And today's commuting highlight is...

[kiethton]

So the end of my handlebar fell off on the way home...think it's just the weight...guess I'll need to find a new bolt screw thing at the weekend.

Another day in the life of a banger bike

[mad4amanda]

CAPP0 said:

I believe there are HID lamps which have a blacked out tip to prevent this. They do have a name, can't remember it.

They are reflector HID kits normally H7R for reflector they are much better being designed to work in a reflector headlamp unit (if using an H7 bulb)

Edited by mad4amanda on Wednesday 10th January 20:09

[anonymous-user]

Firstly I apologise for unleashing headlight upgrade Armageddon.

Today I temporarily solved the rubbish headlight issue by leaving the office earlier and riding home before it got dark.

The bike is a 2016 model Kwaka Z1000 SX, for the 2017 models they fitted LED headlights, I can (or can't actually) see why!

I will probably try an upgraded halogen bulb first. Or I could pop round to the dealership for a coffee*

• Previous coffees have resulted in new bikes, a Z800 and the current bike. Quite fancy the new SX, man maths rules will have to be enforced.

[Tall_Paul]

Try a set of LED bulbs, they should give exactly the same beam pattern as a standard bulb but they're so much better. I had a single H4 LED bulb in my CB400, never got flashed and didn't need full beam as the low beam was awesome. Signs, people wearing reflective clothing etc just pop out from the darkness even when they're not in the main light.

I'll get a pair for my VFR at some point but the headlight is already pretty good on it so no rush.

[cmaguire]

I seem to remember the headlight on my current model GSXR1000 is a projector or some such.
It's still bks, I'm not sure I can remember ever having a bike with lights that do anything other than let other people know you are there.
The dip beams are always way too low and ste so even if the high beam is adequate, the moment someone comes the other way and you have to use the dip it's Russian Roulette time.

[kiethton]

cmaguire said:

The dip beams are always way too low and ste

Not always.....mine lights up the tree tops (I wish it was the road however)

[cmaguire]

Where is the high beam then, letting Batman know he's needed?

[kiethton]

cmaguire said:

Where is the high beam then, letting Batman know he's needed?

Same palace, just makes it a fraction brighter

[cmaguire]

Why don't you adjust it?

[kiethton]

cmaguire said:

Why don't you adjust it?

Tried that, the adjustment screw just doesn't work and never has in my ownership. Don't know how to fix it, else it's a new headlight which isn't really worth it given the bikes value.

It's one of the long list of things I need to sort out with the bloody thing.

[black-k1]

kiethton said:

cmaguire said:

Why don't you adjust it?

Tried that, the adjustment screw just doesn't work and never has in my ownership. Don't know how to fix it, else it's a new headlight which isn't really worth it given the bikes value.

It's one of the long list of things I need to sort out with the bloody thing.

Dip beam pointing too high is something that should be fixed as a matter of urgency. That will be dazzling other road users irrespective of halogen, HID or LED bulbs being fitted.

[Cbull]

I get flashed quite often, I'll generally just give them a quick flash of the headlight to let them know I've it's just my normal headlight on. None LED on a older bike.

[black-k1]

Cbull said:

I get flashed quite often, I'll generally just give them a quick flash of the headlight to let them know I've it's just my normal headlight on. None LED on a older bike.

Might be worth checking alignment and adjusting if required.

[sjtscott]

black-k1 said:

Dip beam pointing too high is something that should be fixed as a matter of urgency. That will be dazzling other road users irrespective of halogen, HID or LED bulbs being fitted.

Thats also a instant MOT failure which yer man Kiethton has already said he's not looking forward to... it needs fixing ultimately to remain legally on the road Sounds like another ££££ job

[kiethton]

sjtscott said:

black-k1 said:

Dip beam pointing too high is something that should be fixed as a matter of urgency. That will be dazzling other road users irrespective of halogen, HID or LED bulbs being fitted.

Thats also a instant MOT failure which yer man Kiethton has already said he's not looking forward to... it needs fixing ultimately to remain legally on the road Sounds like another ££££ job

Indeed, it'll be done at MOT time assuming the rest of the bike is ok....interestingly it's been like that as long as I've had it but passed the MOT last May when I was given my vehicle rectification notice...it may do so again but doubt it given they only MOT'ed it to get that bit registered as ok.

[sjtscott]

kiethton said:

So the end of my handlebar fell off on the way home...think it's just the weight...guess I'll need to find a new bolt screw thing at the weekend.

Another day in the life of a banger bike

My ex CBR600F4i (2003 vintage) had one go missing too - its not just yours. Purchased original honda item from david silver spares to replace it. Seems they need checking once in a while and some thread lock adding once torqued correctly.

[kiethton]

sjtscott said:

kiethton said:

So the end of my handlebar fell off on the way home...think it's just the weight...guess I'll need to find a new bolt screw thing at the weekend.

Another day in the life of a banger bike

My ex CBR600F4i (2003 vintage) had one go missing too - its not just yours. Purchased original honda item from david silver spares to replace it. Seems they need checking once in a while and some thread lock adding once torqued correctly.

Yep, '03 also.

I stopped at the side of the road and collected the weights (happened as I was pulling away from lights outside Surrey Quays so only going 2mph. Could see the weight so grabbed it from the road, couldn't see the bolt however.

[boyse7en]

Ride into work was a bit chilly this morning. Roads all OK, until I went round a 90 degree left hander on the estate where I work. Combination of a diesel spill and frost resulted in a sideways slide and a shocked dab of the left foot.
Fortunately I was only doing about 15mph (as I had seen the diesel spill yesterday) so didn't drop it. But it certainly gave me a jolt

[supercommuter]

black-k1 said:

supercommuter said:

Mac. said:

black-k1 said:

Cheaper option - same effect, is to pick up a cheap HID car kit from eBay. Have fitted HID units to my last 4 bikes. The difference is "night and day" (Pun intended!)

Hopefully these lenses are all projector units rather than simple reflectors? HIDs are designed to operate in projector lenses which have a defined light scatter and cut off, whereas sticking an HID bulb in a reflector lens throws the light everywhere:



Which to oncoming drivers looks more like this:



Please don't be that guy.

This i fking hate people who bang retrofit HID kits in Halogen surrounds which then throw blinding light all over the shop!

As annoying as people driving with fog lights on because they think it looks cool.

If only everyone was perfect! Life would be so much easier!!

Haha too true.

[anonymous-user]

No commute for me for the last 2 days, twisted my dodgy back and struggling a bit so worked from home.

Updated Osram bike specific bulbs have arrived so I'll fit these at the weekend.