Joined
·
120 Posts
I've learned a ton from all the great posts on this site.
In return, my first how-to post...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhxzitJCAvw&feature=youtu.be
My friends who are veteran riders strongly encouraged me to install a blinking headlight modulator, especially for all the crazy drivers here in SF.
Install is pretty straightforward, basically plug and play. But a few points to note:
- I'd order it straight from Signal Dynamics. Yes, it's DOT compliant for all 50 states.
http://www.signaldynamics.com/plug-play-headlight-module-european-dual-h7-harness-adapter/
They're great folks, and if you have any technical problems they're happy to accept returns. Unlike some other vendors on eBay and such
- Make sure you order the EUROPEAN H7 harness with the orange brackets, for the narrower 12.5mm spacing which the R3 bulbs use. I mistakenly ordered the JAPANESE harrness with the blue brackets, but those are too wide at 15.8mm. Go figure, we have a Japanese bike, right?
- Contrary to the install instructions, I think there is a polarity issue with how it plugs into the power harness (not the light bulb side). I blew a bunch of 15amp fuses in the process. So have a bunch of spares handy, and just try by process of elimination.
- I'm still a bit concerned that other drivers will misinterpret the blinking headlight as a turn signal. And if they're bothered by high beams, all the better. Hey, better they see something than nothing at all.
I would ideally have liked to have both headlights blinking at once, but this does not appear to be possible. Just the right side blinking on low beam, and left side blinking on high beam. I talked to the folks at Signal Dynamics, and the only way to get both to blink would be to install a third headlight or some sort of load (one bulb on the low output on the harness, and two bulbs for the two high beam harnesses). More trouble than I wanted, and also couldn't figure out where to hang a third headlight. Not to mention battery issues with an extra bulb.
There's also an optical sensor that switches the blinking automatically off at night, to be DOT compliant. I just cut out a triangle of foam, and wedged it into the middle space in the nose of the bike.
In return, my first how-to post...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhxzitJCAvw&feature=youtu.be
My friends who are veteran riders strongly encouraged me to install a blinking headlight modulator, especially for all the crazy drivers here in SF.
Install is pretty straightforward, basically plug and play. But a few points to note:
- I'd order it straight from Signal Dynamics. Yes, it's DOT compliant for all 50 states.
http://www.signaldynamics.com/plug-play-headlight-module-european-dual-h7-harness-adapter/
They're great folks, and if you have any technical problems they're happy to accept returns. Unlike some other vendors on eBay and such
- Make sure you order the EUROPEAN H7 harness with the orange brackets, for the narrower 12.5mm spacing which the R3 bulbs use. I mistakenly ordered the JAPANESE harrness with the blue brackets, but those are too wide at 15.8mm. Go figure, we have a Japanese bike, right?
- Contrary to the install instructions, I think there is a polarity issue with how it plugs into the power harness (not the light bulb side). I blew a bunch of 15amp fuses in the process. So have a bunch of spares handy, and just try by process of elimination.
- I'm still a bit concerned that other drivers will misinterpret the blinking headlight as a turn signal. And if they're bothered by high beams, all the better. Hey, better they see something than nothing at all.
I would ideally have liked to have both headlights blinking at once, but this does not appear to be possible. Just the right side blinking on low beam, and left side blinking on high beam. I talked to the folks at Signal Dynamics, and the only way to get both to blink would be to install a third headlight or some sort of load (one bulb on the low output on the harness, and two bulbs for the two high beam harnesses). More trouble than I wanted, and also couldn't figure out where to hang a third headlight. Not to mention battery issues with an extra bulb.
There's also an optical sensor that switches the blinking automatically off at night, to be DOT compliant. I just cut out a triangle of foam, and wedged it into the middle space in the nose of the bike.
Attachments
-
237.1 KB Views: 362