| Author | Message | ||
     Dr_greg |
I'm beginning to start messing with my "new" '06 Uly (pictures soon, but nothing much of interest to this savvy group, IMHO). Anyway, one minor issue with my new bike is that it doesn't have a headlight grille. My totaled bike (which I'm keeping) also has a totaled headlight grille. So...how "useful" is that little grille? Mrs. Greg likes its appearance. I don't really care one way or t'other. I believe some folks think it's a little ridiculous. --Doc | ||
| Ratbuell |
I took mine off, easier to de-mud the headlights. Anything big enough coming at you to be deflected by that grill...well, let's just say *I* don't wanna hit it! Total personal choice, in other words  | ||
| Tootal |
I think it was just for looks. It obviously doesn't work for deer! | ||
| Svh |
I prefer it off. Just looks cleaner and as Ratbuell said easier to clean. If the Mrs. likes it then maybe I would put it on. Saw one in the classifieds here for $15 I believe a little while ago. | ||
| Crusty |
My wife had the headlight on her Moto Guzzi broken by a piece of road debris kicked up by a Semi. It happened while we were about 600 miles from home, and it made the remainder of the trip, um, interesting. When she got her Ss, one of the first accessories we got for it was the headlight grill. We'll probably never need it, but it does give us a measure of comfort. (I put one on my XT, as well) | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Draw a fake one on there with a sharpie! | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
It's for looks. The grill is too open to actually make much of a difference. I gave mine to Froggy. | ||
| Itileman |
Touratech makes another option: http://www.touratech-usa.com/shop/show.lasso?sku=3 80-0040&-session=touratech:CFC8744A02ee927954VKp2B 1A23C | ||
| Hoon |
I made a perspex cover which I cable-tied to the grill to actually protect the headlight properly. It probably diminishes the output of the headlight (whatever grill you use) but it's sh!te anyway so nothing lost really, if you want to see at night- add auxilliary spots. You can get a clear adhesive film which protects the headlight apparently which would do the job without losing too much output but I don't know where from (someone on here will know). | ||
| Fung |
I have the touratech deal on my xt. I like it. easy to clean and great protection. | ||
| Etennuly |
It is right against the lens anyways, so it would be too late for a rock to stop. On the other hand it may have done a good job as a deer catcher. Could you imagine how much more damage would have been done to the Dr Greg machine without it?  | ||
| Paul56 |
Dr. Greg- you can have mine if you want it. | ||
| Thunderbox |
Basically it's a brush guard. Keeps the branches from scratching the platic lens on the lights. Mine is history I gave it away to someone along with the frt fender of the Uly. Put on an XT fender set up. | ||
| Cajunrph |
I like the sharpie idea. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
They work for eyebrows too!  | ||
| Ulyranger |
They may be mostly for aesthetic purposes, but in my deer-bike collision last spring it DID save my headlight lenses. Deer strike was directly on the flyscreen/headlight/fork tube on right side. Hit was hard enough to break the lower mounting lug on the headlight assembly completely off, grill stayed intact and lenses are 100%. I did order a new headlight assembly but it stills lives in the box 'cuz with a little JB Weld I was able to rebuilt the lower mount and the original assembly works fine. I will swap it out someday but I was toooooooo impatient to wait for the new part and now I'm just tooooo lazy to remove a functioning part. BTW the grill was deformed by the impact and had deer fur all over it. No doubt in my mind that the lenses would have been toast w/o it. It didn't save the bulbs from blowing during impact though.... If I had spare bulbs, duct tape and a zip tie or two I could have made my headlights functional for the ride home. They aren't going to do much for small projectiles like < 1/4" rocks but for larger ones I believe it does provide a bit of protection. Dr Greg, have you tried straightening your old one? It's soft steel and mine reformed fine by hand. Of course yours experienced much greater forces than mine...... I do agree the grill is mostly a visual thing though. YMMV. | ||
| Wbrisett |
Touratech makes another option: Speaking of Touratech, has anybody added any of their other protection pieces to their Uly? I put on the kickstand foot on my '07, and I've got some of the other parts on order, but curious if anybody has put them on their bike. Wayne | ||
| Dr_greg |
Dr Greg, have you tried straightening your old one? It's soft steel and mine reformed fine by hand. Of course yours experienced much greater forces than mine...... Several of the welds are broken on mine. I think I'll just leave it off. --Doc |
