Light me up...

Sparks! · Sir Tart-a-lot Joined: 30 Aug 2003 Karma :

Getting dark now, my XR's lights are pretty much useless and I'd rather not have to stop riding when it gets a bit dark!

So.. firstly, want to change my headlight to something less pathetic but can't really find anything.. need some reccomendations! Don't want to spend tooo much though... was thinking maybe a BAJa style spot lamp similar to the TTR Raid lights or similar... are they actually bright though?

Am also considering one of these strapped to my helmet ..

Anyone use one, are they good? pretty damn expensive for a torch so would like some opinions before I buy one! I thought that picture on the ad was photoshopped but according to the sales pitch its a real picture..... looks ideal if it is really that bright.

I believe Svenn may use one? any good??

I'm also considering indicators.... whats involved in fitting a set to my XR which currently has no provision for them..?
____________________
Current Toys: 06 Yamaha WR250F | Nissan 350Z GT | Tech 4 Homes

ram_doom · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Mar 2006 Karma :

garyd · Brolly Dolly Joined: 09 Apr 2006 Karma :

The lights on an off roader are at such a daft position it illuminates the top of the front fender lovely,
____________________
CRF230 all you need

Ste · Not Work Safe Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :

To have lots of lots of light so that you can see where you're going you could put the XR in the back of your L200 and drive that instead? Razz

Night riding by the XR headlight is okay and a good head torch is very useful to have.

MaybeGuy · Super Spammer Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Karma :

i used a head torch through winter on my GSXR when the front loom was fucked, and being an import i couldnt get a replacement for that model without paying something stupid.

it was shit.
____________________
Blue_SV650S wrote: it was a sh1te wheelie, but it proves that he can get it up in 3rd and can do angles. In summery, mattsprattuk is a gobby little sh1tebag, dopehead tw4t, but sadly for all of us, he probably isn't THAT full of sh1te!! Mr. Green

Kickstart wrote: Hi I tend to agree with Matt. All the best Keith

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

I got myself a tarty headtorch with a similar CREE LED, but had a problem with it and got to send it back for replacement. Pretty bright, but I think an ultimate solution would be a bike-powered head-mounted HID unit - it definitely wasn't up to those levels, I'd say.

Unfortunately ones made as head torches for bike use tend to be pretty expensive, but I reckon one could be bodged up fairly cheaply using the chinese kits.

On that, I'd also look at a HID replacement for your main bulb. Quite impressed with how well mine worked in the zx9. Haven't done this on the KTM yet, but probably will do at some point. They often come in kits of two, so could use one in the headlight and a second for a head-mount, or maybe as an auxiliary light with a different reflector.

Note that the pic on the ebay ad was taken with 8 sec exposure f2.8/iso 100. As a comparison, this picture was taken in very low light with the same settings, though on a different camera: https://gees.zenfolio.com/p597043665/h2eee480b#h2eee480b
That, I think was 11:30 (time out by an hour on the camera) at John'o'groats - there was a tiny bit of light left, but hardly any at all. If you skip to the next picture it's taken forty minutes later and back three

garyd · Brolly Dolly Joined: 09 Apr 2006 Karma :

The lens on KTM are plastic and dont like high wattage bulbs Thumbs Down

____________________
CRF230 all you need

garyd · Brolly Dolly Joined: 09 Apr 2006 Karma :

The lens on KTM are plastic and dont like high wattage bulbs Thumbs Down

____________________
CRF230 all you need

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

HID is lower wattage than the equivalent 'normal' bulb for brighter, or at the same power output, even brighter.
Haven't noticed the one on my zx9 getting excessively hot, so presume it's not an issue with them.

Blue_SV650S · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Nov 2008 Karma :

Two things you need to consider.

1 - Your bike has no battery, so it has to be generator friendly solution - i.e. you can't simply add more lights/bulbs to the existing system

2 - however bright you make the lights, they will get covered in shyte and be rendered useless in fairly short order anyway!! Very Happy

Svenn's helmet lights are absolutely unbelievable!!

I was following him in the dark on the Sussex ride and it was like being sat in a football stadium!! Cool

____________________
The purpose of life is to fight maturity.