Modulated Headlights vs. Forward Facing LED Running Lights

Tailwalk · Jan 28, 2010

Hey Everybody,

just wondering what you think about the pros and cons of modulated headlights vs. LED running Lights (ie. Clearwater LEDs or Hyperwhites). I'm looking at both options for my FJR AE......any issues with considering having both on the bike at the same time?

Thanks

SacramentoMike · Jan 28, 2010

Don't know why you couldn't do both if you wanted to. (Don't forget the modulators only help you out in the daylight hours.) I love my Clearwaters, but I usually run my Hella FF50s too. Can't have too much lighting or too loud a horn, IMHO. Deal on the Clearwater LEDs ends at the end of this month.

irishcurtis · Jan 28, 2010

I agree with Mike abut using both, but if forced to choose, I will always default to a modulator. More lights is great, but more steady lights is just more steady lights. The modulator is what really stands out on my bike. My father knows it's me from over a mile away when I ride up for a visit. Almost everyone notices my modulator, from comments at stoplights to rude comments and gestures. Between my modulator and my Hi-Viz suit, some people actually pull over and expect me to cite them. I just ride on in the now-clear lane

Patriot · Jan 28, 2010

I'm not a fan of modulating headlights. I've experienced personally the tendency to fixate on it and be distracted from my surroundings. Kinda like, don't stare at the obstacle in the road, look where you want to go.

I have hyperwhites mounted front and back on my Feej. I'm a PGR Ride Captain and spend time leading funeral escorts with or without police escorts involved. I have laserlight bullet lights (like motolight fork lights), but with my electrically challenged Gen I, I didn't like running those 110watt total lights except at night. Now I run my front hyperwhites in solid mode 24/7 with no discernable voltage loss shown on my Datel.

For funeral processions, I run the hyperwhites in flashing mode front and back. When there's no police escort, I find myself blocking traffic to allow everyone to get into the cemetery together. I want to be definitely be seen in that instance.

However, I've been told by the authorities that my blue bike, high viz jacket, and flashing hyperlites make me look like I'm impersonating a moto police officer too much. So I submit and only run my front hyperwhites in solid mode. Now if I'm pulled over for some emergency or other reason, I use the hyperlites as emergency flashers front and back. I have them wired so I can turn them on even with the key off if I chose.

hope this helps,

Mike in Nawlins'

Tailwalk · Jan 29, 2010

Thanks all for your input and suggestions....decisions, decisions.......but this is so much fun!!!

Hey Patriot, how bright are those Hyperwhites on the front....do they offer any increase illumination of the roadway at night or are they strictly for others to see you better? Have you seen the Clearwater LEDs in action for comparison?

Also, I don't think I've ever seen so many lights on the back of a motorcycle......way COOL!! Reminds me of the movie from the 80's "Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind"...LOL!

Safe riding,

David

Patriot · Jan 29, 2010

Tailwalk said:
Thanks all for your input and suggestions....decisions, decisions.......but this is so much fun!!! Hey Patriot, how bright are those Hyperwhites on the front....do they offer any increase illumination of the roadway at night or are they strictly for others to see you better? Have you seen the Clearwater LEDs in action for comparison?

Also, I don't think I've ever seen so many lights on the back of a motorcycle......way COOL!! Remindes of the movie in the 80's Close Encouters of the 3rd Kind...LOL!

Safe riding,

David

the Hyperlites are very bright for others to see...provide no illumination of the roadway or very little at night...that's what the fork lights are for

The Clearwater LED's are slightly dimmer than 55watt halogen lights, but draw lots and lots less current. And they have adustable intensity. https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?s...=119435&hl=

https://www.google.com/search?q=clearwater+...;rlz=1I7GGLL_en

Rear lights: I'm a fan of beautiful Christmas trees

RaYzerman19 · Jan 29, 2010

I'm not a big fan of modulators either, or of excess driving lamps up front that tend to blind and keep cagers from identifying you or the dangers of fixation. But if you want to be visible, yellow or amber lights are the most visible. Something simple like small MR-11 or MR-16 halogen fog lamps on your forks will make you visible for miles, without offending. The Hyperlites are great too, too bad the front ones weren't amber/yellow.

JustHoward · Jan 29, 2010

I want to be seen, and my modulator makes that happen. I know when my modulator is off--the cars ahead of me drive like I'm not there, and the cars coming in the opposing lanes also seem to disregard me. But when my modulator is on, I can see the drivers ahead of me looking into their rear view mirrors, and in most cases, pulling out of my lane, and the opposing drivers definitely eyeball me.

More lights are great, but flashing lights are better, IMHO.

Howard

Allnight · Jan 29, 2010

I personally don't like the modulators, and many of my friends don't either.

I went the extra lights route, adding Clearwater Lights:

Patriot · Jan 29, 2010

Yzerman19 said:
I'm not a big fan of modulators either, or of excess driving lamps up front that tend to blind and keep cagers from identifying you or the dangers of fixation. But if you want to be visible, yellow or amber lights are the most visible. Something simple like small MR-11 or MR-16 halogen fog lamps on your forks will make you visible for miles, without offending. The Hyperlites are great too, too bad the front ones weren't amber/yellow.

Saw these in an article of MCN - Motorcycle Consumer News Jan 2010 issue

Photon Blasters

https://www.skenedesign.com/lights/PB_Features.shtml

https://www.google.com/search?q=Photon+Blas...;rlz=1I7GGLL_en

RaYzerman19 · Jan 29, 2010

Hmmmm, nice!! A little spendy @ $149, and I wonder what the flicker rate is (not a fan of the flickering/modulating type). I paid c$49 for my MR-11 fogs.

Fred W · Jan 29, 2010

Another alternative is to swap your H4 halogen headlamps for true Xenon HIDs. For some reason people really seem to see them better in daylight (and obviously at night) and they also give you better illumination of the road at night. Win, win win...

I feel no remorse about running around with the HIDs on hi-beam during the day time either. It pisses some people off, but I don't care so long as they don't inadvertently turn in front of me.

Now if they try to run me off the road intentionally because I have stirred up their road rage, well... c'est la vie.

sliick2 · Jan 30, 2010

Tailwalk- I am a fan of the modulators in principle.To share a event in my riding .@ the time I was riding a '89 Goldwing 1500,

in the middle lane of a fairly busy interstate here in NY. Things started to bunch up,so I signalled & pulled into the left lane.Had

my Kisan modulator on all the while. A cager in front of me must have thought that I was flashing my head lights @ him & became annoyed. We where going along @ around 65 or so & out of the blue this guy slams his brakes on !!! I grabbed all the

brakes I could because I couldn't get back into the center lane at that instant. This guy slowed down to about 30 & I was about a foot from his bumper !! Talk about road rage & got my heart rate up about 50 more points. After that I kept a lot more room

between cagers. So they do get peoples attention-mybe not in the way they where intended. Good luck-B careful ! Sliick

P.S. I've had my 2006 A since new & changed out the OEM to the Sylvania Brite Star bulbs.Very happy w/them.Another tip-make sure the headlights are adjusted properly. That made a difference too. They where not adjusted on dealer set-up.

Tailwalk · Jan 30, 2010

sliick2 said:
Tailwalk- I am a fan of the modulators in principle.To share a event in my riding .@ the time I was riding a '89 Goldwing 1500,in the middle lane of a fairly busy interstate here in NY. Things started to bunch up,so I signalled & pulled into the left lane.Had

my Kisan modulator on all the while. A cager in front of me must have thought that I was flashing my head lights @ him & became annoyed. We where going along @ around 65 or so & out of the blue this guy slams his brakes on !!! I grabbed all the

brakes I could because I couldn't get back into the center lane at that instant. This guy slowed down to about 30 & I was about a foot from his bumper !! Talk about road rage & got my heart rate up about 50 more points. After that I kept a lot more room

between cagers. So they do get peoples attention-mybe not in the way they where intended. Good luck-B careful ! Sliick

P.S. I've had my 2006 A since new & changed out the OEM to the Sylvania Brite Star bulbs.Very happy w/them.Another tip-make sure the headlights are adjusted properly. That made a difference too. They where not adjusted on dealer set-up.

Thanks for the cautionary tale slick......road rage and bikes definitely don't mix. Yikes!!

I'll have to take a look at those Sylvania Brite star bulbs.....so it sounds like you're not running with the modulator anymore?

Fred W said:
Another alternative is to swap your H4 halogen headlamps for true Xenon HIDs. For some reason people really seem to see them better in daylight (and obviously at night) and they also give you better illumination of the road at night. Win, win win...
I feel no remorse about running around with the HIDs on hi-beam during the day time either. It pisses some people off, but I don't care so long as they don't inadvertently turn in front of me.

Now if they try to run me off the road intentionally because I have stirred up their road rage, well... c'est la vie.

Thanks Fred

I'll check out those Xenon HIDs too.

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