Headlight modulators

[dfpextraordinaire]

If you're not living on the edge, you are taking up too much room

My FJR is scheduled to arrive in April like most of you and I have been ordering multiple farkles much to my little woman's chagrin, however I am considering a headlight and taillight modulator. Any thoughts?

 

[yanktar]

Into the endless/pointless thread forum!

Kisan makes a fine, easy-to-install headlight modulator. They also make taillight bulb replacements that do the modulating.

Since it's not clear if the tail-light modulators are legal in NJ, I only have the headlight ones--on the FJR and the FZ1. Electrically they are the same, bu the FZ1's one won't fit the FJR--the FJR uses a unit where there are two pieces for each bulb, rather than just one.

It's a simple plug-and-play operation.

 

[JimLor]

My personal opininon is that there's utility in brake light modulators. Have seen one bike - HD - with headlight modulator and I wanted to run him over. I've never seen anything more irritating on the road. Yup I did notice him and if that's the black or white issue then they work great. Still wanted to run him over.

 

[JimV]

Kisan makes a fine, easy-to-install headlight modulator. They also make taillight bulb replacements that do the modulating.

It's a simple plug-and-play operation.

I don't know about the '06 FJR but Kisantech specifically warns against using the bulb only type taillight modulators on ABS bikes due to "stray currents" in the wiring from the ABS. They recommend only using the splice in version of the device.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[dobias]

JimLor,

Don't blame the modulator, blame the (lazy) rider that kept it on all the time.

It's a great safety device when used only at the times you want to get someone's attention. I consider it to be like a silent, long distance "horn". I save my Magnum Blasters & Nautilus for the cell phone yakking cagers.

dobias

 

[JimLor]

Dobias - didn't know you could turn it on/off - this dipturd had it on behind me rolling up Rt 95! Thanks.

 

[panthercity]

If NJ is still a part of the United States, it is, by federal law, legal.

Of course, that doesn't mean they can't stop you, cite you and force you to go to court to prove your case...

 

[Toynut]

The Kisantech modulators work great! Particularily important in helping preventing left turns in front of you in city traffic. I run mine on all the time on the highways to keep folks from merging over into my lane (I usually ride in the left lane for safeties sake)! It definitely catches their attention, even if they only momentarily glance at their rear view mirrors. :blink:

Sorry Dobias, bikers need all the attention they can get (within legal and ethical reason) to keep from becoming another piece of "Road Pizza" in my state!

No, I don't think that obnoxiously loud straight pipes, are a safety item, BTW. :angry:

You never know when to expect a violation of your motoring space. I don't think that turning on a modulator, just in the nick of time, would have much of an effect. :bigeyes:

BTW

Kisan includes the actual federal statute with their installation instruction sheet. Copy it, laminate it, and keep it with you, to show an LEO if necessary.

 

[Bounce]

Kisan on the front. Had one on my last bike too. :thumbup:

Because the back of the Feejer has limited OEM lights to begin with, I didn't like the idea of turning some of the off some of the time. I went with ADDING more light back there in the form of Hyper-Lights. Highly visible, blink with the brakes for a bit and (user selectible) then go solid, and very bright.

https://www.bikes-n-spikes.org/mods/hyper/hyper.html

 

[dobias]

JimLor,

The headlight modulates, in the daylight only, when the headlight are on high beam. Switching them to low beam stops the modulation.

Toynut,

I hope you don't get behind JimLor when he's in a cage!

When I first had the modulators, I had a few cagers cross over the centerline & head right at me while they flashed their lights. I also had some slam their brakes on for no other reason than to get me away from behind them with my modulating lights.

Playing chicken with someone in a cage is not a game I want to play.

dobias <_<

 

[Toynut]

Understood Dobias,

I can't say that I've had the displeasure of dealing with that sort of insanity yet.

They must be a bit more conservative/less aggressive in their driving style around Detroit.

I will remember your advise when I head up North, or west of Gaylord, OK?

BTW,

Always check your mirrors when driving around Detroit.............. Something about guys driving Dodge Trucks or Jeep products, makes them think that they are running in some kind of NASCAR event.....or a rerun of "Dukes of Hazzard".

Honest!

 

[dfpextraordinaire]

Thanks for your input, I think I'll do the hyperlights and forget about the headlight. No sense in temping them crazy cagers, they freak me out in my car!

ride safe

 

[Carnifex]

Get the headlight modulator. I have the one from Comagination - it's a five-minute install, costs only around $45.00 and is the best thing you can do to keep people out of your way on the bike.

A high percentage of bike accidents are left turns, and pull-outs in front of bikes - using the modulator on two-lane roads makes people see you - plain and simple.

Turn it off when you're close behind people or on the super-slab... I've never had any issues with mine, just remember to try not to be an ******* and you're all set.

And really, who gives a ripe **** if it pisses off cagers? They're out to kill you anyway, by force of sheer ignorance. Get yourself out there and be seen - stay alive.

Of course, that doesn't mean they can't stop you, cite you and force you to go to court to prove your case...

Print this out and keep it with your registration card. It's not guarantee, but if you can show it to the guy on the side of the road and remember to be polite to Mr. (or Ms.) Police officer, you've got a good chance to make your case on the side of the highway.

I've thought about getting a couple of these (or something similar) and mounting them in the side-cases, with a detachable connector so I can still take the bags off, but I've not gotten any further than the "think about it" stage.

 

[BMort]

I too swear by the Kissan Modulator. I have it on my KLR and love it. One of the most common causes of car/motorcycle accidents is the car driver not seeing the motorcycle. ANYTHING that helps being noticed increases the odds of you avoiding an accident. I don't doubt that in some isolated cases the car driver might be distracted and head towards you, but much more likely he will see you and not turn left in front of you. Anything that makes you more visible reduces the risk of being involved in an accident. That could even mean colors of clothing and/or color of your bike. I also like to make a SLIGHT swerve when I see a car ahead ready to come out of a side street. It breaks the plane of your headlight approaching in a direct line and possibly makes you more visible than when you approach in a more direct line of sight.

Ride safe,

BMort