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Looking for a Headlight modulator - any suggestions?
- Thread starter Baron14y
- Start date
opcorn:
RICZ
New member
I rode with headlight modulators for decades and they are very useful. I called them my light horn. I did not like that I had no control of when they were on or off, so i snipped off the photocell and spliced in a switch. Now their use was optional and I could use it at night to get left lane bandits to moved over. It worked like magic. If you are going to tell me that's illegal, I know that. Do I care? No!
ARtraveler
R.I.P. Dwayne
SShhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. And I wont tell. :bowdown:
I understand that the Kisan unit works with LEDs, but have not verified it. Would like to find out and install one on my Suzuki.
I have used modulators in the past on many bikes. Still have one on my Goldwing. If you have not ridden with one before, please learn how to use it COURTEOUSLY. It's not a "turn it on and forget it" device. Its main purpose is to attract attention to get you noticed, not to annoy other drivers. Yeah, some will get annoyed anyway, but the chance of that is reduced if you exercise a bit our courtesy.
Do not leave it on if you are following any one vehicle for an extended period of time. That "extended period" might be as short as half a minute, if conditions are right. This includes sitting behind someone at a traffic light. I turn mine off when approaching a 4-way stop sign. I don't want any cross-traffic to think I might be an emergency vehicle that might be asking for right-of-way through the intersection.
RICZ's observation that you have no control over it is wrong. You DO have control, it's called "the high-beam switch". When the photocell 'sees' enough light (daylight) and the beam selector is in the HIGH position, the modulator is ON. Go to LOW beam, it's OFF. Simple.
Not sure how the wiring would work, as the RT does not have a separate HIGH beam, just a raising of the shutter. It probably reads its signal from that, rather than power to a separate light.
And, as annoying as they might be to (some) other drivers, be assured that they ARE legal in all 50 states AND Canada, when they are installed properly. You will still get questioned about your "flashing" light. Sometimes by the general public, sometimes by the "men in blue". For that reason, I always carry a copy of the vehicle code that allows them. By the way, not only does it allow them under Federal law, it prohibits any state from prohibiting them. :thumbup:
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I have used modulators in the past on many bikes. Still have one on my Goldwing. If you have not ridden with one before, please learn how to use it COURTEOUSLY. It's not a "turn it on and forget it" device. Its main purpose is to attract attention to get you noticed, not to annoy other drivers. Yeah, some will get annoyed anyway, but the chance of that is reduced if you exercise a bit our courtesy.
Do not leave it on if you are following any one vehicle for an extended period of time. That "extended period" might be as short as half a minute, if conditions are right. This includes sitting behind someone at a traffic light. I turn mine off when approaching a 4-way stop sign. I don't want any cross-traffic to think I might be an emergency vehicle that might be asking for right-of-way through the intersection.
RICZ's observation that you have no control over it is wrong. You DO have control, it's called "the high-beam switch". When the photocell 'sees' enough light (daylight) and the beam selector is in the HIGH position, the modulator is ON. Go to LOW beam, it's OFF. Simple.
Not sure how the wiring would work, as the RT does not have a separate HIGH beam, just a raising of the shutter. It probably reads its signal from that, rather than power to a separate light.
And, as annoying as they might be to (some) other drivers, be assured that they ARE legal in all 50 states AND Canada, when they are installed properly. You will still get questioned about your "flashing" light. Sometimes by the general public, sometimes by the "men in blue". For that reason, I always carry a copy of the vehicle code that allows them. By the way, not only does it allow them under Federal law, it prohibits any state from prohibiting them. :thumbup:
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RICZ
New member
I had one of Kisan's original designs that did not operate that way and I transferred it from one bike to the next.
The one you describe, newer version, is much more "polite."
SpyderConvert
Member
I also have a '15 RTL and since I had used Kisan's Pathblazer before, as soon as I saw that there was one available for the Spyders with LED headlights, I ordered one. When it arrived, I did the tupperware removal and installed it. After buttoning everything back up, I started the Spyder and backed it out of the garage, hit the high beam switch and it went from high beam to low beam in milliseconds. I contacted Kisan and they agreed to send me a replacement and I did get my money back. Again, the second unit did not work either! Kisan thought that it was the fault of the onboard computer, but, I believe that the computer has nothing to do with the operation of the headlights. I will give it a few more months and probably try it again, but it ain't the easiest install! And, I'm left with a hole drilled in the tupperware that was used for the daylight sensor (luckily, my Spyder's black, so electrical tape covers it up nicely).
IdahoMtnSpyder
Active member
Do you know if anyone has successfully used the Can Am P&P modulator and had it work correctly?
I have an idea of what they did wrong. I believe they run the shutter power through the modulator instead of, or in addition to, the light bulb power. When you cut power to the shutter it drops to low beam position. When I have time I may redo my modulator to work on high beam only. Right now it works on both high and low beam since there's only one power feed to the bulb. I installed it before Kisan had the P&P version so I made my own wiring harness for it.
Would you be willing to send me the modulator so I can figure out what Kisan did and maybe correct it? If so, PM me so I can send you my address.
SpyderConvert
Member
I returned both units and got a refund. The gentleman at Kisan said that there was a local dealer there that had installed one successfully in a '15 Spyder, but neither of mine worked.
pidjones
New member
Since the '20-'21 RTs use different LED arrangement without the shutters, I wonder if the Kisan unit would work on it? I had the Signal Dynamics modulator on my '06 GL1800 and it never failed. The only addition I would add us an indicator that it is engaged. SDs won't work on LEDs, I understand.
I have a 2021 RT, and the dealer where I bought the Spyder said that he was unaware of any modulator that would work with the LED's on this bike. If the Kisan unit actually works on the new Spyders, what model would I order and from where to then bring it to my dealer to install? Thanks.
IdahoMtnSpyder
Active member
The Kisan LED modulator will work with any LED headlight, but I don't know what the harness configuration would be for the 2021. If you're handy with electrical wiring get the universal unit and the service manual for the 2021 and create your own harness.
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