I can't see shit at night

[Headbanger]

Seriously, riding at night, Its like staring into the abyss, add a bit of rain and I can't even see the abyss (right, thats a tad fucked up....meh)

I figured the lights on the Speed Triple were just shit, so when I broke one I replaced them with a local available equivalent as suggested by fellow Kiwibikers.

I figured these would light up the way ahead just fine as I presume they are also used in cars. Whatever, I'm an ignorant fucker on many levels.

So, the bike has been bought back to life for summer, New headlights, a rego, a warrant and I sold my wagon so this is it, Back to just a bike for transport. At the testing station they made me lower the angle of the headlights as they say it was too high on dip.

So, Friday night I'm heading from Wanganui to Masterton, I'm going over the Pahitaua track, its dark, its drizzly, the cloud is low, My headlights are on, I can see a square of light about 12 feet in front of the bike, and nothing else, FUCK, Im nearly run over by a car for fucks sake, and I'm stressing about not being able to see the corners, or the road, fuck all of anything. I'm going slow enough to be a danger to others on the road, I pull over and let the car through, Their headlights light up the road like its Christmas, hell yeah, Lets boogie, But fuck, My headlights can't even light up the road between us and I fall behind.

I flick on high beam, its better, but why the fuck am I lighting up all the trees on either side of the road, I could have someone on the back shooting possums in that light, then there is a black patch on either side of the beam, and a fuckin horrible distorted pattern of light further down the road, I'm riding at 100km/h but the distance being illuminated still makes this dangerous, Have a few arse clenching moments where I can't make out the curve of the road.

Once I'm back on the main road its a bit more settled, cruising at 100k, get passed by a v8 ute with the mean set of headlights, I tuck in behind and we cruise the rest of the way at a good clip.

Fuck I enjoyed that ride, short but fucking epic.

Now, what to do about some lights that can compare with a wagon?

[MSTRS]

Sounds like more the reflector design than the bulb/s.
Can you fit accessory HI running lights?

[Headbanger]

Sounds like more the reflector design than the bulb/s.
Can you fit accessory HI running lights?

I have no idea what you said right there.

[MSTRS]

The headlight unit is poorly shaped/designed, so no matter how strong a bulb you fit, it won't really help. I have the same problem with my car...
HI (high intensity) accessory lights which, if fittable, will act like running lights and improve matters no end. They wire into the light circuit and remain on, regardless of high or low beam at the switch.

[Headbanger]

The headlight unit is poorly shaped/designed, so no matter how strong a bulb you fit, it won't really help. I have the same problem with my car...
HI (high intensity) accessory lights which, if fittable, will act like running lights and improve matters no end. They wire into the light circuit and remain on, regardless of high or low beam at the switch.

Thank you Sir,

I'm now more enlightened then I was a mere few seconds ago.

[baffa]

This is a job for Gremlin!

(I'm only going to say that once).

[Gremlin]

Nothing to do with your eyes?
Visor was tinted or clear? And condition? Heavily scratched?
I wouldn't trust the testing station either, last time they wanted my lights adjusted they were waaaaaaay off, and I adjusted them myself properly. Check them yourself, using a blank wall.

[nzspokes]

Nothing to do with your eyes?
Visor was tinted or clear? And condition? Heavily scratched?
I wouldn't trust the testing station either, last time they wanted my lights adjusted they were waaaaaaay off, and I adjusted them myself properly. Check them yourself, using a blank wall.

next time you come to SASS can you check mine. I also cant see shit.

[Headbanger]

Nothing to do with your eyes? Visor was tinted or clear? And condition? Heavily scratched? I wouldn't trust the testing station either, last time they wanted my lights adjusted they were waaaaaaay off, and I adjusted them myself properly. Check them yourself, using a blank wall. Visor was open. Definitely going to have a crack at adjusting them myself.

[pritch]

I can see a square of light about 12 feet in front of the bike, and nothing else,


Hmmm that's about what mine are like; quite scary. Doesn't exactly encourage night rides.

[Headbanger]

ffs, what wanker changed the thread title?

How the fuck is a person meant to have their own personality conveyed around here when this moronic conformity is forced on us? Whoever you are, You're a dick.

If my thread is somehow wrong, then delete the cunt, otherwise keep your filthy hands off it. wanker.

And evidently I can't change it back.ffs.

[Parlane]

Go get your eyes tested. Are you finding it hard to see the writing on street signs in the day time? It's amazing how much bad focus affects lighting conditions. (Slightly offtopic rant: Riding with glasses and a neck wind breaker is terrible!)

[Headbanger]

Yeah, Not concerned about the state of my eyes, Give me suitable lighting and I can see just fine.

Give me not enough and well...its not enough.


Denial is one of my strengths, that and diplomacy.

[bogan]

Some headlights are just shit, time for an upgrade :yes:

[Reckless]

ffs, what wanker changed the thread title?

How the fuck is a person meant to have their own personality conveyed around here when this moronic conformity is forced on us? Whoever you are, You're a dick.

If my thread is somehow wrong, then delete the cunt, otherwise keep your filthy hands off it. wanker.

And evidently I can't change it back.ffs.

oh now that was pure KB gold right there LMAO!!

Thanks for the smile :yes:

[jazfender]

ffs, what wanker changed the thread title?

Fucken eh. Just about every thread I start has the title changed. One I had a fullstop changed to a question mark like it would make some kind of difference to the searches.

Get off our fucking nuts!

[Parlane]

Well when the old thread title was "Free candy inside ;)", you might understand why they chose to change it...

[jazfender]

Well when the old thread title was "Free candy inside ;)", you might understand why they chose to change it...

I really thought I was getting candy.

[Headbanger]

Free candy for gingers.

[Parlane]

Free candy for gingers.

Gingers aren't allowed on our internet...

[CookMySock]

At the testing station they made me lower the angle of the headlights as they say it was too high on dip. Get the WOF and just put the cunts back where you like them.

This has been done to death. Put some larger size reflectors on it that take H4 bulbs, and put a set of HIDs and burn a fucking hole in a mountain with them. :yes:

[Headbanger]

This has been done to death.

And so has this, Fuck off try hard.

[CookMySock]

And so has this, Fuck off try hard.hehehe :violin:

<img src="http://janetnewenham.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/dancing20chicken.jpg">

[Crasherfromwayback]

And so has this, Fuck off you retarded try hard.

That's better. I know you love having your stuff modified!

[HenryDorsetCase]

..there's candy?

also, maybe check out this thread on this forum: and the forum generally. I've yet to try the lights seriously on the ST-R but I have bookmarked this incase.

http://www.triumphrat.net/maintenance-and-workshop-talk/8102-speed-triple-headlight-upgrade.html

[CookMySock]

..there's candy?No candy from the AWESOMELY super-cool all-male:facepalm: crasher + headbanger team TRYING so HARD to be alpha... :corn:

woops! :woohoo:

[Crasherfromwayback]

: crasher + headbanger team TRYING so HARD :

Bit rich coming from an icecream supplying kiddie fiddler that has a signature trying to convince everyone else he's the man.

[bogan]

..there's candy?

also, maybe check out this thread on this forum: and the forum generally. I've yet to try the lights seriously on the ST-R but I have bookmarked this incase.

http://www.triumphrat.net/maintenance-and-workshop-talk/8102-speed-triple-headlight-upgrade.html

might be worth looking into what the wiring and switchgear is like too, half a volt drop across that will make the light a lot dimmer

[CookMySock]

Bit rich coming from an icecream supplying kiddie fiddler that has a signature trying to convince everyone else he's the man.Heh, you have to rely on your own words for your value, where the words in my sig are everyone elses. Think about it, haha! :sunny:

Quit while you're ahead bro! Oh, you're not ahead.. :sick: LOL!!

[Headbanger]

No candy from the AWESOMELY super-cool all-male:facepalm: crasher + headbanger team TRYING so HARD to be alpha... :corn:

woops! :woohoo:

Yeah, This is why your credibility reigns supreme at zero, Crasher knows far more about bikes then I ever would, Unlike you I'm not a pretender, I listen to what the man has to say.

[Ender EnZed]

Seriously, riding at night, Its like staring into the abyss, add a bit of rain and I can't even see the abyss
....
My headlights are on, I can see a square of light about 12 feet in front of the bike, and nothing else, FUCK

Sounds about right, I thought riding at night was meant to be like that.

[cs363]

I figured the lights on the Speed Triple were just shit, so when I broke one I replaced them with a local available equivalent as suggested by fellow Kiwibikers.

What brand of light did you fit?

As MSTRS said, reflector & lens design has a lot to do with how good the light output is - far more than bulb wattage.
A mate of mine fitted these: http://www.hella.co.nz/3-470-150/product/146mm-Halogen-High/Low-Beam-Insert---Hardened-Glass to his Speed Triple and reckons they are way better than stock.
BNT are the Hella agents, if you can't get the 1055HD's just get the normal 1055's - same thing but don't have the super tough glass.

[riffer]

One of those out-of-left-field questions...

Given that you are directing light to either side, and nothing in the middle, is it possible your lights have been taken off at some stage and turned around? Sounds to me like the light may be pointing in the wrong direction...

[skippa1]

My old triple lights were good as and if you have changed for the standard Hella replacement, its not likely that the reflectors are to blame. Believe me, I had the same issue at night, confused with what I could or couldnt see, ended up riding between the white lines and rain just made it heaps worse:blink:. Got so bad I had several "oh fuck" :facepalm:moments. I went and got my eyes tested and got glasses and the issue went away. Completly.
Put the denial away....time for four eyes:gob:

[Headbanger]

My old triple lights were good as and if you have changed for the standard Hella replacement, its not likely that the reflectors are to blame. Believe me, I had the same issue at night, confused with what I could or couldnt see, ended up riding between the white lines and rain just made it heaps worse:blink:. Got so bad I had several "oh fuck" :facepalm:moments. I went and got my eyes tested and got glasses and the issue went away. Completly.
Put the denial away....time for four eyes:gob:

fuck.

righto, eyes getting tested.

[Headbanger]

What brand of light did you fit?

As MSTRS said, reflector & lens design has a lot to do with how good the light output is - far more than bulb wattage.
A mate of mine fitted these: http://www.hella.co.nz/3-470-150/product/146mm-Halogen-High/Low-Beam-Insert---Hardened-Glass to his Speed Triple and reckons they are way better than stock.
BNT are the Hella agents, if you can't get the 1055HD's just get the normal 1055's - same thing but don't have the super tough glass.

yeah, those.

:blink::blink::blink:

fuck.

[jellywrestler]

fuck.

righto, eyes getting tested.

try my avatar first

[Virago]

Yeah, Not concerned about the state of my eyes, Give me suitable lighting and I can see just fine.

Give me not enough and well...its not enough.

Denial is one of my strengths, that and diplomacy.

Be a man - admit it.

All part of getting older, and some are affected quite badly - including me.

For some of us, our pupils can become infuriatingly slow to dilate, to adjust to low light conditions. The scattered glare that results during rainy conditions means that the pupils won't dilate enough, meaning eyesight beyond the brighter pools of light is virtually non-existent.

There's no fix for it. You're fucked.

You're welcome.

[cs363]

yeah, those.

:blink::blink::blink:

fuck.

Hmmm, that is weird....what kind of bulbs?

The quality of the lens/reflectors on Hella's are pretty damn good (though I think Cibie are better if you can get them). A good quality bulb like a Phillips Xtreme Vision/Osram Nightbreaker Plus etc can also help.

But, if you have Hella lights then maybe they just need aiming correctly - try taking it to an auto sparky who has a proper headlight aiming machine. While you're there get them to check the voltage at the headlights, it only takes a small drop in voltage to drastically reduce the light output (see attached chart). You may have some dodgy wiring/switch etc.

And - Riffer's suggestion while a bit left field, it's worth checking they've been fitted correctly, not upside down or angled etc (yes, I've seen it done... :facepalm:)


Failing that.....Specsavers.... :lol:

[Headbanger]

Hmmm, that is weird....what kind of bulbs?

While you're there get them to check the voltage at the headlights, it only takes a small drop in voltage to drastically reduce the light output (see attached chart). You may have some dodgy wiring/switch etc.



Righto, I used the bulbs that were already fitted. Just poked em through the holes and it was all good.

Almost...

Funny thing, I munted the rubber boot on one of the the bulbs and it caused a short that kept on running the battery flat in minutes.

I...uh...fixed it by wrapping it in masking tape for RC cars.:facepalm: and poking it back in the hole.

Pretty damn sweet aye.



Also, I'm looking for employment, anything to do with bikes would be good.

LMFAO.

[cs363]

Chur........

[Pseudonym]

You seem like the relaxed patent type, try contacts.