The Invisible Motorcycle

[MiWinger51]

wireguy51 » Sun Aug 27, 2017 2:51 pm


I read about a modulator made by Kriss Industries in the GL1800 riders forum. It is a plug and play that goes under your seat and attaches to a relay. It is pricey but I believe that most time you get what you pay for. Here is a link.
http://www.kriss.com/gl1800mod.php

Al, I will keep an eye on this thread to see what you do and how it works!

After getting home from our ride, I ordered the headlight modulator and rear trunk bar that I showed you. The old lady who tried to kill me in Ann Arbor convinced me. I swear how can you pull into a lane with a 800 lb motorcycle, a 280 lb rider in hi vis jacket and helmet with horn blowing and be so damned unaware.

[FM-USA]

After getting home from our ride, I ordered the headlight modulator and rear trunk bar that I showed you. The old lady who tried to kill me in Ann Arbor convinced me. I swear how can you pull into a lane with a 800 lb motorcycle, a 280 lb rider in hi vis jacket and helmet with horn blowing and be so damned unaware.

HAD THAT HAPPEN a few times.
I swear, "they know you're there, they just don't care".
I'm behind a vehicle in the left lane, we're slowly passing a car in the right lane. One lady pulls up behind us then moves to the right lane. She's now pacing us and signals to move into the space were in. It took a good 10 seconds of horn blast for her to look left to see us. On purpose? Maybe, we kept going.

[Corkster52]

by wireguy51 » Thu Aug 31, 2017 7:57 am

After getting home from our ride, I ordered the headlight modulator and rear trunk bar that I showed you.

Get that bad boy installed before the event later this month! I'll check it out then and see what I need to do to my bike.

[dekare]

I backed out of my driveway with a mini-van no less, so lots of visibility. I was quite surprised and horrified that there she sat, on her bike patiently waiting for me to get out of the way. As it turned out I have lots of trees in the neighborhood and looking down the street black is a predominate color. The black bike and black clothing blended into the surrounding colors. I needed to be more cautious, but she needed to do her part in wanting to be seen also.

Incidentally, the most noticed bikes on the roads I feel are the yellow Gold Wings. If I didn't already wear Hi-Viz, I'd have one.

[WingAdmin]

I backed out of my driveway with a mini-van no less, so lots of visibility. I was quite surprised and horrified that there she sat, on her bike patiently waiting for me to get out of the way. As it turned out I have lots of trees in the neighborhood and looking down the street black is a predominate color. The black bike and black clothing blended into the surrounding colors. I needed to be more cautious, but she needed to do her part in wanting to be seen also.

Incidentally, the most noticed bikes on the roads I feel are the yellow Gold Wings. If I didn't already wear Hi-Viz, I'd have one.

I think you're right about the yellow GL1800's. I read a study a while back where they presented a test group of people different scenarios with different colored motorcycles, to try to determine if one color of bike was less noticed than others. The result was not what you think. The most visible color was white. The least visible color was RED.

[FM-USA]

Hummm, pondering....
White and black are from the OLD DAYS in squad car colors. Probably we're still TUNED to look for them?
Vehicles slow down when seeing motorcycle riders wearing all white helmets.

Thinking on background colors, it's hard to imagine yellow not being the most outstanding color, but possible.

RED vehicles and RED brake lights = Are accident makers.
. . . . . . . OPEN PICTURE TO SEE

[FM-USA]

I'm not trying to prove anyone wrong, just posting a pix to compare.
.

.

.
I KNOW... i know, should be more colors.

.

[C-dub]

While I wanted the white one for this very reason, the financial adviser said she like the black one that was still new, but one year older at a substantial discount because of that.

[dtrider]

On the visibility standpoint, I wear a yellow HiVis jacket. My bike is black/silver. In general I haven't really had any issues with not being seen. I suspect though that between the jacket and the coloring on the bike, people think I'm a motorcycle cop so they tend to be more aware of me.

I do have a headlight modulator currently connected to the low beams. I have it hooked up to a switch though so that I can disable it when I'm riding around town. I know they can be annoying to other drivers and as I said I haven't had any issues with being seen in traffic. I will turn it on when I'm out on the open road though or if I'm leading a group ride. I do think it helps with the visibility in those situations.
/dwight

[WingAdmin]

On the visibility standpoint, I wear a yellow HiVis jacket. My bike is black/silver. In general I haven't really had any issues with not being seen. I suspect though that between the jacket and the coloring on the bike, people think I'm a motorcycle cop so they tend to be more aware of me.

I do have a headlight modulator currently connected to the low beams. I have it hooked up to a switch though so that I can disable it when I'm riding around town. I know they can be annoying to other drivers and as I said I haven't had any issues with being seen in traffic. I will turn it on when I'm out on the open road though or if I'm leading a group ride. I do think it helps with the visibility in those situations.
/dwight

Riding around town is when you need a headlight modulator the MOST! That's when people are most likely to pull out in front of you, at intersections, and so on. It's far less useful out on the open road, where there isn't much traffic.

[dtrider]

Riding around town is when you need a headlight modulator the MOST! That's when people are most likely to pull out in front of you, at intersections, and so on. It's far less useful out on the open road, where there isn't much traffic.

I hear what you are saying and I don't really disagree, but I don't fully agree either. Around town I'm part of the rest of the traffic flow and other people are already looking for traffic. Again, maybe it's because I kind of sort of resemble a motorcycle cop, but I've never had a problem with being seen in town.

Out on the open road though is another matter. Because there isn't much traffic I've found that people don't expect me to be there so they aren't looking. That's where the modulator does come in handy to catch their attention. Without the modulator I've had them pull out. With the modulator I've seen them start to pull out, then stop while I'm still quite a ways away.

It probably wouldn't hurt to use the modulator in town (other than annoying other drivers, but who cares), but it definitely helps to use it outside of town.
/dwight

[FM-USA]

31 days ago I installed a pair of HIGH WATTS LED headlights on my 1500.
In the days before the install, I'd get 1 to half dozen "I didn't see you" drivers.
So this past 31 days there have been ZERO who didn't see me.

I can EASILY go into a rant on this and it be ALL for the good.. .. .. naw. Those of you who have LED lights know what I'm talk'n about.

They say, LOUD PIPES SAVES LIVES?
So to BRIGHT LEDS LIGHTS SAVES LIVES.

Mellencamp could rewrite the lyrics,... "He kids, I'm not invisible anymore".

[pixel288]

FM-USA: what kind of lights did you get?

[FM-USA]

FM-USA: what kind of lights did you get?

My headlights High Beam plate is broke loose? Can't be adjusted and is shooting too high.
I have a replacement.
_______________________________________________________________________

Here's a few photos I took this morning before sunrise. Pix below, bulbs installed are the 600W.
Lights look great here due to buildings, but 'on the road' there's a little less far reaching light.

MY OPINION,..
Halogens vs LEDS. The Leds should be about 200 watts for Low beam, add 150 watts for high beam.
300 watts all Leds on. This is comparing to the 55/65 halogens that were installed. Halo's had a more definitive beam spread.

The bulbs base can be turned 180*. Its pattern is that of an oval spotlight. On high beam there's little difference.
MIGHT work in the replacement H-Light with adjustments... just not today.
POWER DRAW. 55/65 Halogens drop my Amp meter 1/2 low to 1 volt high, the Leds negligible.
.

HOPE THIS HELPS
STAY TUNED...
I'll be installing LEDS in the corner lights. Should make a YUGE difference.

[pixel288]

Thanks loads! That gives me some food for thought.
Phil

[FM-USA]

Thanks loads! That gives me some food for thought.
Phil

OOOOH, you're Canyahdian.
I understand that's a problem with your vehicle inspectors and LED lights.
Check with Dusty Boots, I think he's UP on circumventing your (SQUEAKY) rules.

[Dark Angel]

Run your brights during the day, recommended here by secretary of state in Illinois. Then aim them high. Everyone will see you, it is more blinding than the sun. My wife says she can see me over a mile away. I was skeptical until one morning going to work and trying to figure out what was on fire, or was there a meteor heading my way. It was another 2nd gen 1800 with brights on. I get flashed a lot during the day and always think, yep they see me.

[Corkster52]

Run your brights during the day, recommended here by secretary of state in Illinois. Then aim them high. Everyone will see you, it is more blinding than the sun.

Very interesting work around

[FM-USA]

Run your brights during the day, recommended here by secretary of state in Illinois. Then aim them high. Everyone will see you, it is more blinding than the sun.

Very interesting work around

Only problem is if you might get a Barney Fife.
"Failure to dim lights to approaching vehicles" is a moving violation.
Sing it Johnny... "Chances are you'll wear a silly grin, when you walk into the courtroom".

[Corkster52]

.
Sing it Johnny... "Chances are you'll wear a silly grin, when you walk into the courtroom".

Too friggin funny!

[Kevin Ball]

I honestly think the singular most valuable thing you can do is put a headlight modulator on your bike. I haven't put one on mine...yet. But every time I see a bike with one, it GRABS my attention.

Sadly here in the UK headlight modulators are illegal, reserved for the emergency services only

[AZgl1800]

I honestly think the singular most valuable thing you can do is put a headlight modulator on your bike. I haven't put one on mine...yet. But every time I see a bike with one, it GRABS my attention.

Sadly here in the UK headlight modulators are illegal, reserved for the emergency services only

I rode yesterday with Redbud, "Jim" for about 300 miles.
He has a headlight modulator on his bike, and I can tell you that when he was at an intersection waiting for traffic to stop, his headlight got the attention of oncoming drivers. they would move over to the left a bit to give him room.