Second Gen Headlight Modulator Recommendations

dhalen32 · Nov 4, 2008

I read the new owner sticky and searched for information on headlight modulators for second generation FJRs. It appears that both Comagination and Kisan are more popular with less information on Kriss and Signal Dynamics. Is there a clear favorite or one that seems to fit the best or is the most reliable? Is there another supplier with a better mousetrap? I would like to modulate both lights. Thanks for any input you can provide before I spend my $$.

Dave

Bounce · Nov 4, 2008

I like the Kisan. Had their products on the past 2 bikes and they last a long time. Still working great all these years after installing it on my 03 FJR.

Gary F · Nov 4, 2008

As a fairly new owner can someone tell me what this modulator does?

Thanks Gary

mdisher · Nov 4, 2008

Gary F said:
As a fairly new owner can someone tell me what this modulator does?
Thanks Gary

It makes your headlight go blinky blinky in the day time as to increase your level of conspicuousness.

It also generally annoys the **** of about half the people on the road, including other motorcyclists.

The modules are usually plug-n-play with a light sensor that you point towards the sky. This turns off the blinky modulating aspect at night.

I added one to my previous bike and while it didn't bother me, I would catch **** from some folks during group rides. You can generally toggle the thing on/off too with some models.

I have not added one to my FJR yet, but I might, if only to annoy Fencer.

Netstarrider · Nov 4, 2008

I'm adding one this winter to mine. I rode a friends motorcycle a couple years ago and people I work with commented on how they could see me when I was driving down the rode, thought something was wrong. I told them that it was to get peoples attention. They agreed that it worked well.

kolonial72 · Nov 4, 2008

Oh, for the love of all that is godo and holy, do NOT put that f#&^ing modulator on your bike!

[SIZE=36pt]PLEASE!!!![/SIZE]

Just my $0.02.

bramfrank · Nov 4, 2008

I've run modulators on all my bikes for years - it is always fun to watch cagers move over for me - I've even had one person who was yacking on her cell phone pull over on to the shoulder because she thought I was a cop and was going to ticket her for operating it while driving (we have a handsfree law here).

They pretty much do what they have to, which is to make you visible when you'd otherwise not stand out from the crowd. Doesn't eliminate the need for vigilance, but it does reduce the danger level. While I've never been stopped for it, I do keep a reduced copy of the rules governing modulators (available all over the web) in case a LEO decides I'm not running legally.

I am using the Comagination, but the new Kisan has an 8 level sensitivity adjustment for the light sensor - so depending on what you have to pay for it, Kisan would be the way to go.

Note that the double headlights on our rides require the appropriate modulator - I wrote a post a while ago with various links. Here it is:

The big three are:

Kisan - P115W-S-D

Comagination - D115H4

Kriss - H44002

There are more - Amperite, Signal Dynamics - and so on.

You will need a dual unit - the first three listed above are plug-and-play - no wire cutting required. I have the D115H4 unit from Comagination - the light sensor is snaked up so it JUST peeks through the windshield arm opening on the right side.

dwhartwell · Nov 4, 2008

Kriss... Had one on my Bandit. Bought one for the FJR.

Well built, does not even get warm.

dbx · Nov 4, 2008

Renegade said:
It makes your headlight go blinky blinky in the day time as to increase your level of conspicuousness.
It also generally annoys the **** of about half the people on the road, including other motorcyclists.

I'm in the half who are exceedingly annoyed by those blasted things.

I'll never have one on a bike that I own, and I'll never intentionally ride for any real distance ahead of someone else who has one.

YMMV

dbx

El Toro · Nov 4, 2008

These devices can improve visibility when someone in the oncoming lane decides to turn left in front of you. Those kinds of accidents occur often enough to be important, but they can also be avoided by increasing your own awareness of the 3 second box in front of you.

Personally, I don't want to be startling thegeneral stream of folks coming along in the oncoming lane.

MrWizard · Nov 5, 2008

dhalen32 said:
I read the new owner sticky and searched for information on headlight modulators for second generation FJRs. It appears that both Comagination and Kisan are more popular with less information on Kriss and Signal Dynamics. Is there a clear favorite or one that seems to fit the best or is the most reliable? Is there another supplier with a better mousetrap? I would like to modulate both lights. Thanks for any input you can provide before I spend my $$.Dave

Dave,

I use the Kisan on my '06 and am glad I have it. A very easy install. It modulates on the high beam during daylight hours and has a light sensor to defeat it during dark hours. I don't use it all the time as it does annoy <_< other riders when riding in groups.

It really is handy to get the attention of cagers at intersections and when lane splitting, etc.

Anything to get the attention of unattentive cagers is a good thing! I highly recommend it. :good:

Rob

dhalen32 · Nov 5, 2008

All:

Thanks for the replies, opinions and recommendations.

Dave

Bounce · Nov 5, 2008

I've had a Kriss and 3 Kissans on my last bikes. After the first time, it's become one of the first mods I do to my bike. Kissan is my choice (over the Kriss) mostly for its plug-and-play design and that their customer service is friendlier.

You can turn them off simply by turning off your brights (which are what get modulated). I don't run them when in group rides (unless I'm at the front) simply because the nature of the group makes it more visible to other motorists.

It has made such a dramatic (positive) improvement in being seen in cases where other motorists were about to do something stupid, that I'll never be without one again.

They don't "blink" the light (because flashing lights are only for emergency vehicles) they modulate the output from 100% to something like 70% and at a higher rate than emergency vehicles.

Lowcountry Joe · Nov 5, 2008

The most dangerous aspect of a modulator is that it confuses the hell out of car drivers. It's very annoying to ride in front of as well. Yes, it will make you more conspicuous, but so will a nice set of spot lights installed in addition to your headlight. The spots will give you two more points of light and thus create more of a frontal presence and not piss folks off or confuse them.

You will also find yourself, sooner or later, having to explain to a cop why the modulator is legal when he is convinced it is not. Of course they are legal, but you will probably lose the roadside argument, ending up costing you time and money.

But it's ur call whether or not you want to install them. Just understand that there is a lot of mixed opinions that make some pretty good sense.

Bounce · Nov 5, 2008

hyperbole and Chicken Littlism by those who don't like them. been using them for hundreds of thousands of miles and all over the country yet never been pulled over by a cop to explain them. i do keep a copy of the DOT reg with my insurance card just in case (because i've heard the stories too) but have never needed it.

dwhartwell · Nov 5, 2008

hyperbole and Chicken Littlism by those who don't like them. been using them for hundreds of thousands of miles and all over the country yet never been pulled over by a cop to explain them. i do keep a copy of the DOT reg with my insurance card just in case (because i've heard the stories too) but have never needed it.

I got pulled over by a Barney Fife in a local small town. He claimed 15 years experience and

he never heard of them and was convinced it was illegal. I explained to him how they are DOT

50 state legal and he told me not to believe stuff I read on the Internet. In the end I talked

him out of a ticket because I suspect he was wondering if I was right. Anyway, he stated he

would validate this with the MA RMV and send me a ticket if I was in the wrong. I found his email

on the PD website and sent him the link to the DOT website with the law. Never heard from him

again.

They work and work well. The HURT study and others prove this. In groups, you simply turn

off the high beams and the modulation stops.

fangjkf · Jul 7, 2009

BUMP

1. Never in 5 years of safe riding have I had an officer of the law pull me over to question the use of headlight modulator or to lecture on the law.

2. I have had a number of people pull over and let me by, thinking I am part of the LEO enclave. YEA! Let me ride on by. Is this not a feature anyone would want?? ;-)

3. I have had counteless occasions of seeing people creep into intersections - just about to pull out and tear me apart with clueless abandon - only to be caught off-guard by my headlight modulator. (huh? I thought 'loud pipes save lives?' according to the HOG society)

4. If just one event cause one clueless cager to hesitate before wiping me and my bike across the pavement. Nuts to all you other nay-sayers. :-D

It makes those jurks hesitate. That is worth it.

fangjkf · Jul 7, 2009

Oh, for the love of all that is godo and holy, do NOT put that f#&^ing modulator on your bike!

PLEASE!!!!

Just my $0.02.

One more comment. Well, I just read your most helpful and emotional reply. Short on substance and factual rejoinder. Just because you find something annoying doesn't count for a recommendation. It is worth less then the "$0.02" that you typed, which is not an actual cash amount, just text without commitment. (making it red and large doesn't make it a valid argument)

Headlight Modulators - WORK.

From 5 years personal experience, 12xmonths on road day in and day out.

jimefjr · Jul 8, 2009

BUMP
1. Never in 5 years of safe riding have I had an officer of the law pull me over to question the use of headlight modulator or to lecture on the law.

2. I have had a number of people pull over and let me by, thinking I am part of the LEO enclave. YEA! Let me ride on by. Is this not a feature anyone would want?? ;-)

3. I have had counteless occasions of seeing people creep into intersections - just about to pull out and tear me apart with clueless abandon - only to be caught off-guard by my headlight modulator. (huh? I thought 'loud pipes save lives?' according to the HOG society)

4. If just one event cause one clueless cager to hesitate before wiping me and my bike across the pavement. Nuts to all you other nay-sayers. :-D

It makes those jurks hesitate. That is worth it.

I totally absolutely agree...I will NEVER ride without headlight modulators again...after having them on several bikes now, no one has ever let it be known that it was annoying them...any Police Officer worth anything knows they are legal and the ones I know are glad I am using them and putting other led lighting on my bike for safety purposes..if I get in the #1 lane on the freeway there are days cars in front of me pull into the #2 lane and away I go...some morning commutes I never have a car directly in front of me...hell who wouldn't want to have a clear lane ahead..and almost every car next to me sees me now and doesn't end up in the same lane with me...headlight modulators work...there is no doubt about it.

Second Gen Headlight Modulator Recommendations

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