Why are motorcycles relegated to less light than cars?

[sendler2112]

Obviously the cops know that 90% of motorcycles run 1 of 2 headlights for the low beam and would never think anything of it but my question always is this: Why do bikes get relegated to having less light than a car? We need more light. Not less. The PCX has one of the best headlights of any motorcycle with it's 2 times 30 Watt low beams. but cars get 2 times 55 Watts. And 2 times 55 Watt fog lights.

[maddiedog]

The PCX also travels slower.

There are other electrical considerations at play... Stator size and weight, battery size, etc. The headlight housing would have to be fitted with larger reflectors also.

On a scooter like the PCX, economy is a concern too. Sizing up costs money.


I agree, it's a problem though. I've added aftermarket lights to my PCX and V-Strom to help the situation: http://hondapcx.org/viewtopic.php?f=4&t ... =60#p36925

[homie]

Because if we had seatbelts and air bags they would hit us for fun... oh wait this is about headlamps

[gn2]

Cars need more light because they're wider so need to light up a much wider path.
Rellatively speaking the PCX has much more light.

[sendler2112]

I'm on the same path with my bike or my car. And a deer or a pothole in the road will hurt a lot more on the bike. Give me equal light.

[ScooteringAbout]

Want more light? fit more lights?

[gn2]

I'm on the same path with my bike or my car.

But your car uses more of it.
Deer less likely to hit bike, its a much smaller target.

[speedandstyle]

Problem solved!

[JohnL]

What happens when you reach the end of the electrical lead?

[sendler2112]

I'm a mechanic. I can do things like add custom led's for the yellow and ultra white running lights and add led spot driving lights and retrofit an HID headlight on my CBR250R. I just advocate for the rest of the people who can't do things themselves and want to see when riding their motorcycle at night at least as good as they can in their car.
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[ScooteringAbout]

What happens when you reach the end of the electrical lead?

Whiplash.

[gn2]

The standard lights are fine, no need to go around blinding people.
If a deer jumps out at you from behind a bush a few extra lights won't make a shit's worth of difference.

[sendler2112]

The PCX has the best lights of any of my motorcycles. Almost on par with a cheap car. Nowhere near as good as the best cars. Most motorcycles are so poorly lit it should be illegal.

[Mel46]

Like Dave, I added extra lights on my pcx and now when I see their reflection on the back of a car the factory ones look almost yellow in comparison to the LED ones I added, and the distance they shine out in front of me is really great. It isn't that hard to install them. Dave showed me how.

[you you]

Grip is equally important at light. Why are bikes relegated to having two wheels when four would be clearly better

[sendler2112]

The standard lights are fine, no need to go around blinding people.
If a deer jumps out at you from behind a bush a few extra lights won't make a shit's worth of difference.

Obviously if something jumps out of the bushes right in front of you that is a different story where no amount of light will help. But it is nice to see deer standing around at the side of a field, or see that cinder block laying in the road, 100 yards ahead instead of 30 so you can slow down and do something about it. The standard lights of most motorcycles are fine up to 40 mph.

[homie]

After I adjusted the elevation of the PCX lamp height to just under what other drivers would flash and complain I now get excellent refection off all signs at great distances even further than my truck.

Of course it doesn't compare to the spread or reach of a car headlights but I'm confident if the signs are reflecting well then so will the eye's of the deer and that's a issue in these surrounding preserves.

High beam in daylight low at night boys and girls

[maddiedog]

Obviously if something jumps out of the bushes right in front of you that is a different story where no amount of light will help. But it is nice to see deer standing around at the side of a field, or see that cinder block laying in the road, 100 yards ahead instead of 30 so you can slow down and do something about it. The standard lights of most motorcycles are fine up to 40 mph.

I agree with this. I have aux lights on my v-strom too, and saw a fox running into the road from about 50 yards out last weekend. I slowed, he crossed with no incident, and I kept on going with my ride. With the stock lights, he would have had complete concealment from the darkess. We would have met in the road with me going about 60mph, likely ending very badly for him and possibly badly for me.

[djcat]

Motorbikes do not have less light then cars and if you have a bike that does, its headlight is just rubbish. Adding light clutter such as caused by illegal HIDs and running high beam at day does cause glare at other road users and accidents and is a potential cause for road rage incidents.

A good low beam headlight or ideally two will be good enough to be seen. If tin box drivers can´t see you with that, they are either blind or on drugs.

[sendler2112]

How do you figure? Cheap cars have two times 55 Watt low beams and two times 60 Watt high beams. Bikes have one times 55 Watt low beams and one times 60 Watt high beams. Nice cars have two times 55 Watt HID bi-zenon. The PCX has the best headlights of any bike I have with two times 30/ 35 Watts. Barely half of what a cheap car gets to use.