Better lighting needed

These headlights suck! With a capitol k.

What do you guys use to upgrade? Aux lights? Replace stock with leds?

Thanks
Rich

 

Hmm - Is this an issue for North American models or perhaps the beam alignment is off?

OK over in Europe the dipped beam light is still pretty average, but the main beam light output once all four bulbs are lit up on the double stack headlights my 6th Gen certainly delivers about the best lighting you can get with conventional bulb lighting. Indeed plenty good enough to keep up a decent pace on totally unlit mountain roads.

Indeed I would stress the standard VFR lights are massively better than those on my Street Triple.

OK the Trumpet is now a lot better since I swapped out the stock H4s for night breakers. I also foolishly tried some cheap LED H4 substitutes from Tbay. The result was awful. There was virtually no discernible difference between main and dipped settings with light scattered all over the place including the underside of bridges! Seems if you opt for LED lights then you also need to fit matched headlamp reflectors if you do not want to blind everyone else on the road.

Have you thought about trading in for a 7th or 8th gen which certainly in Europe came with LED headlamps which to be honest are almost blinding when they are heading towards you!

 

I guess you haven't ridden many bikes from the 80's then - lol.
The lights on the 6th gen are in a whole different league from most bikes...

 

Happy with the lights on mine (all standard)

 

I have 4 bikes from the 60's, 4 from the '70s, none from the 80s or 90s and 2 from the oghts. I'm sure there's a couple more out there somewhere.

so I know what lighting used to be. My 75 Norton with led lites is just plain amazing. My vstrom with the helas turned off is way better than my suv.

So maybe I'm just picky or maybe you're not. I think these are the worse "modern" bike lights I have ever seen.

If you are happy with your lights and have done nothing to upgrade them, then I guess you can't answer my question.

 

I see that you are in your mid 60's, nothing wrong with that, but it could be signs of Age Related Macular Degeneration, it happens to the best of us. I am in my mid 50's and I have experienced the gradually creeping need for more and more light as time plows forward. I have discussed this with an optometrist. It might not be the headlights at all. Just something to think about. No, I'm not a doctor, and no, I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn last night.

 

Work fine for me. Are you city riding or country road riding ?

 

what difference does my age make or whether or not I'm blind. I can still compare it to the other bikes in my garage.
goodbye

 

Kerist! He was just offering a suggestion that caused you to come unglued. Your point is taken but slow down a bit. No harm or insult was intended.

 

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Jesus, take your pills.

 

I traded up from a 2003 6th gen to a 2014 8th gen (factory LED Headlights) and there was a dramatic improvement in the headlight systems.
The 6th gens have two sets of reflectors, the larger lower ones are for the "Low" beam and the smaller upper ones are for the high beam with a single filament lamp.
The lower reflectors take a dual filament high/low lamp, but Honda only wires the socket for the low beam filament.
I replaced the two wire sockets with 3 wire sockets so I could turn on the high beam filaments as well. I used relays to control all three, adding the additional high beams when required. Also upgraded to LED lamps which were brighter, but the patterns changed because the LEDs were bigger and different from the filaments for which the reflectors were designed. Still not as good as the factory LED systems. If you really enjoy the VFR, then move up to the 8th gen, lots deals to be had.

 

Guess we won’t be hearing from him again!

 

And then again you might. Actually ally, your smartass remark aside, yours is the only post that gives usable information.

It really does piss me off when an OP asks a question and everyone wants to offer useless "advice". Is there an award for most posts?

I did not ask if everyone is happy with their lights. I'm not. I have other bikes to compare to but that is not the issue. I find it laughable that someone would suggest I trade for newer bike.

I knew I would not be able to install leds without changing the reflectors.

What I looking for right now is the best way to mount aux lighting.

 

Now we know you are actually listening (or reading anyway) Why not just upgrade the bulbs to a better spec?

 

I’m still waiting for you to answer my question in order to give you a decent reply , but hey ho you spat the dummy.

 

I did not change reflectors, nor can see how that could be done (they are integral part of fairing design). The LED's were better than the stock, but they also require power supplies that have to mounted behind the fairing, tight squeeze. I tried brighter bulbs (higher wattage) but they drew more wattage than the charging system could handle and my battery went dead in a couple of days. My comment wasn't meant to a smart ass comment, so I am done trying to help you, goodbye!!!!

BTW, I am 74 and my night vision is not what it used to be.

 

But back to your original question: the lights are generally considered excellent.
If not:
1. Check alignment.
2. Replace bulbs with as min OEM or better spec.

Do you consider your ights crap on low beam, high beam or both?

 

I said I was happy with mine. I clearly should have been more explicit in my implication that yours might not be set up correctly.

 

Pete. you touch on what I was asking for in the beginning. What is a good brand or type of bulb to upgrade the oem's with?

I will also be installing Denali d2 2.0's on fender mounts this winter.

 

They make our model numbers here. A little pricey but they are nice. Just plug them in like the OEM.

http://www.piaa.com/