Just a suggestion

[bohman]

I know a lot of riders are concerned about safety/visibility and have upgraded headlights accordingly. Which I think is great, because I have no desire to run into you with my car any more than you want to run into me. Just a suggestion, though - if you want to do that, buy the Mars lights (or whatever it's called when the headlight flashes) instead of going with a million watt xenon or something.

I bring up the subject simply because my retinas are still burning from the bike that was behind me on my 235 commute this morning. I had to drive with my rearview dimmed, and even then it was pretty bright. It didn't help that at red lights, he pulled up 6" from my trunk.

The mars lights REALLY get my attention, and don't leave me seeing spots.

 

[ontheriver]

I know a lot of riders are concerned about safety/visibility and have upgraded headlights accordingly. Which I think is great, because I have no desire to run into you with my car any more than you want to run into me. Just a suggestion, though - if you want to do that, buy the Mars lights (or whatever it's called when the headlight flashes) instead of going with a million watt xenon or something.

I bring up the subject simply because my retinas are still burning from the bike that was behind me on my 235 commute this morning. I had to drive with my rearview dimmed, and even then it was pretty bright. It didn't help that at red lights, he pulled up 6" from my trunk.

The mars lights REALLY get my attention, and don't leave me seeing spots.

I totally agree. Being seen is one thing, but blinding the oncoming driver could also get you squished... that would just be counter productive.

 

[bulldog]

I just ordered some HID bulbs for my bike and looking forward to the results. I do know that a lot of times adjustments need to be made as to where the light is pointing as they are often way off...too high. That may have been the problem you experienced.

 

[Chris0nllyn]

The problem is, HID's are meant for a projector type housing, and not the parabolic housings that moer cars with halogen lamps have. The beam pattern is spread all over the place.

With that being said...I have HID's in all my cars...and until someone offers to pay for a deer that hits my car because I can't see them due to poor lighting, I will continue to use them..

 

[itsbob]

I know a lot of riders are concerned about safety/visibility and have upgraded headlights accordingly. Which I think is great, because I have no desire to run into you with my car any more than you want to run into me. Just a suggestion, though - if you want to do that, buy the Mars lights (or whatever it's called when the headlight flashes) instead of going with a million watt xenon or something.

I bring up the subject simply because my retinas are still burning from the bike that was behind me on my 235 commute this morning. I had to drive with my rearview dimmed, and even then it was pretty bright. It didn't help that at red lights, he pulled up 6" from my trunk.

The mars lights REALLY get my attention, and don't leave me seeing spots.

OOPS, where were you at??

I have HIDs for low (two 6500k lights) and HI Beam (1 4000k).. but only run the Hi Beam if the person in front of me or coming at me is being a douche.. Like pulls out in front of me..

Also have mini suns down on my brake calipers.. Just in case..

 

[itsbob]

I just ordered some HID bulbs for my bike and looking forward to the results. I do know that a lot of times adjustments need to be made as to where the light is pointing as they are often way off...too high. That may have been the problem you experienced.

If it's just bulbs they aren't HID..

HIDs are an easy upgrade, but come with wiring and external ballasts/ignitors.

I got mine from XenonRider.com.. GREAT quality, and great customer service.

 

[itsbob]

The problem is, HID's are meant for a projector type housing, and not the parabolic housings that moer cars with halogen lamps have. The beam pattern is spread all over the place.

With that being said...I have HID's in all my cars...and until someone offers to pay for a deer that hits my car because I can't see them due to poor lighting, I will continue to use them..

I used to go back and forth from Dahlgren at night on the bike..

After I switched to HIDs the ride scared the crap out of me.. AMAZING how many deer were in the fields, next to the road that I didn't see before the HIDs.

Night driving, NOTHING is better than a good set of HIDs... and on a road at night alone? Turn on the Highbeam and it may as well be High Noon..

First Attachment, Low Beams with MotoLights..

Second,, High Beam... with Motolights

 

[Chris0nllyn]

I rarely use my high beams...

My old truck had 5000K 55W low beams, 5000K 55W fog lights, and 6000K 35W high beams.

I modified the relays so that I could run all three at once....Talk about BRIGHT

View attachment 86711

 

[bohman]

OOPS, where were you at??

I have HIDs for low (two 6500k lights) and HI Beam (1 4000k).. but only run the Hi Beam if the person in front of me or coming at me is being a douche.. Like pulls out in front of me..

Also have mini suns down on my brake calipers.. Just in case..

Ha, no it wasn't you. I think I've seen you on the BMW before and would have recognized you. The guy eventually wound up on the other side of the median from me on the way into gate 1. He was behind me on 235 S from Rt. 4.

For the record (just so the riders don't think I'm picking on them) I don't think the blinding was intentional. Traffic was heavy but there was no altercation between us, no tail-gating or brake checking. He was the kind of rider I don't mind sharing the road with, except for the headlight.

 

[bulldog]

If it's just bulbs they aren't HID..

HIDs are an easy upgrade, but come with wiring and external ballasts/ignitors.

I got mine from XenonRider.com.. GREAT quality, and great customer service.

Got the whole set up (ballasts/ignitors and bulbs) installed and working well. I like em. Did not think it through though and now my main and my light bar / running lights don't match...with the main being bright white and the bar being more yellow. Placed an order for the bar lights last night so should have everything cleared up soon.

 

[Gilligan]

I'm pretty sure that my headlight is at least visible when I've got the flatty wound out at 2000 RPM and the old generator is flowing a little juice.

I apologize in advance if the light bothers anyone.

 

[bohman]

I'm pretty sure that my headlight is at least visible when I've got the flatty wound out at 2000 RPM and the old generator is flowing a little juice.

I apologize in advance if the light bothers anyone.

Maybe you should wear one of these when you ride...

Black Diamond Cosmo LED Headlamp at REI.com

 

[Gilligan]

Maybe you should wear one of these when you ride...

Black Diamond Cosmo LED Headlamp at REI.com

I definitely need to wear one of those at night...facing rearward. My one little Ford Model A Bluedot taillight isn't much to write home about either.