed they gave me a big discount on a new one. My 13-year experience with the high-output bulbs and seven years with the bulb-modulator combo indicates that these bulbs last far longer than Hella claims. A Kisan customer-service rep told me that the modulator extended the bulb life on his Goldwing, and I believe it based on my experience. I don't think they make this claim on the record, however. If you Google "bulb life" and "headlight modulator" together (both terms in quotes) you'll find some interesting articles, none of which indicate that modulators shorten bulb life. However, none that I saw said they lengthen it either.

As for the effects of modulators on the charging system, my lack of trouble is all I can offer for info. I've seen no effects at all with either bike, one that had the old single-phase (32A?) alternator and the '07 with its newer 3-phase 50A unit.

 

iClick, Thanks for that.

BTW, with the inproved optics on my 09 ( over my Evo), I have left the spots wired stock- since I ride with hi beam in the day, if i wanna catch an eye, flicking to low brings in my spots , and i think does a better job of waking up some mouth breather at the wheel.

mike

 

I put LED's on my new bike (you can see them in my signature picture) and the difference is amazing. I love how the light up the darkness. Totally worth the cost.