- This topic has 14 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 8 months ago by RidleytheRed.
Lighting upgrades
-
AuthorPosts
-
August 24, 2008 at 4:04 am #1962markrutherfordParticipant
Noob here.
I want my 250R to be super bright in front and back.
I’d appreciate any advice on flashing brake/tail lights and optimum headlight visibility.
Thoughts, links ?
Know of any resources in the Bay area for intallation of third party systems for flashing brake/tail light assemblies?Many thanks.
August 24, 2008 at 4:09 am #11054megaspazParticipantAny kawi service center can probably install a brake light modulator. As far as brighter lights, a bulb replacement should be fine. From what I’ve heard, after market bulbs are usually brighter than OEM stock bulbs… Although you’ll want to look into the law regarding motorcycle lights. There might be some DOT regulations and whatnot…
—
If there’s anything more important than my ego
around, I want it caught and shot now…August 24, 2008 at 2:13 pm #11067MattParticipantIt is my understanding that Flashing lights are illegal. Only service vehicles (police, ambulance, fire) are allowed flashing lights.
There is a benz that flashes its brake lights when you really stomp on the brakes to warn people behind you – proven very effective BUT merc had to apply for a special permit to trial these cars in the US.
Do not run your high beams during the day, yes they are brighter, but they are also aimed right at the eyes of other drivers. It WILL piss them off, and it may cause on coming traffic to focus on you (and thus drive towards you). Don’t think it’ll annoy/blind drivers, ask your MSF instructor what it is like teaching a class where someone uses high beams. They didn’t have kind words for the guy who kept blinding them with his high beams in my ERC course.
You want to be bright and visible? Wear a high visibility jacket or vest. Period. Nothing will get you seen better in any condition than a high vis yellow jacket. Are they cool looking? Not really (though I did see some BMW ones that looked good, and the dealership sold through 50 of them in a week because of it).
—
“The two seconds between ‘Oh S**!’ and the crash isn’t a lot of practice time.”August 25, 2008 at 4:10 pm #11126RidleytheRedParticipantSorry to contradict you Matt, but running high-beams durring the day is standard. All cars with daytime lamps are using the high-beams instead of regular. You’re not going to get blinded because your eyes have already ajusted to sunlight and will not be affected as badly by high-beams.
http://www.motorcyclesafety.state.mn.us/latest/MMSCHomeSecondary.asp?cid=5&mid=305
“Using the high beam of a motorcycle’s headlight during the day also helps to prevent violations of the motorcyclist’s right-of-way (Hurt, 1981).”
“Headlight modulators, which cause the light to alternate between a higher and a lower intensity during the day, also increase conspicuity (Hurt, 1981). Headlight modulators are federally regulated lighting devices and as such, all state laws governing them are preempted. Motorcycle headlight modulators have not been studied to determine their effects on other motorists.
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/motorcycle/00-NHT-212-motorcycle/motorcycle49-50.htmlAugust 25, 2008 at 4:19 pm #11127AndrewParticipantRiding with the light on is law in IL. Thats not the same as riding with high beams on. My Corolla has daytime lights and I don’t notice a difference when it gets dark so they can’t be on high beam. I can see them on the road when it gets to dusk.
August 25, 2008 at 4:33 pm #11129MattParticipantDRLs in cars use your low beam at 30hz instead of a 60hz current (so it is less bright than a proper low-beam – it also messes with aftermarket HID systems, much to my dismay).
Speaking as someone who lives in a country with manditory Daytime Running Lights, I assure you, I notice when someone has their highbeams on even on a sunny day.Motorcycles in Canada run their stock low-beams anytime the bike is turned on (I thought this was standard south of the border as well, but don’t know for sure).
If you don’t think you are bothering other drivers riding with a high beam on, simply have a buddy sit on your bike, high beams on, and then sit in your car 50 feet away in the opposing lane. If you’re okay with that, go for it. It is all about the golden rule. Me, I notice it, I strongly dislike it, I won’t inflict it on others.
I’m curious if there is a report on this more recent than the Hurt report…
—
“The two seconds between ‘Oh S**!’ and the crash isn’t a lot of practice time.”August 25, 2008 at 5:24 pm #11132RidleytheRedParticipantI dunno, the MSF course I took mostly mentioned HURT more than anything, and the instructors pretty much said the same thing I did. You are right about the lower current though. I just checked and the DRL’s use my high lamps, but not as bright.
The MSF website does promote using the high-beams at daytime still, and using modulators if possible, so I’ll trust their judgement considering the most common cause of accidents is not being noticed. Courtesy is one thing and I respect your decision, but I like being well noticed even if it’s from annoyance rather than being invisible.
August 25, 2008 at 5:25 pm #11133MunchParticipantMost cars use the low beams for DRL’s some have an independant light all together (reference Tahoes and suburbans) Some use a small insert bulb in the headlight housing just for the reflected light and not actually a beam ( some Acura’s and BMW).
DRL’s on bikes are mandatory but highbeams are preached for daytime use. Everyone form instructor, Department of Motor Vehicles and even local law dawgs will tell you to use them. The logic is that of the same that NHSB used to push DRL’s on modern day auto’s. That yellow jacket , cool or not, is not gonna make you visible in a low hanging sun… or when oncoming traffic is adjusting from shade to sun or vice versa. If it bothers drivers while you are behind them, they have options…. learn and use the flip pedal on the bottom of the mirror to redirect the glare, or change lanes. Your safety is your responsibility and concern and should be foremost so …not the drivers ahead comfort level.August 25, 2008 at 5:31 pm #11134MunchParticipant:^) double filament bulb… placing is not important.
August 25, 2008 at 5:36 pm #11135RidleytheRedParticipantI’ve got a ’99 Monte Carlo. It has separate lamps for low and high beams. I don’t recall anything about a double filament for the high bulbs when I replaced them a couple years ago. They were just regular halogen bulbs. *shrug* Not really important anyway.
August 25, 2008 at 5:52 pm #11137MunchParticipantI got one myself… the nice red one. Still use it for really bad weather and the bike can’t go. Its the Z34 package. You still getting around 35-38 mpg with yours?
August 25, 2008 at 6:09 pm #11138BuddParticipantWe were told not to run brights during the day at MSF. They said it does not increase visability anymore than the low beam to anyone except the person you are behind or who you are pointed at going around a curve. The instructors said that it is an anoyance and that, in their experience, cars will do dumb stuff when the high beams are on behind them like stomp on the brakes. They were all GWRAA and said that anyone riding in formation with high beams would be told to keep them on low.
“I am the best there is at what I do, and what I do ain’t nice.”-Wolverine
August 25, 2008 at 6:13 pm #11140RidleytheRedParticipantI saw your comment in Off-topic and was going to comment on that too. Not really, more like 30-35 now. but there’s stuff I can do to improve that which I’m to lazy to do.
August 25, 2008 at 6:15 pm #11141MunchParticipantGuess like anything else….the officials can’t agree so it’s left to preference.
August 25, 2008 at 6:42 pm #11144RidleytheRedParticipantSeems that way. I would ask local bike cops what they think and go with that.
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.