FZS1000 - Rubbish Headlights!!

[MadDogMcQ]

Boy, are those headlights crap, or what?? I don't normally ride at night, but I did a couple of days ago and was shocked at how poor they are. Has anyone tried the Philips MotoVision bulbs or something similar? I don't want to do a HID conversion.

[VNA]

Poor?  I think they are excellent.  Perhaps you have poor quality lamps fitted.

Try some Phillips E-xtreme Vision H4 or similar.  100% more light than standard H4 halogen same wattage. 

[sadlonelygit]

and i thought i was the only one.
why don't you want HID? it is the only real answer

[b1k3rdude]

Boy, are those headlights crap, or what?? I don't normally ride at night, but I did a couple of days ago and was shocked at how poor they are. Has anyone tried the Philips MotoVision bulbs or something similar? I don't want to do a HID conversion.

It sounds like you still have the crap generic stock bulbs in, if you fit the 100% brighter bulbs from Ring/Phillip/etc you will notice an improvement. You could look at getting HID bulbs fitted, but you run the risk or not passing an mot or getting pulled over (on the latter its has never happend to me).

Regarding HID there are 2 things you need to be aware of -

1. Don't ever go for any kits with colour temps above 4300K, like the common available kit in 6000k. These are blue in colour wich is illegal, (any & all front facing lights have to be white) and will increase the chances of being pulled.
2. More importantly the HI/LO telescopic HID bulbs are very nearly always poorly designed. The end result is large amounts of scatter which dazzles on-coming traffic and increased the chances of being pulled.

I have managed to fashion a work around for second issue and this was by modifying the 'hood/baffle' around the HID bulb. But again due to the as previously mentioned poor construction and design of most HID bulbs my mod only works to a point. This is because nearly all reflector based headlight are NOT designed for high light/intensity output HID bulbs.

One option is to get a pair of projector style HID lights, which are 1005 legal and have the best beam pattern with next to no scatter for around th £100 mark.

Another option is LED driving lights, which along with the above I have mentioned a few times before. These will enhance your di/lo beam spread, which lets be honest is where most of us need/want it anyway. These are 100% legal and use next to now electrical power. The only issue is supply and price, because its reletivly new tech its still bloody pricey in the UK and there aren't that many suppliers. Atm I only know of  'Bikevis' who charge £120 for made to fit motorcycle kit. The same type of kit can also be bought from the USA.

[ghostbiker]

the gen 1 has fairly good lights as std. not great but well above ave for the age of bike.
i fitted normal Philips replacement bulbs about 3 years ago and it did improve it over OE but not by a lot.
last week i splashed out on brand new 100% brighter bulbs from philips and its another step up and much better than OEthough i do need to alter my beam hight up a little as when i droped the forks down and put a jack up kit on the rear the beam is a little low now.
i travel to and from work (25 miles each way) in the dark right now on back roads with no street lights for 80% of it. on full beam its awsome up to about 70ish then im to fast for the lights
but on dipped its closer to 45-50  MAX and with a car comming the other way im blind lol

[b1k3rdude]

• On full beam its awesome up to about 70ish then I'm to fast for the lights.
  
• But on dipped its closer to 45-50  max and with a car coming the other way I'm blind.
  

I thought I was the only one who had this issue, glad I'm not mad :-) I think I'm gonna have to either get a set of the stupidly expensive LED driving lights or the cheaper (but has fitting issues) HID driving light kit...

[PaulSmith]

Before you go changing the bulbs, I suggest you check the alignment as if dips are only good for about 45mph for you, then I would suggest they are aimed too low. On a level road about 20~30ft behind a car, your dipped lights should be clearly light up their number plate but not shine in their back window.

If you are only lighting up the road just in front of you, it wont matter how bright your lights are. But after you get them adjusted, fit some HIDs, they are Amazing!

[bwizz]

My foxeye 600 and thou have similar headlights , philips bulbs fitted standard ,as far as I am aware! Both are in my opinion good,  as mentioned check you alignment !

[ZiggyCol]

Beware of HIDs if you have the later FZS1000 with no headlight switch. I had HIDs which worked fine on my 600 but couldn't get them to work consistently on the thou because you have no control over switching the headlights on. HIDs seem to startup better once the engine is up and running with a bit of throttle.

Rather than mess around introducing a headlight switch I went the route of better bulbs and am just about to go further with some led spots.

[bigfootpete]

Eh? The headlights are absolutely brilliant - although I keep getting flashed as I keep blinding oncoming traffic :-o

When I put them on full beam I couldn't ask for any more light.

P.s I have a 2003 model without the headlight switch.

[b1k3rdude]

Rather than mess around introducing a headlight switch I went the route of better bulbs and am just about to go further with some led spots.

Details and Pics when you do please, as I am looking to do this on both the fazer and the bandit.

[squitbit]

I found those blue ones excellent, back to standard H4's these days due to financial restraints. Even standard lights are far and away the best of any bike I've ever owned.

[MadDogMcQ]

I'm surprised to hear that Squitbit - I truly think they're dire as standard. Mine gave off a pathetic yellow glow. I have now replaced them with some super-bright Philips bulbs which have a blue-bright cast and they look much better.

[JayB]

Thing is, if the previous owner has put poundland or cheap ebaybulbs in there, before you bought the bikem they could well be shit.

I had to do just that with the car and they are rubbish!

I think the pattern and spread is good, need to get some Osrams in mine too.

[PaulSmith]

I fitted a cheap and nasty pair of HIDs designed for a car (so loads of excess cable etc.) that cost  a grand total of £25 on Fleabay, to my '04 gen1 (no light switch). The hardest part was finding somewhere to fit the bits. No cutting or splicing was involved, just cable ties, and the whole thing could be removed from the bike in 20 minutes or less if you need to. I still carry a spare H4 bulb under the seat so even if it all blows up, I can just plug in the old bulb and carry on. 

Is it worth it? In my opinion, yes. It is probably the single best safety feature after my helmet that I have ever had. I am now visible to people who are not looking for bikes as well as those that are. On the rare occaision that I have to flash someone, they know they have been flashed! It has made my regular commute (15 miles main and rural each way) easier and more relaxing in two different ways. I can see further and better, and other road users react to my presence sooner.