Caught in the dark

Guido · Jul 7, 2012

I was out riding and about 25 miles from home and it was getting dark fast. I haven't ridden in the dark in about 30 years on this bike and noticed the headlight just didn't seem to shine a strong enough beam out to the road.
Looking at it looks bright enough but not on the road.
Is there a better bulb or headlight globe?
Or do I need a better alternator?
I hate riding at night.

swooshdave · Jul 7, 2012

Guido said:
I was out riding and about 25 miles from home and it was getting dark fast. I haven't ridden in the dark in about 30 years on this bike and noticed the headlight just didn't seem to shine a strong enough beam out to the road.
Looking at it looks bright enough but not on the road.
Is there a better bulb or headlight globe?
Or do I need a better alternator?
I hate riding at night.

Are you using a relay for your headlight circuit?

What headlight are you using? Halogen?

Torontonian · Jul 7, 2012

A gentleman does not ride about after dark.

concours · Jul 7, 2012

I concur, the original lamp is a bad joke. Widowmaker from Hell.

The answer to your problem is here: http://www.busdepot.com/0301600118 Genuine Bosch Motorcycle specific priced at less than $50 a PAIR! Share with a friend... excuse to buy a SECOND Britbike..

and here:

A motorcycle specific Halogen lamp that drops into your existing ring with no mods, been around 35+ years looks period correct, (easily reversible to OEM should you begin the Trailer Queen routine) 45 watt lamp draws slightly less current than stock candle. 4,000 miles on my stock single phase/zener/rectifier setup, light on AT ALL TIMES, battery stays topped up. And, of course, wire in a simple relay to keep full voltage at the lamp. THE SINGLE biggest safety upgrade to SEE and BE SEEN. My riding buddy has had one in a '73 Bonny since 1975. Daily rider, three round-the-US loops, modern level of light output.

Guido · Jul 7, 2012

swooshdave said:
Guido said:

I was out riding and about 25 miles from home and it was getting dark fast. I haven't ridden in the dark in about 30 years on this bike and noticed the headlight just didn't seem to shine a strong enough beam out to the road.
Looking at it looks bright enough but not on the road.
Is there a better bulb or headlight globe?
Or do I need a better alternator?
I hate riding at night.

Click to expand...

Are you using a relay for your headlight circuit?

What headlight are you using? Halogen?

The headlight is a stock Lucas globe and bulb. I don't have a relay unless it was stock with the bike in '74.
I have never wired a relay before and don't know how. Being color blind wiring has never been my strong suit.
I like the Bus Depot setup and would get a set for my '73 Super Beetle but would like to retain the Lucas globe.
Is there a bulb that would fit the stock Lucas globe?
I would like to go halogen.
Gentleman? Moi?

CanukNortonNut · Jul 7, 2012

The headlight is a stock Lucas globe and bulb. I don't have a relay unless it was stock with the bike in '74.
I have never wired a relay before and don't know how. Being color blind wiring has never been my strong suit.
I like the Bus Depot setup and would get a set for my '73 Super Beetle but would like to retain the Lucas globe.
Is there a bulb that would fit the stock Lucas globe?
I would like to go halogen.
Gentleman? Moi?[/quote]

Guido
There are replacement bulbs for the Lucas (globe). Walridge sells them for sure. You might have a low watt bulb 45/40W in there. Check to make sure. Some guys use them because of the limited power output of the Lucas alternator (especially if you are tooting around town a lot and not able to get the revs up for the alternator to feed back into the battery). You can upgrade to the 12 Volt 60/55W. Check your alternator output with a voltmeter. You should be getting 20 Volts AC at 1750 RPM out of the two leads coming out of the primary case. If it is lower than that then consider a new rotor. It’s a good chance the rotor magnets have lost their magnetism after 40 years of service.
Going with a relay system, as swoohdave posted earlier is a good thing as it runs the current direct thru the relay/bulb/battery as apposed to running thru the switching gear at the handlebars. This will improve the headlight performance. Eastern Beaver has good kits all pre-wired with everything included to do an install. If you are unsure how to do it he has a small note to tell you what wires goes where.
Cheers,
CNN

DonOR · Jul 7, 2012

I installed an HID setup in last year.... weather permitting, I ride at night almost as often as in daylight.
Fits in the standard globe, I did take a couple hours to fit the ballast, relay, etc. But that sucker is bright! at only 20 watts, it puts out 3 times the light of a quartz H4... I often get oncoming cars flashing their brights at me in daylight!

powerdoc · Jul 8, 2012

DonOr: Please share details and pics of your HID setup. Are you just using low beam or do you have a dual-HID setup?

drp · Jul 8, 2012

I am planning on putting on an Eastern Beaver relay on my Commando. I have already changed the reflector to the Bosch and I am running a 45/55 watt halogen bulb. A few years ago I got tired of the wimpy light and the stupid flat backed shell on my 71 T120 and changed to a T140 shell with a Bosch reflector, the Eastern Beaver relay kit, a 180 watt single phase alternator and a 55/65 halogen bulb. Now when I ride behind my friend on his Commando all he can see is my light and his shadow. The relay is an easy fit and works very well http://www.easternbeaver.com/ when I ride to work it's early and dark so the brighter light is well worth the investment.

Dave

VintAge · Jul 8, 2012

DonOR said:
I installed an HID setup in last year.... weather permitting, I ride at night almost as often as in daylight.
Fits in the standard globe, I did take a couple hours to fit the ballast, relay, etc. But that sucker is bright! at only 20 watts, it puts out 3 times the light of a quartz H4... I often get oncoming cars flashing their brights at me in daylight!

None of my business but if you're using the HID with the original lensing system, then people are flashing you so often for possibly two reasons:

1) Your headlamp may be adjusted too high/too far toward the oncoming lane. I see this often since PA inspection laws require headlight aiming be checked on every vehicle and when I check bikes it isn't unusual for the light to be way off.

2) Induced glare. For example, from Wikipedia:
Beginning in the early 1990s, HID lamps have been employed in motor vehicle headlamps. This application has met with mixed responses from motorists, who appreciate the improved nighttime visibility from HID headlamps but object to the glare they can cause. Internationalized European vehicle regulations require such headlamps to be equipped with lens cleaners and an automatic self-leveling system to keep the beams aimed correctly regardless of vehicle load and attitude, but no such devices are required on motorcycles, or in North America, where ECE regulations are inapplicable and inherently more glaring beam patterns are also permitted. However, The fitting of HID conversion kits (which include HID lamps that fit into original headlamp units in place of the original bulbs with no change to the headlamp's lens, reflector or housing) generally results in extremely high levels of glare, and is illegal throughout most of the world. However, complete halogen headlamp units can be replaced with complete HID headlamp units, provided that the replacement headlamp units comply with the applicable standards.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9]

worntorn · Jul 8, 2012

I was showing a friend the HID lights on my new Mazda a few months ago. His comment was " Oh, its got screw the other guy lights!"

Paul Goff sells a variety of replacement bulbs for old British bikes. He even has a halogen prefocus base bulb that Im using in the Vincent Rapides. He also has a halogen pilot bulb that fits the standard pilot bulb hole. Even though its only 8 watts or so, It is bright enough to get you home in the event the main bulb fries.

http://www.norbsa02.freeuk.com/

Glen

JimC · Jul 8, 2012

I was showing a friend the HID lights on my new Mazda a few months ago. His comment was " Oh, its got screw the other guy lights!"

I'd be more inclined to say that HID lights ore more beneficial during daylight. Maybe get the morons' attention that seem to always say they didn't see the motorcycle they just ran into. I don't have HID lights, but I do have a headlight flasher.

DonOR · Jul 8, 2012

All it takes is one driver who "doesn't see you". I know, one of them broke my left leg in five places (6 months recovery, 3 surgeries, lost income, etc.). That was 30 years ago, its worse now; everywhere I go I see drivers on the phone, texting, on their facebook page, whatever.

Even though its properly aimed, it may be a bit discourteous, but if you don't stare at my light, it won't bother you, just as I don't stare at other's HIDs.

DonOR · Jul 8, 2012

powerdoc said:
DonOr: Please share details and pics of your HID setup. Are you just using low beam or do you have a dual-HID setup?

doc, its something I found on ebay, sent direct from china, about $60. its a single HID bulb with a magnet that tilts it up for high beam. I put the ballast under the fuel tank, between the top frame tube and the smaller one underneath. secured with gorilla tape.

concours · Jul 8, 2012

You could get a Plug-N-Play Lucas Halogen setup:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NORTON-COMMANDO ... cc&vxp=mtr