W00t. My new lights are da bomb. 380watt main beams !

[Ixion]

Or, hitcherised ; My new lighting installation has proven to be most satisfactory, and exceeds my expectations.

Yep. 380 watts of light down the road on main beam. It's wonderful. Lights the road up something splendid. See what can be done when you have a 700 watt alternator.

Not just a narrow beam so you're running down a tunnel of light like a rat in a trap either. Nice broad light to each side, so I can properly see the road ahead and see the exit from the corners.

No more navigating by the reflectors on the roadside posts ! When I think of the years I groped around in the dark, with only the feeble illumination of a 6 volt 30 watt bulb.

Night touring is going to be really good indeed.

Only downside is the change when I flick back to dip beam . Only 150 watts !

And all legal (at least until April, when they change all the rules.I'll worry about that when it comes).

And before I get flamed, yes I do be sure to dip them for oncoming traffic. Wouldn't be nice to be blinded by that display.

Took it for a nice little test ride tonight down SH22 to Naike, then across the Rotongaro link to Huntly. Nice dark country roads .Only saw two cars after Pukekawa. And up to well in excess of legal speeds, it was just like riding by daylight. Cool.

Incidentally, if no-one's already reported it, sports bikers be careful on that Rotongaro road. Some kindly person has dumped loose gravel right across several of the tighter corners, and for a couple of kilometres, laid a central strip of gravel right down the middle of the lane. Didn't worry me because I ride like Nana's timid old lady friend anyway, but someone getting a knee down might have a nasty surprise

Yes, I'm very pleased.

[strayjuliet]

And up to well in excess of legal speeds,
Didn't worry me because I ride like Nana's timid old lady friend anyway,

Ok I'm confused, :spudwhat: you said you were exceeding the speed limit, but yet you say you ride like nana's timid old lady friend??? I'm sorry but I don't get it. :confused2 Anyway it's good to be able to see the road, nothing worse than crusing along a dark road and not seeing that blind courner leaping out at oncoming traffic, so good on ya for making the road more visable.

[Ixion]

Ok I'm confused, :spudwhat: you said you were exceeding the speed limit, but yet you say you ride like nana's timid old lady friend??? I'm sorry but I don't get it. :confused2

You raise an interesting and (IMHO) very important distinction. I wish that it were impressed on the minds of all novice riders.

I consider that I ride in a very cautious (even timid) and safe fashion. It's kept me unscratched and unharmed in over half a million kilometres on two wheels.

But I don't consider that a speed of XXX kph in itself is inherently especially dangerous. There is nothing magical about the figure of 100kph that makes it safe, nothing magical about the figure of (say) 150kph that makes it dangerous.

And, going through that corner, 80kph may be dangerous (albeit legal)

The whole thing is to ride always so that you have lots of "reserve" in hand.

That straight clean stretch of road would really be quite safe at 200kph. High speed in a straight line is actually unlikely to be dangerous (barring the small inescapable risk that is inherent in human existence , eg the risk of a puncture ). But because I am cautious and timid, I will only extend to say 150 kph. And when that sideroad or farm drive comes up I will slow down (even to to 40 or 50 kph if necessary) until I can see down it and verify there is nothing going to tootle out of it in front of me. One of the good things about a big bike is that you don't mind losing speed like that, because a twist of the wrist and you're back up again. On a small bike because momentum is precious and needs gear changing etc to recover, one is tempted to try to conserve it and not slow down. Hence my belief that powerful bikes are safer.

And I slow down going over blind hill tops and assume there is a vehicle on the wrong side of the road over the crest. Sooner or later there is. So I make sure that I can always stop within the distance I can see ahead, and adjust speed accordingly. If I can see a long way ahead and there are no hazards I'm comfortable with high speed - the speed limit is only relevant to the extent that there is a danger of Mr Plod lurking. but I regard him as just another road hazard. On the same footing as the dead possum on the road . If I can't see he ISN'T there I assume he is.

Similarly with corners.

I go through corners on a "worst case" basis. I assume that there IS gravel on the road - until I can see there isn't. I assume there WILL be a cage on the wrong side of the road on the exit from that blind corner - so I go through slow enough that I can change my line and avoid him in mid corner if necessary. Sooner or later, he will be there. I assume that the road at the apex of the left hander will have crumbled away , until I see it is good.

And overall I go through the corner much much slower than the maximum I think it could be taken at. As a rule of thumb I go through at 5/10 on roads that I am not familiar with, 6/10 if I an familiar with the corner, 7/10 if I am familiar with the corner and I have ridden over it very recently (eg coming back over the road I went out on). Add 1 tenth if I see someone else go through it. The last 2 tenth is always my safety margin, so that I can change line avoid the dead possum, pea gravel etc.

Ergo, I say that I ride like a cautious timid old lady . But I don't think that any magic figure on the speedometer is in itself dangerous.

This is, to me, the fundamental difference between the sportsbiker and the tourer. The sportsbiker will be pushing as hard as he thinks is safe, knee down in the corners etc. But if he misjudges the "hard as is safe" he may be in trouble. The tourer pushs only half as hard as he thinks is safe. So if he misjudges he has a reserve factor that will keep him out of trouble.

(No criticism here of sportsbikers. Everyone makes their own call of what risk factor they're happy with. I just happen to be risk averse)

[Silage]

Well written Ixion, you describe my riding, although with significantly more conscious thought than I use.

Another incentive for me (at least when I remember to remind myself) is that both of my bikes are on 3rd party insurance only. If I bin it I pay (but save hundreds a year on insurance). Works for me (so far).

[strayjuliet]

Sorry my bad, I natrally think when people say they were speeding that its dangerous and I get on the offensive, as I have been in alot of accidents that have involved speed as a big factor, I do realize that you can speed and still be quite safe, just because most cagers out there who have never riden a motorbike drive like they own the road, don't mean that all speeders are dangerous, I'm sorry if it sounded like I was calling you dangerous I didn't mean to sound like that, given half the chance I would go and blow the cobwebs outta my mode of transport as well. Thank you for clearing things up wasn't sure.

[Ixion]

Sorry my bad, I natrally think when people say they were speeding that its dangerous and I get on the offensive, as I have been in alot of accidents that have involved speed as a big factor, I do realize that you can speed and still be quite safe, just because most cagers out there who have never riden a motorbike drive like they own the road, don't mean that all speeders are dangerous, I'm sorry if it sounded like I was calling you dangerous I didn't mean to sound like that, given half the chance I would go and blow the cobwebs outta my mode of transport as well. Thank you for clearing things up wasn't sure.

No probs, didn't take it that way. I just wish that learner drivers and riders didn't get this "If I stick to the speed limit I must be safe" mentality.

Excessive speed, in the wrong place , can certainly be dangerous. Thing is that excessive may be 50kph, as readily as 150kph. All depends on the circumstances.

Cagers driving fast I don't mind. It's when they won't/can't stick to their own side of teh road that I worry.

[Motu]

Good to see someone else here on my side of the safe riding issue - some people here think I'm crazy when I say it's their fault if they crash on unsignposted roadworks,you gotta ride as if they are around the next bend.Our backroads are not built with only a squid bike rider in mind - they are there for the local residence to go about their lawful business,most likely farming,forestry or fishing...expect to meet vehicles and animals involved,the local council,phone and power providers will also be out and about - it's their little world,not yours.

I fitted a couple of driving lamps to my XLV750,it really lit up my world as you say,I could adjust each lamp seated,so on straight roads I could point then down the road,on twisties more to the side so I could see into the corners.Pity the crap Honda alt and reg couldn't cope.

[Big Dave]

[QUOTE=Ixion]Or, hitcherised ; My new lighting installation has proven to be most satisfactory, and exceeds my expectations.

Yep. 380 watts of light down the road on main beam. It's wonderful. Lights the road up something splendid. See what can be done when you have a 700 watt alternator.

----------

Mate - i have a buddy with similar wattage fitted in his daytona - and they are a real PAIN IN THE ARSE (well, eyes)- they almost hurt my eyes in the rearveiw mirror even in dull daylight.

They will be unpopular - but at least you'll see it I guess.

bd

[ManDownUnder]

I thought there was a limit on the amount of light you're allowed to spit out...

That being said - I can't remember when or where I read that.

Just watch you don't get those bulbs too hot - coz they'll cook real fast if not sufficiently ventilated (remember that Quartz bulbs only convert 15% of their power to light... most of the other 85% goes off as heat...)

I'm envious of the superior lighting you have, but be careful you don't blind people is all..

MDU

[Hitcher]

Amazing too that so much heat (five-times more than normal) can be contained without melting something -- like wiring, plastic surrounds, etc.

[Ixion]

I thought there was a limit on the amount of light you're allowed to spit out...

That being said - I can't remember when or where I read that.

Just watch you don't get those bulbs too hot - coz they'll cook real fast if not sufficiently ventilated (remember that Quartz bulbs only convert 15% of their power to light... most of the other 85% goes off as heat...)

I'm envious of the superior lighting you have, but be careful you don't blind people is all..

MDU

No limit on wattage that I'm aware of, just a limit on the number of lights, and they have to comply with standard blah blah blah (numbers in the lenses) . Yeah, I'm aware of the heat factor. Fortunately , my headlamp is a glass lense and well ventilated.

Mate - i have a buddy with similar wattage fitted in his daytona - and they are a real PAIN IN THE ARSE (well, eyes)- they almost hurt my eyes in the rearveiw mirror even in dull daylight.

They will be unpopular - but at least you'll see it I guess.

That's why the road code says you must dip lights when following another vehicle (though I'm a bit ambivalent about this cos sometimes it's handy if the car behind you adds its light - you can both see better, and modern cars have those clever dipping mirrors so the light isn't a problem in the mirror.)

Worth pointing out that it's still less watts than a lot of cars and SUVs. My Pajero puts out over 500 watts, and some of the expensive cages are even more. I've also added a handlebar switch so I can turn the driving lamps off (still retaining the main beam headlamp) when the traffic makes them inappropriate.

[Ixion]

Good to see someone else here on my side of the safe riding issue - some people here think I'm crazy when I say it's their fault if they crash on unsignposted roadworks,you gotta ride as if they are around the next bend...

Yep. Sooner or later EVERYTHING will be round the next bend . I assume the worst until I can see it's OK.

And I don't think roadworks signs are worth anything. Half the time they have them up when there aren't any actual works. And the other half they don't have them when there are. I don't actually like relying on someone else putting up signs to keep me safe. If I can see it's safe, well and good. If not, I'll assume it isn't, signs or no signs . (not that road works should be considered inherently unsafe anyway. Most of the time it's just effectively a gravel road , and I regard that as part of biking life)

[Wolf]

I consider that I ride in a very cautious (even timid) and safe fashion. It's kept me unscratched and unharmed in over half a million kilometres on two wheels.

But I don't consider that a speed of XXX kph in itself is inherently especially dangerous. There is nothing magical about the figure of 100kph that makes it safe, nothing magical about the figure of (say) 150kph that makes it dangerous.
**lengthy work of art snipped**

Well put. I am in agreement. I am also a cautious rider - wasn't always as cautious as I am now, but I learned.

ACC and LTSA put out a document on speed and it differentiates between "Excess Speed" and "Inappropriate Speed". The former is exceeding the legal limit; the latter, the road conditions.

I agree that on occasions it is possible to have "excess speed" that is not "inappropriate speed" - and still have the ability to respond to possible threats well in advance.

There was a time when it was not safe to do 50km/h in most streets in town - you did 60-70 like the rest of the vehicles on the street or you got arse-ended or run off the road. Now the speed seems to have dropped in town and most places it's unsafe to do more than 50km/h.