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TECHNICAL MOTOBRICK WRENCHING In Remembrance of Inge K. => The Motobrick Workshop => Topic started by: flutemanjohn on December 31, 2014, 03:52:15 PM
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Anyone have experience or opinions regarding the path blazer headlight modulator? Flutemanjohn
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greetings flutemanjohn...
look... we all whent through this when we were motobrick curious... then the internet ramped it up... intoxicated us with unnecessary and useless stuff... you keep posting up and soon you will be a proficient motobricker...
now... headlight modulators...
approaching traffic from the front and the side streets will turn in front of you because they think you are giving them the courteous headlight flash to go ahead and turn in front of you...
they caint figger out your speed and where you are going with a steady headlight... throw a flashing headlight into the mix... t bone... bam... coroner or medevac...
anybody who runs a headlight modulator should would be considerate to their kin and have their affairs in order...
this is conspicuity (http://www.motobrick.com/index.php?topic=330.0)... everything else is nonsense...
j o
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Drunks might think it's a landing beacon and aim for it. Not a big fan of headlight modulators, conspicuousness isn't bad but it gives a false sense of security.
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rodger that chaso...
i hit a few landing beacons along the way... little kings cream ale (http://www.littlekingsbeer.com/main.html)... man i liked that stuff... had to be ice cold...
j o
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Thanks, you guys are a real help. I know how many times I've missed recognizing bikes when I was driving a car and I want to be the most visible bike on the road. One thing that always caught my attention was a modulating headlight maybe because they are so unusual. I'm going to go with your advice Johnny and get the lights you recommend. I'm a little nervous about breaking into the wiring but I should be Ok. Flutemanjohn
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The modulator may grab the cager's attention but it doesn't offer any reference points against the visually-noisy background to gauge distance or approach speed accurately. This is called motion camouflage. Driving lights form a visual triangle that eliminates this motion camouflage effect. They are vastly superior to modulators.
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rodger that rbm...
and in a sea of white light... i would go with orange or amber lights to break up some of that motion camouflage effect...
catz raising yellow h4 bulbs... (https://www.google.com/search?q=yellow+catz+h4+bulb&rlz=1C2TSNP_enUS474US474&biw=1242&bih=577&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=kGWlVK7RLMaxPLX6gZgB&ved=0CDEQsAQ#tbm=isch&q=raising+yellow+catz+h4&imgdii=_)
j o
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Johnny took me back to the 70's, 2 for her and 6 for me, only the first couple had to be cold :falldown:
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I ordered the lights last night. I'm going with the headlight modulator as well. My goal is to be the most conspicuous bike on the road. I'm thinking of some kind of first responders siren as well to warn people pulling out our local - often dirt - roads onto the pavement. I know I can't eliminate fate but I hate the feeling of approaching a car waiting to pull out and not being sure if they see me or not. I want to make Damn sure they know I'm coming. Flutemanjohn
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getts your siren here... (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Federal-Sign-Signal-Corporation-Model-A-Tornado-Air-Raid-Siren-/261730353213?pt=BI_Security_Fire_Protection&hash=item3cf058403d)
accept no imitations... (http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTQ2OFgxMTAx/z/Q5MAAOSw1XdUXAZG/$_57.JPG)
j o
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over kill? I want them to know I'm coming. I don't want them to jump out of their car and run. Flutemanjohn
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15 amps, boy I bet that would do the job but the motorcycle operator my become deaf. Johnny where do you find these things? You are amazing!
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san antonio tx... aints you lone stars gotts tornado sirens down there..
j o
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Headlight modulators, aux lights, and high viz gear are no substitute for riding appropriately in populated areas. IME simply riding at the speed limit (or whatever speed is required for the situation), and altering my lane position seems to work fine.
In order for the above devices to work the cagers have to actually be paying attention to traffic not their phone, GPS, passenger, DVD player, etc. Driving seems to be a secondary consideration for many of 'em these days so you have to pay attention for them if you want to live.
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I no I can't eliminate risk. I just want to do what I can to bend the odds in my favor.
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Being that I have a bike previously owned by Drake I have the Catz Xlo lights and they're awesome
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I ordered the cats set up. I'm upgrading the tail lights and maybe adding the additional brake lights.
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It's entirely likely that the situation here is completely different to there, but hey - might as well weigh in...
First off, a personal observation. I get fewer 'moments' (i.e. people pulling out of side roads, people cutting in on me and the like) on the bike than when I'm driving either of my land rovers.
A few details... I have no extra lighting to the front, the sides or the rear on my K, I don't even have the fork reflectors fitted at the moment. It's a black bike and my bike clothes are black - except my helmets, which are silver.
Unless it's dark, I have the lights turned off (UK spec has a light switch that allows you to have no lights on at all). There are so many situations in daylight when having the headlight on makes you almost invisible that to my mind adding more and more lights would only make it worse.
Now, I get what you are saying about wanting to be conspicuous - and because the stock lights leave something to be desired I am considering a bit of an upgrade here and there - but surely the point is reached sooner or later that you are so worried about "I might not get seen" that you just give up on the whole thing?
Notice that I'm not saying you shouldn't add things because that's entirely up to you, just pointing out that it might not make much difference in the end...
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a flashing blue light on your helmet would getts a second look from a percentage of distracted drivers...
(http://s5.thisnext.com/media/largest_dimension/CA1E615F.jpg)
j o
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Where do I get one? Flutemanjohn
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Thanks PDG, I think I'm just having a little fun spending money on my new toy and tinkering with my bike. And I suppose a little additional conspicuously can't hurt. Flutemanjohn
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Got the Katz system installed and working. I hooked up the on off switch as per Johnny's suggestion and I m glad I did. Those things draw some real juice. This way I can switch them off when I have open road and save on gas. Waiting for the original injectors to come back from Mr injector so I can switch out the upgrade ones and see if I get my 40mpg back. There are some long stretches of road in the south west and 130 or so miles on a tank isn't very far. This afternoon I'm going to take a ride to Keys Point in the JT park - a nice winding two lane road. Flutemanjohn
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Johnny is mistaken ( fucked up ) as usual. Modulators work and are mo better with the amber back up. Just don't run the modulater in the the slow flash, run it so it blinks fast. No one will mistake it for some sort of signal. AYFKM
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I took mine off after a run in with a guy in a pick'm up truck who thought I was giving him the bizness as I followed him for more than a few miles of twisty no pass'n zone in the Adirondacks.
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I put a pair of these guys on both of my bricks. Like looking at an arc welder in the daytime and they double the light output of my hi beam at night.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-10W-CREE-LED-Work-Light-Spot-offroad-Driving-fog-Lamp-Motorcycle-boat-4X4-ATV-/121557341141?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c4d61d3d5
The current is low enough that I run them through my regular light switch for high beam(I have Eastern Beaver Relays for the headlight).
Thinking of getting a chunk of amber stage light gel for them.
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greetings professional driver...
thats the problem... you dont drive a motobrick... you ride a motobrick...
j o
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I have a pair of the catz fog lights--a step down from the XLO--and they are a yellowish tint, 50w I think. I have cars flash their headlights at me occasionally in daytime, cause apparently they are bright....too effn...bad! Maybe now they can see me...worth every penny, great mod from Johnny.
I also rigged up runnin light out of my turn signals, and put a orange LED above the headlight...had two close calls, after the mods, it hasn't happened again...(looking for wood...knock!)