XBR500 Headlamp

[welland99]

As the dark nights are now here, I'm regularly commuting home from work in the dark.  And this brings me on to the subject of the headlamp beam on my XBR. 

I find the dipped beam to be fine.  It gives a good light spread across the road surface which is good until speed rises above about 40 MPH, because then I want to look further ahead. 

When I put the main beam on, it is a bit disappointing.  The dipped beam goes out, so I have less light on the road.  And the light from the main beam seems to be in the wrong place.  It seems to be too high, lighting up the hedgerows and trees in a line which is clearly visible on a dark road when turning sharp corners.  I wonder if this pattern is caused by the bulb, lens or reflector?

I don't really want to lower the beam, because this would also bring the dipped beam closer.  Does anybody else see the same pattern or have a solution? 

I wonder if there are any brighter bulbs or LED bulbs that would improve things?

[SteveC#222]

Thats odd, the headlight on mine is the best bike light I've ever had including BMW's.  I've just upgraded the Vdub's lights with one of the Phillips performance bulbs, it's still a 55/60 watt but much brighter and a standard H4 fitting so it should fit an XBR, I think they are around £8-10? ( I bought mine as part of a kit with an uprated loom).

[CrazyFrog]

Osram Night Breaker's are good too - and available in H4

[timbo]

Reminds me of a really stupid thing I did once. XBR was on centre stand, so, rocked it forward off the stand, and a piece of angle iron sticking out from a shelf went straight through the lense. A real, DOH! moment   

[welland99]

Thats odd, the headlight on mine is the best bike light I've ever had including BMW's.  I've just upgraded the Vdub's lights with one of the Phillips performance bulbs, it's still a 55/60 watt but much brighter and a standard H4 fitting so it should fit an XBR, I think they are around £8-10? ( I bought mine as part of a kit with an uprated loom).

That's interesting. So it might be my bulb?
You get good light on the road with both dip and main beam?

[SteveC#222]

The upgrade on the van is excellent, the XBR just uses the standard bulb ( probably the original ) and I find it really good  - it may be worth checking the bulb?

[BrendanO]

Am I right in thinking thst if you oress the flash button n the XBR, BOTH beams light up?

I use this on some bikes when I meed extra light on a tricky corner.

My mate just put those 130% bulbs in his 60s mini - he's really impressed!

[mthee]

I've experienced exactly the same lighting effect as you describe, welland99, so I'll be trying SteveC#222's tip - ta, Steve 

[welland99]

Am I right in thinking thst if you oress the flash button n the XBR, BOTH beams light up?

I use this on some bikes when I meed extra light on a tricky corner.

Yes, it does do that on my XBR.  Hopefully with a different bulb, it won't be necessary to do this any more?

[welland99]

it may be worth checking the bulb?

I did have the bulb out recently (before the dark evenings arrived).  I noticed that one of the filaments was obviously saggy (I assume through age and long use), so I did make a mental note to get a replacement soon.  I assumed that the saggy filament was for the dipped beam, because that gets a lot more use than the main beam (I ride with dipped beam in the daytime).  Now that I have experienced the beam issues, maybe the saggy filament was the main beam?

[CrazyFrog]

I noticed that one of the filaments was obviously saggy...

Oh err missus. I keep getting emails offering a cure for that. 

[iansoady]

You could of course use a relay to switch in dip as well when you select main beam but it wouldn't be a good idea to run it like that for long......

[richardeblack]

Thats odd, the headlight on mine is the best bike light I've ever had including BMW's.  I've just upgraded the Vdub's lights with one of the Phillips performance bulbs, it's still a 55/60 watt but much brighter and a standard H4 fitting so it should fit an XBR, I think they are around £8-10? ( I bought mine as part of a kit with an uprated loom).

That's interesting. So it might be my bulb?
You get good light on the road with both dip and main beam?

I fitted one of the Phillips bulbs to mine and have been amazed at the difference. Brilliant!

[mthee]

+1 I've really appreciated the additional 30%, thanks Steve!