Quote from: RVertigo:dunno:  My headlight is insanely bright...  I get bright-flashed 'cause people think I have my brights on...  Then I flash my brights at them.  

Stock bulb too...  Not even the bright one.

Are you sure that it's aimed properly?  Take a look at this thread:

Is this a healthy headlight pattern?

(That thread should be placed in the FAQ for safe-keeping...)

I reference a Motorcyclist Magazine article entitled: How-To: Your Aim Is True -- Headlight Aiming Explained.  Worked well for me.  

I live in a big city, where the streets are constantly lit and there is little fear of deers.  

Lately, I have been working overtime and find myself riding home at night. Personally, I think it is great. I don't have to split-lanes and stress. With less vehicles on the road, I go from  :guns: Dodge, duck, dip, dive & dodge to a relaxing cruise home.  

Quote from: RedShiftAre you sure that it's aimed properly?

I can see great... I can see a foot in front of me and way up the road...

I could aim it lower, but I think it would still mess with people...  It's just damn bright.

I have an 05 and the light is sufficent for night riding.  The bright is great.  I don't think it is fair to compair the unfaired to the faired version though as the headlight design probably is a little better on the 04s and 05s than the older style round headlight.  If I had a problem though I would get a xenon bulb and possible aim it a little higher but like i said mine does good at night.

Quote from: RVertigo

Quote from: RedShiftAre you sure that it's aimed properly?

I can see great... I can see a foot in front of me and way up the road...

I could aim it lower, but I think it would still mess with people...  It's just damn bright.

Sweet!!  The reflector then is a darn sight better than the naked GS500E.  

Quote from: RedShiftSweet!!  The reflector then is a darn sight better than the naked GS500E.  

We have the same...  '01.

Maybe I'm just used to driving my Exploder...  It has the worst lights I've ever seen...  or not seen.

Stupid thing.

I ride at night all of the time and it does not bother me one bit.

Quote from: raylarrabeethe biggest problem I have with night riding is the constant, massive bug bombardment.  After a few miles, I have to pull over and use a window wip to clean the bug juice off my visor.

Jeez, that aint no shaZam! in some of the "less travelled" areas around here. I like to ride with my visor up because I like to feel the wind and hear the bike but sometimes I just have to close it due to all the bugs fwapping me in the face. I've already gotten a few big ones right in the eyeball. I had to pull off the interstate (with one eye barely able to stay open!) for about 15 minutes until I could see normally again. Talk about suckage. Anyway, moral of the story is, I'm more willing to put the visor down at higher speeds than I used to be!

on this last trip up here I cought a metor shower as i was dropping into the south end of the sac river valley.  it was around 1 in the morning with very little traffic to contend with and about a hundred miles of straight boring interstate to ride so i spend the next two hours stairing at the stars.  a once in a lifetime experience to say the least.

Don't like it!!  I can't seem to see a d$%# thing when cars are approaching me at night... that is why I hate it.  It isn't as bad in town when the street lights illuminate the road, but once out of town (not hard up here in Maine) I seem to be blinded by approaching cars... and since the roads up here are so f'ing horrible (helllllooooo potholes and frost heaves!!!!!) it downright scares me sometimes!  But I am a newbie so maybe I'll get used to it after another couple thousand miles???...  :dunno:

Quote from: snowhowndI seem to be blinded by approaching cars

Yep, it sucks.  You need to be careful to look away from the oncoming lights.  Look at the road ahead.  You do get used to it, to some extent, but it'll mess you up if you look at the lights.

i love riding at night especially in the summer when its really humid during the day then night riding is perfect.

Quote from: snowhowndI seem to be blinded by approaching cars

This is the only situation where I look at the shoulder and not straight ahead.  It's getting worse as cars start to use higher temperature headlight bulbs.  Further, I'm finding more car headlights aren't aimed slightly to the right like they should be.

Quote from: RedShiftIt's getting worse as cars start to use higher temperature headlight bulbs.  Further, I'm finding more car headlights aren't aimed slightly to the right like they should be.

I think there's a lot of kids and kids in mentality putting on aftermarket lights and not understanding the concept of aiming.  And every soccer mom and dad wants an SUV - their headlights are typically higher and worse for oncoming traffic.

Quote from: davipuon this last trip up here I cought a metor shower as i was dropping into the south end of the sac river valley.  ...

I've been meaning to head out of town for 20-30 miles into farm country on a New Moon night and get away from most of the light pollution around me.

Last time I saw the Milky Way was when I was at Scout Camp, some 20 years ago.  It can really give you perspective -- how insignificant we are in the context of the grandure of the Universe.

Well, it's time to feed the cats again.  At least I have control over at least one thing in my part of the universe, and they're kind enough to let me know it.  

Quote from: RedShift

Last time I saw the Milky Way was when I was at Scout Camp, some 20 years ago.

 That's a long time to go w/out seeing the Milky Way! I grew up in the sticks so I could see it any clear night I wanted. When I met my wife who is from Sacramento, I thought she was weird because she had never actually seen most of the constellations (sp?). She just learned them from looking at charts.
I agree that taking some quality time to stargaze gives you some perspective... just seems wrong to live someplace where you can't.

Oh, and just to keep it on topic... I have a '96 and the headlight seems plenty bright for me. I don't know if it's stock or not, but it doesn't seem insanely bright so I assume it is stock.
Or maybe I just have mutant night vision... after all, my good vision seemed to emerge after that time I fell in some industrial sludge.

Quote from: snowhowndI seem to be blinded by approaching cars...

I find it's really important to clean my visor thoroughly w/ soap 'n water before heading out at night...any film on it makes all oncoming headlights blinding.  When it's clean I don't have any trouble, provided I don't look directly at any headlights.

Quote from: snowhowndbut once out of town (not hard up here in Maine)

I was up in Freeport a week ago (by car) and it was kind of creepy how dark it was (it was also rainy and generally crappy, and that didn't help).  As soon as we passed into NH it felt like they turned the lights on.

Quote from: snowhoundand since the roads up here are so f'ing horrible (helllllooooo potholes and frost heaves!!!!!) it downright scares me sometimes!

I always get a little chill when I pass the sign for "The Widening"...it sounds too much like the title of a Stephen King novel. :lol:  Whenever I go that way it's always dark and foggy...

Quote from: Thor S Magic BathtubI have a '96 and the headlight seems plenty bright for me.

The headlight on my '05 is fine as long as I'm going in a relatively straight line.  Doesn't help much for highway ramps, though...can't see into the turn at all.  I have to remember to flip on the brights, or I'm overriding the headlight at 15mph.

Just to add to this. I didn't like night driving, but now I do. It really helped when I adjusted the lights on my 04. It was new and I assumed everything was perfect. But I couldn't see past 10-15 feet. There was a horizontal line in front of me separating darkness from light. I finally gave in and adjusted the light bulbs. Good God!!! I didn't do any special procedure. I adjusted them to what gave me the most visibility. Meaning some trial and error one night and a couple of refinements here. I can see in front of me know and I can't believe I rode so much like that. I realize it might not be set up according to speck, but my ability to see is much more important. If cagers don't like, well  at least they are noticing me.

So even if you have a new bike. I would check that. It's such and easy thing to do as well.

Edited for a stupid spelling mistake.