Headlight doesn't light up much of road?

[Lucy]

Does anyone else with a Ginny find that the headlight (on dip) doesnt light up much of the road? I see in the manual it can be adjusted but as biking is new to me I wondered if it was just normal for a bike. Seems to stop in a straight line (the light that is).

[98tls]

Funny that....same as my TL.................i think you will find its normal.....if its out of whack they should pick it up when you get your next WOF.........

[Ixion]

Probably normal. Most motorcycle lights, small ones especially, are crap.

Carrots, that's the secret. Eat lots of carrots. You can try carrying a torch.

[crashe]

or try changing your light bulb to the "Brighter bulb" type.
That makes a huge difference.

[TonyB]

Funny that....same as my TL.................i think you will find its normal.....if its out of whack they should pick it up when you get your next WOF.........

My experience would suggest that they couldn't give a shit if your light is too pointing too low, only if its too high.

A quick fix- get a xenon bulb, a standard one, not one of the ones that gives bright white or blue light (they colour the bulb glass to achieve the colour, so it looses output). I have used these and they are DEFINITELY brighter.

A less quick fix- get relays fitted for low and high beam, with a big fat wire direct from the battery to the bulb + xenon bulb.

Erm, just a thought... you're not using a tinted visor for night riding are you?

[98tls]

yea.........hence the "should"............

[Lucy]

Cheers thanks. I will check out the brighter bulbs for sure. I wondered about it because the light ends in such a straight across line. Might try adjusting it as well. Not using a tinted visor, no sir!

[TonyB]

one thing tho- putting a brighter bulb in won't help much if the headlight is pointing too low

[skidMark]

in agreement here gn 250's are well known for thier shocking headlight bulbs which are low wattage and rubbish quality take the bulb to repco or somewhere like that and get one to match in a 55 watt if you can

you don't want too high or youll melt your wiring loom

i can come round one night and take your bulb out for you if you like and ill go track down one?

it's pretty easy to take out yourself though

just two screws one either side of the headlight,

send me a private massage if you need help as i live in panmure so not too far away

[crashe]

Pop into a bike shop or a testing station on Monday and ask if you can check that your light is set up at the correct height saying that you think it may have been knocked etc....

It will take a couple of seconds to do this... and then with a screwdriver adjust it there and then.

If it is set correctly and still not how you like it then go and get a 'brighter bulb' but just remember to be careful on handling it when you put it in...
It has instructions on the cardboard wrapping.

[Lucy]

Hi Skidmark thanks for the very kind offer - what nice people bikers are! But I'll give it a go myself I think, it would be good practice for me to get used to doing stuff like that. Cheers.

[davereid]

Hi Lucy

If you get a new bulb, dont get one substantially more powerful (measured in WATTS) than the one you have. This is because bigger bulbs draw more current, and you may start to stress other parts of the electrical system by drawing more power than the manufacturer allowed for. Also, bigger wattage bulbs run hotter, and things might start to melt !

If you touch the glass of a halogen bulb it will pick up oil from your hands, and let you down on a dark night far from home, so try not to touch the glass !

If you set the height of your light yourself, shine it on a wall and set it to be just low of horizontal on high beam. But be sure you are sitting on the bike when you do it, as the bike will change angle with your weight.

[Lucy]

Well, my lazy nature saw me do nothing (except stick to riding in daylight) but on the very day I was taking it in for it's 1000k service the bulb blew completely. So they put a new one in for me (charged me for it though - not too impressed) and the difference is enormous. It lights up a lot more of the road (and further in front) and the light is white, not yellow! It's like getting a new battery for a dolphin torch. Which was lucky as I was riding home in the dark that day. So it's nice to know I wasn't imagining things.

[Mom]

Well, my lazy nature saw me do nothing (except stick to riding in daylight) but on the very day I was taking it in for it's 1000k service the bulb blew completely. So they put a new one in for me (charged me for it though - not too impressed) and the difference is enormous. It lights up a lot more of the road (and further in front) and the light is white, not yellow! It's like getting a new battery for a dolphin torch. Which was lucky as I was riding home in the dark that day. So it's nice to know I wasn't imagining things.

The new supplied bulb on the GN's are crap for sure, probably the only good thing is they dont last long, the replacement price nearly blew me away when mine went! One thing to watch tho, the lens on the headlight has "lines" on it that help direct the beam of light, on my GN the glass was loose and it used to just please itself in which direction it shone, used to adjust it all the time......never did get round to Blu-tak as some suggested to hold it in place

[davereid]

In another thread Cobalt fitted a 55w halogen bulb to his GN. Its providing great lighting, and he has checked the electrics, they are coping with the extra load and heat just fine. Good lighting is really important, specially on those wet moonless nights when you really wish you had a car, and its still 50km home !