Its just too much light...

ST1100Y

ST1100Y

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Joined
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Vienna, AuSTria
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ST1100Y, ST1100R
I've to agree wholeheartedly...

Its one thing in a car where you might only hit something, but on a motorcycle when even the road surface itself is the first source of danger... everything drowns in glaring "whiteout"...
Despite enjoying such tremendously in previous years, I've started to despite and avoid rides during dawn and night hours... even worse in precipitation with wet surfaces and droplets on the visor...

Technically is the design a noticeable step backwards, like the petroleum lamps on like a Ford T or the sealed beam used from the 40ies to the 80ies, is there no downward aimed LOW beam...
They burn just straight, across the full diameter of reflector and lens aperture, either 'extreme dazzling' (LOW?!), or 'hyper dazzling' (HIGH!!)... like looking right into a welding-arc, leading to corneal inflammation...

Just this morning I had a Volvo EV SUV behind me over quite some distance; that flickering due the obviously bad suspension causing pretty much all EV's to bounce along didn't make it any better...


timelesslife.info

Almost 90% Of Drivers Think LED Headlights Are Too Bright And Pose A R.i.s.k To Others

LED headlights have become popular in modern vehicles, thanks to their energy efficiency and stylish design. However, as these lights illuminate the roads, drivers have become increasingly concerned. Almost 90% of drivers consider that LED headlights are too bright, posing a substantial risk to...
timelesslife.info
 
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ST1100Y said:
I've to agree wholeheartedly...

Its one thing in a car where you might only hit something, but on a motorcycle when even the road surface itself is the first source of danger... everything drowns in glaring "whiteout"...
Despite enjoying such tremendously in previous years, I've started to despite and avoid rides during dawn and night hours... even worse in precipitation with wet surfaces and droplets on the visor...

Technically are the construction a noticeable step backwards, like the petroleum lamps on like a Ford T or the sealed beam used from the 40ies to the 80ies, is there no downward aimed LOW beam...
They burn just straight, across the full diameter of reflector and lens aperture, either 'extreme dazzling' (LOW?!), or 'hyper dazzling' (HIGH!!)... like looking right into a welding-arc, leading to corneal inflammation...

Just this morning I had a Volvo EV SUV behind me over quite some distance; that flickering due the obviously bad suspension causing pretty much all EV's to bounce along didn't make it any better...


timelesslife.info

Almost 90% Of Drivers Think LED Headlights Are Too Bright And Pose A R.i.s.k To Others

LED headlights have become popular in modern vehicles, thanks to their energy efficiency and stylish design. However, as these lights illuminate the roads, drivers have become increasingly concerned. Almost 90% of drivers consider that LED headlights are too bright, posing a substantial risk to...
timelesslife.info
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I don't know who asked for them. It wasn't me!
Not only are modern headlights stupidly bright and aimed but the cost of replacement of entire led light units is scary with a big S.
I had zero problems with halogens, plenty good enough for normal driving and if you wanted more light just fit auxiliaries. My present motor has throw away sealed led units front and rear, I hope I never have to replace one.
I think the Strom must have a sealed rear light as well, although I'm not sure on that.
Upt.
 
I'll second that. So many cars and trucks in the US are blinding if the car's front is elevated slightly when driving toward you - think a bump in the road or slight rise. I've been caught more than once giving a fast blink to my headlight high beams to signal that the oncoming car should go to low beams only to discover he WAS on low beams. I've read some cars have auto lowering from high to low beams when a photocell detects oncoming traffic, but I've never seen this in operation when approaching traffic draws near.
 
I regularly get blinded and unable to see the lines on the road or any of the terrain surrounding the road when I encounter a bright headlight vehicle coming at me at night.

So, I just have to assume that there's a good road to ride on about 6 feet to the right of their rightmost headlight,
and that black space what I aim my front tire at.
 
My biggest issue with them is as I age, my eyes do not adjust quickly to light.
So if I get hit in the face with them I'm 'blind' for a minute or so.
I try to look to the right to avoid them but sometimes they come so quickly that it's a little too late.
And with so many drivers now busy about things other than driving I get hit with 'brights' more than I used to.
 
I think the same thing, but i have had LEDs shine on me from on coming and I don't think it is just age. Those damn things are bright. The yellow ones are worse yet. I firmly believe -without proof- that whether you look past, to the right or close your eyes there is enough light to make everybody's eyes wig out at any age. The safest place is behind 'em
Uncle Phil said:
My biggest issue with them is as I age, my eyes do not adjust quickly to light.
Click to expand...
 
SMSW said:
I'll second that. So many cars and trucks in the US are blinding if the car's front is elevated slightly when driving toward you - think a bump in the road or slight rise. I've been caught more than once giving a fast blink to my headlight high beams to signal that the oncoming car should go to low beams only to discover he WAS on low beams. I've read some cars have auto lowering from high to low beams when a photocell detects oncoming traffic, but I've never seen this in operation when approaching traffic draws near.
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I have seen the successful application of the auto dimming (high beams to low beams) on a recent Subaru. However, to address the problem of low beams being elevated by bumps and slight road rises, I think that all manufacturers using LEDs should be required to provide self-leveling headlights that re-aim the lights downward.
 
motornut said:
I think the same thing, but i have had LEDs shine on me from on coming and I don't think it is just age. Those damn things are bright. The yellow ones are worse yet. I firmly believe -without proof- that whether you look past, to the right or close your eyes there is enough light to make everybody's eyes wig out at any age. The safest place is behind 'em
Click to expand...
But I have the same issue if I am riding in a place where it changes quickly from shadows to bright sunlight.
But I agree - even if you look to the side, with a lot of LEDs they are so bright they still affect your eyes.
 
I find the biggest issue for me using LED lights is that they are too white, especially when it’s raining or snowing. The light bounces of the drops or flakes making it very hard to see the road or road markings. My PIAA lights are halogen, and are a lower temperature, giving a softer light that cuts through the snow and rain, making it easier to see the road markings.
 
I am going to pick up a pair of yellow glasses for driving and see if it works at night. Thank you for bringing the glasses up again. Seen them on TV but lways thought of them as just something you buy and store in the glove box till you sell the car.
oude geit said:
I went to a yellow visor. Tames those LEDs, glare and reflection off of highway signs. I recommend it.....to test it I bought a set of yellow clip on, then bought the visor.
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used to wear yellow "pilots" glasses in the 70's thought I looked like Peter Fonda! They did make the night look brighter.
 
If you are having issues with excessive glare then yellow glasses is a good solution.

The problem with leds is the color temperature and plastic lens.
Headlight plastic lens deteriorate which adds to the extra glare.

The higher color temperatures put out more lumens and is preferred by the sales folks...
but higher temperatures have more blue light which scatters more from dust and fog.
It is why the sky is blue...
I think that color temps over 5000 are harsh.
I like 4000 for lighting in my house. It seems to be the best white balance.
Headlights should be at 3000 or less as it has less blue and would be better in fog.
This is why fogs lights are available in yellow as it removes the blue light.
I have tried using yellow glasses and they do help with the glare.
Does not help with misadjusted or bouncing headlights.
Then there is that guy with halogens, who runs high beams all the time....
 
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I love my LED headlights on the bike, but it's important to use a CE certified bulb to make sure the beam is correct. Cheap / Early LED bulbs just throw light at the reflector in all directions and that can lead to glare. Same with cheap HID conversions. Terrible.

On many modern cars, there is the 'headlight assist' or auto high beam function. It means the high beam is engaged unless the car detects opposing traffic. I have it on my '21 Merc. For said opposing traffic, it's like driving into a wall of light until my car finds it in it's good heart to acknowledge that an approaching light-source could be a vehicle and switches to low beam. Unacceptable. Disabled it after the first night ride.
 
Exactly what I did: obtain prescription (medical grade) glasses in shooter yellow... the trick is to find a frame that fits into the helmet... and I am anal about keeping glasses, visor and car windows clean...
Even the GF (wearing expensive prescription glasses, so getting another pair in yellow is just $$$) opted for a yellow visor for her Schuberth C3...
But that's just mitigating the real cause there...
There had been wattage/lumen limits in the past, like max total 130W front illumination (2x 55W H4 in LOW, 2x 65W H4 in HIGH), or 2x 5W taillight & 2x 20W brake light (& 1x 20W fog tail), but that all is gone, wiped away by industry lobbying...
At least the local OSHA equivalent and ophthalmologists start arguing the dangers of wavelength, excessive blue-shift can actually lead to permanent retina damage/vision impairment... but what are a few scientific studies and facts against 'big lobby' who just "buy" their own research and statistics...

Design and implementation of LED headlights definitely sucks big time, obviously only made as cheap as possible whilst bringing the most in light show...
Just last night I compared the pattern of my Toyota's asymmetric H4 LOW beams to what a BMW Mini throws out there:
my H4's cut off about the top edge of the rear bumper on the sedan ahead of me... that Mini right beside me again throws light over the lower edge of the rear window, illuminating the headrests, the drivers head and his inside rear-view...
Is such really necessary?! Can't they install just a lens to aim the pattern downwards in a proper manner? (like it was done with the H7 projector lens type headlights)...
But yeah, that raises the production costs a few cents per unit... and fails the marketing strategy of "everyone else is inferior"... :rolleyes:

And ain't only the LED headlights that are a massive nuisance, also piercing tail & brake lights are a PITA... a little rain on a multiple lane m/way, with a few numb-nuts up ahead even have the fog taillight on... havoc, can't see $h!t...

At the bottom line its just like with loud pipes or wide tires... a mating ritual... who has the largest d!ck...
 
Have to admit I put LEDs in the Piaa auxiliary light's on Lady , because the two 110 watt auxiliary's plus the two 45 stock lights would load the alternator enough to slow the engine a bit at idle. Did find can't see bumps in the road as good,as with the original halogen lamps. Might do the mod or shims for switching to H4 lamps in the headlights but will stay with Halogens in it. Who ever installed the auxiliary's wired it so they only come on in high beam
 
Used to be that Euro, or "E-code" lighting had a very sharp cut-off horizontally, and an angled cut on the side with oncoming traffic (depending on what country/location). They were always much, much better than the garbage DOT units and I swapped every one I could legality be damned. Apparently that has gone by the wayside, and they are doing whatever they want now. I don't ride at night unless I absolutely have to. I doubt this trend will change anytime soon.
 
motornut said:
I am going to pick up a pair of yellow glasses for driving and see if it works at night. Thank you for bringing the glasses up again. Seen them on TV but lways thought of them as just something you buy and store in the glove box till you sell the casecially at night. r.
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I use the visor especially at night. I am amazed at the contrast it gives me. It just doesn't seem right....but it softens the 6k color to a yellow 4k, 4k being less tiring to my eyes....jme
 
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