headlight modulator

[GS Farmer]

After a 17 year hiatas from the street scene, I'm back in the saddle again. It took a while to become comfortable out on the roads again. I guess my biggest concern is being seen by the idiots and morons that clutter the highway and byways. The other day as my wife and I were headed to town in the car, I pulled on to the hiway, and way down the road,maybe three miles, I could see this flashing/blinking light coming at me. Got to say that it really caught my attention. As I watched it coming, at about two miles away I could clearly tell it was a bike. So I jumped on the net to see what I could learn, about modulators. Seems that some people find them annoying!!! HUMMMM That dose'nt sound all bad to me!!! I'm sure many motorcyclist that have had cars turning left in front of them, have probably found that to be annoying also!!!!! Anyway I am seriously considering the purchase of said device. Anybody had any experience with these?? Am I missing somthing here?? Any and all imputs apperciated. Just not quite ready to become an organ donor yet..!!

 

[t3rmin]

Check legality in your state. In WA they are illegal (I think). Something about only emergency vehicles are allowed to have blinking lights that aren't blinkers.

 

[Grandpa]

I have a headlight modulator on my GS1100GK. As per instructions, it's wired to the high beam, so it's only activated when the high beam is on. It also has a light-sensitive cell that allows it to shut itself down for night riding.

I've had this headlight modulator on my bike for several years now, and I like it. It definitely gets the attention of drivers out there. It also helps slowpokes out there in deciding to move to the right to let me go by them. This is particularly nice when leading a group of riders.

I like my headlight modulator. It's reliable, easy to install, and does what it's designed to do. Some folks may not like it, and will put down the use of one. That's fine. I like mine. I frankly don't give a d_mn if anyone, whether on two or four wheels, finds it annoying.

As far as I know, they're legal in all States and DC.

I got mine on eBay at an excellent price, a brand new unit still in the package. The brand I got is Kisan, Pathblazer model or something like that.

 

[t3rmin]

I stand corrected. Headlight modulators are legal in WA, provided they meet certain criteria.

 

[mixongw]

I have a headlight modulator on my GS1100GK. As per instructions, it's wired to the high beam, so it's only activated when the high beam is on. It also has a light-sensitive cell that allows it to shut itself down for night riding.

I've had this headlight modulator on my bike for several years now, and I like it. It definitely gets the attention of drivers out there. It also helps slowpokes out there in deciding to move to the right to let me go by them. This is particularly nice when leading a group of riders.

I like my headlight modulator. It's reliable, easy to install, and does what it's designed to do. Some folks may not like it, and will put down the use of one. That's fine. I like mine. I frankly don't give a d_mn if anyone, whether on two or four wheels, finds it annoying.

As far as I know, they're legal in all States and DC.

I got mine on eBay at an excellent price, a brand new unit still in the package. The brand I got is Kisan, Pathblazer model or something like that.

What is the frequency of the blink?

 

[Grandpa]

I don't know the exact figure on the blinking rate. I remember reading somewhere that it's about 240 per minute, give or take 40. I've had my modulator for quite some time now, so I'm not sure what the literature says. Perhaps the website for Kisan may lead you to an exact answer.

 

[mixongw]

I don't know the exact figure on the blinking rate. I remember reading somewhere that it's about 240 per minute, give or take 40. I've had my modulator for quite some time now, so I'm not sure what the literature says. Perhaps the website for Kisan may lead you to an exact answer.

Thanks for the info. The website is at: http://www.kisantech.com. They have lots of other goodies too.

 

[Steve]

After a 17 year hiatas from the street scene, I'm back in the saddle again. It took a while to become comfortable out on the roads again. I guess my biggest concern is being seen by the idiots and morons that clutter the highway and byways. The other day as my wife and I were headed to town in the car, I pulled on to the hiway, and way down the road,maybe three miles, I could see this flashing/blinking light coming at me. Got to say that it really caught my attention. As I watched it coming, at about two miles away I could clearly tell it was a bike. So I jumped on the net to see what I could learn, about modulators. Seems that some people find them annoying!!! HUMMMM That dose'nt sound all bad to me!!! I'm sure many motorcyclist that have had cars turning left in front of them, have probably found that to be annoying also!!!!! Anyway I am seriously considering the purchase of said device. Anybody had any experience with these?? Am I missing somthing here?? Any and all imputs apperciated. Just not quite ready to become an organ donor yet..!!

First of all...WELCOME BACK!!! \\/

Headlight modulators are legal and allowed in all 50 states by Federal regulation. Wording in the law also forbids states or local authorities to make them illegal. Many riders have said it is helpful to carry a copy of the regulation in case you are ever stopped and questioned about it.

Anybody had any experience with these??
Yes. I have been using one or more for over 5 years, now. Had one on my Kawasaki Voyager, now have one on my Wing. Son has one on his Yamaha Venture Royale. Wife has one on her GS850L While we don't rely on the modulators entirely, we do consider them to be valuable tools to help assure our safety. (None of us has ever been stopped or questioned about them yet.)

All of our units are from Kisan, but they are different models. My Wing unit has connectors that are unique to the Wing. My wife's unit has a remote plug so it will fit inside the headlight bucket. My son's unit is the 'standard' model.

While they are good to have and use, I also find it necessary to use them courteously. Here is a gude to modulator etiquette. If you were to put hour meters on my ignition and modulator, you might find that, as much as I tend to use it, it might only be on about half the time. I treat it like there is an automatic controller that senses distance to the car ahead of me and speed. If I am riding under about 20 mph there is minimal danger. Also no sense in irritating a driver ahead of you while sitting at a light.

Kisan makes good units, but they are not cheap. One I have considered, but not yet tried is from Co-Magination. They have a combo deal that includes headlight and brake light modulators for less than the Kisan headlight unit.


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[rydermike]

One of the things I would be concerned with is truck drivers confusing it with a common "flash to pass" when other drivers will flash lights to let them know the truck has cleared them. Another would be people slowing in your lane to wait & see if it's a cop/emergency vehicle , then being ****ed it's not & intentionally holding you up.

 

[GS Farmer]

modulators

modulators

From what iv'e seen of them I don't believe they would be confused with that . They flash much faster!!

 

[Grandpa]

From what iv'e seen of them I don't believe they would be confused with that . They flash much faster!!

I agree with you, GS Farmer. There's no way one can confuse the flashing of a headlight modulator with anything else.

People who don't have a modulator on their bikes usually have a low opinion of them. I wouldn't pay much attention to any of their objections.

It sounds to me as if you're already sold on getting one. So, go get yourself one! You'll like it.

 

[LostSoul3471]

Thanks for the info. The website is at: http://www.kisantech.com. They have lots of other goodies too.

Yes they do, I'd be interested in their TireAlert system. Seems like one bell/whistle too many, but it does have that added application of performance monitoring.

One of the things I would be concerned with is truck drivers confusing it with a common "flash to pass" when other drivers will flash lights to let them know the truck has cleared them. Another would be people slowing in your lane to wait & see if it's a cop/emergency vehicle , then being ****ed it's not & intentionally holding you up.

Proper trucker etiquette isn't to flash the high beams to let them move over, but to flash the whole light. The modulators keep the lights switching between high and low beams. I know most of us can't turn the lights off entirely without modification but I'd rather zip past the trucker than to have them pull in front of me--wake turbulence isn't all that nice to be in. Most of the truckers trade 18 wheels for 2 when not working so they know all to well what we're talking about.

As for the holding you up part... so is born the California pass... right between lanes. (I don't subscribe to this method personally as I have a total lack of desire in becoming sandwich meat for the one time driver stupidity prevails. :twisted

 

[tumbleweed]

Check legality in your state. In WA they are illegal (I think). Something about only emergency vehicles are allowed to have blinking lights that aren't blinkers.

i live in eastern wash and asked the state police and they said it was ok,i kept pulling people over and was worried about impersonating a officer call:?

 

[airportcop]

It all sounds very interesting to me. I have seen several bikes with them over the years and I must say that they definitely get your attention. I wouldn't call them annoying though. Maybe I will look further at them. How much $$$ ??? Easy to install? Any problems asscociated with them? Thanks

 

[Grandpa]

Very easy to install, much easier than I expected. No problems at all. Mine has worked fine for some years now.

I got my Kisan on eBay. You can order directly from the Kisan website. You can find the link elsewhere in this thread.

Just today a slowpoke moved over for me to pass him.

 

[Gravity Tester]

In my main threesome group we all have them two have them on the low beam mine is on the high beam. I feel the low beam dosent get out there as far or grab attation like the high beam. Besides I can turn mine off when wired to high beam with my selector switch. If iam am in a row of cars in a no passing zone I will turn it off. Other then that it is pretty much on. If I could forsee sombody not seeing me I wouldent need one. But since I cant it is on!

ALB-850 had a left hander turn in front of him , he had never heard of them until it was too late now he says if/when he rides again the first thing he will do is put one in.

Now all I need to do is convince Uncle Mike to put one on, he keeps making me lead.

Do an ebay search mine was for a BMW (25$) but was nothing to convert. Things I would look for are lamp selection (High / Low) a photo eye or some other way to turn it off at night. On my GS it draws enough power so I can look at my high beam indicator and see a small pulse when it is working just a reminder that it is operational.

 

[DanTheMan]

In MN, headlight modulators are illegal. You will get a ticket if you're using them.

 

[Gravity Tester]

Boy for a state that use to let you sink cars when the ice melt (bar betting) that sucks, but the law is the law.

((born in Rochester Mn.) now living in Rochester Ny)
Pat

 

[DanTheMan]

Boy for a state that use to let you sink cars when the ice melt (bar betting) that sucks, but the law is the law.

((born in Rochester Mn.) now living in Rochester Ny)
Pat

Now there are so many enviro-whackos living here you'd probably go to jail for life with no chance of parole for doing something like that. Fines for leaving your fish house on the ice past the removal date range as high as $1k...........:-|

 

[Grandpa]

In MN, headlight modulators are illegal. You will get a ticket if you're using them.

I believe you're incorrect, DanTheMan. I just went to the AMA website, where the laws for motorcycles in each of the States are outlined. For Minnesota, it clearly states:

"Daytime Use of Headlights -- Required by law. Modulating headlight permitted."

Read what Steve contributed on page 1 of this thread. It's my understanding that headlight modulators are legal in all 50 States and DC, by Federal standard. Someone please double check this. It's possible someone you know in MN got a ticket for using a headlight modulator; if so, the cop was at fault and should be challenged in court (which can be a pain in the ___, of course...)