Deauville Headlights

I must be an amazing rider as I seem to dazzle everyone as I ride on
dipped beam. Asked the dealers to check the headlight adjustments.
They said it's fine just the nature of the beast,apparently very
bright and they've had similar comments from others in the past.

Has anyone else had this problem, if so how did you resolve it?

Brian

 

don't ride at night ... ? ;o)

--
Steve Parry

http://www.gwynfryn.co.uk

http://wrexhamseals.tripod.com

 

Looks like Honda are trying to dispel the 'dullville' name.

 

Ignore the fuckers - happens all the time on my VFR, and I'm sure it
happens to Elly on her CBR, too.

It's just one of those things with the super-bright headlamps on modern
Honda kit.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
You mispelled piss-poor-optical-design.
Most modern headlight designs on bikes, or cars for that matter, are pretty
shite in terms of output, glare, and beam control. To prove a point, have a
look at any older (70-80s) bike or car with Cibie 'Z-beam' inserts.
*Superb* beam pattern with typically 150-400% improvement in output compared
with some modern optics using the same lightsource.
So-called 'bullet' or 'projector' types with aspheric lenses are only apprx
25-30% efficient. The older rectangular units on the 80s GPz for example
achieve >80% optical efficiency.
More information you never needed to know brought to you by...
JB

 

The MOT garage always set my headlight too high. When the bike is
just stood there it was spot on, but once I sat on the bike, up they
go. The 80 watt bulbs don't help.

 

That's absolutely bollocks.

Have you ever ridden a new-ish Honda - VFR800, CBR600F-S(?) etc?

The headlamps are _superb_ - by far the best conventional headlamps I've
ever used.

Refer to Pip's postings regarding 'riding in the shadow of Elly's
headlamp as it overpowers the pathetic light on my RF900.

They are an _excellent_ optical design - they're just so bright that
other drivers seem to think they're on main beam.

 

Which to me, makes them sound like piss poor optical design for a
vehicles headlight.

A good design, IMO, would be bright, clear, good spread and reach but
*without* blinding every other poor fucker in oncoming vehicles.

 

ding

Best headlight on any car I've driven are 21 years oldd, and
apparently they dazzle no-one

--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l. Really, Sprint 1.7
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

They are not excellent examples of optical design. Yes the lights on a
recent VFR800 are very bright! They bloody ought to be with 2x 60/55W H4s
*and* 2x55W H7s! If they apper to be on high beam to other drivers, when
actually on low beam, then the light is not going where intended; ie on the
road surface. I agree that the high beam performance is excellent however,
but high beam reflector/refractor design is comparatively straightforward
compared with the restrictive design criteria for low beam units, especially
when you throw so much raw power at the problem. Generally the smaller the
reflector the less efficient it will be for a given light source.
I have been designing high performance lighting optics and the lamps for
them, for over 25 years now, and also designing/building the photometric
testing systems which are used *by* the manufacturers.
I'm not saying *all* modern headlamps are crap. Just most are now governed
by body-sylists, and th eoptical engineers get told "this is the total space
you've got to put the lightsource/reflector/lens etc in".
JB

 

On Thu, 8 Jan 2004 23:07:34 -0000, "JB"

That matches nicely with the lights I was talking about. Bloody great
square things they are, but the cast a very sharply defined beam

--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l. Really, Sprint 1.7
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

Yup. But the styling gurus these days don't like big-square or big-round
boring old headlight designs. They like minimal frontal area on cars, sexy
swooping curves on bike fairings and the result is tiny and misshapen
headlights which as a rule are shite!
You want it really bad, move to the US. With their truly appalling lighting
standards, they are lucky to be out at night at all.

JB

 

On Thu, 8 Jan 2004 23:33:05 -0000, "JB"

I'm glad I have a boring car and bike then

Well, frankly they should never be let out without a responsible
adult.

--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l. Really, Sprint 1.7
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

Pretty much confirms what I've seen for years. The old Z1100 headlight
unit on my GS is far, far superior to many others (but not all, it must
be said) of the day or since. Big reflector area, fairly good cutoff on
dip with all the light spreading nicely like a white carpet in front of
you and a bloody good main beam.

Nice to get things from the 'orses gob. Ta.

--

Dave

GS 850 x2 / SE 6a
SbS#6 DIAABTCOD#16 APOSTLE#6 FUB#3
FUB KotL OSOS#12? UKRMMA#19

 

Unfortunately their definition of responsible adult is a bit shaky as
well.

 

Responsible *non* American adult?

--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l. Really, Sprint 1.7
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk