more visibility

[Bill Conquest]

I've just put a beacon 2 led tailight asssembly on my ride & it is pretty good, now considering one of those pulsating headlights i've seen lately. They are slightly obnoxious but isn't that the idea? I'm worried about daytime visibility - how hard are they to install?
Thanks, Bill

[drewboid]

How hard they are to install depends upon which ones you buy. Many are plug and play - they come with the right sockets to fit with the existing harness.

The cheap models from JC Whitney require cutting into the harness and wiring in a by-pass switch for when you don't want them modulating. (The cheap ones also do not have the sensor that is required by US law to turn off the modulation when there are reduced light levels.)

I have modulators on all my bikes except the /2 (6 volt system!) and recommend them. However, there have been comments that some cage drivers think you are flashing your lights to tell them to go ahead.  I don't understand how they could think that when the lights are continuously modulating at 240 time per minute but who knows what drivers will do?

Best of luck.

[Bill Conquest]

Thanks, Drew - Think i'll get the good one - which do you recommend?
Bill

[drewboid]

I can't recommend. I'm an electrical engineer so I managed to work around the legal problems with the cheap JC Whitney ones.  Sorry.

[montmil]

I can't recommend. I'm an electrical engineer so I managed to work around the legal problems with the cheap JC Whitney ones.  Sorry.

Mind sharing a schematic?   Monte

[suecanada]

Kisan is good and I got the modulator from Comagination. Both are simple plug and play. I did have a left turning lane red truck move across my lane at the very last second after sitting for sometime as still as a mouse. Why he decided to go I'll never know but I had no time to even say one syllable...like $%@^!! It was in downtown Jackson WY. in 2007. I swerved and my instincts worked as I never took my eyes off this guy so I caught the move as early as possible. I hadn't even had my morning coffee yet!!
Maybe it was the modulator; maybe not. Helen TwoWheels was run off the road by an 18 wheeler and he said he thought she was flashing with the modulator. I still like them though. If you contemplate putting in an HID bulb though the modulator will have to go I've been told. I have an HID bulb for the H4 headlight from FutureVision in Winnipeg which uses only 35 watts.

You can really see the modulater bikes. Maybe turn it off when you think it might be not so good with lefthand turners??

[Bill Conquest]

Thanks,Sue -sure good to know that your instincts are so sharp before that first cup of joe..we have had a rash of accidents here lately that has made me a bit nervous, and the left turning auto accounts for a good many of them, so I am on a campaign to become super visible, especially during the day. I've noticed the bikes with the modulating headlights are hard to miss during the day ,here ,which can be bright.. gotta' watch out for those myopic surfers rushing to the beach!
Aloha, Bill

[Semper Gumby]

My 1980 has a splice in modulator that came with it from the previous owner.  I run it all the time and am wondering how to install on my positive groound BSA's.  Perhaps JC Whitney is in the future for the BSA. 8-)