Alternative headlight units?

My headlight was smashed by a pheasant with a death wish and I'm struggling to find a replacement unit. I've tried the obvious places in the UK like fleabay, FB marketplace and breakers yards with no success. Anyone know if there are any headlights from other makes/models that can be easily be fitted to a 5th Gen? Cheers!

 

Tried Breaking Point in Aberdeen. Fould them very helpful in past.

http://www.breakingpoint.co.uk/

 

Hi and Welcome to the MadHouse

When you get time please add a post into the Introductions forum and say hi to the rest of the folks on here - don't forget to add a photo or two of your VFR and tell us a bit about your riding history. It is easy click the "upload a file" link and follow prompts then "more options" to decide how the image appears with your post.

As for finding new old stock parts for 5th Gen models you will probably draw a blank with the usual suspects. But if a used part is OK then it might be worth starting a search using PartfinderUK they have access to stock held by over 200 UK Motorcycle breakers yards and may be able to track down something which is approaching the definition of "unobtanium". Sadly far too many 5th gens have visited the wrong side of a hedge often at speed - hence finding parts from the front of 5th Gens is only going to get worse, as there were not enough produced to be of interest to pattern part suppliers.

I hope you manage to track down the parts needed to complete the repairs.

Sadly death wish animals are an ever present risk.

Take care ATGATT


SkiMad

 

There's a US seller with a damaged front fairing assembly, but the headlight looks in good order. Maybe reach out to see if they'd be willing to separate the headlight unit for purchase.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/125744143549

 

Good idea but sadly the Brits drive on the other side of the road than most of Europe and the USA. So to send the dipped beam light in the correct direction British bikes come with different headlights with a different part number.

 

Really? I know a big difference from the USA unit would be lack of that small center light, but I never noted US VFRs to have an offset beam for right lane driving. The beam pattern is dead center of the bike with vertical adjustments.

 

Don't blame me for UK Mot Rules - that is why the UK has loads of grey imports from Japan who drive on the same side of the road as the Brits and may be a better source of a suitable headlamp.

 

I have some friends in UK and they said the headlight unit itself is the same. Just that Honda UK uses a true H4 headlight bulb while the US model has the "special" Honda headlight bulb with the wanky base tabs. So because that headlight bulb base is difference, that makes for a different UK Honda part number to the US version.
If you look at our US bikes, we have the small black plug on the bottom of the upper cowl, as we do not use the center position light. And can see inside the headlamp area where that center light would fit.

 

I'm running standard H4s, just bent the bottom two tabs towards the plug side.

I'm not familiar with MOT inspections, but I don't follow how the US headlight wouldn't pass the aim. Both bulbs have vertical adjustments and the side that needs dipped can be lowered.

 

My post was for the other member that brought up the point that UK VFR had different part number headlights.
I also agree that as long as the non UK sourced headlight had the proper adjusters, should work for the 5th Gen bikes beit US, UK, whatever.
Customer or shop would need to make sure it passes MOT requirements.

 

For a while UK MoT testers really only looked to see if a headlamp lens had the correct E number displayed on the headlamp lens. I guess this may have changed since BREXIT. So an imported lens may be fine now.

Living in France this whole testing lark all seems very strange as they do not have road worthiness tests for motorcycles in France!

Instead riders are expected to ensure their vehicle is fit for use every time they ride it - so we tend to be a bit more attentive to our pre-ride checks. Any yes every now and then Gendarmes do carry out roadside checks which except for those with very loud exhaust pipes the vast majority are swiftly sent on their way.

The good news is the lack of testing in France really pisses off the EU and especially the Germans (who own most of the larger testing outfits). However as the FFMC owns an insurer affiliate it has access to EU wide data on road accidents which consistently shows that mechanical defects with French registered motorcycles were a factor in far less accidents than motorcycles from countries with mandatory testing.

Of course the French Government also see that data and as a result they remain doggedly unwilling to increase the number of French motorcyclists involved in accidents/injuries/fatalities. They respond to EU pressure to harmonise the motorcycle testing systems by saying they would be happy if all other EU countries abandoned motorcycle testing as well

Outsiders often ponder why not testing in France actually reduces motorcycle accidents?

In short French riders know their life is on the line every time they set off - so they tend to be far more attentive to checking the state of lights, tyres, brakes and drive chains. Unlike cars, most vital stuff on motorcycles is not hidden beneath bodywork, and importantly motorcyclists in France are not lulled into the false security given by a bit of paper stating their motorbike WAS roadworthy weeks/month/years before. Better still they still have the money not spent on testing to replace brake pads, tyres etc when needed.