Modern Vespa

Who has installed a headlight modulator on their LX and what brand did you get? How do you like the quality and installation?

There has been a lot written on headlight modulators for the LX. There are several "plug-n-play" versions. I use the comagination version and like it. Others use the Kisan PathBlazer. There are still others out there.

Try this topic as a start Headlight Modulators

This is also a good time to introduce you to the MV search function! Using the search button at the top, enter "LX ANDmodulator" (with the caps as is and without the quotes" into the search box. You'll need to sift through the results, but you'll find a lot of good posts on this exact topic.

Thanks Michael. My search results had mostly brought up posts involving larger Vespas. You pointed me in the right direction.

You should be able to use the Kisan P115W-S on any Vespa. It's their smallest unit and simply plugs in where your present headlight plug fits into the bulb. Then, you plug the original plug into an extension wire. All that's left is where you want to run the daylight sensor wire. I just installed three of these on our scooters a couple of weeks ago. Easy installation with no problems.

How does the Kisan P115W-S look when its on? I've seen some modulators on motorcycles and I'm not sure if its a result of poor quality or poor installation but it looks like there is a loose connection in the headlight and it jiggles irregularly between high and low.

Is it possible to use those on the brakelight?

I haven't seen what you're describing but here's a demonstration from the Kisan website:
https://www.kisantech.com/index.php?cat_id=2 Kisan also makes a brake light modulator but I don't have any experience with it. I use the BackOff XP module on our scooters:
http://66.252.233.21/products/Modules/xp.asp

http://www.customdynamics.com/signal_dynamics_back_off_brake_light_modulator.htm

They make a great break light modulator--easy to install and effective.

Here is a video showing the Kisan modulator on a Burgman. I'm not sure if it is the P115W-S but the effect would be similar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jPSbfSsOTs

You can read the Wiki article that I wrote on the "BackOFF" by Signal Dynamics by clicking on the link in this sentence. If you have any questions on the install process, don't hesitate to PM me.

Headlight and brake light ones sound great but I doubt if they are legal in the UK except, perhaps, for the emergency services.

Keep in mind, the brake light flasher does not do it constantly - only a short burst when you first squeeze the brakes, and then it remains on constant.

Sounds ok. No different from dabbing the brake pedal. Thanks for that Masala.

Headlight Modulators:
For many years, I have resisted buying a headlight modulator. Although I knew that they were effective, I was concerned about annoying cars that I might ride behind and I was concerned that some auto drivers might take the flashing light as a signal from me that I was flashing them the O.K. to pull out.

After reading the many positive responses on this forum about headlight modulators and after having many instances where vehicles would begin to or actually turn from side roads and driveways into the road in front of me, causing me to slam on the brakes, I finally decided to install modulators on all three of our scooters a couple of weeks ago. WOW........what a difference it has made concerning cars pulling out from access roads and rural driveways. As an example of how effective they can be, just last weekend, I encountered three separate instances of vehicles that were going to turn into the road in front of me, do a sudden stop when they saw the pulsing headlight. In each case, the car had stopped and then started forward again for an instant without taking a good look at my approaching scooter when you could see that the drivers had suddenly stepped back on their brakes. My wife, who was somewhat skeptical of the modulators was following me on her GTS and saw, first hand, just how a modulator can affect the behavior of the driver of a vehicle when they are about to enter a highway without a signal light. She is NOW a strong believer in the effectiveness of a headlight modulator.

Brake Modulators:
For over a twenty years, I have added flashing brake modulators to every motorcycle I have owned. When we got into the scooter world, the first accessory that I purchased was a brake modulator for each scooter. They work and may just save you from being rear ended at a stop light. As the technology has advanced, the units have reduced in size and dependability. The Back Off XP module is small enough to fit behind the tail light module of a GTS/GTV and also fits easily in my BV500. It is very small and I suspect that it would easily also fit in other models with no problems. You can wire it either of two different ways so it will (1) flash four short times & one long time, then repeat the pattern OR (2) Flash five times and go to a steady brake light and remain so until you release the brake.

This is exactly why I one to install one too. I'd rather have a cager see me before I need to brake or use my horn.