Is this right? (Headlights)

veeeffarr · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

Hi guys,

Noticed recently, on the VFR that 'Pass' is different to 'Main Beam'?

It seems like 'Pass' illuminates both the Dip and Main filaments, where as 'Main Beam' illuminates only the Main filament?

Is that right? Never noticed it before...

T

Wafer_Thin_Ham · Super Spammer Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Karma :

Something like that yes. I'm not exactly sure because I've never got off the bike to look, but in my experience the passing light is a similar brightness to main beam.
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veeeffarr · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

DidierD · Brolly Dolly Joined: 16 Nov 2007 Karma :

Maybe so that when you're on full beam you can blind people just that little bit more Razz

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doggone · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 May 2004 Karma :

If you hit dense fog at night sometimes holding the pass switch works better.
Have a feeling it might not be a wise to do it for long though.

Steve H · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Oct 2003 Karma :

I have exactly the same on my TT to the extent that if I'm riding on Full Beam at night and want that exta bit of brightness to I just depress the 'Pass' button for a few seconds.
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Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Pretty standard. You will notice it if you pull the pass switch and then switch to high beam. The light will get dimmer.

That said, remember you are pulling a hell of a lot more current. If you have a pair of 60/55W bulbs then normal high beam is pulling 10amps while using the passing light means pulling just over 19amps.

I tend to find in fog that using high beam is a pretty bad idea. Too much light reflected back just wears your eyes, and it doesn't really provide any more visibility.

All the best

Keith
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Scouse · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Karma :

I've always just presumed it was brighter so that if you decided to flash someone whilst having main beam on they could tell that you were flashing them.

doggone · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 May 2004 Karma :

Yes dip beam is usually best but sometimes the extra brightness does help if it's really thick.
It will sometimes show a bit more white line around a bend for example, then knock it off again.

DidierD · Brolly Dolly Joined: 16 Nov 2007 Karma :

iooi · Super Spammer Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Karma :

In fog the best is a low slung lamp with a very flat wide beam that only shines on the road. Anything else is reflected back by the water in the fog.
Sadly on a bike unless you have engine bars its very hard to mount any low enough to be of any use.
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Im-a-Ridah · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Oct 2006 Karma :

The flasher button is there so it's quick to activate the high beams. If your already on low beam and you want to flash someone, you need to turn them off and switch on the high beam fillament in the case of a dual-fillament bulb which takes time. Simply switching on a second fillament takes less time. It's only meant for flashing though and at a stretch an overtake but not for more than that. The lights will dim down due to the lack of current, a small drop in power to the lights leads to a big reduction in brightness. It's hard to say what the cause is of this, either a limit of what the bike can produce/supply or the wires not being able to move enough... or both.

deanoet · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Jul 2007 Karma :

Same on cars as well
on mine i can pull the switch towards me and it wont stick on, so i can flash the lights
push it away from me and it stays on

Much brighter when flashing the lights
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Finglonga · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Karma :

Charlie · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 May 2007 Karma :

I haven't read the rest of the thread but, isn't the reason the flash lights are brighter than the main beams is so that you can still flash people when you have the main beams on?

But if your driving at someone with main beams on you are very annoying.

Middle Finger

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Dom_ · Points Mean Prizes Joined: 02 Aug 2004 Karma :

No, there shouldn't be any cars infront of you if your main beam is on.

As kickstart said, it makes sense to knock off one filament to light up the other. Pass is only meant to be used in short bursts hence why it doesnt really matter.

M1ghtyDUck · Scooby Slapper Joined: 24 Jul 2007 Karma :

This is how mine is on the GSXR 400. If you pull the pass switch when dips are on, everything goes on. If you just have high beam, only they go on. Pulling pass doesn't do anything if you're in high beam.

Means when I'm on pitch black roads I leave it in dipped and hold the pass switch. The more light the better, especially as the dips illuminate the road more than main, allowing you to spot stuff you otherwise wouldn't. Also makes it easier to off the main beams when someone comes the other way.