Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum

Royal Enfield Motorcycles => Bullet with the UCE engine => Topic started by: r80rt on July 30, 2009, 10:53:35 pm

Title: 7" headlamp
Post by: r80rt on July 30, 2009, 10:53:35 pm
I just installed the 7" head light kit on my C5, Man am I happy with the way it looks! Cabo would give it a WOWZAA for sure  ;D
Title: Re: 7" headlamp
Post by: Cabo Cruz on July 31, 2009, 12:14:58 am
I know, Br. Dannie, because I have the 7 incher on Perla!  So, here goes a red WOWZAA!!!    ;)
Title: Re: 7" headlamp
Post by: r80rt on July 31, 2009, 12:33:53 am
Thank you sir!
Title: Re: 7" headlamp
Post by: Chris-G5 on July 31, 2009, 02:27:53 am
I just installed the 7" head light kit on my C5, Man am I happy with the way it looks! Cabo would give it a WOWZAA for sure  ;D
Which 7" kit did you go with? I was thinking about the pre-assembled kit. Is it much brighter than stock?  The stock light seems a little dim on the unlit backroads.
Title: Re: 7" headlamp
Post by: r80rt on July 31, 2009, 03:14:08 am
I  just got the rim kit and went to the parts store and bought a Wagner quartz sealed beam. It's a lot brighter than stock. I rarely ride at night anymore, I hit a deer a few years ago on a BMW R75 and it took a lot of the fun out of night riding  :D
Title: Re: 7" headlamp
Post by: JamesC5 on July 31, 2009, 06:31:00 am
Oh deer
Title: Re: 7" headlamp
Post by: Chris-G5 on August 04, 2009, 10:17:48 pm
Just installed my 7" lamp and visor. Looks good and is blinding bright. Can't wait to try it at night. I posted a pic. in the modifications gallery.
Title: Re: 7" headlamp
Post by: Rusty on August 04, 2009, 10:34:44 pm
Oh deer

Very good, maybe the wrong forum for the full effect (but then I like old gags so maybe not).

Why is the US C5 supplied with the heavily bevelled headlight? Is it a legislative thing?
Title: Re: 7" headlamp
Post by: r80rt on August 04, 2009, 10:45:19 pm
Yes it's a legislative thing, the safety Nazi's think we must have an adjustable headlight. ::)
Title: Re: 7" headlamp
Post by: r80rt on August 04, 2009, 10:49:20 pm
Chris, that 7' looks great on your bike, and I see you've removed the hideous rubber strips from your engine, that the first thing I did :D
Title: Re: 7" headlamp
Post by: PhilJ on August 05, 2009, 12:07:43 pm
Yes it's a legislative thing, the safety Nazi's think we must have an adjustable headlight. ::)

As well we should. The reason being, really bright lights that aren't adjusted properly will cause problems in people that are sensitive to reflections. Just blind one of those and have them veer into your lane day or night. You may not be happy with the decision to put a non-adjustable head light on.

I have a blue dot 7" halogen setting in the garage for just that reason. When I got it and discovered it wasn't adjustable and was able to determine that it wasn't designed properly i.e. it's beam shone way to high, I scrapped it. I won't put shit on my bike that may be harmful to me or anyone else just because it looks cool.
Title: Re: 7" headlamp
Post by: r80rt on August 05, 2009, 12:10:24 pm
If you know how to shim it, it' adjustable. Mine was too high when first installed, now it's aimed just right.
Title: Re: 7" headlamp
Post by: PhilJ on August 05, 2009, 12:15:54 pm
Fill me in.
Title: Re: 7" headlamp
Post by: csbdr on August 05, 2009, 12:45:20 pm
For me it's a matter of safety, not looking cool.  I ride a good bit at night, especially in the Fall when it gets dark by the time I 'm done with work, and I Iive in the country. I need to see as far ahead as I can to avoid deer.  If someone flashes their lights at me because I'M TOO BRIGHT, AT LEAST I KNOW THEY'VE SEEN ME (oops, caps...sorry)  If they're so distracted that they veer out of their lane, they probably shouldn't be behind the wheel to start with.  I'm putting MY safety first.
Title: Re: 7" headlamp
Post by: PhilJ on August 05, 2009, 12:52:03 pm
For me it's a matter of safety, not looking cool.  I ride a good bit at night, especially in the Fall when it gets dark by the time I 'm done with work, and I Iive in the country. I need to see as far ahead as I can to avoid deer.  If someone flashes their lights at me because I'M TOO BRIGHT, AT LEAST I KNOW THEY'VE SEEN ME (oops, caps...sorry)  If they're so distracted that they veer out of their lane, they probably shouldn't be behind the wheel to start with.  I'm putting MY safety first.

That seems to be a typical response of today. ME only ME. How can you possibly be any safer if someone encroaches into your lane? No one can be totally safe, but it can be better if we (collectively) consider the other person who has just as much right as you to be one the road. Your attitude will probably change when the shoe is on the other foot.

I live in one of the most highly deer populated areas in the US. I know what it's all about. It requires a lot of attention and there are no guarantees.

Title: Re: 7" headlamp
Post by: Anon on August 05, 2009, 04:06:36 pm
I have a blue dot 7" halogen setting in the garage for just that reason. When I got it and discovered it wasn't adjustable and was able to determine that it wasn't designed properly i.e. it's beam shone way to high, I scrapped it. I won't put shit on my bike that may be harmful to me or anyone else just because it looks cool.


I suppose it varies depending on the rider's weight and how the preload on your rear suspension is set, but my 7" bulb (just a regular sealed beam halogen, not the blue dot tri bar you have) was spot on.  This is on an iron barreled classic with the rear shocks in the middle position and the rider (me) weighing about 155.  Like you say, I suppose the biggest danger is if it points too high and you run the risk of blinding oncoming drivers.  I wouldn't have left it on my bike if it turned out to be too high, but it wasn't, so there it stays (and it does look cool as well  ;) ).

Eamon
Title: Re: 7" headlamp
Post by: csbdr on August 05, 2009, 05:35:51 pm
That seems to be a typical response of today. ME only ME. How can you possibly be any safer if someone encroaches into your lane? No one can be totally safe, but it can be better if we (collectively) consider the other person who has just as much right as you to be one the road. Your attitude will probably change when the shoe is on the other foot.

I live in one of the most highly deer populated areas in the US. I know what it's all about. It requires a lot of attention and there are no guarantees. 



Excuse me?  It's not a matter of "me only me".  Quite the contrary. If anything, it's the general population who needs to become aware of the need to share the road with motorcyclists, who have a right to be there, not the other way around.  I refuse to become a "officer I just didn't see him" statistic. Noone has ever encroached my lane because of my lights.  Not once....Have they with yours?  I'm sure I've annoyed afew, but if they flash me I dim them. Now, I've been encroached on for lots of OTHER  reasons, like the car driver reading the paper at 75mph, or putting on makeup, or reaching to pick something up off the floor, or the myriad of other idiocies folks do behind the wheel (including myself, I'm sure...)

As a motorcyclist, I take as many precautions as I can to ensure my safety, being as unprotected as we are. That includes proper prep of my bike, lights, proper safety gear, and proper training. This is to ensure the safety of others on the road with me, but primarily to increase the odds in favor of myself.  If that is self-centered "Me-ism" ...so be it.

and yes, my lights are aimed properly....sheesh.
Title: Re: 7" headlamp
Post by: PhilJ on August 05, 2009, 08:04:51 pm
You could never tell by your post that your light was aimed properly "I'M TOO BRIGHT, AT LEAST I KNOW THEY'VE SEEN ME". That quote is what prompted the me-ism remark. Now your story changes.

Mine was the Tri-Bar what is yours? Eamon has a different one. I've only heard of one Tri bar that was aimed properly without some jerry rigging.
Title: Re: 7" headlamp
Post by: csbdr on August 05, 2009, 10:07:08 pm
That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!  ;) :)

Yeah, I'm a stickler about making sure anything I do to my bike works, and works how it's supposed to.  Otherwise, it's a hazard.

I bought the 7" conversion kit from CMW.  It works well, and didn't require any shims or fiddling to get it right. I'm real happy with it!
You could never tell by your post that your light was aimed properly "I'M TOO BRIGHT, AT LEAST I KNOW THEY'VE SEEN ME". That quote is what prompted the me-ism remark. Now your story changes.

Mine was the Tri-Bar what is yours? Eamon has a different one. I've only heard of one Tri bar that was aimed properly without some jerry rigging.
Title: Re: 7" headlamp
Post by: Cabo Cruz on August 05, 2009, 10:21:19 pm
Br. Phil, I also got lucky with my Tri-Bar 7 incher -- it was properly aimed after installation!
Title: Re: 7" headlamp
Post by: r80rt on August 05, 2009, 10:28:29 pm
Fill me in.
I used a six inch long piece of 10 gauge wire between the headlight bulb and the rim on the bottom to move the aim of the light down. It took about 15 minutes to figure out what was needed. It's easy, and It looks cool too.
Title: Re: 7" headlamp
Post by: PhilJ on August 05, 2009, 11:26:55 pm
csbdr & Cabo,
You are lucky men. Mine (the cut off line) would shine over a car right in front of me at a stop light.

R80RT, I will try that when energy returns after the heat storm of summer.  ;)
How for off was yours when you first installed the light?
Title: Re: 7" headlamp
Post by: Cabo Cruz on August 05, 2009, 11:35:00 pm
"csbdr & Cabo,
You are lucky men. Mine (the cut off line) would shine over a car right in front of me at a stop light."  PhilJ


You know, Br. Phil, the Lord protects drunks and simple minded people!!!  I don't drink much any more!!!  :D :D :D

Title: Re: 7" headlamp
Post by: r80rt on August 05, 2009, 11:39:37 pm
Mine was aimed quite a bit high, I tried several differend thicknesses of wire till I got it where I wanted it.  It's pretty easy to do, take the two bottom spring wire clips out of your light rim, ease the bulb back slightly and slip the wire under the edge of the bulb then put the clips back in.
Title: Re: 7" headlamp
Post by: PhilJ on August 05, 2009, 11:50:17 pm
Thanks rr89rt. Like I said I'll try it latter after the heat front.

Cabo, your anything but simple minded.