Increasing Visibility?

[ThreeWheels]

I tell people that I feel that I have survived my 45+ years on a motorcycle because I follow two rules:
1. You are invisible. Because people don't see you, they do whatever they want in front of you.
2. There are a select few that <can> see you, ... but they're aiming at you. :shocked:

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This is the finest advice for anyone on a motorcycle.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

The issue I have with headlight modulators is that there may be some who are planning on turning in front of me and when they see my headlights flashing, they might think I'm signaling them to turn when in fact, I'm definitely NOT.

I don't recall this ever happening to me in 15 years of riding with a modulator.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

The high beam sensor has to see an active 'high'. I will have to check the wiring diagram to see if there is constant current to hold the shutter open.

It is. The low beam wire is the one connected to the bulb. When the lights are on high beam the low beam circuit is powered by a jumper on the left side headlight connector and the high beam circuit actuates the shutter. I'll have to look at my wiring diagram for my installation and see what needs to be done to power the bulb through the modulator in high beam mode but not in low beam.

Kisan shows a P&P modulator kit for the Yamaha Tenere which uses a shutter system and LED bulbs. In fact they show two kits, P115W-T4 and P115W-T6. The T6 instruction sheet includes instructions for a CanAm Spyder P&P kit for LED lights but I don't find it on their website. I've sent an email asking about it. I'll post more info when I get it.

 

[Possible]

I don't recall this ever happening to me in 15 years of riding with a modulator.

It's not common in the US, but pretty common overseas, for a flashed light to indicate someone to proceed.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

It's not common in the US, but pretty common overseas, for a flashed light to indicate someone to proceed.

That's one of reasons, I think, that modulators cycle so fast, to distinguish them from usual light flashing situations.

 

[Lew L]

It is. The low beam wire is the one connected to the bulb. When the lights are on high beam the low beam circuit is powered by a jumper on the left side headlight connector and the high beam circuit actuates the shutter. I'll have to look at my wiring diagram for my installation and see what needs to be done to power the bulb through the modulator in high beam mode but not in low beam.

Kisan shows a P&P modulator kit for the Yamaha Tenere which uses a shutter system and LED bulbs. In fact they show two kits, P115W-T4 and P115W-T6. The T6 instruction sheet includes instructions for a CanAm Spyder P&P kit for LED lights but I don't find it on their website. I've sent an email asking about it. I'll post more info when I get it.

I also e-mailed Kisan. Andy's reply was that the modulator in question was out of stock and not on the website . He said he would keep me posted. And I'll keep all of you up to date.

Lew L

 

[Steve W.]

For those that have LED headlights and a modulator, how well is the 'low' setting presented? I ask because the light I have in my Suzuki (TruckLite 27270C) has a built-in regulator. Anything less than about 10 volts and it simply does not light. In my thinking, that would lead to ON/OFF, rather than the legal BRIGHT/DIM. Even if it is reduced via pulse width modulation, it seems that it would lead to some serious flickering on the 'low' setting.

Next question, how well does it work on 'regular' LEDs like the kit from LaMonster?

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[IdahoMtnSpyder]

For those that have LED headlights and a modulator, how well is the 'low' setting presented? I ask because the light I have in my Suzuki (TruckLite 27270C) has a built-in regulator. Anything less than about 10 volts and it simply does not light. In my thinking, that would lead to ON/OFF, rather than the legal BRIGHT/DIM. Even if it is reduced via pulse width modulation, it seems that it would lead to some serious flickering on the 'low' setting.

Next question, how well does it work on 'regular' LEDs like the kit from LaMonster?

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I have the TricLED bulbs in my headlights. I took a video of the modulation and looked at it frame by frame to confirm the bulbs did not go completely dark. I don't know if the brightness is controlled by pulse width or not, but to just glance at the bulbs they look like they do go dark. The challenge is to simulate the gradual fading and gradual brightening that you get with an incandescent bulb. The Kisan does that pretty well.

 

[Tango]

We will be heading to Lamonster Garage in the spring to get some lighting added on. Being seen is the name of the game. :thumbup: Tom :spyder:

 

[jnt]

The fogs on my RTS are almost always on - mostly for the added visibility. I did the same on previous 3 Beemers, and it proved to work in more than one instance.
The only downside I can think of is bulb life from constant use. They also help on local/unlit streets at night.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Just got an email from Kisan.

We do make P115W-T4-CanAm for dual projector style headlight of the Spyder. It is a plug-in version with 5-pin matching plugs.

This product is not currently listed on the website because it's out-of-stock.

If you send me details of your LED replacement bulbs and contact info, I can look into it more and keep you updated.

Andy
[email protected]

 

[cruisinTX]

I use a Kisan modulator . . . .

IMO and experience modulators work because people's brains respond to changing conditions and tend to ignore static conditions. A modulator creates motion that brains are more likely to respond to. When people say, "I didn't see him," they very well actually may not have. Remember, we see with our brains. Eyes are just a data input source to the brain. Brains are biologically programmed to give lower priority to static images than moving images. A motorcyclist heading down the road is a somewhat static image to someone looking down the road. Also, a brain sees moving images frame by frame. Turning your head may cause a gap to appear between frames. A narrow image such as a pedestrian, bicyclist, or m/c rider may be narrow enough that it falls in between frames the brain is processing. In that case it is a true physiological fact the person did not see the ped or biker.

Some additional physiological reasons supporting your statements can be found in studies relating to "inattentional blindness". (https://www.apa.org/monitor/apr01/blindness) This whole seeing with your brain vs. seeing with your eyes is spot on and one reason I'm 100% opposed to any kind of distracting device in vehicles. Even with hands-free phones that you never look at, if your brain is focused on the conversation, you can still "not see" what's right in front of you.

 

[2dogs]

Distracted driving is just that, no matter how you try to paint it otherwise. Being seen on a motorcycle, or spyder starts at home. It's dubbed defensive driving, and 99% of us are alive today because we learned how to use it. Mostly we acquired it from those close calls we've all encountered. Can you imagine what those iron butt guys go through just trying to get into the top three positions?

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Some additional physiological reasons supporting your statements can be found in studies relating to "inattentional blindness". (https://www.apa.org/monitor/apr01/blindness)

Very interesting article. What's scary is just how much of what we 'see' is ignored by our brains. Inattentive driving is only one reason of why motorcyclists are not seen. My comments above are based on this article by an RAF pilot who is also a rider. https://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/raf-pilot-teach-cyclists/

Distracted driving is just that, no matter how you try to paint it otherwise.

The fact the human brain ignores part of the visual data it receives is not distracted attention. Distracted driving is when you focus on something other than the process of driving, like looking at your radio controls or talk on the phone.

Being seen on a motorcycle, or spyder starts at home. It's dubbed defensive driving, and 99% of us are alive today because we learned how to use it.

Absolutely the best thing we can do. But keep in mind, the same phenomenon that causes a car driver to not see a bicyclist or motorcyclist affects us as well. How many times have you ridden a road for the umpteenth time only to say, "I don't remember driving past that service station I was going to stop at," or, "Was there a speed limit sign back there?"

 

[2dogs]

Very interesting article. What's scary is just how much of what we 'see' is ignored by our brains. Inattentive driving is only one reason of why motorcyclists are not seen. My comments above are based on this article by an RAF pilot who is also a rider. https://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/raf-pilot-teach-cyclists/


The fact the human brain ignores part of the visual data it receives is not distracted attention. Distracted driving is when you focus on something other than the process of driving, like looking at your radio controls or talk on the phone.


Absolutely the best thing we can do. But keep in mind, the same phenomenon that causes a car driver to not see a bicyclist or motorcyclist affects us as well. How many times have you ridden a road for the umpteenth time only to say, "I don't remember driving past that service station I was going to stop at," or, "Was there a speed limit sign back there?"

I believe what you are getting at here is what's called "daydreaming." Along with all the other distractions daydreaming is just as serious and dangerous as the others.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I believe what you are getting at here is what's called "daydreaming." Along with all the other distractions daydreaming is just as serious and dangerous as the others.

It's worse than that. Daydreaming is thinking about other things other than the task at hand. We can daydream while we're riding or driving because of the automatic processing our brain does of translating what we see into the actions necessary to deal with it. This is discussed very well in a PBS documentary called, "Hacking Your Mind." https://www.pbs.org/show/hacking-your-mind/ This other issue deals with information that enters our brains but is ignored or discarded immediately and thus does not get translated into action.

 

[2dogs]

Years ago an insurance company conducted a study (I don't recall the name of the company) whereby they found that professional drivers had the ability to identify react and avoid obstacles and hazards without thinking about them and while thinking about something else, and often not remembering the defensive actions they'd taken. These professional drivers were racecar drivers, truck drivers, police, ambulance drivers, and the like. When debriefed after their participation and performance many simply responded with, it is just part of the job. I could guess that some long-distance commuters could develop the same skills and mindset.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Years ago an insurance company conducted a study (I don't recall the name of the company) whereby they found that professional drivers had the ability to identify react and avoid obstacles and hazards without thinking about them and while thinking about something else,

From what I remember from the documentary this would fall into the category of habit. Repeat something often enough and it becomes part of our autopilot brain process.

 

[MONK]

I've heard it called "muscle memory". I carry (like an American Express card, I never leave home without it). I've drawn enough (mostly training) that my pistol ends up in the exact same spot in front of me every time I present. I don't have to think about it, I just do it. But....if you don't use it, you lose it. If I stop training, at some point when I present, my pistol could end up anywhere with the wrong grip pointed at the wrong target, etc.

One of the things I've always been taught (and it works very well), as you're riding (or driving your cage), every time you see a potential issue (deer/dog on the side of the road, truck tire tread (i.e. alligator) in the road, car in front of you, as you're passing a car, even as you adjust yourself in your seat, think..........."what would I do". What would I do if that deer/dog ran out in the road? What would I do if that alligator was in my lane? (Is there room to swerve? Is someone on my bumper so I can't slam on the brakes?) What would I do if that car I'm passing starts to swerve in my lane? What would I do if I'm adjusting myself and my foot slips? Every scenario has multiple responses but if you can train your mind to quickly (without thinking) react, that split second you save not having to think of a response might be enough to avert tragedy. Another example, when I was driving a truck, if I saw someone at a cross road, I had my hand next to the air horn lanyard. If they started to move, I hit the air horn. (In a few of my trucks, I had train horns. THAT will wake someone up! ) Always know what you're going to do before the situation presents itself.

Watch for little things, too. You're about to pass a car. Are there kids in the back? Can you see the driver on his/her cell phone? Have you noticed the car hasn't stayed in the center if the lane? Or watch the cars wheels when you're passing them at an intersection. If the wheels are turning even a little bit (i.e. creep), it's not fully stopped and the driver may not have his/her foot on the brake. One errant sneeze and that car could come flying into the intersection.

My point is twofold. 1) Always prepare for the possibilities, no matter how remote they seem. 2) Look for the little things.

 

[2dogs]

My point is twofold. 1) Always prepare for the possibilities, no matter how remote they seem. 2) Look for the little things.[/QUOTE]

Dam good MONK. You've touched upon things that 90% of the folks out there are totally oblivious to.