Navigation by candle light

[Dan79]

Having been without my RXS for a month due to a breakdown, I'd almost forgotten just how ineffectual the lighting is on unlit roads on gloomy nights. To the extent that speeds above 40mph in said conditions are suicidal.

Are there any ways of improving the situation - considering the bike runs a 6 volt electrical system - or is this something I just have to accept as yet another "feature" of this sorry excuse for a motorcycle ?

In addition, I am considering rubber-mounting the headlight to eliminate vibrations and reduce the rate at which it destroys headlamp bulbs (I got 1,000 miles out of a bulb once - best ever by far !) However the mountings look to have virtually no leeway for inserting rubber damping. Has anyone done this on an RXS - any advice welcome.
____________________
Previous bikes - 1984 Honda VF500 (FII) Interceptor and 1990 Yamaha RXS100
Current bikes - 1984 Honda VF500 (V30) Magna

[N cee thirty]

been a few threads on here about changing bulbs etc,have a look in the search function at the top
____________________
'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once

[pits]

Something like this work? They are 6v compatible may require some bodging to fit
https://uk.alibaba.com/products/h3-6v-35w.html

[27cows]

Something is wrong if you're blowing bulbs like that. Standard ones last about 50,000 miles normally. Halogens about 20K.

I can see where I'm going with a normal 40/45W bulb, though it's taken years to develop cat-like eyesight Seriously, RXS headlights ain't that bad. I had a moped once with a 15W headlight that literally didn't emit enough light to show on the road.

You need a 45W 6V halogen. They do improve matters. But they're hard to find and expensive. You need to suss what's causing your blowing bulbs before trying one. I trust you've tested the regulator (under the seat, single yellow wire).
____________________
The RXS100: vehicle of choice for Chuck Norris

[Dan79]

Thanks for that.

The bulbs I'm using are not "standard" as such - they are cheapo 35W x 36W. No one anywhere in east Suffolk seem to sell 6 volt bulbs of any other description - at least not of the type to fit the dish in the RXS.

When headlamp bulbs fail, it is always the dipped beam filament that fail.

(High beam by the way has never added noticeably to dipped beam.)

I had not realised halogen bulbs would work without draining too much power, so may try these if I can obtain one. Any ideas where to find a suitable bulb ? How much should I expect to pay for one ?

The battery consistently give a multimeter reading of about 6.4 volts detached from the bike. I have not tested the regulator, wouldn't know how unless told what to do. Plus as a prior owner of the bike saw fit to rip out the wiring at the back end and fit "chav" twin taillights and rear indicators (I replaced these myself almost straight away) I would not trust half the wiring actually present to correspond with the colours that a wiring diagramme would provide.

Cheers
____________________
Previous bikes - 1984 Honda VF500 (FII) Interceptor and 1990 Yamaha RXS100
Current bikes - 1984 Honda VF500 (V30) Magna

[andym]

Couple of suggestions....

I use a country road on the way home and my scooter headlight was about as bright as a lit cigarette.... anyway.... One night I decided to switch the headlight off (about 1am), I managed about 2 miles before I chickened out, but it was amazing how well I could see when I put the light back on.

Lift yer visor (if you have one), if I had mine down I could see eff all.

I was seriously tempted to do this one... get a couple of rechargeable torches and stick them on your bike/scooter/thing

1.5 million candle rechargeable torch on amazon.... £20
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001CLRUJ0/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_3?pf_rd_p=103612307&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000KY6SIY&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=11J1VGYE4GV9RT84DPCH

[cloric_tzr]

tell me about it. my tzr main beam is shite and dip bean well. . . i may as well have a candle.
all made worse by the fact some c*ck run into my bike at the burger van. bent my healight set to the left. so when im going in a straight line im lighting 11 0'clock up (12 being where im going) when going right i cant see f all but the hedge! very hard not to get target fixation but has helped me in a weird way i dont get it at all now.
but ace for going round left hand bends!
makes riding at night just that little bit more fun!!!
____________________
i dumped my girlfriend the other day! she wouldnt act out one of my fantasy's. all i wanted her to do was come home from work, catch me fucking her sister and join in!!! miserable bitch!
My wifes so ugly, the only thing that goes down on her
Is the internet connection.