RT Headlight Options

[SteveMac]

This is an extension of an earlier thread regarding RT headlights. For the second nite in a row I have had someone pull over. This time I knew the person and the road was deserted except for us so I stopped next to him. He laughed when he saw it was me. I asked him why he pulled over and if he thought I was a cop.

He said no, but it did definitely look out of place. He said it looked like the lights were going white to pink and back again.

So here is the question. What can be done to resolve this? Is there an aftermarket solution? Surely, there is some solution. It has happened several times this summer, but the fact that it has now happened two nights in a row makes me wonder if it is getting worse or merely a coincidence.

 

[ryedoggracing]

Lower your lights or raise them that's what I did.

 

[SpyderAnn01]

I've never even had anyone flash their lights at me even with the bright lights on. Maybe I need to raise mine up. I'm getting ready to install the Xenon Depot HIDs and I'm hoping I don't screw up the adjustment and start having people pull over for me. Do you have your shocks set really stiff? Maybe it is the motion of the lights that fools people.

 

[NancysToy]

As was said, adjust the headlights. Lower is usually the best, as they raise when the Spyder is loaded. In the daytime, run with your bright lights on. This effect is typical of projection lens headlights. They all do it, but there is more change in attitude when a motorcycle is loaded, and the light weight makes motorcycle headlights jiggle more, so the effect is more pronounced on a Spyder than it would be with a car.

 

[SteveMac]

Appearance of color change is the problem I am having. Really not a problem with brightness to oncoming or rearview of ones I am following. So the problem is color change not brightness.

I did adjust my light beams lower after installing the Elkas a few months ago. I'm not having "oncoming" cars flash me now. My issue is with cars I am "following".

When I am behind them, the see changing color lights in their rearview mirror and they are pulling over.

When I did the headlight adjustment after the Elka install, I adjusted the lights per BRP manual, and I was riding one up last night. So that should take that out of the equation. I do have a bad rear shock that I will be getting replaced soon at Cowtown. But could that be causing the appearance of changing colors due to some extra bouncing?

I have heard some say the light refracts off the chrome base causing the appearance of color change so I am wondering if there is a solution for this? I'll play with the headlight adjustment some more, but I don't see how that will resolve the appearance of changing colors to cars I am following.

Maybe I just have to hope the rear shock replacement combined with a subsequent headlight adjustment will solve the issue?

In my opinion though, a properly adjusted headlight (like mine) should not have surrounding lenses/refraction that are so sensitive to vertical movements of the bike i.e. When one up vs two up, or bouncing due to bad shock or bad road bumps.

To me, regardless of headlight adjustment, the appearance of white to pink and back again should not be occurring. In my mind improperly adjusted headlights should only impact the "brightness" to oncoming vehicles or rearview mirrors of cars I am following. There should not be the appearance of color change due to adjustment.

So is there an aftermarket solution to the whole assembly? I doubt if there is such a product, but this is the best place to ask!

 

[NancysToy]

The lights are probably still a bit too high. The color change that the people see is a result of the prismatic effect as the light passes through the edge of the lens. All projector lenses do this to some extent. Play around with the settings and see if the situation improves. I personally have no problem if someone is driving in his irrors and decides to pull over. They do that for my ex-CHP BMW just because of the paint job, once in a while. I just pass them by and go on my merry way.

 

[SteveMac]

Thanks Scotty, I'll give the adjustment another shot and also hope that the new Elka rear shock helps solve some of the issue. My RT bounces along in the rear now like a 1976 Chrysler New Yorker. The air bag seems to be taking a beating to me. I can't wait to get that changed out. We will see if both combined help solve the problem. ray:

The lights are probably still a bit too high. The color change that the people see is a result of the prismatic effect as the light passes through the edge of the lens. All projector lenses do this to some extent. Play around with the settings and see if the situation improves. I personally have no problem if someone is driving in his irrors and decides to pull over. They do that for my ex-CHP BMW just because of the paint job, once in a while. I just pass them by and go on my merry way.