Signal Dynamics Modulator Gotcha

[user11235813]

Just installed the signal dynamics modulator which I am very pleased with due to the solid construction, however there was a nasty gotcha due to their over engineering!

The connector that plugs into the headlamp instead of the original connector is too big, it actually impinges on the back of the headlamp. This wasted about 2 hours of my time because I couldn't tell what was causing the case not to be able to be closed as there is so much wiring in there it could have been anything. The unit is well made with much thicker wiring than the original wiring and also because it is over engineered to be able to take a 130W bulb the connector is plastic covered ceramic, this plus the extra thick wiring is what causes it to impinge upon the back and not fit.

The solution was to purchase a new connector from local parts shop with wires that come in from the side instead of out the back. Which meant I had to cut the ceramic plug off and solder a narrower connector. Then the whole mess of wiring slipped on with no problem in about 5 minutes.

Still there's a lot of wiring in there so you'll also need to remove the plastic tubing that covers the wires. I also cut off the green wire because I don't really need it wired into my horn button so that my lights flash if I use the horn because that just seems silly to me.

I've already noticed a big difference, I've even had roadside workers signal me that there's something wrong with my headlights! which made me happy because I thought to myself, yes that's the whole point, people notice. I have noticed that cars particularly in roundabouts tend to pull out in front of me less. My theory is that the modulating beam, simply confuses people for a few seconds, it has this poppo type of feel to it and by the time they work out that's it's not poppo the job is done.

Anyway so beware of this gotcha if you get on of these.

Below is a shot of the original ceramic connector next to the original gs connector. Here is a link to the type of connector I used to replace the ceramic one http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/online-store/products/SCA-Sealed-Beam-Connector-H4.aspx?pid=325160#Recommendations

[fetor56]

Sorry to say i would be amazed if this was legal in Oz.

[user11235813]

Be amazed, be very amazed. Because they are legal in every State and Territory in Australia, below is the NSW legislation for example.

NSW Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 1998
Schedule 4 Vehicle standards
Division 2 Headlights

85 Headlights to be fitted to vehicles

(1) A motor vehicle must be fitted with:
(a) 1 low-beam headlight if it is a moped, motor bike, or motor trike with 1 front wheel, or
(b) a pair of low-beam headlights if it has 4 or more wheels or is a motor trike, except a moped, with 2 front wheels.
(2) If a motor vehicle built after 1934 can travel at over 60 kilometres an hour:
(a) each low-beam headlight mentioned in subclause (1) must be able to work in the high-beam position, or
(b) the vehicle must be fitted with:
(i) 1 headlight that can work in the high-beam position if the vehicle is required to have 1 low-beam headlight, or
(ii) a pair of headlights that can work in the high-beam position.
(3) A motor bike may be equipped with a headlight modulation system that:
(a) varies the brightness of its high-beam headlight or low-beam headlight, but not both, at a rate of at least 200 and at most 280 flashes a minute, and
(b) is designed to operate only in the daylight.
(4) Additional headlights may be fitted to a motor bike or motor trike, or a motor vehicle with 4 or more wheels that was built before 1970.
(5) Additional pairs of headlights may be fitted to a motor vehicle with 4 or more wheels that was built after 1969.
(6) Despite any requirement of the third edition ADR, an emergency services vehicle may be fitted with headlights or additional headlights that are capable of flashing if:
(a) the headlights flash only when on low beam, and
(b) the headlights are wired to operate in conjunction with any flashing or rotating lights fitted to the vehicle as permitted by clause 123 (4).

[fetor56]

Since it can be mistaken for any emergency vehicle the cops here in SA would not let it last 5 mins.....i'm interested to see NSW's reaction.
BTW....i have NEVER seen a private vehicle with a modulator on the road in ANY state.......good luck. 

[user11235813]

1. Nope, it's nothing like an emergency vehicle which have separated lights that alternate, which is why the regulations stipulate that only the hi or low beam can modulate but not both. It doesn't blink, it doesn't flash, the beam never is off, it modulates from full brightness to about 20% three times per second. It only operates in bright daylight, it turns off automatically even in cloudy weather. It operates when you need it most.

2. The police in South Australia, like the rest of Australia, are guided by the law, they don't interpret the law that is for judges, they apply the law. And the law in South Australia says...

A headlight modulation system that varies the brightness of the headlamp between 200 and 280 times per minute may also be fitted provided that it is designed so it can only operate during daylight hours.

https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/transport-travel-and-motoring/motoring/motorcycling/motorcycles/motorcycles-and-sidecar-requirements#title19

It only applies to motorcycles, and there's a good reason that it is legal in most if not all States in the US and Australia, and that reason is because it works. If you want to stay alive on a motorcycle your first line of defence is yourself. I was taught to ride as if cars are deliberately trying to kill you. OK that's a bit of an oversimplification but you get the point. The next most important thing is To Bee Seen. Seeing and registering though are two different things. Cars pulling out often say they did not see a motorcycle, (SMIDSY), that doesn't mean they didn't look, it means they looked right at you and your image would have appeared on their retina but their brain simply made you vanish because they are geared to looking for cars.

An always on headlight, is an improvement, but it soon fades away. Something that changes, always switches on your attention. Which is why danger lights anywhere, from railway crossings to nuclear power plants, have lights that flash. You will never, ever get used to a flashing light.

Modulators give teeth to your headlight. Bicycle riders know this and I've seen bicycle riders from a distance of 500 metres using a tiny flashing LED. It works. One day you'll see one and then you'll understand. But there's really nothing to argue about.

I don't understand why folks try adn come up with imaginary reasons not to use one. The only valid reason is that you choose not to, either because you don't care, don't know or can't afford it. There is no other reason.

I will be next getting the Double Eagle from Kriss.com because the Signal Dynamics monstrosity will not fit in the 5 1/4" headlight on your S40.

[fetor56]

It's not an imaginary reason....it's a statement of fact "i have NEVER seen a private vehicle with a modulator on the road in ANY state"
I use the Signal Dynamics BackOff XP and that's illegal but it doesn't stop me from using it.
Like i said "good luck"......let us know how it goes.

[user11235813]

I've only seen it rarely maybe two or three times. By imaginary reason I meant things like 'it will be mistaken for emergency vehicle', or others I've seen is that cars will think you are flashing them to pull out, or people saying that they saw a bike facing them at an intersection and they couldn't tell if it was their blinker and didn't know if they were turning. Yes I've seen all these and they are fairy stories.

Funnily enough I rejected a brake light flasher because I prefer to flash it manually with the brake pedal or brake lever. I always glance in the mirror before applying my brakes and if someone is anywhere near me I flash my brake light before braking. If I relied on a brake light flasher then I'd actually be braking when it started to flash which is not what I want to do. I take being rear ended by a car pretty seriously. I like to know when my brake light is flashing. If a car is following too closely I'll give a triple flash, twice. If that doesn't work, I'll do it again, and if that doesn't work I'll slow down because that's all I have left. By manually flashing you can send a more human signal with precise timing.

But seriously, a modulating headlight makes a big difference and if you ever saw one on the road and I admit they are pretty rare, then you'd immediately see how much more visible you are. It's for daytime use only. A stationery headlight unless it is adjusted improperly to shine in your eyes, is pretty much as good as having no light at all on a bright sunny day, especially the sort of high contrast lighting in Australia.

I put a givi windscreen on yesterday so I took the opportunity to take some shots of how packed out the signal dynamics modulator is. They give you a double sides adhesive tab to use to stick the electronic brain to the housing, yeah, good luck with that. There's so much wiring in there that you'd never suspect that it's the ceramic connector that is causing the problems.

You can see where I've soldered the new slim connector on, the green electrical tape is where I forgot to put the heatshrink on first, doh!

[Janx101]

Yay for legislators and lawmakers to have updated the rules to allow this!

Even if a police officer pinged you for it because they were unaware of the rule.. then it's an instant overturn of the fine in court (or talk to the station commander and ask him to look it up!) .. the police on the road  don't always know every little item in the rulebook!  ... heck if it wasn't for this thread then we wouldn't know either!

..  and Yay for you. .. for sticking to your project, completing it, giving us user feedback AND finding out what the current rules are!

... I'm also thinking this would be a heaps easier install on an F bike!

[fetor56]

Yay for legislators and lawmakers to have updated the rules to allow this!

Even if a police officer pinged you for it because they were unaware of the rule.. then it's an instant overturn of the fine in court (or talk to the station commander and ask him to look it up!) .. the police on the road  don't always know every little item in the rulebook!  ... heck if it wasn't for this thread then we wouldn't know either!

..  and Yay for you. .. for sticking to your project, completing it, giving us user feedback AND finding out what the current rules are!

... I'm also thinking this would be a heaps easier install on an F bike!

Currently i'm using a seperate driving light on my E model and that works great for posatively being seen,but i LIKE the idea of a fully integrated single unit....visibility +.
If the cops don't hassle 11235813 i'll be installing one on my 2016 MT-09.

[user11235813]

@Fetor, I've been using them for about a month without any problems from poppo, I think they are aware of this law because no one wants to see riders killed so they are well aware of the purpose of these things. It is my belief that most riders automatically assume they are illegal. Rather than being aggressive, they actually give out the message 'hey, please don't kill me'. Getting attention by weaving the headlight, doesn't have the same effect because it's directed at a particular motorist which they can interpret as aggressive, but if they are always on it's impersonal.

I checked out Kisantech, and Kriss double eagle. But settled on the Signal Dynamics because of how they work. Which is really well, they will modulate whatever beam you turn on. And if you flip to the opposite beam and back within a second it turns off, same move will turn them on again. They turn off when it starts to get dark which includes tunnels of course. You can see some videos of how it looks on you tube, but I can assure you as good as they look it's even better in real life. You just forget they are there because by twilight they are off. Signal Dynamics have excellent customer support unlike co magination which didn't even answer. hitt-n-miss on ebay were the cheapest. But you will have to solder a new plug on for the naked bike anyway. The Kriss.com modules are dearer and smaller and will fit in 5 1/2" lamp housings. I'll get one for the S40 in a month and report back on the difference.

[ShowBizWolf]

This thread is neat, I have enjoyed reading.

You brought up some excellent points user, about how people "don't see" bikes and why... and how something that's always changing or unpredictable can certainly help to be seen... and catch people's attention... like snapping them out of their "auto pilot" feeling of driving!!

[fetor56]

I'll be ordering the Signal Dynamics for my MT09...there's enough space behind the headlight.
It seems the best for me and since I've already got BackOff XP i know quality and reliability are great.
I'll post thoughts after use.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/262525283064?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[fetor56]

Cos really bright bulbs seem to have a short life span I've been looking into LED's in conjunction with a modulator.As yet I've received no definitive + answer if the two will work together(especially on default low beam)
Awaiting more emails but Signal Dynamics said "We are currently developing a headlight module that WILL be compatible with LEDs. However, that item is still in development. I am taking down email addresses of people who are interested and will be sending out more information as it becomes available. If you like, I can add you to this list."
Proposed LED:
http://www.cyclopsadventuresports.com/3800-Lumen-H4-LED-Headlight-bulb-_p_83.html

Any thoughts as i think LED's and a modulator would be a ripping combination?

[fetor56]

I've ordered the bulb and modulator and as far as I'm aware this is the only modulator that will work with a LED bulb.....default lo-beam(or Hi-beam)
https://kisantech.com/mag/pathblazer/p115w-h3.html
http://www.cyclopsadventuresports.com/3800-Lumen-H4-LED-Headlight-bulb-_p_83.html

PS....sorry user11235813 if i seem to have hijacked your thread....I'll start my own if this works out. 

[user11235813]

Kriss.com also make an LED friendly rig I think? I'll be using them for the 5" light on our S40

I've ordered the bulb and modulator and as far as I'm aware this is the only modulator that will work with a LED bulb.....default lo-beam(or Hi-beam)
https://kisantech.com/mag/pathblazer/p115w-h3.html
http://www.cyclopsadventuresports.com/3800-Lumen-H4-LED-Headlight-bulb-_p_83.html

PS....sorry user11235813 if i seem to have hijacked your thread....I'll start my own if this works out. 

[peteGS]

Interesting topic!! I never thought anything like this was legal either... but a damn good idea.

I tend to change sides in my lane quite often as a way of trying to get the cagers who are trying to kill me to see me.

I followed a Tuono the other day that seemed to have some sort of modulator for his brake light, flashed three times quickly when he put his brake on then went on solid every time. I thought that was a pretty good idea too, doubt it's legal though.

I need to look into this stuff for Qld!

[Endopotential]

I had installed this on my Yamaha R3.

Definitely got a lot of attention.  Some of it from annoyed drivers.  But I figure better to have them annoyed and be seen, than not at all.

Caution though - I think that constant blinking puts the light filament through a lot of off/on cycles.  It blew my bulb within a couple months, and I ultimately got rid of it.

[W201028]

Here in the great state of Pennsylvania, I see alot of modulation, both headlight and tail; I myself have an LED tail with a strobe modulator.

I bought the setup after I almost got rear ended by a pickup; had to wait about a month for the taillight, bought it from some german store on ebay, since I couldnt find any other LED tail for the GS. Anyway, I havnt come close to a crash from behind since, I like to think the mod helps.

We PA bikers owe alot to Harley Davidson I think. No other surrounding state lets bikers ride with no helmet, no turn signals, one mirror, front or rear modulation, LED or underglow wherever you want it, and the list goes on.

In fact, motorcycle freedom might be the only good thing about PA.

[ShowBizWolf]

Holy crap w201028 I live in PA too and I had no idea there were so many things we were allowed to do!! I honestly thought that people did stuff (underglow, no signals, etc) and just never got harassed about it.

About 10 years ago my ex was pulled over for having some kind of fancy LED brake light on his Katana... I'm trying to remember back what it actually did... I think the LED lights kinda circled around and flashed and then stayed solid when he would hit the brake? Anywho, I'm pretty sure he got a fine... maybe not... but I know for a fact he removed the light. I can't imagine he would have removed it if he really didn't have to (I remember he was pretty upset about it)... surely he would have explained it to his mom who is a police officer and she would have told him if it was OK to have or not. Maybe the laws have changed since then tho, as I said it was like 10 years ago....

That being said, it would be super awesome if you are totally correct!!! Because I think I'd enjoy doing something with my lights to increase visibility! And I know my mom would be allllllll for that hehe... she wants my turn signals to be as big as footballs LOL 

[W201028]

Checkout the state laws regarding lighting on bikes, its pretty lenient.

When I first starting riding my two stroke KTM on the street, I was debating taking the turn signals off, since I was sure I would loose one or two riding in the woods anyway. I talked to my brother in law, a mechanic and licensed for bike inspection about it. He told me most of the guys who have no turn signals get pulled over as soon as they miss a hand signal, but it is perfectly legal.

If I remember there is a clause regarding "original equipment", and a law about the headlight being on all the time since the '70s, I see people using hand signals and running around with no headlight during the day all the time. Mostly, on bikes that are too new to have been sold without signals and daytime light.

As far as LEDs and underglow, its perfectly legal, again check the laws. The underglow may not be flashing red or blue, so as not to simulate an emergency vehicle, but may be any solid color. My GS has been shining blue LEDs for about 5 years, and Ive never been pulled over, at least not for that. I have some night pictures somewhere, if I find them Ill post them.

I live in York, a somewhat home of Harley, and that may have something to do with it. But I rode to Pittsburgh twice without a problem, and have been all around the Susquehanna without as much as a second look from the cops.

Only time I was pulled over was in late winter on my Speed Triple, doing 52 in a 35 (I was slowing down!) and the cop happened to be a Ducati owner. He said he understood that liter bikes cant get out of first without speeding, but that I had no business going that fast when there were still stones on the road. I agreed, and got off with a warning. I had one bar end mirror at that time, and still do. And he never even looked at my forks for a sticker.