Headlight modulator

[Questions]

I just got the first Kisan Technologies Headlight modulator made specifically for the Spyder... total plug-n-play. Here is my website showing the installation.

http://www.lonlawrence.com/Modulating_Headlight/Kisan_technologies.html

 

[1VENOM]

Nice pics and write-up. I'm not sure what the headlight modulator is for? Pls explain.

 

[Questions]

Nice pics and write-up. I'm not sure what the headlight modulator is for? Pls explain.

Well, it's a long explanation, so grab a cup of coffee and hang on.

When you pull up to a stop sign in your car, and swing your head from right to left (or vice-versa) to check for traffic, if you move your head at the same speed that traffic is moving at, your brain doesn't register any "movement" and thus, does not see "danger." So you pull out and a motorcycle T-bones your car. Now, let's change the scenario. Pull up to a stop sign and a motorcycle is coming from your left. You swing your head right and left to check for traffic (at the same speed the motorcycle is moving at) and this motorcycle has a modulating headlight. The "flashing" headlight (legal in all 50 states) registers "movement" in your brain and you actually SEE the motorcycle. The brain registers "danger." It's a big safety feature. The headlight(s) don't really "flash," as that would be illegal. They "modulate." That means the element in the lights never completely cool off. So the effect is really "bright-dim-bright-dim" etc. The timing is all regulated by federal law.

When I took a motorcycle safety foundation class in 2001 the first thing the instructor said was, "I will tell you two things that will save your life more than anything else you can do. 1. buy the new bright yellow Honda Goldwing and 2. put modulating headlights on it. I had done both ! LOL

Some people think the modulating headlights are annoying and they do make some drivers mad at you, but if they get mad at you, then you know they saw you!!! However, annoying or not, they save lives (unlike loud pipes, which is a wive's tale). However, the law is on your side and no matter how mad people get at you, you have the right to have modulating headlights. By the way, they are only legal during daylight hours, and the sensor turns them off at sunset and they go back to regular headlights. I've been running them on all 7 bikes since 2001.

 

[dave01]

Not sure I can run one of these with my HID lights or not.Any ideas?

 

[pjp623]

:2thumbs: Great job on the pictures, instructions, and explaination of why these are so important.
Where did you get the modulator?

 

[Magic Man]

Not sure I can run one of these with my HID lights or not.Any ideas?

Most HID ballasts will not work with these units.

MM

 

[NancysToy]

.....When I took a motorcycle safety foundation class in 2001 the first thing the instructor said was, "I will tell you two things that will save your life more than anything else you can do. 1. buy the new bright yellow Honda Goldwing and 2. put modulating headlights on it. I had done both ! LOL.....

I'll add one more sure thing, for visibility. Wear hi-vis clothing...especially the helmet. This has been proven to reduce accidents. The rider moves his/her limbs and head in a different direction than the motorcycle, while riding, so a moving hi-vis jacket or helmet gets a lot of attention. "Loud pipes don't save lives...loud clothes do!"

I was hoping the 2011 lineup would include a Millenium Yellow RT. That, plus modulating headlights, plus hi-vis clothes, would give you a fighting chance.

Have you noticed any interference with the CanBus due to the modulation, or any audio noise?

 

[dave01]

I'll add one more sure thing, for visibility. Wear hi-vis clothing...especially the helmet. "Loud pipes don't save lives...loud clothes do!"

Scotty, Do you mean loud clothing like this

 

[Firefly]

Scotty, Do you mean loud clothing like this

Now THAT is loud! :roflblack:

No wonder Someguy wears tiedye shirts... lol

----------------------------

I've never been a fan of the modulating lights-- just a personal preference. I'd rather stick with my HID's and make sure I can light up a football field in front of me at night.

As far as loud pipes----- might not save you against cagers----but I've had deer stop in their tracks from 1/4 mile away because they heard me coming. :thumbup:

Then again the same 'makes a cager angry' argument could be used pertaining to loud pipes... so you know they saw ya.

 

[FANG]

Scotty, Do you mean loud clothing like this

That - screaming at you :roflblack:

 

[Magic Man]

That - screaming at you :roflblack:

Hey I don't get hit!

That, and they don't want to dent their car hitting me. :shocked:

Why I'd take out most compacts without even a scratch. :roflblack:

MM

 

[NancysToy]

Scotty, Do you mean loud clothing like this

I think the legs alone will wake up most drivers! Now you know the real reason I never wear shorts when I ride. It isn't the heat, it's the humility! :roflblack:

 

[JJW SpyderRider]

Modulating headlights

Came across a motor cycle yesterday that was using the modulator, it does draw your attention.

 

[FANG]

Hey I don't get hit!

That, and they don't want to dent their car hitting me. :shocked:

Why I'd take out most compacts without even a scratch. :roflblack:

MM

Hey MM do you have a shirt like that for sale on your site!!! And does it come with LED's.

 

[Magic Man]

Hey MM do you have a shirt like that for sale on your site!!! And does it come with LED's.

Sorry no we don't.

They come from a company called Hot Shoppe and are big $$$. But they are very light weight and seem to last a long time without showing much wear at all.

They are 100% custom printed as the shirt starts out totally white and then every bit of it's color is a custom print based on your design, hence the big $$$ cost.


MM

 

[Questions]

:2thumbs: Great job on the pictures, instructions, and explaination of why these are so important.
Where did you get the modulator?

I put on the website and in my original post that I got the modulator from Kisan Technologies, for those of you that missed it. 719-226-0300 or [email protected]. they have a website too, you could google it. It won't be on their website yet because I have the first prototype. They are legal with HID lights, also, but one guy mentioned the ballast may not be compatible with it, I'd call Andy at the phone number above and ask him before ordering.

Oh, about the deer stopping to watch you with loud pipes (one guy mentioned), that's not proof the loud pipes did anything for you. Remember the deer whistles you mount on your bumper? Those have been proven many times to be a farce. But in their defense, one police officer drove his squad car (with deer whistles on it) across a field through a herd of deer and never hit any. He swore it was due to the deer whistles. Now THAT'S the kind of scientific proof idiots put credence in. BTW, deer will stop to watch anything. Even without loud pipes I've had them stop along the road and watch me. Should I infer that quiet pipes generate a high pitched noise that only deer can hear? LOL (actually deer have the same hearing range that we do).

 

[Questions]

Now THAT is loud! :roflblack:

No wonder Someguy wears tiedye shirts... lol

----------------------------

I've never been a fan of the modulating lights-- just a personal preference. I'd rather stick with my HID's and make sure I can light up a football field in front of me at night.

As far as loud pipes----- might not save you against cagers----but I've had deer stop in their tracks from 1/4 mile away because they heard me coming. :thumbup:

Then again the same 'makes a cager angry' argument could be used pertaining to loud pipes... so you know they saw ya.

Cagers get angry with loud pipes after the fact. You know as well as I do that you usually don't see the loud pipe driver until he's close enough to hurt your eardrums and piss you off and also already at the intersection you could have hit him at. You don't hear them far enough away in your car for them to be a detriment to a collision. Modulating lights are an entirely different story. Like in my explanation of why the brain doesn't register "danger", a brighter light (HID) won't help you. Visible "motion" (ie modulating lights) is what you want the cager to see, and ONLY modulating headlights can save you in that case. It's that head-swing-thing... re-read why people don't see you to understand it.

 

[Firefly]

Daytime running lights also make you more noticeable --- until everyone starts doing it.

I've stopped my bike on the road where there were deer off in a field and I just let it idle--- when I rev it they instantly turn and look. Physics dictates the louder it is the further away they will hear it.

In real world car/deer situation does it help? Dunno--- but sure can't hurt.

I'm sure the modulators make you more noticeable-- I just don't care for the look of them-- and choosing between that feature and having bright HIDs to light up the wooded roads I ride home on--- the HIDs will win out every time in my book. Deer are my main concern as the Spyder is very noticeable in traffic--- as compared to 2 wheels.

To each his own--- just not for me.

... fyi----- the 'guy' telling you it won't work with most ballasts----- actually makes the things------

 

[Questions]

Daytime running lights also make you more noticeable --- until everyone starts doing it.

I've stopped my bike on the road where there were deer off in a field and I just let it idle--- when I rev it they instantly turn and look. Physics dictates the louder it is the further away they will hear it.

In real world car/deer situation does it help? Dunno--- but sure can't hurt.

I'm sure the modulators make you more noticeable-- I just don't care for the look of them-- and choosing between that feature and having bright HIDs to light up the wooded roads I ride home on--- the HIDs will win out every time in my book. Deer are my main concern as the Spyder is very noticeable in traffic--- as compared to 2 wheels.

To each his own--- just not for me.

... fyi----- the 'guy' telling you it won't work with most ballasts----- actually makes the things------

When GM started putting DRLs (daytime running lamps) on cars, everybody thought that was a good idea (until everyone did it, then people wouldn't see them anymore). That proved to be a farce. You still notice cars with DRLs on them in low-light situations (dark car on a dark highway at dusk... even a dark car on a dark highway in the daylight). When you pull out pass, you can see the cars coming with the DRLs on... the rest you can't see. So, in reply to "they are a good idea until everyone starts running them" is absurd. In fact, when everyone starts running them, they'll still be more noticeable than DRLs because of the perceived "motion" that the "other guy" sees. You'll always see modulating high-beam headlights. (and high beam is the only light you should modulate for obvious reasons). As far as HID vs modulating headlights, if you had to make a choice, you may feel safer riding after dark in a deer-infested area because you can see better at night. It's a personal choice. I feel the standard lights light up the road sufficiently for night driving and the rest of the time, modulating lights protect me from the other guy. After all, statistics show us that t-boning a car at an intersection is the main cause of motorcycle crashes... not deer/bike accidents.

 

[Campverdefela]

Daytime running lights also make you more noticeable --- until everyone starts doing it.

I've stopped my bike on the road where there were deer off in a field and I just let it idle--- when I rev it they instantly turn and look. Physics dictates the louder it is the further away they will hear it.

In real world car/deer situation does it help? Dunno--- but sure can't hurt.

I'm sure the modulators make you more noticeable-- I just don't care for the look of them-- and choosing between that feature and having bright HIDs to light up the wooded roads I ride home on--- the HIDs will win out every time in my book. Deer are my main concern as the Spyder is very noticeable in traffic--- as compared to 2 wheels.

To each his own--- just not for me.

... fyi----- the 'guy' telling you it won't work with most ballasts----- actually makes the things------

:agree:Especially the led dayrunners as the slightly glaring blue-white light of the led's gets your attention.