2 Headlights 1 Low Beam - How often do you get flashed?

[Donbot]

Not to be confused with the 2 girls thing.

I try my best not to let it piss me off, as I'm sure most people are just trying to be helpful thinking I'm unknowingly riding around with a broken headlight. But the (I assume) angry dheads reprimanding me for it at night in the pissing rain by blasting me with full beam is getting a bit much.

Anyone else having this problem?

To be fair my bike having sidelights permanently on makes it really obvious one of the lights 'isn't working'.

I'm going to avoid buying a bike with similarly styled lights in the future.

[JimbobVFR]

Are you sure they're not poorly adjusted and that's why you're getting flashed?

[Donbot]

JimbobVFR said:

Are you sure they're not poorly adjusted and that's why you're getting flashed?

Yes, if anything the dip angle is too low. They're modern lights with a sharp cut off.

[bimsb6]

Donbot said:

JimbobVFR said:

Are you sure they're not poorly adjusted and that's why you're getting flashed?

Yes, if anything the dip angle is too low. They're modern lights with a sharp cut off.

I’ve never flashed at someone with low headlights , that makes no sense. Not sure with new bikes but the original bikes with 2 headlights only had one that was lit on dip so the rider didn’t look like a car at a greater distance.

[gareth_r]

Remove the sidelight bulb?

[Alex@POD]

They're not flashing you because they think one of your headlights is out.

[Steve_H80]

I've never had this.
I would guess it's because the light is out of alignment when you're sat on the bike and it's looking like a main beam.
Easy enough to check.

[Rubin215]

Add an extra relay so both headlights come on at dipped beam as well as high.

[Donbot]

Steve_H80 said:

I've never had this.
I would guess it's because the light is out of alignment when you're sat on the bike and it's looking like a main beam.
Easy enough to check.

Nah, the light angle is definitely correct. Does make me wonder if it is doing something weird eg. flickering while riding along. Though I do a lot of riding on unlit roads so I would have thought it would be something I'd notice.

I think it is the design of the lights as I've had a few people mention that one of my lights isn't working. Further investigation is needed I guess.

What's weird is that I never get flashed if I go from full to dipped beam when the approaching car can see me. Though that might be a coincidence.

[Donbot]

Rubin215 said:

Add an extra relay so both headlights come on at dipped beam as well as high.

I wouldn't have thought that's possible due to the design of the reflectors etc.

[black-k1]

Donbot said:

Rubin215 said:

Add an extra relay so both headlights come on at dipped beam as well as high.

I wouldn't have thought that's possible due to the design of the reflectors etc.

What is the bike?

[Donbot]

black-k1 said:

What is the bike?

2009 er6f.

[Alex@POD]

Donbot said:

Nah, the light angle is definitely correct. Does make me wonder if it is doing something weird eg. flickering while riding along. Though I do a lot of riding on unlit roads so I would have thought it would be something I'd notice.

I think it is the design of the lights as I've had a few people mention that one of my lights isn't working. Further investigation is needed I guess.

What's weird is that I never get flashed if I go from full to dipped beam when the approaching car can see me. Though that might be a coincidence.

In my experience people flash because they feel your lights are too bright and think you're in full beam. If they see you switching to dipped beam they know there's nothing they can do.

If your suspension is a bit soft the light could bounce up quite a bit.

I've never had anyone flash me on the Africa Twin, and that only has one side on dipped beam.

[black-k1]

Donbot said:

2009 er6f.

It looks like 2 single filament (H7?) bulbs where the dip side stays on all the time and the high beam side is switched on and off. If this is the case then there is no option to have both sides on for dip.

[Donbot]

Alex@POD said:

In my experience people flash because they feel your lights are too bright and think you're in full beam. If they see you switching to dipped beam they know there's nothing they can do.

If your suspension is a bit soft the light could bounce up quite a bit.

I've never had anyone flash me on the Africa Twin, and that only has one side on dipped beam.

Could be it. It's like riding on the moon where I live.

A car that I was following last night was switching their full beam on and off. I was watching the back of their car and I wasn't lighting it up. I assume it is people telling me to put lights on, rather than off. The dipped beam on the bike is also weak as piss.

Having said that, I could be wrong.

[Donbot]

black-k1 said:

Donbot said:

2009 er6f.

It looks like 2 single filament (H7?) bulbs where the dip side stays on all the time and the high beam side is switched on and off. If this is the case then there is no option to have both sides on for dip.

Yeah. At night it looks absolute wk

[black-k1]

Donbot said:

Could be it. It's like riding on the moon where I live.

A car that I was following last night was switching their full beam on and off. I was watching the back of their car and I wasn't lighting it up. I assume it is people telling me to put lights on, rather than off. The dipped beam on the bike is also weak as piss.

Having said that, I could be wrong.

Sorry for asking a stupid question but are you sure the H7 bulb on the dip side is actually working, and it's not died leaving you with nothing more than a bright side light? That would definitely explain piss poor light and flashes from other road users.

[Donbot]

black-k1 said:

Sorry for asking a stupid question but are you sure the H7 bulb on the dip side is actually working, and it's not died leaving you with nothing more than a bright side light? That would definitely explain piss poor light and flashes from other road users.

That is a stupid question, and yes it is working

[camb10]

I had this when one of the 2 vertical beam adjusters was not engaged properly, it was fine for static checks like the mot but would allow the beam to bounce around when moving! didnt realise until i followed someone who told me. took light out and re enaaged it with the thread and no flashes since

[Donbot]

camb10 said:

I had this when one of the 2 vertical beam adjusters was not engaged properly, it was fine for static checks like the mot but would allow the beam to bounce around when moving! didnt realise until i followed someone who told me. took light out and re enaaged it with the thread and no flashes since

Cheers I'll take a look when I have time.