About that Euro-spec Headlight

[ThomWV]

I rarely ride at night anymore but last night was different. After a long day riding I wound up about 150 miles from home when it got dark. The ride back was about half on country roads and half interstate. It was the first time I really got to see how that Euro-spec headlight housing and the higher power H-4 bulb worked in the real world.

Folks, if you have a round headlight this is a modification you simply must make for the sake of your own safety if nothing else. There is simply no comparison between the stock headlight and this one. My bike now has much better lighting than most cars. The low beam light is much more focused, it does not blind oncomming traffic, it illuminates signs on the right side of the road like it was daytime while providing at least as much light on the road in front of the bike as the stock light did with the high beams on. When its flipped to Hi beam the thing lights up the world like the sun.

Mounting of one can be tricky with a Harley lamp shell because Harley uses a single indexing tab compared to the 3 tab system used by the rest of the world (and the replacement headlamp), but with other bikes it should be a snap - no harder than replacing a sealed-beam unit. They don't cost much, I think I paid $60 delivered for the lamp, high output bulb, and a standard bulb for a spare. The electrical system handels the higher power demand of the bulb with apparent ease.

[Lowell]

1. Euro-spec?

I'm not exactly sure what you mean here, but I am going to google it later and find out. I have a feeling you mean those blue tint headlights? If so, then I have to tell you, Harley Davidson is now selling them and they are utterly worthless. I was all ready to experience a great difference, but all I got was a more expensive bulb that was no better than the stock bulbs.

Now I have seen foreign bikes with these blue tint bulbs that really appear to throw out some light. If there is a kit to modify the HD to accept the bulbs you are talking about then I'd like to have it. But what Harley is offering is overpriced junk.

[HamstersFromHell]

2. See this thread in this forum...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=393x482

All you need to know to do the deed and be in lighting nirvana. :)

[ThomWV]

3. Harley parts are often overpriced

but they are never junk. Compared to parts by the other major manufacturer they are generally of much better quality. As for the lights, they have nothing to do with The Motor Company. And yes, most of us that are at all aware of things automotive know, and have known for years, the difference between tinted lights, true HID's, and separate bulb/lens systems as compared to sealed beams. Your assessment was correct, blue tint in it self does nothing. It might come as a surprise to you to learn though that yellow tint does in fact make a very big difference; just no cool looking so you rarely see it used.

[HamstersFromHell]

4. Blue tint is "cool", but...

cuts way down on your rain and fog sight distance.

Fog lights are yellow for a reason...that wavelength reflects far less back into your face than does blue or white light.

[Lowell]

5. Yellow tint serves a purpose

and I haven't seen many since I left Europe. But I remember many a foggy morning in Germany when the only thing that would cut the fog was the yellow seal beams on the bumper of my Opal Executive.

Like I said earlier I have seen very impressive lights on some foreign bikes and I will check it out now that I know where to look. But I don't agree on your assessment on HD parts. They do make some junk. A good example is the under the seat ignition switches used on the 2004-2005 FXD models. I've replaced three so far at $120 a pop. Guess what, the last one I put on two weeks ago is defective and HD doesn't refund electrical parts. I am presently running on a toggle switch I bought for $4 from Radio Shack. I just may continue to lock my front forks and use the switch rather than waste any more money on junk.

[HamstersFromHell]

7. What's killing them?

They usually only go bad through corrosion from getting (and staying) wet, or mechanical failure from having a keychain that is just too heavy. (Same applies for most automotive ignition switches as well.)

[ThomWV]

6. Another place where yellow tint is better than straight white or blue

From my reading I see that the yellow tint lights are also far more visible to oncomming drivers. They can see you better. Anything short of flying a sticker for a Republican Candidate on your windshield that improves our visibility to approaching cars is a good thing in my book. I can wait for the sun to rise and the fog to lift if I have to, but nothing makes asshole drivers go away.

[HamstersFromHell]

8. Yep.

Yellow cuts through haze better than anything, and blue or blue-white is the worst.