Wilsons Sandbox

Posted: **Tue Apr 05, 2005 7:21 am**

Pat & the KLR gang, What's a headlight modulator and how does it work? Where can I get one? And how much? Easy installation? I imagine it's some sort of gadget that gives the headlight a strobe effect. If so, does it 'wear out' the bulb? And the most important bit: any war stories on accidents averted? How effective is it in daylight? Just another KLR nut looking for more excuses to buy stuff . . . Maurice ________________________________________________________________________ Message: 8 Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2005 23:01:41 EDT From: kdxkawboy@... Subject: Re: My Top 5 Modifications In a message dated 4/4/2005 6:07:13 PM Pacific Standard Time, salinej1@... writes: Let's hear about the top 5 mods you did to your bike and why you like them. 1) Headlight modulator. I've been hit by an oncoming car that never saw me so that's the end I worry about safety with.

Posted: **Tue Apr 05, 2005 10:03 am**

Maurice, good morning. I used a modulator on my bikes back in the 80's- 90's. I just never got around to installing it on my KLR. It was suppose to make your headlight last longer because the light was only on 1/2 the time. Other drivers did notice you. Many new drivers would pull over thinking it was an emergency vehicle. Although they are legal in all states you just don't see many on the road. The best feature is an emergency button that will cause it to flash. It worked on high beams only. Installation was quick and simple. George escondido, CA Maurice Cruz wrote:

>Pat & the KLR gang, > >What's a headlight modulator and how does it work? Where can I get one? And >how much? Easy installation? I imagine it's some sort of gadget that gives >the headlight a strobe effect. If so, does it 'wear out' the bulb? > >And the most important bit: any war stories on accidents averted? How >effective is it in daylight? > >Just another KLR nut looking for more excuses to buy stuff . . . > >Maurice > >

Posted: **Tue Apr 05, 2005 10:33 am**

On Apr 5, 2005, at 5:20 AM, Maurice Cruz wrote:

> What's a headlight modulator and how does it work?

It rapidly alternates your headlight between the high beam and the low beam, making you more conspicuous.

> Where can I get one?

Kisan makes one called the PathBlazer http://www.kisantech.com/kisanWeb3/frameSample.htm>. You'd want the P115W-S model for a KLR650.

> And > how much?

Around $100.

> Easy installation?

Remove the headlight wire from the headlight, plug the modulator onto the back of the headlight and then plug the headlight wire to the modulator wire. Note that the fit of the modulator onto the back of my headlight was very, very tight--it took a fair amount of force to get the modulator to seat onto the prongs fully. It was probably something funky about my particular bike or modulator, though.

> I imagine it's some sort of gadget that gives > the headlight a strobe effect. If so, does it 'wear out' the bulb?

Kisan claims not because they don't fully shut off the power to the filaments at any point. This is supposed to ease the thermal stress on the filaments while making the overall power drain minimally higher.

> And the most important bit: any war stories on accidents averted?

While lanesplitting (I *love* CA!) with my modulator going, significantly more cars give me more room to get by. Can't tell if its prevented any accidents, but I've never had a car turn left in front of me, either. (Seven years/50K+ miles in urban environments.)

> How > effective is it in daylight?

By law, a headlight modulator must have a daylight sensor which prevents modulator operation in the dark. -- Blake Sobiloff San Mateo, CA (USA)

Posted: **Tue Apr 05, 2005 10:44 am**

On Tue, Apr 05, 2005 at 08:33:17AM -0700, Blake Sobiloff wrote:

> > Kisan makes one called the PathBlazer > http://www.kisantech.com/kisanWeb3/frameSample.htm>. You'd want the > P115W-S model for a KLR650.

I'd recommend against using this particular headlight modulator on a KLR. It makes the headlight assembly longer and that lets the cord get some leverage on the connectors and shake them loose. Over time, that can cause arcing, which destroys the $100 headlight modulator... not good. It'd probably work well on a bike with less vibration at the front end but the one I tried on my KLR lasted about 1.5 months. I keep meaning to pick up a wire-in style modulator. It would be a good excuse to rerun the headlight wires with larger wire anyway, which is a good idea for those of us running brighter than stock bulbs. Thor

Posted: **Tue Apr 05, 2005 1:05 pm**

The headlight modulator was one of my first mods, I'm very happy with it. Don't have the URL where I bought it, but it is the one that has a wire harness. I'll look and see if I can did up the URL and post it, Denis

> > Pat & the KLR gang, > > What's a headlight modulator and how does it work? Where can I get one? > And > how much? Easy installation? I imagine it's some sort of gadget that gives > the headlight a strobe effect. If so, does it 'wear out' the bulb? > > And the most important bit: any war stories on accidents averted? How > effective is it in daylight? > > Just another KLR nut looking for more excuses to buy stuff . . . > > Maurice > > > ________________________________________________________________________ > > Message: 8 > Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2005 23:01:41 EDT > From: kdxkawboy@... > Subject: Re: My Top 5 Modifications > > In a message dated 4/4/2005 6:07:13 PM Pacific Standard Time, > salinej1@... writes: > > > Let's hear about the top 5 mods you did to your bike and why you like > them. > > 1) Headlight modulator. I've been hit by an oncoming car that never saw > me > so that's the end I worry about safety with. > > > > > > > Archive Quicksearch at: > http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > >

Posted: **Tue Apr 05, 2005 5:09 pm**

You said that the Kisan switchs between the hi and lo beam. Not true, it modulates the high beam only, there is no switching between hi/lo beam filaments. Pulse width modulates the hi beam. Executive Order 12866 Motorcycle Headlamp Modulation System s7.9.1 A headlamp on a motorcycle may be wired to either the upper or the lower beam from its maximum intensity to a lesser intensity provided that: (a) The rate of modulation shall be 240 +/- 40 cycles per minute. (b) The headlamp shall be operated at maximum power for 50 to 70 percent of each cycle (c) The lowest intensity at any test point shall be not less than 17% of the maximum intensity measured at the same point. (d) The modulator switch shall be wired in the power feed of the beam filament being modulated and not in the ground side of the circuit. (e) Means shall be provided so that both the lower beam and the upper beam remain operable in the event of a modulator failure. (f) The system shall include a sensor mounted with the axis of its sensing element perpendicular to the horizontal plane. Headlamp modulation shall cease whenever the level of light . . . . less then 270 lux. I use the Kisan Pathblazer and have since at least 1995. Have worn out three different models but will continue to use them. Conall

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Blake Sobiloff wrote: > On Apr 5, 2005, at 5:20 AM, Maurice Cruz wrote: > > What's a headlight modulator and how does it work? > > It rapidly alternates your headlight between the high beam and the low > beam, making you more conspicuous. > > > Where can I get one? > > Kisan makes one called the PathBlazer > http://www.kisantech.com/kisanWeb3/frameSample.htm>. You'd want the > P115W-S model for a KLR650. > > > And > > how much? > > Around $100. > > > Easy installation? > > Remove the headlight wire from the headlight, plug the modulator onto > the back of the headlight and then plug the headlight wire to the > modulator wire. Note that the fit of the modulator onto the back of my > headlight was very, very tight--it took a fair amount of force to get > the modulator to seat onto the prongs fully. It was probably something > funky about my particular bike or modulator, though. > > > I imagine it's some sort of gadget that gives > > the headlight a strobe effect. If so, does it 'wear out' the bulb? > > Kisan claims not because they don't fully shut off the power to the > filaments at any point. This is supposed to ease the thermal stress on > the filaments while making the overall power drain minimally higher. > > > And the most important bit: any war stories on accidents averted? > > While lanesplitting (I *love* CA!) with my modulator going, > significantly more cars give me more room to get by. Can't tell if its > prevented any accidents, but I've never had a car turn left in front of > me, either. (Seven years/50K+ miles in urban environments.) > > > How > > effective is it in daylight? > > By law, a headlight modulator must have a daylight sensor which > prevents modulator operation in the dark. > -- > Blake Sobiloff > San Mateo, CA (USA)

Posted: **Tue Apr 05, 2005 8:06 pm**

In a message dated 4/5/2005 8:05:15 AM Pacific Standard Time, geobas@... writes: Although they are legal in all states you just don't see many on the road. Basically headlight modulators are made legal for motorcycles by a federal law that is applicable in all 50 states and the territories. The law specifies: * A modulation rate of four cycles per second, not five, not three, but exactly four beats per second. * It must have an automatic on/off switch that works as a function of the intensity of the ambient light - the modulation is enabled by this auto switch with the rising and setting of the sun. * It must provide a fail-safe mode such that if the modulator fails the headlight reverts to normal operation. * Modulators are not legal for cages unless said cage is an official emergency vehicle. * This was done to give motorcyclists a break by increasing the ability of others to see them. There are several fine points but that is the juxt of the law. There are several outfits providing legal modulators and the Kisan brand is about the best. The modulator is a small disc that plugs into the back of the headlight and a light sensor for the auto switch. Like George says, I have people pulling over thinking I am some sort of emergency vehicle. Usually when I get queued up behind a cage I flick the modulator off, but if they don't use the next turn out the modulator comes back on until they let me by. I have people come up and say, Do you know your headlight is blinking? Friends that know my headlight winks will tell me the spotted me coming over a rise while they were still miles across the valley. And little kids think they are neat. Pat G'ville, NV [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Posted: **Tue Apr 05, 2005 10:04 pm**

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, kdxkawboy@a... wrote:

> > Like George says, I have people pulling over thinking I am some sort of > emergency vehicle.

Next best thing to driving a Crown Vic.

Posted: **Wed Apr 06, 2005 2:52 am**

I have 23K miles on mine with no issues. The best mod I have made to the bike. If you are worried about arcing put a tiny bit of dilelectric grease on the bulb terminals.

----- Original Message ----- From: "Thor Lancelot Simon" To: "Blake Sobiloff" Cc: dsn_klr650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2005 8:44 Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] RE: Headlight modulator (was My Top 5 Modifications) > > On Tue, Apr 05, 2005 at 08:33:17AM -0700, Blake Sobiloff wrote: >> >> Kisan makes one called the PathBlazer >> http://www.kisantech.com/kisanWeb3/frameSample.htm>. You'd want the >> P115W-S model for a KLR650. > > I'd recommend against using this particular headlight modulator on a > KLR. It makes the headlight assembly longer and that lets the cord > get some leverage on the connectors and shake them loose. Over time, > that can cause arcing, which destroys the $100 headlight modulator... > not good. It'd probably work well on a bike with less vibration at the > front end but the one I tried on my KLR lasted about 1.5 months. > > I keep meaning to pick up a wire-in style modulator. It would be a good > excuse to rerun the headlight wires with larger wire anyway, which is a > good idea for those of us running brighter than stock bulbs. > > Thor > > > Archive Quicksearch at: > http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > >

Posted: **Thu Apr 07, 2005 3:08 pm**

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "John Biccum" wrote:

> I have 23K miles on mine with no issues.

I have headlight modulators on both my bikes and have had no problems either.

Wilsons Sandbox

mermite project

headlight modulator (was my top 5 modifications)

headlight modulator (was my top 5 modifications)

headlight modulator (was my top 5 modifications)

headlight modulator (was my top 5 modifications)

headlight modulator (was my top 5 modifications)

headlight modulator (was my top 5 modifications)

headlight modulator (was my top 5 modifications)

headlight modulator (was my top 5 modifications)

headlight modulator (was my top 5 modifications)

headlight modulator (was my top 5 modifications)