[Guest]

After almost being run off the road by some idot in a car, I decided to make my bike more viable. I did some research and I found that due to the fact that most vehicles have daytime running lights, that during the day motorcycles with a headlight on do not stand out because drives are used to seeing light on all day. I also found that simply riding with your High beams on during the day was a big improvement for other people being able to see you. Contrary to what I thought Hi beams do not cause any problem to other drivers during the day like they do at night.

While that was good, I wanted to improve my daytime visibility to another level and I didn't yet want to add driving lights.

I called around several experts and settled on new PIAA Xtreme H4 whiteplus bulbs and also a headlight modulator. It took a bit of work to drop the fairing but all went smoothly. I used Pathblazer modulator P115W-s that pulses the headlights in an alternating pattern. It is a plug and play installation that is as simple as plugging in new bulbs. When you turn on your Hi beams they automatically pulse, and the electric eye sensor turns off the pulsing at night. The modulator meets Federal DOT standards so it is legal.

I am pleased with the results, but I must say they get so much attention that when following people they can sometimes think you are a cop and they pull over, so I use them mostly when I am cruising the open road and not following people closely or when I am in crazy multi-directional traffic like rotary's where the risk of being not seen and hit is great. Turing the modulator on is as simple as flipping the factory switch from LO to HI.


I would recommend if you want to spend no money at least ride with your Hi beams in during the day as it increases your being seen a lot, and if you want huge visibility get the modulator setup with brighter bulbs. I think you could save some money and keep the stock bulbs as well as I don't think for daytime visibility they make that much difference but they do for nighttime riding. Be safe.

 

[CHAINSAW]

First time I met a bike with a headlight modulator on the highway, I slowed way down... thought the dude was trying to warn me there was a cop ahead. Was wondering why he didn't tap the top of his head instead of flashing his lights at me. At the time, I just laughed and thought he was just a silly goldwing rider, but one of the guys I was riding with said it was to be seen.

 

[ScottAtl]

I bought the Kriss Modulator and it took me a whole 15 minutes to install. Works all day with my Hi-Beams and has the sensor to auto-off when darker. I simply turn off my hi-beams if I'm riding in a group and don't want to annoy the front riders.

http://www.kriss.com/harleydualh4mod.php

 

[Guest]

I have ordered 4 of these little lights from a company in England.
http://bikevis.com/ 2 pair including shipping was $47.xx

They won 2009 product of the year award from WebBbikeWorld
http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycles/best-motorcycle-products-2009.htm
http://www.webbikeworld.com/lights/bikevis-led-lights/
These were also reviewed in the July 2010 issue of Motorcycle Consumer News.

I have plans to mount them on the Hog Chopps, next to the lower clamp. Seems like a nice flat spot there. Hopefully they will be far enough away from the head light to be seen as the much discussed triangle of light.

I'll post some pics when they are mounted. --Bill

 

[hotrodad]

personally i don't like 'em

I passed a group of goldwing riders on my was to Americade last year and pretty much everyone of the 50 or so had the modulator lites on! By the time the last few passed by me i was ready to drive into them that was one of the most distracting, irritating sites i have ever seen....ya, i saw them alright, but it wasn't for the good

 

[DreamRider]

Nice Option

I have ordered 4 of these little lights from a company in England.
http://bikevis.com/ 2 pair including shipping was $47.xx

They won 2009 product of the year award from WebBbikeWorld
http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycles/best-motorcycle-products-2009.htm
http://www.webbikeworld.com/lights/bikevis-led-lights/
These were also reviewed in the July 2010 issue of Motorcycle Consumer News.

I have plans to mount them on the Hog Chopps, next to the lower clamp. Seems like a nice flat spot there. Hopefully they will be far enough away from the head light to be seen as the much discussed triangle of light.

I'll post some pics when they are mounted. --Bill

I've been reading alot about alternate light sources to increase visibility without being annoying to other riders and/or cages and this product WITH the Modulator device seems like a very good comprimise. Let me know if you install them with the Modulator and how folks react to them. Thanks for the great post.
http://www.webbikeworld.com/lights/bikevis-led-lights/bikevis-podmods.htm

 

[Guest]

I did not order the modulator. Maybe I should have, the MCN article said good things about it. Where I will be placing them, down low, I think will be sufficient. There will be 2 lights mounted adjacent to one another. I think from a distance each pair will appear as one light. 120 Lumens per side of the bike. According to the mfg web page the viewing angle is pretty wide 167°.

Pics coming when available. regards --Bill

 

[Guest]

Here are the DRL that I ordered from BikeVis.com
7 day shipping from England. Basically I like them.

 

[DreamRider]

Here are the DRL that I ordered from BikeVis.com
7 day shipping from England. Basically I like them.

Very visible indeed! Can you post a few close up shots (on and off) for a look at how you did the wiring. Thanks.

 

[2010 FLTRX]

I passed a group of goldwing riders on my was to Americade last year and pretty much everyone of the 50 or so had the modulator lites on! By the time the last few passed by me i was ready to drive into them that was one of the most distracting, irritating sites i have ever seen....ya, i saw them alright, but it wasn't for the good

Agreed. I find headlight modulators extremely annoying and distracting.

I also disagree with riding with high beams on. I've been spot blinded plenty of times by oncoming bikes during the day with high beams on.

I DO understand the visability reason, but, WE are the ones who made the CHOICE to go out on public roads on a vehicle that offers no protection. Other users of those roads should not be punished or confused because of that choice.

JMO of course

 

[Guest]

As requested here are a couple more pictures and description of the wiring.

I used the bottom of the Hog Chop Lowers as the mounting site. Drilled 2 small holes and ran the wiring from the outside up. Pulled the cover off the 3M double stick tape and pushed lights firmly on the surface. I previously cleaned the bottom with cotton ball and alcohol. I soldiered the 4 wires into 2, used heat shrink, ran the wire up the hog chops and into 12vdc cable that ran up to the front from the Aux connector next to the battery. Very simple and straight forward.

 

[Guest]

one more

 

[DreamRider]

Good work..

Nice set up. Looks clean. Thanks for posting the pics. Did not know you had 2 sets of lights on either side, pretty cool that you can't tell from a distance.

And just to add some input to the others comments about the Modulators...I do agree with you about them being annoying(seen them and hated them on site). But THESE ones that wonbyone got seem to be less distracting. They seem to provide just a little bit of "twinkle" so the oncoming vehicle notices , but without the overwhelming glare. The modulated Bullets are on 92.5% of the time and off only 7.5%. I've yet to see them, but I like the idea if the statements are valid and they don't distract. You can read the full article here if interested and watch the video with the modulators working.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/lights/bikevis-led-lights/bikevis-podmods.htm

 

[Guest]

The glitter affect of the lights being modulated by their PodMOD is hard to capture on video because of the timing of the shutter and the on-off frequency of the light's modulation... or so I am told. The Bikevis.com web page has a lot of information and some video. You save a little by buying 2 pair and you save on the postage. They also have another light that I think would be interesting.
It too could be modulated by their PODMOD, or used without.
http://www.bikevis.com/motorcycle-led-running-light-pods.html
Respectfully --Bill

 

[TobyJ]

The modulated Bullets are on 92.5% of the time and off only 7.5%. I've yet to see them, but I like the idea if the statements are valid and they don't distract. You can read the full article here if interested and watch the video with the modulators working.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/lights/bikevis-led-lights/bikevis-podmods.htm

One concern I might have is legality. Most of the modulators that claim to conform to federal standards also state that they use a cycle of 4 'modulations' per second. I've also seen several posts where riders with these modulators have been pulled over, and forced to prove that what they are running is, in fact, legal. I would think that if you were pulled over for these bullets, you might not have the same leg to stand on. Chicken sh_t stuff for cops to be pulling, but nevertheless, many departments are in revenue generation mode...

I just ordered the Comagination dual modulator for my 08 glide. I like that other drivers will notice me, even if it is because I'm annoying them. If I'm coming down the road, and some guy hesitates to turn in front of me because he is trying to figure out what I am, that is a good thing. And as others have said, it is easy to disable on the fly, if needed.

Toby

 

[Sapper524]

Flashing lights should be reserved for Emergency Vehicles or broken down vehicles on the shoulder. That is just my opinion ... I think modulators are annoying.

I however hate heavy traffic and will go WAY out of the way to avoid it, and I avoid metro areas like the plague. Driving in metro traffic on a bike is just asking for it.

I know everyone who rides for any length of time has events where some moron cager with ZERO situational awareness almost or did smuck you. Being another distraction on the road is not the answer.

Just my opinion though ...

 

[silentflyier]

Headlight Modualtors

Yes they are "annoying" but thats the idea, after riding bikes since 1965 and having more than one idiot in a car/truck pull out infront of me or turn left in my path, I will do anything to keep them from killing me, modulators,brighter bulbs etc. The law enforcement types take a dim view of using a Smith & Wesson to get their attention...
I cary the paper work from the vendor with the NHTSB with me at all times, it list the Federal laws by number/date and a 800 number to call with questions.
I would rather annoy cagers than annoy my friends with having to miss work for my funeral service....
I have attended the services for 3 friends over the years killed by idiots in cars........

 

[crusty]

Flashing lights should be reserved for Emergency Vehicles

Modulators don't "flash" they modulate... splitting hairs I know, but that's how they maintain their legality and comply with the FMVSS... flashing headlights are reserved for LEOs.

I cary the paper work from the vendor with the NHTSB with me at all times, it list the Federal laws by number/date and a 800 number to call with questions.

I used to do the same thing when I had a modulator on my wing. Had to use it a few times... got me on my way without a citation everytime... but not without most of them saying they weren't exactly sure it was legal, but since they weren't 100% certain they weren't going to take the time to write me up.

One concern I might have is legality. Most of the modulators that claim to conform to federal standards also state that they use a cycle of 4 'modulations' per second.

I think the FMVSS only applys to stock headlights, so I too would be concerned about the legality of this mod... but them 80% of the shit we do to our bikes is "for off road use only" anyway... but as these are designed to attract attention, it migt just get you the wrong kind of attention.

I have ordered 4 of these little lights from a company in England.
http://bikevis.com/ 2 pair including shipping was $47.xx

Damn... woulda been much cheaper than my $500+ motolights!!

 

[rc74racer]

They are annoying and should be illegal IMO anything that flashes or modulates just looks too much like an emergency vehicle. Just because you ride a bike and there is an inherent danger with that doesn't mean you have the right to annoy every driver on the road. I'm all for people being safe I just think modulators step over the line a bit.

 

[silentflyier]

Modualtors

Give the FEDS time and they will be "required" here in the USA,just like cat-converters and the rest of it. I think they already are in several other countries....