I'll also add that the importance of a HM for me is not only for being seen by other drivers but by animals. Deer respond to two things... noise and FLASHING light. I can recall multiple personal experiences where the HM was a significant factor; they are grazing roadside, hear the sound of the bike, look up to see the flashing light, then move away from it... or they don't hear the bike but pick up the flashing light and move away from it. Add to this scenerio my other must-have (Stebel air horn) and I feel I'm as armed as I can be for whitetail Bambi and for Bambi in her SUV who is grazing on a burger, screaming at kids, yada yada yada....I live in the middle of darkness around here, and high beam comes in very handy on remote roads.
As an aside, does anyone know which units are capable of modulating on high AND low beams independently? (meaning you can run the HM solely on low beam or select only high beam). Thanks
AGirl
Hey, one last thought for you though! The Comagination which I installed above will not flash at sunset as the test I did today with my garage, so you may need the adjustable one to keep it on longer into sunset to scare those deer away, because I only see them when the sun is setting!!!Zodiac said:Not at all! At about 4:00 p.m. today, moved it into the garage and it stopped flashing! Works for me! Easy to install and easy to hide. Did not need to remove all the plastic either!
had to pull plastic on my 06 my hands are large and could not accessNot only CAN you, according to the DOT rules that define what is a legal modulator, you MUST. Any modulator that doesn't auto-disable at night is illegal to run in the US.
Thanks for the input. Has anyone put one in on an FJR? How hard is it to get to the headlight bulb? As I understand it the modulator plugs in between the bulb and the motorcycle.
Some thing you might want to think about. In the daylight test sections in California; head on collisions went up during the day, which is why, when they published to reports back in the seventies they stated;" Head on collisions were reduced in a 24 hour period". Relying on your headlights to be seen is a false sense of security. Wearing out your headlight bulbs by changing the voltage up and down just means you may not have them at night when you really need them. Remember this too, Human beings see by reflected light, our depth perception is reduced when we look at emitted light. That is why most people will not pass at night when we see headlights. We can't tell how far away they are, because we don't have a point of reference. Please be careful out there, and keep the rubber side down.Anyone used the Kisan Headlight modulator. It's supposed to be plug and play for the FJR. Modulates the high beam. As an aside, do you think this is a useful safety feature?
Dutch1201
The guys in my riding group swear by the modulator and they definitely increase visibility.First time I ever saw one I was driving my truck; I didn't know what the hell it was. Got mesmerized and the poor biker almost had FORD printed on his helmet. So I've been spooked on the idea. Wouldn't want some 80-year-old retired Californian wondering what that UFO is......
P.S. Nothing against Californians, just have a boatload of retired ones around here in Southern Oregon.
Now that cutoff switch at night sounds more promising, as they are not as dangerous (IMHO) in daylight. But it still might bug somebody I'm stuck behind in traffic.I've been thinking about getting one for my FJR. I had a Kisan HM on my VTX (before I sold it) and I feel it made a difference in being noticed. It was a pretty easy install on the VTX but I think it'll take a little longer to install on the FJR. The one I had came with a light sensor to cut out the modulating function at night. The light sensor (night time cut off) was pretty sensitive and adjustable thru a sequence using the high beam switch and the ignition. I had it adjusted so that just passing under a "good" size bridge would cut out the modulating.
K
I hear northern Oregon is more of a hot market now .......... (go away) LOLThe guys in my riding group swear by the modulator and they definitely increase visibility.First time I ever saw one I was driving my truck; I didn't know what the hell it was. Got mesmerized and the poor biker almost had FORD printed on his helmet. So I've been spooked on the idea. Wouldn't want some 80-year-old retired Californian wondering what that UFO is......
P.S. Nothing against Californians, just have a boatload of retired ones around here in Southern Oregon.
Now that cutoff switch at night sounds more promising, as they are not as dangerous (IMHO) in daylight. But it still might bug somebody I'm stuck behind in traffic.I've been thinking about getting one for my FJR. I had a Kisan HM on my VTX (before I sold it) and I feel it made a difference in being noticed. It was a pretty easy install on the VTX but I think it'll take a little longer to install on the FJR. The one I had came with a light sensor to cut out the modulating function at night. The light sensor (night time cut off) was pretty sensitive and adjustable thru a sequence using the high beam switch and the ignition. I had it adjusted so that just passing under a "good" size bridge would cut out the modulating.
K
p.s. could you mail me a S Oregon real estate brochure - retirement is only a few years away - hah
Cost was retail about $150 for the dual Comagination, but I managed to find a used one for about half that from a fellow Feejer owner who moved on.How much are the units in general? for those with the Comagination, does the non-adjustable light sensor have drawbacks, since I like the idea of compactness.
EDIT: Found this webpage explaining the concepts and comparing different units: Clicky
Actually, assuming that US bikes work like Canadian ones and have their headlights on when running, because you are flashing your high beam, there is considerably less wear on the low beam.Relying on your headlights to be seen is a false sense of security. Wearing out your headlight bulbs by changing the voltage up and down just means you may not have them at night when you really need them.
Note that the rules require that you not flash within a half hour of sunrise or sunset and they've specified a sensitivity for the photocell. Extending the timing can be done and I'm certain no one will ticket you if you adjust yours. Just something to keep in mind.Hey, one last thought for you though! The Comagination which I installed above will not flash at sunset as the test I did today with my garage, so you may need the adjustable one to keep it on longer into sunset to scare those deer away, because I only see them when the sun is setting!!!
Restricting amperage does cause voltage to vary - in fact using the mandated waveform, voltage across the bulb is varied from 17% of nominal to full approximately 4 times per second."Wearing out your headlight bulbs by changing the voltage up and down just means you may not have them at night when you really need them. "
Kisan modulators restrict amperage they do not vary the voltage. They said a test unit has been running about a year 8-9 hours a dy. The affect on lamp life is zip. I love mine. It has saved my butt many times.
It was a 10-15 minute job to install the Comagination modulator on my 2005 FJR. Getting to the connections is not difficult unless you have oversized hands. It's plug n play, no special wiring.Not only CAN you, according to the DOT rules that define what is a legal modulator, you MUST. Any modulator that doesn't auto-disable at night is illegal to run in the US.
Thanks for the input. Has anyone put one in on an FJR? How hard is it to get to the headlight bulb? As I understand it the modulator plugs in between the bulb and the motorcycle.
yes.Anyone used the Kisan Headlight modulator. It's supposed to be plug and play for the FJR. Modulates the high beam. As an aside, do you think this is a useful safety feature?
Dutch1201
gunny +1 I put one on my bike and have been very pleased with the result. It is almost impossible to be ignored. I do switch to low beams if I'm in traffic and behind the same vehicle for an extended time. I highly recommend having a modulated headlight.yes.Anyone used the Kisan Headlight modulator. It's supposed to be plug and play for the FJR. Modulates the high beam. As an aside, do you think this is a useful safety feature?
Dutch1201
yes.
yes.
yes.
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