I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW

Discuss all things 1970 & later Airheads right here.
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gspd
Posts: 1041
Joined: Tue Aug 03, 2010 8:04 pm

I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW

Post by gspd »

I sometimes couldn't properly see where I was going at night because my headlight was aimed too high (ex. w/passenger) or too low (ex. w/ full 9.5 gal. tank ). Also, I sometimes wanted the beam pointed at the ground immediately in front of my tire on a rough trail, or way higher up to read a distant overhead banner. No doubt, if you ride at night, you've experienced similar situations.

On many bikes it's simple enough to just lean forward and manually tilt the headlight bucket up or down, but it's not so simple on most fairing equipped bikes. I recalled that those old Vetter Windjammers had a knob to adjust beam height, but that seemed too old-school, so I devised a system to electrically raise and lower my beam via a dash mounted toggle switch. I used the guts from a electric remote car mirror and it functions in the same way, even has the same ratcheting feature when it reaches the end of its travel. That's the klunk you are hearing in the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agz6NdvqQTE

It's been in use for a few years now, and has therefore withstood the GSPD torture test. The actual headlight unit is a LED JW SPEAKER 8900 EVOLUTION, fantastic illumination (but pricey) and way less power consumption than a standard H4.http://www.jwspeaker.com/products/led-h ... olution-2/

Because my headlight is fairing mounted and does not steer with the handlebars, I also installed 2 steerable 10W LED spot lights on my bottom triple clamp. Total power consumption on high beam with spots turned on is 65W. Low beam alone is only 20W.
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wuddya think? :roll:
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Mechanic from Hell
"I remember every raging second of it...
My bike was on fire, the road was on fire, and I was on fire.
It was the best ride ever!"
ME 109
Posts: 7307
Joined: Tue Aug 03, 2010 3:00 am
Location: Albury, Australia

Re: I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW

Post by ME 109 »

Most excellent, Claude!
Looks to have quite a range of movement.
I like outside the box thinking.
Lord of the Bings
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enigmaT120
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Joined: Tue Aug 03, 2010 12:25 am
Location: Falls City, OR

Re: I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW

Post by enigmaT120 »

That is cool. I actually have to reach up to adjust the one in my Windjammer.
Ed Miller
'81 R65
'70 Bonneville
Falls City, OR

"Gasoline makes people stupid." -- Chuey
"I'll believe corporations are people when the State of Texas executes one." Bumper sticker
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grant81rs
Posts: 744
Joined: Tue Aug 03, 2010 2:06 am
Location: Gippsland - Australia

Re: I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW

Post by grant81rs »

I just alternate hands while holding a single spotty clipped to by battery, cruise control on for when its the right hands turn, great for searching for possums in trees to :)
Cheers, Grant
Gippsland - Australia

1978 R100RS
1981 R100RS
1994 K1100RS
2005 R1150gsa
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Zombie Master
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Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2010 12:21 am
Location: Vancouver Island BC Canada

Re: I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW

Post by Zombie Master »

Function first!
Any and all disclaimers may apply
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