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Paochow
| | Posted on Friday, December 15, 2006 - 08:46 pm: | 
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Not a big fan of the stock lighting either. I put a Silverstar in the high beam which helped a little, but ended up with a set of PIAA 1100X's which I will be installing as soon as I pick up a HID kit.
As for top speed, I've had mine up to an indicated 135-140 on a closed course. According to the mag reviews this should be in the 125-130mph range. For regular riding, though I usually stay under 90 as I'm fighting the wind at speeds much higher than that. |
Blake
| | Posted on Friday, December 15, 2006 - 09:51 pm: |
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"Here comes a Ulysses. Look there's another one."
A VERY entertaining dodge that was. 
JLNance,
You are going to REALLY appreciate this dark tunnel navigational aid I learned back in 2000 as I like you was freaking out trying to traverse dark curved tunnels on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I mean this works so well I should charge money for sharing it with you.  Please remember this and pass it on to all who may benefit; here it is: Before entering a tunnel, when you first see the sign warning of its proximity up ahead, close one eye; keep it closed until you are inside the darkness of the tunnel, then open it. Works like magic. |
Blake
| | Posted on Friday, December 15, 2006 - 09:55 pm: |
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I've also found that the above technique works equally as well at home. Keep one eye closed until switching the bathroom light back off and you won't step on the dog or trip over your shoes on the way back to bed. |
Jlnance
| | Posted on Friday, December 15, 2006 - 11:34 pm: |
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Thats brilliant Blake! Thanks |
Regkittrelle
| | Posted on Saturday, December 16, 2006 - 01:11 am: |
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Well, last Friday I celebrated my 64th birthday. Thanx Electroglider for letting me know what I'm in for when I get older. |
Wolfridgerider
| | Posted on Saturday, December 16, 2006 - 01:55 am: |
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my .02 on the lights, I thought they sucked like nothing has sucked before until I got the service manual out and adjusted them. Now I think they do a good job as retina burners for cagers....
Close one eye before you go into a tunnel, that sounds just like what they taught us for night time opps. (close your shooting eye when the flares go off) I will have to give that a try at the next tunnel. |
M2nc
| | Posted on Saturday, December 16, 2006 - 02:29 am: |
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Before entering a tunnel, when you first see the sign warning of its proximity up ahead, close one eye; keep it closed until you are inside the darkness of the tunnel, then open it. Works like magic.
Yeah, I tried to one up that by closing both eyes, but that didn't works so well. It was kind like my lap times, a bit off!!!
I find the Uly lights lacking. At 15,000 miles and the first cold night of the year, I had a bulb blow out. I replaced both bulbs with Sylvannia Silver Stars. With both lights on its not too bad, but with only one light on, its not enough for me. It is one of my few gripes about the bike.
As for top speed, I did a high speed test on my favorite backroad test site - long straightaway with fields on either side, little to no traffic and no building. I hit 126mph indicated with the top case on only testing for stability issues and the bike was rock solid and still accelerating, but not really marching at that point when I had to lift as I came to the end of the road. I think about 130mph indicated would have done it, so good for somewhere in the low to mid-120mph actual. |
Bigdaddy
| | Posted on Saturday, December 16, 2006 - 07:53 am: |
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The lights suck,,,,you can beat this dog for 1000 posts and the stock lights will still suck. They do, however, out perform old 6 volt systems (DaveS.) They do not even come close to a 1999 CBR1100XX and they should.
120 +/- 5 MPH is about all it's good for (no top bag, side bags attached. I catch more wind than most too. |
Reepicheep
| | Posted on Saturday, December 16, 2006 - 09:24 am: |
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I did it the easy way... and just ordered a HID kit yesterday. Ho Ho Ho.
The stock lights were OK for casual night riding, especially if you use the "half switched" trick to get both on. I use it judiciously to keep from melting anything... they are both on only when the bike is moving.
Now though, as I am getting a lot of winter commuting, I am spending a lot more time riding in the dark, so the $200 upgrade seems like money well spent.
Now I have to do some math and figure out if I can rig something up to keep both on all the time without melting anything. The HID puts out a lot less heat and more then enough light... that will be a topic for another thread |
Chinook
| | Posted on Saturday, December 16, 2006 - 01:50 pm: |
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Reg-
I'm going to purchase & install some motolights on my Uly. Sold my old ones with my BMW....they were great.
Do you have any pics of your install on the forks and the lightswitch?
Thanks! |
Court
| | Posted on Saturday, December 16, 2006 - 05:52 pm: |
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Happy Birthday ! |
Regkittrelle
| | Posted on Saturday, December 16, 2006 - 06:35 pm: |
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Chinook....
yep, a couple. if someone will walk me throught the proceed to upload them, I'll do so.
Thanx, Court.... careful, I'm catching up to your age. |
Court
| | Posted on Sunday, December 17, 2006 - 08:51 am: |
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>>>>I'm catching up to your age.
Good news . . . it's a GREAT place to be!
Erik, of course, is not talking to me after I mentioned to him that he was within 5 years of drawing social security.
In addition, I've just reentered school and was on campus the other day. What is the first thing I see, but a "sit in protest" on the steps of the library. Protesting war? Goodness no . . . they are protesting the university using non-union linen service. Hardly Kent State.
I think we need, since your 65th falls on a weekend, to plan an event. Perhaps, after you buy me lunch, we take a group of "the kids" for a ride through the Santa Cruz Mountains!
You are too cool and I can't wait to get my hands on your article. . . er, the one in the magazine. |
Jlnance
| | Posted on Sunday, December 17, 2006 - 03:40 pm: |
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Reg, do you have any deatails on those "highly illegal" lights? I might want a set. For offroad use of course. |
Regkittrelle
| | Posted on Sunday, December 17, 2006 - 05:30 pm: |
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Nothing specific. However PIAA could certainly fix up up.
Also,try http://www.bajadesigns.com/
The one that fascinated me the most was a Gold Wing... it looked absolutely stock. However, the stock lights had been replaced by aftermarket units: they absolutely lit up everything within hundreds of yards. |
Madduck
| | Posted on Sunday, December 17, 2006 - 06:03 pm: |
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Court,
How do you think this generation would do against tear gas, fire hoses and attack dogs. It would be nice to "educate" them by showing the video of the democratic convention in Chicago. Always fascinating to see peoples reactions to the true cost of "free speech".
Sometimes I miss those days of skirting police barricades and the gentle scent of tear gas trying to get to the early classes in Madison, WI. My original assigned desk in Sterling Hall was blown up in 1971. I hope this generation of protesters has a better time of it. |
Chinook
| | Posted on Monday, December 18, 2006 - 01:53 am: |
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Reg,
to load a pic, when you reply, click upload attachment. then, click browse, and direct to the photo you want to attach. i believe you can only load one per message. once you select your message, then click upload and wait. it will insert stuff at the end of the reply. i believe your photo needs to be saved in 768x1024 max or something reasonably small (before you attach it) ...like so
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Regkittrelle
| | Posted on Monday, December 18, 2006 - 10:58 am: |
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Than, Chinook.
I never took the time to look into it; it's just like most over sites. (Somehow I had the idea that this site required a secret handshake.) |
Regkittrelle
| | Posted on Monday, December 18, 2006 - 11:18 am: |
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The MotoLight fork mount was a bit of a kluge as the set I had was made for differently sized forks. I simply removed the curved mounting block, drilled a hose clamp for the through-bolt that holds the assembly together, and placed the light where I wanted it.
The supplied MotoLight rocker switch has a Velcro back and a long pigtail.
Mount}.
These lights were a bit of a last minute deal, so the install was on the crude side, but effective.
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Regkittrelle
| | Posted on Monday, December 18, 2006 - 11:19 am: |
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Sorry 'bout the pix quality: I used a bit too much compression |
Bienhoabob
| | Posted on Thursday, December 21, 2006 - 11:38 am: |
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Chinook,
Here's another pic of a motolight set up. I mounted (stuck) the switch to the frame and routed the wiring under the air box. Look just above the turn signal, black on black is a little hard to see.
I made several trips (Borders, Jewel) looking for an American Rider mag. and have come up empty. Can I buy one from someone out there?
Bob C. |
Regkittrelle
| | Posted on Thursday, December 21, 2006 - 12:24 pm: |
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Bob...
Are those lights specific to the Uly fork legs? I adapted mine 'cause they were for smaller tubes. Also..., what do you think of the light's performance? |
Bienhoabob
| | Posted on Thursday, December 21, 2006 - 03:16 pm: |
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Reg,
Yes, they are specific for the Uly. I had them on a Road Glide that I traded in on the Uly. I called Motolight and they gave me the exact fork mounts for the Uly. Something like $15.
I did some all nighters on my last endurance event. (ButtLite IV). I was most impressed with the extra side vision. I do not have the lights angled for distance. I got tired of switching them on and off all the time. They are set a little above the Buell low beam. I ride with them on all the time and would recommend them to everybody. |
Regkittrelle
| | Posted on Thursday, December 21, 2006 - 03:40 pm: |
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They're a great product. I've had my set for at least 8 years and used them on six different bikes... and have never had to replaced the bulbs.
I agree about the side light; living in the mountains makes knowing where the road's edge is doubly important. |
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