Nighttime cornering and auxiliary lights?

[gaddman]

Hi,
Does anyone have some good ideas on how to get more light while cornering? My daily commute takes me on some windy rural roads, and come winter, I'll be riding in the dark again. I find my headlight distance (on a Honda VTR250) is drastically reduced as soon as I get into a lean. Are some bikes better than others for this? I see some fancy BMW's have tilting lights, but how about bikes with twin headlights, any better than a single light?
Alternatively, are auxiliary lights a good solution for this? Something like this, only a few more lumens.
ta,
chris

[Tazz]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=693514099

[Gremlin]

Other than the fancy tilting/turning lights, most lights suffer the same problem of losing light as you lean for corners, simple part and parcel of the angle of the beam and the fact the motorcycle is leaning over.

A VTR250 is going to have limited output, restricting the ability to add lights. LEDs draw the least power but don't really have the punching power for distance. Alternatively, taking some small (10-12W) LED lamps and angling them up and out into those black holes on the side when cornering, should help fill those holes. Be aware that angling such lights like that is not legal.

Ultimately, if you can't see where you are going, then you need to back off your pace until it matches the reach of your lights.

[Ocean1]

LEDs draw the least power but don't really have the punching power for distance.

I reckon they do. Especially in the situation I'd find them most usefull: slow tight corners where there's zero spillover from your main headlight but the distance isn't much.

In which case I'd really really like someone to make a pair of tiny faired limpet lights to stick on my helmet.

That's probably not legal either. Fuckem.

[gaddman]

Thanks for the advice. I reckon I might do a test and try strapping my 900lm LED headlamp to one fork and see what difference it makes. Actually, helmet mount would be perfect for light, but not sure how legal or safe that is.

[caspernz]

LEDs draw the least power but don't really have the punching power for distance.

Ultimately, if you can't see where you are going, then you need to back off your pace until it matches the reach of your lights.

I kinda disagree with the first statement, check out the newish stuff introduced here http://www.greatwhites.com.au/

Second statement, for damn sure...in fact anyone who needs that pointed out to them should be on the bus

[R650R]

You need to light the back end up so your crossed up going into the corner and then you will see, albeit briefly whats ahead... LOL

Seriously though I have the same issue on the DR where as on the GSXR with twin lights its no problem. Just remember 99.99% of the time there's nothing ahead worth worrying about.
Also from my night driving experience I always like to point out to people you can massively increase your night vision by always keeping your headlights, windows/visor and spectacles if you wear them very clean.

Gremlin is right about LEDS, they are good for being seen but the falloff is very quick compared to other light sources. I've even tested this with some professional gear via a mate and photography and yes the power is there, but only at close distances. If we want to get technical I think its because the light emitted by LEDs is a very narrow wavelength, halfway between most normal visible light sources and lasers. You should avoid getting direct light from high power LEDs unsheilded towards your eyes.
This is countered of course by just buying a super high power LED unit, would very much like a set of these http://clearwaterlights.com/infopg_krista.html

Scroll down this link for some more affordable stuff http://www.procycle.us/bikepages/dr650.html#electrical Use similar units when night mountain biking, pretty grunty and would throw up just enough light to give you some contrast to possible hazards out of view.

[Gremlin]

I kinda disagree with the first statement, check out the newish stuff introduced here http://www.greatwhites.com.au/

Against HID and Halogen options, the LEDs don't have the distance. The one caveat however, is the HP-LED gear, or high power. These do have some good distance, and the ones I have draw 36W per lamp. Of course, this is also more power than your usual LEDs. The cost is also significantly higher, and probably a decent percentage of the cost of a VTR250

As said, short range and they can fill in the gaps headlights can't light.

[FJRider]

... Be aware that angling such lights like that is not legal.

Ultimately, if you can't see where you are going, then you need to back off your pace until it matches the reach of your lights.

If they are set to come on on high beam ONLY ... legality shouldn't be an issue ...

But an upgrade on main beam bulbs might be worth investigating ... either way ... riding by braille is never good ...

[Marmoot]

Does anyone have some good ideas on how to get more light while cornering?

Play with your high beam (passing beam) while leaned over. It will give some light into the turn.
Obviously don't do this with incoming traffic, though.

[caspernz]

Against HID and Halogen options, the LEDs don't have the distance. The one caveat however, is the HP-LED gear, or high power. These do have some good distance, and the ones I have draw 36W per lamp. Of course, this is also more power than your usual LEDs. The cost is also significantly higher, and probably a decent percentage of the cost of a VTR250

As said, short range and they can fill in the gaps headlights can't light.

For sure, the new stuff from Great Whites is awesome, for trucking and 4 x 4 applications. If you've seen them in action, you'll see that nothing beats them for range or colour warmth.

If only they had them in smaller sizes, since I'd sneak a little light bar onto my Busa even...

[Gremlin]

If only they had them in smaller sizes, since I'd sneak a little light bar onto my Busa even...

6 inches small enough? http://www.rigidindustries.com/led-l...t_length%3A673

I have the Clearwater Kristas, but then saw the Ericas (http://clearwaterlights.com/infopg_erica.html). Then again, I'm currently able to light up boards 1.5-2km away... so stopped myself from spending up on an unnecessary upgrade

[ZeroIndex]

These look baller...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIMZB4HDpnQ

[caspernz]

6 inches small enough? http://www.rigidindustries.com/led-l...t_length%3A673

I have the Clearwater Kristas, but then saw the Ericas (http://clearwaterlights.com/infopg_erica.html). Then again, I'm currently able to light up boards 1.5-2km away... so stopped myself from spending up on an unnecessary upgrade

I've got a more pussified solution...ride in the daylight mostly and just slow down at night for even them Erica lights just wouldn't look right on the Busa

[gaddman]

taking some small (10-12W) LED lamps and angling them up and out into those black holes on the side when cornering, should help fill those holes. Be aware that angling such lights like that is not legal.

Had a good look around and this is pretty much what I've got now. 2x1000lm/10W Cree spots. As Gremlin suggested I needed a bit of angle up & out, which requires some adjustment to get the best angle for the corner & lean. Hopefully the legal side is OK; they're wired to come on with full beam.

Mounted to the top of the forks:


Some shots below of the improved visibility, although the phone camera makes the dark areas look much blacker than reality. Hard to illustrate well without video, but it is definitely a big improvement on the corners.

Dip/full/spots at a distance of a road width:


Dip/full/spots on a straight:


Dip/full/spots on a tight corner:


Thanks everyone for the suggestions!