The Yellow Headlight

[angellr]

This is the link I used as follows:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0064F ... 00_details

[hjsbmw]

So yellow headlights are safe but may not be legal and real information is hard to get by.
I have a headlight protector. It's a plastic thing that gets velcroed onto the headlight. It's by Aeroflow, but other brands exist. CeeBailey makes one. There were some owners here who helped with the new CB windshield, and who seem to know people at CB. Why don't you ask them why they don't make a yellow headlight protector and suggest the making of one? That might be a viable alternative over changing bulbs, and it seems a similar solution is available in Europe according to a post above.

[Rrider]

I contacted that Swedish company (http://translate.google.com/translate?h ... .se%2Fglas) and they will be producing a colored headlight cover "within weeks". They're looking for an R to take some measurements. Any volunteers???

I sent a request to CeeBaileys to make a yellow cover and will let you know their response.

[Rrider]

CeeBaileys has responded to my inquiry. They said colored covers are illegal per the CFR DOT regulations.

[Rrider]

Also, per Woland's link to a Swedish company (http://translate.google.com/translate?h ... .se%2Fglas), the president and I have been emailing back and forth. He gave me permission to share his comments regarding the colored headlight issues. He asked me to send your responses back to him:

"To get this cover glass produced we first of all need to produce a mold to the glass. Actually we have noticed some demand for this glass and we have at least 4 or 5 inquirys and we are eager to start to produce it. Unfortunately the headlamp of your bike has a bit complicated construction that first of all must be measured and as we are not in the position of owning an R1200R this may take some time but it is not impossible for us to do it. We guess it should not take too many weeks to carry out the measurements and get the mold produced and hope your can be patient and wait for this. If you have more specific questions regarding the protective cover glass I would recommend you to call Jan Zetterlund at +46 70 338 8614."

"It is interesting to notice that the Globe has become so much smaller through the Internet. I want you to know that it´s really a pleasure for us to have you as a prospect customer in the US :-). Our company started up without any ideas of over sea markets and we did just a very simple english version of the web site. In a couple of months time we will for our customers convenience open up a web shop and improve our service level.
Except that the your bike become more visible with a yellow light (in daylight) the biggest advantage of our glass is that the motorcycle becomes so much more visible from the side, depending on our glass has a very specific characteristics. The edge of the glass turns with our processing method to be lightning and that strong that upward edge needs to be painted to avoid the rider not to be dazzled when you're for example driving in tunnels.
Installation is very easy because the glass is mounted on a R1200R simply only with Velcro. The price is not decided yet but I guess it should be around $ 75 + shipping costs and the low weight should guarantee you a reasonable low shipping cost."

"In Europe you can use either use white or yellow light in the headlamp. To develop the protective glass we have received funding for our research from the Swedish Transport Administration and we are negotiating with the Swedish Transport Agency to get a dispensation to mount our protective glass in front of the headlamp. In Europe you are not allowed to have any kind of shelter in front of main headlamp. During our struggling with this we have received a lot of friends all over Europe and we are optimistic that bureaucracy maybe will give up this time. Our arguments about saving lives for two wheel drivers cannot just been rejected without a good explanation, or don´t also you think so? As being experienced bikers, all of us actually belonging to the security comittee of BMW MC Club of Sweden, started our work already in the club. We will continue to develop new articles based on our deep security commitment."

[Caol]

British Columbia regs specifically state: "white light" for headlights. However, they also specifically allow headlight modulators for motorcycles.

K

[nylife]

i wonder what is the difference between these 2

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0064F ... 00_details

http://www.amazon.com/Nokya-H11-Yellow- ... 808&sr=8-2

they are both 2500k, the artic one does look more yellow at least visually.

[Rrider]

I don't know the difference, but ended up picking the one with the deeper yellow. Plus, it's the better price.

[Rolando33]

Well, I am convinced. As per Finn's suggestion, I bought the ones from Amazon with his link. I saw someone else today riding, and they had a yellow headlight................picked them out of the crowd of cars IMMEDIATELY. I really don't care if they are legal or not. I would rather fight it in court then be hit by some unconscious cell-phone yacking idiot driver. And, if I did get pulled over by a cop for it, I am sure he would see the rational behind it if I explained it to him. Most likely just get a warning if I promised to swap out for the regular bulbs (that is at least what I would try with the judge in court).

[stanh]

In South Africa white or yellow are allowed.
I bought a yellow protector for my headlight from my local fiberglass place. They shaped it perfectly for the headlight and I stuck in on with 5 3M sticky Velcro strips. It cost me 20USD compared to the normal 45USD+ for bike shop ones.
It does two things for me. protects the headlight glass and give me that extra yellow visability.

I will post a picture later when I get home.

[ammolab]

CeeBaileys has responded to my inquiry. They said colored covers are illegal per the CFR DOT regulations.

Could you not "Dye" one of their clear covers? I have dyed Nylon and similar plastic items with HOT Rit dye on in a pot on the Kitchen stove.

I know that is how they make plastic lenses for your sunglasses..can't be that hard to do if the teen aged "tech" down at Eye Masters can figure it out.

[Rrider]

I would love to know if the hot dye process would work with a clear protector.

[angellr]

I would love to know if the hot dye process would work with a clear protector.

I think I would rather pay $18 bucks for the lights (which I did), as they are much cheaper than a light cover (especially if you screw it up like I would most likely do! ).

[stanh]

I checked when I got home. I only paid ZAR75 whcih is about 10USD for the cover

hear are two pictures of the cover.
light from front


yellow cover from the side

[nylife]

this is a good looking cover

[Rrider]

I want one.

[2wheelfish]

That cover is pretty sweet. Two questions, how easy is it to remove and reinstall (I have a fairing that goes around the headlight and that may make it much more difficult) and how would I get one? Is there an online store? (ok maybe three questions...)

[stanh]

I had it made by "Acryl form trading", a place that makes perplex signs, aviation wind shields and fibreglass products and vacuum forming. Tel +27 (0)21 948 1623
They are in Cape Town South Africa so I do not think that they will work for you if you are elsewhere.
However if you have a similar factory in your area they should be able to make you one.

They took about 20 minutes to shape a flat piece of perplex to fit my light perfectly. They literally measured the headlight and the depth of the curve shaped it out of a flat square piece of Perpex. They test fitted it only once. They then cut it to shape of my headlight and polished the edge. At about 30% of the cost of one from a bike shop I was happy to wait.

The fit is with 5 3m velcro strips. it cover comes off very easily. If you have a faring you may want to make a small indent on one side to hook it for removal.

[hjsbmw]

I had it made by "Acryl form trading", a place that makes perplex signs, aviation wind shields and fibreglass products and vacuum forming. Tel +27 (0)21 948 1623
They are in Cape Town South Africa so I do not think that they will work for you if you are elsewhere.
However if you have a similar factory in your area they should be able to make you one.

Or you have just found your business opportunity to have these made and sell them worldwide...

[nylife]

got mine installed and while the picture from iphone does look all that great it is a nice change


Quick question for all, the small parking bulb, i think i want to make that one yellow as well, what the model of it?