Cornering Lights

Grumpy · Feb 1, 2007

There's been lots of discussion and farkles dealing with illuminating forest rats from a long distance away. I live in an area that has lots of curvy and twisty roads. Occasionally I get caught in the situation where I have to ride some of these after dark. While the FJR headlights are at least a match for most auto lights, they absolutely suck when you're heeled over in a turn and it's pich black. They generate a really bright spot only 20 feet or so ahead of you in the direction of travel.

Am I the only guy with this problem, or have others already solved this problem? If so, I'd dearly love to know what this solution is.

jim

madmike2 · Feb 1, 2007

I use these (PHIDS being so darned expensive). They work well in the Sierras once adjusted to get a bit more light to the sides. You could always get the brackets only and find your own lights with a wider beam spread.

IIRC, moto lights now have a bracket to mount on the FJR forks but you'd have to do the research. you could start here.

Calabash · Feb 1, 2007

I was talking to this guy at the Tail of the Dragon and he saw how the regulars that rode there had these extra lights on their bikes aimed at 45 degree to the left and right and he couldn't figure out why they would mount their lights like that until he saw them riding at night and how the lights lit up the corners for them.

Ignacio · Feb 1, 2007

It'a actually physics of a motorcycle. That nice horizontal cutoff is great....as long as you're horizontal. Bank over and it creates a black hole.

If one has auxilliary lights of any kind you can "cross" the beams and mitigate this to an extent. That means aiming the right PHID, HID, FF50, whatever to the left across the centerline of the bike. I choose an aim point a few hundred yards down the road so my forward visibility is pretty much the same as if I aimed them conventionally.

The effect is that when one has the bike leaned over in a corner that the light then aims a bit above the horizon.

.....it's not perfect, but does help in my opinion. It's been a nice touch for various runs down 395 in Eastern Oregon.

JimLor · Feb 1, 2007

Interesting concept Iggy - heck, I'll try it!

madmike2 · Feb 1, 2007

JimLor said:
Interesting concept Iggy - heck, I'll try it!

Its always a good day when I learn something....to day is a good day!

Ignacio · Feb 1, 2007

madmike2 said:
JimLor said:

Interesting concept Iggy - heck, I'll try it!

Click to expand...

Its always a good day when I learn something....to day is a good day!

I can't remember which LD rider I learned this from. I was even a bit skeptical until I did my first run to Gerlach.

However, at about 2 a.m. one Friday night between Ukiah and Long Creek, Oregon as I dipped over into a twisty and saw a forest rat on the dipped side for a split second.....I had some flashback to Geometry class with Mr. Ponterollo in the 1984. I don't know if the flashback or deer scared me more, but it did make for an interesting 20 miles.

Now, if I could only sketch out this idea in a plan and .....whatever view. Guess I need a flashback for my Descriptive Geometry Drafting class in 1991.

charismaticmegafauna · Feb 1, 2007

I actually had a bike ('98 Katana 750) that came new this way -- right light shining left and left light shining to the right. I always thought that the dealer mechanic that prepped the bike did it (thinking it was better, or something?) -- but, maybe it came that way from the factory? I bought the bike new. I didn't like night-riding with it when new and proceeded to make sure the lights were properly adjusted -- it had big knobs, like Girl Scout cookies, for adjusting.

That's when I found out they were crossed. I think I liked it better straight -- at least didn't change them back to crossed. Might be a better idea, too, for aux-lites? Of course, high-beams don't have the cut-off and aren't affected as much on corners.

Would love to see the math (geometry) on this.....

FJRMGM · Feb 1, 2007

put a pair of Sylvania Silverstar 9003-ST bulbs in your bike - they have a much wider, whiter beam and help a lot.

Wally World - $38

HaulinAshe · Feb 1, 2007

Hey Grumpy,

I was thinking of a Halogen lamp mounted on top of my helmet. That way the light would follow my line of sight. Plus, it would double as a Bambi spot for that occasional drive-by in the woods???

Iggy's method works with HIDs. The farther they are mounted outboard of the centerline, the more effective they become.

Iris · Feb 1, 2007

Yeah, I always wanted to figure out how to get one of those huge construction lights mounted on the top, front of my helmet. That would make it look like daylight!!!

Ignacio · Feb 1, 2007

FJRMGM said:
put a pair of Sylvania Silverstar 9003-ST bulbs in your bike - they have a much wider, whiter beam and help a lot.
Wally World - $38

The brightness of the beam doesn't matter. He's talking about cutoff...which is a function of the reflector design. You can have the widest beam possible, but if it's aimed down at the ditch....it's just a brighter ditch.

JeffAshe said:
Hey Grumpy,I was thinking of a Halogen lamp mounted on top of my helmet. That way the light would follow my line of sight. Plus, it would double as a Bambi spot for that occasional drive-by in the woods???

Seen 'em snowmobiling called Lead Dog Helmet Lights.

Work pretty well for the lower velocities of sledding, but I would think at FJR nominal speeds the aerodynamics would give the neck muscles a workout.

Sherman · Feb 1, 2007

Here are some more:

Trailtechs

But it may increase wind noise.

Toecutter · Feb 1, 2007

Grumpy said:
I'd dearly love to know what this solution is.

High beams?

madmike2 · Feb 2, 2007

Grumpy said:
Am I the only guy with this problem, or have others already solved this problem? If so, I'd dearly love to know what this solution is.jim

Uhmmmm....slow down?

Ohhh, I dunno, like taking 25 mph corners at say...20 mph rather than 40?

NightShine · Feb 2, 2007

Why do things by half measures? Just go and install gyroscopically stabilized headlight reflectors! :lol:

Grumpy · Feb 2, 2007

NightShine said:
Why do things by half measures? Just go and install gyroscopically stabilized headlight reflectors! :lol:

Where is Tucker when you need him?

jim

AGirl · Feb 3, 2007

FWIW, I run fork mounted Moto Lights on all my bikes for this very reason.

AGirl

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