| Author | Message | ||
     1125rcya |
I rode with a group of guys last night and ended up leading because everyone in front of me cried about my lights being so bright on low beam. Did anyone else have this problem before adjusting? I like them this way because cars or trucks move over after about 30 sec. of me following them! It's a toss up dont know weather to adjust the head lights or wait for a cop to pull me over? I do like being visible at night. | ||
| Joshinga |
how high are they? | ||
| 1125rcya |
Lets just say I dont have a problem seeing the road in front of me at night! I am going to take it out in the country tonight for another ride just to be sure I can see the road fine. Has anyone ever commented on your lights being bright? | ||
| Joshinga |
not yet I did have someone flash there lights once but thats all | ||
| 03fatboy |
I have had people tell me mine are bright, but I ride with my highbeams on day or night and never turn them off, if they flash you at least you know they see you is how I feel. | ||
| No_rice |
or they cant see you because its to damn bright and will just run you over because they get blinded... no thatd never happen... | ||
| Black |
Blinded? You are going to have to have some serious headlights to blind them while they drive down the road sending text messages. I don't think anybody makes nuclear headlights yet. Hmmmmm....maybe lasers? | ||
| No_rice |
so your saying youve never had a light shine in your eyes bright enough to keep you from seeing the oncoming vehicle clearly or keep you from seeing the road clearly? hmm... most people i know have. | ||
| Black |
No...I was making a funny. I was not trying to belittle your point. I was just using a little light hearted humor to say that (car) driver inattention is probably a greater threat to a motorcyclist than headlights. Bright headlights can certainly be a major issue. (Message edited by black on May 15, 2010) | ||
| Stevek1125r |
Adjust the lights.... Just cause your blinding people with your incorrectly adjusted lights doesn't mean they won't go off and hit you.... i just witness a 23 year old kid get killed here in florida last week... he was doing the speed limit and in the right lane... older lady at the age of 63 still didn't see his bright red honda, headlights and green t shirt..... she pulled out in front of him because she wasn't paying attention and killed the young man... His bad for not having a helmet... her bad for not paying attention... think having a head light adjusted incorrectly would have saved him???? nope | ||
| Mountainstorm |
I almost got nailed by a geezer sitting at a stop sign. I had been stopped waiting to make a left behind one other car...car went I followed and the idiot at the stop sign lurched forward. Luckily I was close enough that he heard me shout and looked terribly shocked like "where did you come from?" Dumb ass. I had been sitting directly in front of him for a minute literally ten feet away DIRECTLY ahead of him and he still didn't see me. I think old people that hit motorcyclists need to have their license revoked and should be subject to jail time. Maybe that would get their attention. | ||
| Black |
Well, I don't know what to do between people texting, talking on the phone, and just driving way beyond their capabilities. Had a guy nearly take me out yesterday. He was screaming up on my left trying to turn right across my path. In other words, he wanted to pass me on my left and then turn right in front of me. I punched it and he turned across behind me, but he could have only missed me by a couple of feet. I have no idea what was going on in his head, but I had to go home and get off my bike. I think I was almost made a hood ornament yesterday. The more I think about it the more sure I am that I avoided getting nailed just by the grace of God and some Erik Buell 1125R acceleration. Dude scared me pretty badly. | ||
| 03fatboy |
Nothing will save you from idiots, headlights or not, loud pipes, reflective gear none of it will stop a distracted idiot. | ||
| Lucky_jim |
I know he was being stupid, but why didn't you just let him pass? Sounds like it could've avoided the situation and wouldn't've had you all shook up afterwards. It's a tough pill to swallow but you know what they say, bike vs car the car will always win. | ||
| Rsh |
Is your suspension adjusted for your weight? If not, maybe your bike is in chopper mode, front high back low.That could cause the light issue. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Fix the light. If you want to "be seen", ride with your high beam on during the day. And if you're relying on a light bulb to keep you alive and safe...go take a rider course and learn to keep your*self* alive. | ||
| Attweco |
My '09 1125R has the brightest and widest range headlights of any bike I've seen. On unlit dark back roads, it's like daylight, and those are the low beams. In the daytime, cars get out from in front of me, like crazy. | ||
| Dktechguy112 |
"Nothing will save you from idiots, headlights or not, loud pipes, reflective gear none of it will stop a distracted idiot." maybe a louder horn could help. I was riding in a friends truck, and he had a train horn installed on the truck. We were driving along and this idiot texting on his phone pulled out right in front of us, my friend said watch this. He hit the train horn. The idiot threw his phone across the car and i'm pretty sure he needed new pants. | ||
| 1125rcya |
I had my suspension set up by harley and if anyone in the Indiana, ohio, Ill.,KY area is willing to go over the set up with me I am all ears and eyes. It does seem that the rear edges of the tires have more over all use compared to the front could this be a sign? This bike corners great except an up hill hard swoop it seems to push the front but never losing traction. I am going to set up a appointment with HD over the set up of the suspension light issue, unless someone who knows what the set up is supposed to be like and is willing to meet up with me at your convenience! Indianapolis, Indiana I am not afraid to travel a couple hundred of miles. Thanks all for your input and stories. Laid off Mike PS Im great with phone and cable installations "Union Telecom Tech" | ||
| Froggy |
1125rcya, spend 10 minutes and break out the owners manual and set it up per the instructions. I think the book settings are on the stiff side but they work fantastic.  | ||
| Syonyk |
I'm debating getting the twizted throttle air horn. 139dB of motorcycle fury. *grins* I also would say that if you expect lights to keep you alive, take some riding courses. I have very bright lights, but still ride like I'm invisible. | ||
| Clk92vette |
Anyone who has ridden for any significant length of time has at least had a few close calls and probably been down at least once. Many moons ago I was given the opportunity to choose between a drivers door on a pick up truck and a concrete divider on I-76 West in Akron, OH. I chose the divider since it wasn’t being driven by a woman, and thus much more predictable. She decided that she needed my lane right now, and didn’t want to broadcast it to anyone in advance. I rode the wall at about 65 MPH for a while until she noticed me and got back over. I managed to keep it upright, despite the rear signal and the rear peg shooting sparks for probably 50 feet. I got back in the fast lane, drifted right next to her door, flipped up my visor, stuck my head through her window, and screamed directly into her left ear for a few seconds. As I continued down the road I went from complete adrenalin, to a euphoria that can only be described as Superman complex. When I parked the bike, my emotions crashed to “thank God I am still alive”. Since then I have had some close calls and they have all taught me some important lessons: 1) Always assume that any vehicle around you does not see you and ride accordingly. For me this means the following: a) never stay in a vehicle’s blind spot b) always cover the passing trigger with my left pointer finger and use it whenever the dreaded left turn cross traffic scenario presents itself c) always ride close to the centerline when cross traffic is an issue to maximize the maneuvering options d) when stopped in traffic, always position myself to the side of the vehicle in front of me and cover my rearview mirrors e) when cross traffic is a significant concern, find a blocker and run reasonably close to their rear bumper. 2) If someone forces you into a close call, don’t let them off easy. It’s only fair that they should experience some fear for their well-being also, if for no other reason than to minimize the chance that they do it again to another rider. Of course you must use common sense and prevent a close call from becoming something worse. I recently followed a guy five minutes out of my way to work, and read him the riot act in his work parking lot. I have to believe this just might decrease his chance of doing it again. 3) Horns: I thought about getting a very loud one myself. But in all my close calls it is clear to me that I am too busy working at crash avoidance to cover the horn button in time to affect the outcome. 4) Flickering headlight: From what I have read these are extremely effective at making people notice you. And from my own experience while driving my car, I would have to agree. This is my next upgrade item. 5) Variable intensity brake lamp: Similar to the headlight but for different situations. 6) Gear: Buy the best you can afford and always wear it. A good helmet, gauntlet style gloves, abrasion & impact resistant jacket & pants, and over the ankle boots that will not come off of your feet if you go down will be worth their weight in gold if you ever need them. If I were King: 1) All motorists would have to start their vehicular training on mopeds, graduate to motorcycles, and then earn their automotive license. My riding experience has definitely forced me to be a more cognizant automobile driver. 2) If you are at fault in a traffic accident, you would lose your license for 30 days, regardless of the outcome. At fault vehicular homicide, lose your license for life. 3) Rubbernecking and any use of the cell phone, with the exception of hands free operation, would be punishable by flogging on the first offense. 4) Drivers over the age of sixty would have to take annual tests to maintain their driving status. I could go on for a while but I don’t want to get off the subject. You must treat all drivers in your vicinity as unaware, incapable, and/or reckless to keep riding in the long run. | ||
| Dosmie |
A friend has a Uly with driving lights. Riding in front of him is like being followed by a train. His lights aren't high, they are just bright. | ||
| Boogiman1981 |
"chopper mode" that is awesome | ||
| Stevek1125r |
I did buy a PIAA 125DB horn for my Buell.. much louder than the stocker and it sounds like a car horn... had to use it once and from the ladies reaction to hearing it when she crossed into my lane, you would have thought a semi truck blew their horn at her.... she took a moment and then actually looked around to see what was there... she saw me and then flipped me off while cutting me off anyways... Stupid ••••... i damn near kicked the drivers door in when i passed by her.... At the end of the day, when its your time, its your time... no amount of defensive/training driver will save your ass from a ••••••• cager who is hell bent on killing you........ Ride safe ya'll, adjust that light.... "chopper mode" is that even possible on a BUELL...lol | ||
| Froggy |
I've been meaning to make a thread about it, I watched an old lady in a Buick plow into a stopped Civic. I couldn't even believe what I saw. | ||
| 1125rcya |
While at a red light I witnessed a guy in an older lifted ford bronco foot slip off the clutch, WoW man he did some serious damage to the car in front of him. Glad I wasnt in front of him with my bike that day! | ||
| Zac4mac |
Shit happens, watch your mirror. My new ride -  |
