Is there a way to make the other bulb come on without using the brights? Like at night wouldn't be better if both headlights were on instead of just 1.
scottd1975
I assume you have the R model with two headlights?
If you were willing to adjust the high-beam lower, so you weren't shining high beams in people's eyes all the time, you could probably wire it up so both bulbs were always on. The bike can support the amperage, people run add-on lights here.
The downside is you wouldn't have any actual high beams to use at night.
If you wanted to be a bit more ambitious, you could wire them both up to be 3-wire H4 bulbs, so both would be on always and you would have real high and low beams. I believe H4's are the 3-wire bulbs that single-light motos use (and cars). It would depend on a lot of things though, if H4 bulbs would fit in there for example, if the beam patterns came out right. H4's are like $1.00 at an auto parts store so not hard to figure out. H4 plugs with wires for DIY builds are also easy to get. They also make 35W H4's in case dual 55's are a little too much (although if it was me I would prefer the higher wattage bulbs). I think this would be a really cool mod if you could get it to work.
So to recap, if I was going to test this I would buy an H4 bulb or two, one of the wiring harnesses, and make a temporary wireup to the battery, and then test fitment and beam pattern, total cost would be about $20 if you are handy with a soldering iron and have tools for working with electrical already. Test the beam patterns on both sides, best way to do this is at night, second best way is to look at the beam pattern against a wall.
If you were willing to adjust the high-beam lower, so you weren't shining high beams in people's eyes all the time, you could probably wire it up so both bulbs were always on. The bike can support the amperage, people run add-on lights here.
The downside is you wouldn't have any actual high beams to use at night.
If you wanted to be a bit more ambitious, you could wire them both up to be 3-wire H4 bulbs, so both would be on always and you would have real high and low beams. I believe H4's are the 3-wire bulbs that single-light motos use (and cars). It would depend on a lot of things though, if H4 bulbs would fit in there for example, if the beam patterns came out right. H4's are like $1.00 at an auto parts store so not hard to figure out. H4 plugs with wires for DIY builds are also easy to get. They also make 35W H4's in case dual 55's are a little too much (although if it was me I would prefer the higher wattage bulbs). I think this would be a really cool mod if you could get it to work.
So to recap, if I was going to test this I would buy an H4 bulb or two, one of the wiring harnesses, and make a temporary wireup to the battery, and then test fitment and beam pattern, total cost would be about $20 if you are handy with a soldering iron and have tools for working with electrical already. Test the beam patterns on both sides, best way to do this is at night, second best way is to look at the beam pattern against a wall.
You probably should do a little research on what the FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) require of lighting:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2011-title49-vol6/pdf/CFR-2011-title49-vol6-sec571-108.pdf
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2011-title49-vol6/pdf/CFR-2011-title49-vol6-sec571-108.pdf
it is not that easy to do it all i know. some modification are needed. there was a thread about it here somewhere.
I'll add my 2 cents on this...the regs were written because when average cager sees one headlight, the brain defaults to what it knows: that is a motorcycle. When two headlights are seen, that is another vehicle. Two headlights close together, that is another vehicle in the distance and surly not a motorcycle much closer. Agree or not, that is the driving theory behind the regs written long ago.
Count me in the camp that thinks it's ridiculous. If I had an R, I would want to wire them both up. Is it technically illegal? Yeah, like having a race slip on? I'd probably take the chance that no leo would hassle me about it, and if they did I would play dumb, say the po did it, and "promise" to fix it asap.
Count me in the camp that thinks it's ridiculous. If I had an R, I would want to wire them both up. Is it technically illegal? Yeah, like having a race slip on? I'd probably take the chance that no leo would hassle me about it, and if they did I would play dumb, say the po did it, and "promise" to fix it asap.
Cruisers do dual lights all the time.
Here is a dual headlight add-on:
J&P Cycles® Dual Halogen Headlight Housing | 3100501 | J&P Cycles
2006 Triumph speed triple had two front headlights that both lit up together:
http://images.motorcycle-usa.com/PhotoGallerys/_ebb5344_-_version_2.jpg
I don't see a reg problem here, just a how-to puzzle.
Here is a dual headlight add-on:
J&P Cycles® Dual Halogen Headlight Housing | 3100501 | J&P Cycles
2006 Triumph speed triple had two front headlights that both lit up together:
http://images.motorcycle-usa.com/PhotoGallerys/_ebb5344_-_version_2.jpg
I don't see a reg problem here, just a how-to puzzle.
Threads on this and HID's been done to death lol
Thing is when your on the bike you can not actually see that both are not on? does it matter, I doubt I will ever see anyone ride my bike and saw another on road yesterday and I certainly did not go oh no only one light on!
Thing is when your on the bike you can not actually see that both are not on? does it matter, I doubt I will ever see anyone ride my bike and saw another on road yesterday and I certainly did not go oh no only one light on!
Are there projector headlight kits available that are not HID but have halogen globes? I would prefer the latter instead.
HID headlights in cars have self levelling type headlights which, as the term implies, self adjusts. With HID's on motorbikes they do not self adjust.So whenever you take off at the lights or each time you gear change the front of the bike lifts and no matter how they are adjusted, it will be annoying to on coming vehicles.
HID headlights in cars have self levelling type headlights which, as the term implies, self adjusts. With HID's on motorbikes they do not self adjust.So whenever you take off at the lights or each time you gear change the front of the bike lifts and no matter how they are adjusted, it will be annoying to on coming vehicles.
The right headlight reflector is designed to give you a high beam. You can adjust it somewhat downward, but in the end it's designed to point the light upwards and there's only so much adjustability possible.
Some bikes are made with dual H4 buibs. Both sides have high and low modes. The reflectors and housings are designed for that. There's no way you can put an H4 or any other dual-filament buib into our reflectors, and the reflectors wouldn't be properly aligned to the bulb if you did.
Only way is to go to a dual HID projector.
Why did Honda do this? Cost and size. Reflectors for H4 bulbs that are designed to be both high and low beams are always larger and more expensive. There's a reason the Triumphs have those big "bug eye" light fixtures. Longer term, this gets solved by dual LED fixtures like the ones on the new VFR800. It'll take a while for the cost to come down to the point where you see them in bikes like the 500s.
Some bikes are made with dual H4 buibs. Both sides have high and low modes. The reflectors and housings are designed for that. There's no way you can put an H4 or any other dual-filament buib into our reflectors, and the reflectors wouldn't be properly aligned to the bulb if you did.
Only way is to go to a dual HID projector.
Why did Honda do this? Cost and size. Reflectors for H4 bulbs that are designed to be both high and low beams are always larger and more expensive. There's a reason the Triumphs have those big "bug eye" light fixtures. Longer term, this gets solved by dual LED fixtures like the ones on the new VFR800. It'll take a while for the cost to come down to the point where you see them in bikes like the 500s.
I haven't had a proper gander at the reflector or behind it yet; but could an option be to drill a hole into the high beam reflector to mount a small globe socket wired to low beam to at least give some illumination from that left side?... sorta like my old LandCruiser where he park lights are little globes just below the regular globes.
And another thing for the peeps who drive on the left hand side; low beam is on the right which means the edge of the road on the left is hardly illuminated, which is kinda important. If it is the case that the reflector design is specific for forward-up projection for high beam, I take it it would not be so good to just swap the wires over and adjust the reflector tilts accordingly?
And another thing for the peeps who drive on the left hand side; low beam is on the right which means the edge of the road on the left is hardly illuminated, which is kinda important. If it is the case that the reflector design is specific for forward-up projection for high beam, I take it it would not be so good to just swap the wires over and adjust the reflector tilts accordingly?
haha, now that guy is a proper DIY'er; measure with micrometer, mark with chalk, cut with axe!
Yes, this guy proves that you don't need all the newest and latest power tools.
Some people feel the need to spend at least $50 for a tool that measures the tire pressure when a $2,50 one does this just as well.
Some people feel the need to spend at least $50 for a tool that measures the tire pressure when a $2,50 one does this just as well.
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