Headlight Modulator suggestions

[StoNaiBeiCy]

Hello All - First off want to wish everyone a happy New Year! Well, I am getting ready to take a cross country ride from DC to SFO and bike is fairly wel set up for me but i was considering a headlight modulator. There are a few threads but they are very dated. Does anyone have recent experience with them? Like/dislike? Optimally to keep costs down, I am looking for something I can install myself - I have a 2020 ES ( am NOT a good mechanic and worry about electrical so it'd have to be REAL simple haha). Many thanks in advance! Regards

 

[RiderJoe]

Hi @StoNaiBeiCy , I bought a 2006 FJR last year that came with headlight modulators among other farkles. The modulators were the very first thing I removed. I find it very annoying when bikes behind me have them flashing, and the flashing in some circumstances can be misinterpreted by other motorists as well to either "get out of my" or "go ahead, I let you turn on front of me" - neither is a desired intent. If you want to be more noticeable I would suggest investing in some auxiliary lights with the option of them running in bright yellow color instead. Your 2022 has LED lights, so the system would have to be different than mine was. Otherwise, I would have happily sent you my disconnected pieces for the price of shipping.

 

[StoNaiBeiCy]

Hi @StoNaiBeiCy , I bought a 2006 FJR last year that came with headlight modulators among other farkles. The modulators were the very first thing I removed. I find it very annoying when bikes behind me have them flashing, and the flashing in some circumstances can be misinterpreted by other motorists as well to either "get out of my" or "go ahead, I let you turn on front of me" - neither is a desired intent. If you want to be more noticeable I would suggest investing in some auxiliary lights with the option of them running in bright yellow color instead. Your 2022 has LED lights, so the system would have to be different than mine was. Otherwise, I would have happily sent you my disconnected pieces for the price of shipping.

Many thanks for the reply - really appreciate that insight and your optic. Perhaps some yellow running lights would be a Good option as you suggested! Any particular brands that are known to you that are easy to install and reliable? Heck, any tips you may have for the long haul ride are welcome too! Happy New Year and thanks once again.

 

[sapest]

+1 on no modulator.
Some info to help you understand adding some additional lights to an OEM LED equipped FJR.Click here There are other threads to have a look at, Search function will help you.

-Steve

 

[RiderJoe]

Many thanks for the reply - really appreciate that insight and your optic. Perhaps some yellow running lights would be a Good option as you suggested! Any particular brands that are known to you that are easy to install and reliable? Heck, any tips you may have for the long haul ride are welcome too! Happy New Year and thanks once again.

I can't recommend any brand because I don't have much experience with auxiliary lighting. However, what I would recommend is this: decide on what you want the lights to do for you, and take a look at your budget that you can allocate to doing that. If you just want to be more conspicuous, and not much more, then a cheap set of auxiliary light set from Amazon will do that trick. If you want quality, longevity, reliability, water resistance, and (much) improved light output on back roads in the dark, then you will likely have to spend quite of bit more money on a solution. I agree with @sapest, do a bit of research on this forum for other rider's experiences and recommendations. Top-end brands that I see often mentioned are Clearwater and Denali lights, but they also come with matching price tags.

Happy New Year to you!

Joe

 

[art miller]

Some good suggestions here. Just as info there are some states that consider modulating headlights illegal. If you do not plan to ride at night consider Denali DM lights. They have have very low current drawl and are not that expensive. I mounted them on the location where the side reflectors are and made an auxiliary bracket from aluminum flat rod to give them a more rigid mount.

 

[torch]

No matter what lighting you install, assume the other drivers don't see you, or think you are further away than you actually are.

In fact, I think the latter is particularly true of the FJR. Two headlights, side by side but close together: at night many other drivers perceive that as a distant car. I got pulled over by a cop who didn't believe his radar one day because I had to be speeding to travel the distance from where he first noticed me to where I went through the speed trap in the available time. <lol>

BTW: same is true of the rear, with the closely spaced tail lights. Same cop almost hit me chasing the "distant" tail lights after I pulled over onto the shoulder and stopped.

Drive like a deer: run first, look later. Motorcycles are a prey species and should act like it. Always maintain at least two escape routes and keep your head on a swivel.

 

[JQL]

I was once followed by a motorcycle with modulating headlights in heavy traffic. I just wanted to stop and kill him.

Secondly, in a lot of States and countries they are illegal. They are illegal for at least one reason - they severely distract other road users.

So my advice, NO - never, ever use them.

 

[CollingsBob]

I bought one each of these

https://motorcycleinnovations.ca/co...ducts/fenix-cree900-high-intensity-led-lights
and mounted them on the crash bars, I put the on/off switch beside the glove box. Because there’s no cut-off I dont use them in town at night.

 

[StoNaiBeiCy]

Many thanks All - truly appreciate the advice. I have ridden for almost two decades now and done my fair share of mid range rides but never a full x-country so am looking to be as prepared and safe as possible. When a pal suggested headlight modulators I knew this forum would have good advice one way or another and that was certainly true. Based on your comments and suggestions I will pass on the modulators and take a look at some aux lights - perhaps from Denali as a few of you suggested. Many thanks - I am sure to be looking for more guidance from a crowd that is far more experienced than I!

 

[RiderJoe]

Feel free to ask away after doing some search on your own. There is a wealth of experience, opinions, and knowledge here to tap into, and the vast majority of them are tried and true, well-intended information. This is why I love this forum.

 

[paulo888]

I have been running Kisan technologies headlight modulators for more than a decade and they are legal in California. They make LED type also. They are great.

 

[Bounce]

I did Kriss for some years then went with Kissan because I liked how their product was more plug-and-play. I just looked and they are still around and doing LED-compatible modulators now too.

https://kisantech.com/

 

[art miller]

Many thanks All - truly appreciate the advice. I have ridden for almost two decades now and done my fair share of mid range rides but never a full x-country so am looking to be as prepared and safe as possible. When a pal suggested headlight modulators I knew this forum would have good advice one way or another and that was certainly true. Based on your comments and suggestions I will pass on the modulators and take a look at some aux lights - perhaps from Denali as a few of you suggested. Many thanks - I am sure to be looking for more guidance from a crowd that is far more experienced than I!

Good choice! With aux. lights you will be just as conspicuous and not hated by other motorists.

 

[StoNaiBeiCy]

thanks much all - ended up getting the Fenix Cree 900 with Fuzeblock for ease of install. Hopefully I will be able to install myself with the Fuzeblock! Many thanks again for the advice provided!

 

[Geezer]

FWIW, I use a Kisan modulator. It is legal in all 50 states and Canada. As stated above, it is annoying if you have it on and are following other vehicles, but it only modulates when you have your high beams on during the daylight so you can easily turn it off during the day by switching your high beams off. It has a sensor which automatically turns it off after dark so you can use high beams without modulating. It is just one more thing in my safety arsenal that I use when I feel the need.

I also have two pairs of added LED lights which really light the road and both shoulders at night, but I only use them when there is no one else on the road.

 

[Bounce]

I'm always been of the opinion that people who don't like modulators fail to understand they can be turned off by the rider. The rider should NEVER follow someone for any length of time with it on. You wouldn't keep your highs on when approaching someone either. So... it's that they don't like the knuckleheads who are too lazy to flip their lows on.

 

[RossKean]

I'm always been of the opinion that people who don't like modulators fail to understand they can be turned off by the rider.

I fully understand that the rider can (and should) turn off the modulator in a situation where it may distract or annoy other drivers/riders - especially when following someone in traffic. Trouble is that many of those who use them either don't know that or don't care.

(I also have a problem with those who feel it is perfectly OK to ride in daytime using high beam. While not as bad as at night, it can be distracting although not blinding. It is particularly bad with many of the less-than-perfect aftermarket LEDs I find favored by some of the Harley crowd.)

 

[Bounce]

So... to clarify... the problem isn't with modulators but with inconsiderate operators? That's understandable but not a reason to throw out the baby with the bathwater.

 

[RiderJoe]

That is an interesting analogy. Strictly speaking you are absolutely right. Modulators - nothing wrong with them. Inconsiderate operators - yes, they are annoying. So use the modulators when other commuters don’t get to see your bike’s flashing headlights. That way no one gets annoyed and inconsiderate riders can have their fun too. I don’t want to offend anyone here. It looks like that the opinion is split on using modulators. So, if it makes you feel safer, use them. Just know that while you have them on, many people on the road will find them very annoying. Myself included.