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Bulbs reflectors and Lights and Lighting

Submitted by john_hall1 on Wed, 21/02/2018
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Nortons - General

Hi,

Because I am not restricted to strictly standard equipment in my Norton-Imp build, I have done quite a bit of research into what's available and because of issues with LED Automotive lighting especially for seeing where you are going, (EU seems to be more interested in the vehicle being seen by others than the vehicle Driver/Rider seeing where they are going! After being informed that the Wipac Quadoptic Headlamp has a severe cut-off pattern, a rider informed me of this in his opinion.

I found this on Hitchcocks excellent informative Website, see attached a superior Neolight Headlamp glass/ reflector unit and a Phillips Motovision bulb combination for up front!

My Father was a Research and Test Engineer of electrical automotive equipment for a large national Commercial vehicle manufacturer and I was lucky enough in the 80's to test some Wipac and Lucas products and equipment on my humble BSA Bantam and 441 unit single, having a H4 unit and Lucas Sabre spotlights transformed night riding and driving. Unfortunately in my late teens early 20s we couldn't get on and I wasn't able to partake of his wisdom in this area of automotive knowledge as much as I should of!

Incidentally when the government in the wisdom sold the concern off to DAF and Volvo that practically ended the life of the many component suppliers in good old GB! Politicians though do not give a S*** about employment and manufacturing plus at that time everything was becoming Service industry driven and the smooth operators of the City of London investment focused all the Politicians scant attention lubricated by champagne and insider dealing

Ideally, I think a twin headlamp unit makes more sense practically and for safety, but in my humble opinion, most look "Naff", the Triumph Rocket Three being an exception!

For the rear, I have dismissed the my various Lucas and Britax 564 units and it looks like I will use a Singular Morris 8, "Cheese grater" Twin bulb Britax Rear light or a Lucas L549 MG/ Triumph/Jaguar light backed up by an additional 2 x twin bulb Wipac 156 Brake and stop lights with added Vintage reflector on a one-piece Vintage Number plate and reflector unit.

I know what functionality I want, but getting the look and styling right is not as easy as I first thought!

And then there are the bulb conundrum, one thing I remember is using Stanley bulbs for my 250 Honda in all my machines especially rear Tail and stop light functions as they lasted longer than other types! So I will have both screw in types and bayonets to find, so do I use a mix of incandescent and LED, that is my next dilemma, however, using a 40 amp car alternator, will give me more options through the higher power output, so usage isn't as much of an issue as on a lower output motorcycle designed unit!

Any thoughts appreciated!

Cheers

John H

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Submitted by john_hall1 on Wed, 21/02/2018

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Looked at tests on YouTube HID comes out on top for road vision, then Halogen, though less bright than LED the light pattern on LED scatters and diffuses and is not as good visually on the road!

Submitted by bob_matthews on Wed, 21/02/2018

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Hi John,

I run LEDs for the stop/tail light and for the indicators. I wired my bike up to be negative earth as this gives a far greater choice of bulbs (they are polarity dependant) and because I wanted to.

For the headlamp I run a Philips Racing Vision H4 bulb and although they are expensive, only come in pairs and only last about 200 hours, they are by far and away the best halogen bulb I have ever come across for light output - up to 150% brighter (claimed).

3 years ago I used a Wipac Quadoptic reflector on my BSA and loved it but then sold the bike. On my Norton I fitted a Lucas H4 reflector but I never liked the low beam pattern. Subsequently whilst doing some maintenance, I dropped the reflector onto a spanner and the glass broke so I had a chance to try another Quadoptic. The new Quadoptic along with the racing vision bulbs are in my opinion streets ahead of the rest and can light the road in front far further than my speed will allow.

Not sure where on the Hitchcock's site you read about the quadoptic's bad cut off pattern, but I certainly do not agree, ymmv.

Bob

Submitted by john_hall1 on Sun, 25/02/2018

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Previously Bob Matthews wrote:

Hi John,

I run LEDs for the stop/tail light and for the indicators. I wired my bike up to be negative earth as this gives a far greater choice of bulbs (they are polarity dependant) and because I wanted to.

For the headlamp I run a Philips Racing Vision H4 bulb and although they are expensive, only come in pairs and only last about 200 hours, they are by far and away the best halogen bulb I have ever come across for light output - up to 150% brighter (claimed).

3 years ago I used a Wipac Quadoptic reflector on my BSA and loved it but then sold the bike. On my Norton I fitted a Lucas H4 reflector but I never liked the low beam pattern. Subsequently whilst doing some maintenance, I dropped the reflector onto a spanner and the glass broke so I had a chance to try another Quadoptic. The new Quadoptic along with the racing vision bulbs are in my opinion streets ahead of the rest and can light the road in front far further than my speed will allow.

Not sure where on the Hitchcock's site you read about the quadoptic's bad cut off pattern, but I certainly do not agree, ymmv.

Bob

Hi Bob it wasn't on Hitchcocks site it was a recommendation from a Rider of a BSA, he told me the cut -off pattern on the Wipac Quadoptic was very abrupt!

Hitchcocks have a offer of a Phillips Cityvision Moto Headlamp bulb bulb combined with a Neolite Headlamp glass reflector,..http://www.hitchcocksmotorcycles.com/accessory-electrics-lighting, (see link),

I saw another test and Phillips and Osram were vying for top spot!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRqxTl4rxlg, this is one of the most useful demonstrations of the different light output of HID, Halogen and LED units because they drive down the road with them fitted!

It is because of POT HOLES that you need the better lighting too, on Monday night a newish tyre, fitted a pair of Barum tyres in late September on the front axle of my Mazda2 was destroyed by a Pot hole on a Country road costing me £60 to replace I am enquiring, about claiming from KCC!

If I had been on a Motorcycle it could have killed me, yet there is no national campaign to kick anyones arse about this important safety issue!

Speed kills cameras all over and roads like a third world Country, yeah! Right "Bull Shit" as far as I am concerned!

Submitted by john_hall1 on Sun, 25/02/2018

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Options explored!

Rocket Three back light unit £99!

Britax "Cheesegrater" rear lights smaller than what I first thought, but quirky!

Jaguar unit not sure about size Lucas typs L549!

Another option is the Harley Davidson Sportster rear light , good prices for second hand units, actually some Harley Davidson spares prices are good value, compared to British Bike stuff!

These also HID bulbs and Projector lens combination for £45 plus on Evilbay from Hong Kong & China, with lights I want/need functionality first and aesthetics a close second!

 



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