High Beams

[myxhero]

i did a few searches and find that many GS owners have the same problem i do. but here is the kicker. my low beams are pretty much ok, i wish they were a little higher but they work. My high beams light up mostly the trees and a little bit of the road. but i noticed if i put the switch for my high beams and low beams right i the middle, both high and low beams will stay on. its really sweet being able to see the road so well but is this going to blow my bulb or short circut something?

[annguyen1981]

the bulb will go quicker if you do this a lot.  There will be too much heat generated so the bulb won't handlt it.  The housing might not handle it either, I'm not sure.

Then there's the risk of ruining your wiring.  With that much wattage running through your wires, your wires might melt because of that.

Oh...  and don't forget about draining the battery.  The GS electrical system is designed for a specific amount of watts running through for everything.  There is VERY LITTLE play in this system.

[Admiral Crunch]

That's weird.  When I switch to high-beam, my low beam stays on too, as far as I can tell.  I thought that's how it's supposed to work.  Of course, my headlights have been screwy since I bought my bike.  When I switch to highbeam, there is a super-bright light in an arc on the ground just a few inches from the front of the bike, and it washes out eveything else and makes it hard to see.  I never use my highbeams because of it.  And my lowbeams are aimed too high, and I can't lower them any further.

[Egaeus]

That's weird.  When I switch to high-beam, my low beam stays on too, as far as I can tell.  I thought that's how it's supposed to work.  Of course, my headlights have been screwy since I bought my bike.  When I switch to highbeam, there is a super-bright light in an arc on the ground just a few inches from the front of the bike, and it washes out eveything else and makes it hard to see.  I never use my highbeams because of it.  And my lowbeams are aimed too high, and I can't lower them any further.

You sure you don't have the bulb upside down?

[Admiral Crunch]

You sure you don't have the bulb upside down?

Well, when I aim the headlight at the wall of my garage, the lower part of the wall is lit up.  Then when I flip to highbeam, the upper part lights up.   

[WildBlue]

You sure you don't have the bulb upside down?

That's what I was thinking too, but is it even possible to install it upside down?   

my low beams are pretty much ok, i wish they were a little higher but they work. My high beams light up mostly the trees and a little bit of the road.

I have the exact same issue, and my headlight is already aimed as low as it'll go.  Renders the high beams pretty much useless at night. 

Haven't tried the halfway switch thing, but An's right - it might generate too much heat and suck too much power.

[annguyen1981]

You sure you don't have the bulb upside down?

That's what I was thinking too, but is it even possible to install it upside down?   

my low beams are pretty much ok, i wish they were a little higher but they work. My high beams light up mostly the trees and a little bit of the road.

I have the exact same issue, and my headlight is already aimed as low as it'll go.  Renders the high beams pretty much useless at night. 

Haven't tried the halfway switch thing, but An's right - it might generate too much heat and suck too much power.

It is NOT possible to install an H4 bulb upside-down.  Ever.

A. Crunch - It sounds like your bike is fine...  Here's a test...


*Start with the low beam on.  Only your low beam filament will light up.

*SLOWLY move the rocker switch to the HIGH BEAM position...  somewhere in between, BOTH filaments (low and high beams) will light up.  This is to ensure that there will be light at all times.  You don't want a "dead" spot with no light when you switch from low to high and high to low.

*Once you get to the HIGH beam position, the low beam filament will turn off.

This is easier if you can remove the bulb from the bucket and plug in the wires.  I'm not sure if you can do this on the naked bikes, but on the f model bikes, this is easy to accomplish.

[WildBlue]

This is easier if you can remove the bulb from the bucket and plug in the wires.  I'm not sure if you can do this on the naked bikes, but on the f model bikes, this is easy to accomplish.

Remove the light bulb for what purpose?  Just testing it?   

[annguyen1981]

Yeah.   You can see the filaments better without the light bouncing off the reflectors in the headlight housing.

Less light is aimed at your face, so you can see the filaments lighting up...

[WildBlue]

So is it pretty common then on the GS for the high beams to be aimed that high, or what's the deal?  I'm trying to figure that one out myself.

[annguyen1981]

IMO, that how high beams are SUPPOSED to be aimed.  Low beams are supposed to be aimed to light up the immediate path in front of your vehicle.  You don't want the low beam any higher because if so, that'll blind the oncoming drivers...  that can be BAAAAAAAAD.

Your high beams should pretty much be aimed so that if you're behind them, it'll hit their rearview mirror prefectly.

So yes, high beams are supposed to be that high.

[WildBlue]

Well, if they were aimed a little bit lower so as to light up the road instead of just the trees the light would still be visible just fine on anyone's rearview mirror.  Just like it is with a car's high beams.

I think what you're saying is that high beams on a bike are intended only for visibility during the day, but not for helping you drive at night then?

[annguyen1981]

Nope.  I drive mainly with my high beams on during night rides.  It helps DRAMATICALLY.

[WildBlue]

Oh really?  hmmmm... now I'm confused.  So your high beams are aimed pretty high, but still low enough that they actually light up the road in front of you?  Mine mostly just make the trees look cool at night. 

[annguyen1981]

They light up the road FARTHER AHEAD...


I'd give you exact dimensions, but unfortunately, my depth perception is almost non-existant because of my left eye.  My best gues:

Low beams will light up the immediate 30-50 feet...
High beams start exactly where the low beam ends, and goes up. from there.

[annguyen1981]

You ever notice on the highway that when you light up your high's, the signs that are above your head go brighter?

They're supposed to do that.

[WildBlue]

High beams start exactly where the low beam ends, and goes up. from there.

Gotcha. 

I guess I wish there were a bit of overlap.

[annguyen1981]

Same here.

I'd like to have EVERYTHING in front of me well lit.

Oh well.

[myxhero]

so i guess you guys are saying to ride with both highs and lows on is a bad idea... i went on a couple hour ride last night to really test out this light thing. it dident seem like it was drawing too much power or anything but what you say about the lamp over heating could be true.  but for me being able to see like i can when both lights are on is worth buying a new bulb even if it were to decrease its life 4x as fast.

[annguyen1981]

Decreasing lamp life is not the major concern...  It's the heat issue...  Your wiring could melt or catch on fire.

You are forewarned.