Modern Vespa

A foreword to our European members. Headlight modulators are legal in N. America, and the meaning of flashing headlights (which modulators don't do anyways) may be different here than it is in Europe. Please no need to comment that I am inviting drivers to pull in front of me.

It has been about a year, maybe more, since I started riding with my headlight modulator (comagination). I have yet to see another bike with anything similar.

I haven't been pulled over by the police. Talking to a LEO friend of mine, he explained that they have all been told about the legality of modulators.

I have had friends tell me that they saw me out scooting about because they noticed the modulator from a distance.

Today, had the first and only time that a cager pulled over because they had mistaken me for an emergency vehicle!

Just some thoughts.

I encounter police cruisers multiple times daily with my modulator in action. It's a small town (pop c. 4500). Never had more than a wave from an officer. It has saved me from vehicles pulling out in front of me many times.

Is your scoot a MP3 250 or 400? If so, which model from Comagination do you use? Thanks

You are a good role model, michael_h. Not only do you have a headlight modulator (HM), you also wear a high-visibility vest (at least in your avatar).

I do the same, for both.

Once in a while, I notice a cager pointing out that my headlight is modulating. (thank you sir, here is your sign).

Once, a cop in his car, waiting next to me at a light, asked me why my headlight is modulating. I told him "so you can see me better". He just said uh-huh. He wouldn't take the sign.

HMs were highly recommended in my MSF class. I think I came across two other MCs with HM. That's it.

I even bought one and gifted it to an MV member. I think he still hasn't installed it.

I use both the headlight mod and brakelight flasher from comagination.
Hard to prove, but sure seems like I'm a lot more visible.

Michael,

For my GTS 250 Super:

I was wondering about getting a headlight mod. I saw one motorcyclist with one in the past few months or more, but boy did he get my attention!

Being a newbie, can you tell me which model you got? Also how easy is the install? Didn't see it in the tech library.

Mostly: how many hours of labor about if a shop were to do the mod, as I am a complete wimp.

Would the kit be model # S75H4

for $59.95 US

from here:

http://www.comagination.com/modBulb.htm

Also: has anyone tried the combo deal for 84.95 , adding the rear brake flasher model IBF4:

http://www.comagination.com/bflasher.htm

Thank you.

Ditto here.

When ever I see other bikes with the headlight mod.....they definitley standout and I tend to recognized them more.

Easy to install (DIY job). and well worth it....

I have the comagination flasher on the brake light as well. The combo would well be worth a look.

Installing the headlight modulator was the first "mechanical" mod that I had ever done on my Vespa. Truly, it I could do it, then so can you. It really only involves removing the front headlight assembly (remove the mirrors and undo 3 screws on the LX), unplugging the existing headlight bulb, and plugging in the modulator unit. No wires to cut. You'll have to run the light sensor somewhere. I just cut a very small "v" in the bottom edge of the rubber grommet on the mirror stem, and ran it up through that. Easy peesy. Took me about an hour.

I'll see if I can find a tutorial on removing the headlight assembly for you.

Okay, try this one: GT/GTS: Headset Cover Removal. Piece of cake!

Ritchj also provided a helpful post showing installation: The rear flasher was more challenging because you have to splice the wire into the existing wiring. I had to learn how to do proper soldering for that one, but it was easy. Again, if I can do it, then so can you. Truly, that is what my wife would say.[

Just ordered the combo. Seems like a good idea.

One cop asked about it and just shook t off. A driver at a stop light remarked he had seen me earlier in the day and found it very irritating, "I could see you coming blocks away....."
I've only seen one other 2 wheeler with a modulator, but I definitely notice when I haven't turned it on, I get more cagers pulling out trying to beat me. Anecdotal but I'm convinced what I see is what's happening. I like it much better than having to use the Stebel!

Thanks. Why is taking off the horn casting part of the procedure? I can see if you need extra clearance to pull off the front of the headset, but it shouldn't be necessary to do that...just get in from the rear?

I'm not sure, and didn't do the original write up. It could have been pulled from a larger project that involved removing the horn cover.

It is tricky (read impossible) to get at the screw below the headlight without removing the horncover.

And don't drop that screw upon reassembly..
$ % & # @ !!!!
Found a new screw.... Find the old one later...

I got the Kisan PathBlazer Headlight Modulator for my GT200. Simple Plug & Play. Fit the Daylight Sensor to the 'kneepad' on the left covering the electrical access. Have it 1 year and it's working great.

The Comagination unit looks great too, but IIRC, it was fairly more expensive.

Use a magnetic Phillips screwdriver when installing/removing the Horn Cover screw - that'll keep it from falling into oblivion!

Thank you all, folks, am most grateful.

Although totally illegal here, I have the comagination one fitted. I usually use it to split lanes of standing traffic on my way into work. People seem to want to change lanes for no reason, and do so without looking or indicating, not expecting a bike to be between them and the next lane of traffic.

People notice you coming and usually make room if the gap is too narrow. I try not to use it if there are any police cars around though.

Again but very occasionally people mistake the modulating light for a flashing one and pull over...

The plot gets thicker. For about the same price this kit:

http://www.signaldynamics.com/products/DiamondStar/dshm.asp

Can be turned on and off, selected to work with high or lows, has two intensity levels, turns on or off if you press the horn a certain way to wake up traffic, Yada, yada, yada.

Bad things about it:

1) Bigger unit may not mount inside headset.
2) The daylight sensor looks more robust but requires a 5/16 inch hole be drilled somewhere to mount. It also has to be pointing downward.
3) It's not an "extension cord"...have to tap into the wires going to the light and the horn (since the horn controls some features).
4) No "combo" deal...you can buy a brakelight modulator too but it will be more $$.

Any thoughts, or anyone installed it successfully without messing up the look?

I'm a KISS(keep it simple stupid) guy cuz I'm not good at wiring. It's plug and play for me....interesting features but far more complex

Agree! I haven't heard of the unit you mention. That doesn't necessarily mean that it is poor, but I know that the comagination version works and is reliable. You can also set it for high or low beam, but you would probably want it on the high beam.

I just ordered the comagination one for my GTS. I ordered the one for the H4 bulb. Was that correct?

You betcha!

Phew! That saves me a lot of trouble. It would have been smart to ask before I ordered it, but Im a bit of an impulse buyer.

I was thinking of getting one of those HID kits to be more visible, but I think that this modulator will achieve the goal even better.

Thanks for the tip.

I've been searching, and cannot find the project report I followed to install the brakelight flasher. It's kind of a bear on an LX-150, and involved snaking a wire around the gas tank from the taillight "hole". It is real easy if you loosen the screws under the seat which hold the gas tank in place. By loosening them, the tank dropped about 1/2 inch, and snaking the wire became real easy.

Why would you need to snake the wire around the gas tank? On the LX150, removing the right cowl exposes the wire bundle with the brake line in it. Find the right wire, tap into it, and place the modulator under the frame. Easy peesy!

I've had the Kisan for about 8 months. Maybe I've seen one other modulator in the D.C. area during that time. Very simple installation and I tied the light sensor to the the flyscreen. I'm thinking about getting the Kisan brake light flasher as well, but I can't figure out if that thing is legal in Virginia.

Believe me, in the midst of this, I realized there had to be an easier place to splice it in. But I was following a set of instructions, that seemed like a good idea at the time I first read it. However, it turns out, with lowering the gas tank, which takes about 30 seconds, the rest was real easy, and there was no doubt about which wire to cut into.

By the way, Michael, how do you like your new idle jet, and did you futz with the mixture?

They ae legal in all states by federal standards.

On my little island the brain dead tourists in the winter will do anything to get you. I installed the modulator (Kisan) and the Stebel Nautilus at the same time. I haven't had to use the horn because the light brings even the tourists to a halt. Maybe I will turn the modulator off just to get to use the horn.

I chose not to install a brake light flasher. Instead, I installed the Euro tail lamp and added the Brakelight option to the GIVI case I bought... that way, there's a Brake Light at the eye level of most cagers. With a topcase, I suspect it would be possible for the Brake Light (flashing or not) to be hidden from view of a cager close to you at a stoplight.

I bought a generic 2-wire Trailer Light extender ($3.95 - male and female weatherproof plugs at each end) and cut it in two splicing one end into the Brake Light harness and the other to the GIVI harness. That way, it's easy to separate it if I ever want to pull the topcase adapter.

Just the other day, stopped at a light, I had the passenger of the car in front of me open their door to caution me that my headlight was flashing, I told them it's supposed to do that so people notice me better, he said that it definitely does.

I made the splicing sound more simple than it was. I needed to learn how to do a proper splice to make it work. But learning is part of the fun!

As for the idle jet ... my scooter is still on the table while I am trying to sort out this: Loss of power - need help diagnosing problem (SOLVED). It has been 2 weeks or so, and I am still not finding enough time to get at this properly.

I did work out my mileage and figure that I lost around 20% fuel efficiency with the idle jet. I have yet to learn what that translates into for highway distance. Right now, I have a pretty good idea of my range using the original jet, but I may just find myself short with the new one. Once I get it off the table, I plan on a nice long ride (with spare gas) to figure that one out.

Michael, can you elaborate on what you mean by "removing the right cowl?" I believe the write-up Chukstr was looking for was mine:

LX150: Installing a BackOFF brake light flasher

I'd love to add any info to the bottom that could make the process easier for people in the future....

Does anyone know if these modulators would work on a '58 Allstate with a 12 volt conversion? Since my headlight's my so small, a modulator would be useful.

Hi Aaron - You're set up is different from mine, mainly due to your ground wire (which I didn't have). I removed the plastic trim beneath the right cowl and isolated the wire bundle. Opening the bundle, I exposed the brake wires and proceeded to spice in the modulator unit. Taped up the splice and taped the bundle together again. The unit itself (which was small and weather sealed) was stuck under the frame using automotive tape. I didn't think that it would stick, but it has remained solid for nearly a year now.

I didn't have a ground wire to contend with.

I had borrowed a write up that someone had posted, but can no longer find it.

I see... Thanks.

So I have the comagination headlight modulator and IBF4 brake flasher installed, and they do NOT work.

The headlight modulator flashes the headlight when key is turned and when engine is on at idle up to about 20mph. The speed of the flashing varies. At idle it is about what I think is about legal...except when I put the brake on, then it slows down. Above idle, it flashes faster and faster, until above 20mph, it is a steady beam.

Oh well. Comagination is closed today, holiday.

Now for the brake light. I left the original brake light intact, I tapped in and wired to two LED bars, 1/4 amp each, at 100% brightness (no resistor...was told that a diode is not needed to be added if LEDs work at full strength).

Well, the brake LED flasher works great with key on, at idle when I first start up, and at speed when I first start up. After a few minutes, it doesn't flash anymore...the LEDs just come on constant. If I stop the scoot, turn key off then on and restart, they work again right away...for another few minutes. The failure here is a little more random, since it works above idle...but the determining factor seems to be after a few minutes with engine on it just stops flashing and I get full on.

Any ideas? Why will headlight modulator work on other Vespas (and I assume on other GTS 250's since one poster in London has one on his GTS 300). What is with the brake? Is AC current getting to the little buggers?

Most importantly...am I damaging anything by leaving these two things connected?????

Dude, you know we'll make it work.

Do you have your headlight modulator set to operate on low beam or high beam? Mine won't come on until I turn on the high beam switch.

High Beam.

Doesn't work at all in low beam, this is the way I wanted it. It was installed in "default" configuration.

All I can figure is the ECU may be messing up with the flasher electronics in both the headlight and brake modulators. If this is true I should remove them as soon a possible.

From the wiring diagram, it looks like no AC reaches the headlight or the brakelight, unless ECU does it. I suspect it is still DC out from the ECU, if indeed it controls the headlight or brakelight at all.

Have other GTS owners run into this?