oct. rally

[Thor Lancelot Simon]

On Thu, Aug 17, 2006 at 07:27:35AM -0700, Blake Sobiloff wrote:

> > Kisan recommends their low-profile/right angle model (P115W-S) for > the KLR since there isn't much room between the back of the bulb and > the forks when you turn the handlebars. Other than that, it's one of > the simpler additions.

One caution about this -- if the headlight bulb socket on your KLR is at all loose, as mine was from the factory, the Kisan plug-in modulator is heavy enough that it may eventually shake itself off the bulb until it finally starts arcing and destroys itself. I lost one this way and have meant to switch to a wire-in modulator ever since, but haven't had the time. The wire in modulators are a bit of a nuisance to install but there is some benefit in reliability. And of course as we know from the way _some_ KLRs running bright bulbs overheat their sockets and others don't, the headlight socket quality varies from bike to bike so others may not have the problem I did. Thor

[jokerloco9@aol.com]

I'm guessing there is no need for a $1000 lawyer if you got a ticket for a modulator, and you have a copy of the Federal law that says it is OK. Seems like a slam-dunk in court. "Hi judge, I was incorrectly ticketed for something that is protected by Federal law. Parhaps the ticketing officer was not aware of the Federal law." Case dismissed. Jeff A20 -----Original Message----- From: jpalton@... To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thu, 17 Aug 2006 1:45 PM Subject: Headlight modulators (was Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Loud Pipes Save Lives) Thats fine if you have an officer who knows the law, but I know of a couple of people who have been ticketed for having modulators in NH. The only way to fight it is to pay a lawer $1000+, pay court costs, and waste a day in court. Its easier to pay the fine and complain about it. It was the same way when I was ticketed for not having the proper mudflaps on a Jeep, which was completely stock, just the way it came out of the dealership. $45 fine, but a lawyer would have been more. I'll save myself the trouble and keep the modulator off my bike. Besides, I've been in fromt of bikes with them and find them VERY annoying, and I won't do that to other drivers. My high output headlight is bad enough. Jim

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Blake Sobiloff wrote: > > On Aug 16, 2006, at 10:22 PM, Michael Hightower wrote: > > I don't get why modulators are illegal in a number of states. > > Actually, there's a Federal regulation that makes motorcycle > headlight modulators legal in all 50 states (provided the modulators > comply with the law). Kisan has the full text available at > > http://www.kisantech.com/regulations.php > > They also give you a little card to carry with you with a copy of the > regulation printed on it when you buy one of their headlight > modulators. (At least, the ones I've bought from them have included > the card, but it'd be easy enough to print your own.) > > I guess the inclusion of the card means that some of their customers > get hassled by unknowledgeable officers in some parts, but since > Federal law trumps state and local law you should be fine anywhere in > the 50 states and DC. > > > Speaking of which, are there any challenges adding one to a KLR? > > I'd like > > to do it before my big ride from Chicago to southern Virginia on > > Labor Day > > weekend. > > Kisan recommends their low-profile/right angle model (P115W-S) for > the KLR since there isn't much room between the back of the bulb and > the forks when you turn the handlebars. Other than that, it's one of > the simpler additions. > > Kisan's modulator plugs onto the back of your headlight bulb, and > then there's a male socket that dangles from that that you plug the > stock female socket onto. Then you need to zip-tie the daylight > sensor to someplace convenient (I chose the point where the cross bar > meets the main bar on the left side of my handlebars) and zip-tie the > extra sensor wire out of the way. Make sure the wires don't get > pulled when you turn the handlebars lock to lock and you're good to go! > > Oh, and as a matter of courtesy I don't leave my modulator going if > I'm behind the same person for a while. I generally just use it when > I'm lane splitting, or when I'm in heavy city traffic. > -- > Blake Sobiloff > http://sobiloff.typepad.com/blakeblog/> > http://sobiloff.typepad.com/klr_adventure/> > San Jose, CA (USA) > ________________________________________________________________________ Check out AOL.com today. Breaking news, video search, pictures, email and IM. All on demand. Always Free. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[J Fortner]

On 8/17/06, Jim wrote:

> > Thats fine if you have an officer who knows the law, but I know of a > couple of people who have been ticketed for having modulators in NH. >

I've heard this also. In that case you have the officer call his supervisor etc etc until an officer of the law is found that knows that particular law. That is the problem with poor enforcement of existing laws, more laws are put on the books which are already covered by existing laws until you have law overload. jf [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[jokerloco9@aol.com]

Needing a Lawyer to go to court for a traffic ticket?? You have just given me the FIRST good reason for me staying in California (Los Angeles). People routinely go to court for minor offenses without a Lawyer. And the judge does listen to you. But you better have your facts straight. Jeff A20 -----Original Message----- From: jpalton@... To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thu, 17 Aug 2006 7:44 PM Subject: Headlight modulators (was Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Loud Pipes Save Lives) In my part of the country, the law isn't as important as the cop's attitude. 2 weeks ago I got pulled over on my way home from Maine, on my KLR. The Maine town cop (small town) said he stopped me because my tail light didn't work. I began getting of the bike to check it, and he told me in no uncertain terms to STAY ON THE BIKE. He went back to his car with my paperwork, and while he was gone, I reached back and put my hand over the light...whis WAS on. I mentioned this when he came back, and he said again that no, it wasn't on. I reached back with him standing there, showing that I could see that it was on. He said well its not bright enough (its the same as it was when I bought the bike). I told him that he should tell Kawasaki that then, because thats how the bike came new 4 months ago. (I said this in a non-smart ass way). He proceeded to write me a speeding ticket instead (for a bogus speed), so I'm stuck paying for a $125 fine instead of the lesser offense of defective equipment. This kind of thing is common in our small towns. On another occasion my friend and I were hasseled by a small-town cop for riding a snowmobile on the road in front of his house. The cop just stopped at the first house he came to that had a snowmobile in the yard and gave us crap. He then wrote me a ticket for unregistered OHRV. It didn't matter to him that there were no fresh tracks near the sled, or that the sled didn't even run, or that the so-called witness couldn't even name the color of the sled, and stated that the rider had full gear on, so he couldn't even get a description. We went to court (no lawyer...dumb on our parts), and the judge only ruled that the case be "put on file", meaning that they could drag it back out any time. We also got a rep for causing trouble with the police, which didn't help our daily lives any. The moral? The law isn't as important as not stirring up crap. I have been given a ticket for riding an OHRV on the street while on my street legal, registered, and inspected XR600. I even had a copy of the paperwork the dealer gave me stating that the vehicle met all NH safety standards, and was legal for public street use. It didn't matter...I got the ticket anyway. Thats one reason I bought a KLR this time instead of an XR650R...because it looks more like it belongs on the street, so I shouldn't be hasseled as much. Anyway, this was long winded...the point is that in some places, its a much better idea to just lay low and not stand out so much. As for not needing a lawyer...in our area, you had better show up in court with a lawyer, otherwise you will rarely win. Jim

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Conall" wrote: > > I reasoned with a vigilant LEO on MA State Hwy 20 in the Berkshire > Mtns while getting chased down and pulled over once while using my > Kisan modulator( I carry a copy of the federal statue that came with > the 50-state legal headlight modulator). Just after presenting my > paperwork and briefly presenting my modulator case story very > politely,a guy on a big sport bike rolls up headed in the opposite > direction,blows the downshift and redlines it in neutral right in > front I and the officer.He then abruptly drops it in 2nd? gear and > like a bat out of hell leaves the scene. The officer says you wait > here and jumps in his car , hangs a 180' and starts chasin after the > other motorcyclist. I waited on the side of the rode w/o my ID for > what seemed like eternity and finally he rolls up and gets out, gives > me my license back and said, OK I know you didn't have any criminal > intent by using the modulator, I that was what he was concerned with, > impersonation of an officer. I think he radioed in for sure and got > the story straight. Gotta be sure your pepers are in order, I didn't > have anyone complain in CA, but other states your mileage may vary. > > Conall > A7, A9 > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, jokerloco9@ wrote: > > > > I'm guessing there is no need for a $1000 lawyer if you got a > ticket for a modulator, and you have a copy of the Federal law that > says it is OK. > > > > Seems like a slam-dunk in court. > > > > "Hi judge, I was incorrectly ticketed for something that is > protected by Federal law. Parhaps the ticketing officer was not aware > of the Federal law." > > > > Case dismissed. > > > > Jeff A20 ________________________________________________________________________ Check out AOL.com today. Breaking news, video search, pictures, email and IM. All on demand. Always Free. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Don S]

Sounds like Jim's part of the country is in Mexico. Should get some video vigilante action going against the dirty cops. Don jokerloco9@... wrote: Needing a Lawyer to go to court for a traffic ticket?? You have just given me the FIRST good reason for me staying in California (Los Angeles). People routinely go to court for minor offenses without a Lawyer. And the judge does listen to you. But you better have your facts straight. Jeff A20 -----Original Message----- From: jpalton@... To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thu, 17 Aug 2006 7:44 PM Subject: Headlight modulators (was Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Loud Pipes Save Lives) In my part of the country, the law isn't as important as the cop's attitude. 2 weeks ago I got pulled over on my way home from Maine, on my KLR. The Maine town cop (small town) said he stopped me because my tail light didn't work. I began getting of the bike to check it, and he told me in no uncertain terms to STAY ON THE BIKE. He went back to his car with my paperwork, and while he was gone, I reached back and put my hand over the light...whis WAS on. I mentioned this when he came back, and he said again that no, it wasn't on. I reached back with him standing there, showing that I could see that it was on. He said well its not bright enough (its the same as it was when I bought the bike). I told him that he should tell Kawasaki that then, because thats how the bike came new 4 months ago. (I said this in a non-smart ass way). He proceeded to write me a speeding ticket instead (for a bogus speed), so I'm stuck paying for a $125 fine instead of the lesser offense of defective equipment. This kind of thing is common in our small towns. On another occasion my friend and I were hasseled by a small-town cop for riding a snowmobile on the road in front of his house. The cop just stopped at the first house he came to that had a snowmobile in the yard and gave us crap. He then wrote me a ticket for unregistered OHRV. It didn't matter to him that there were no fresh tracks near the sled, or that the sled didn't even run, or that the so-called witness couldn't even name the color of the sled, and stated that the rider had full gear on, so he couldn't even get a description. We went to court (no lawyer...dumb on our parts), and the judge only ruled that the case be "put on file", meaning that they could drag it back out any time. We also got a rep for causing trouble with the police, which didn't help our daily lives any. The moral? The law isn't as important as not stirring up crap. I have been given a ticket for riding an OHRV on the street while on my street legal, registered, and inspected XR600. I even had a copy of the paperwork the dealer gave me stating that the vehicle met all NH safety standards, and was legal for public street use. It didn't matter...I got the ticket anyway. Thats one reason I bought a KLR this time instead of an XR650R...because it looks more like it belongs on the street, so I shouldn't be hasseled as much. Anyway, this was long winded...the point is that in some places, its a much better idea to just lay low and not stand out so much. As for not needing a lawyer...in our area, you had better show up in court with a lawyer, otherwise you will rarely win. Jim

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Conall" wrote: > > I reasoned with a vigilant LEO on MA State Hwy 20 in the Berkshire > Mtns while getting chased down and pulled over once while using my > Kisan modulator( I carry a copy of the federal statue that came with > the 50-state legal headlight modulator). Just after presenting my > paperwork and briefly presenting my modulator case story very > politely,a guy on a big sport bike rolls up headed in the opposite > direction,blows the downshift and redlines it in neutral right in > front I and the officer.He then abruptly drops it in 2nd? gear and > like a bat out of hell leaves the scene. The officer says you wait > here and jumps in his car , hangs a 180' and starts chasin after the > other motorcyclist. I waited on the side of the rode w/o my ID for > what seemed like eternity and finally he rolls up and gets out, gives > me my license back and said, OK I know you didn't have any criminal > intent by using the modulator, I that was what he was concerned with, > impersonation of an officer. I think he radioed in for sure and got > the story straight. Gotta be sure your pepers are in order, I didn't > have anyone complain in CA, but other states your mileage may vary. > > Conall > A7, A9 > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, jokerloco9@ wrote: > > > > I'm guessing there is no need for a $1000 lawyer if you got a > ticket for a modulator, and you have a copy of the Federal law that > says it is OK. > > > > Seems like a slam-dunk in court. > > > > "Hi judge, I was incorrectly ticketed for something that is > protected by Federal law. Parhaps the ticketing officer was not aware > of the Federal law." > > > > Case dismissed. > > > > Jeff A20 __________________________________________________________ Check out AOL.com today. Breaking news, video search, pictures, email and IM. All on demand. Always Free. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] --------------------------------- Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2 /min or less. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[lesdecoop]

I want to go to that rally in Oct. I believe its at Cheaha? I'm not far from there, about an hour. I live in Wetumpka and I know a friend that is going, he is already registered. I thought it was all booked up. That would be my only concern, I would hate to go there and not be able to participate. If you think there is an opening let me know. Thanks in advance.