[JonnyThrice]

Am I the only one who finds the stock headlights not only acceptable, but actually pretty bright? They put out a nice, even and wide spread, pretty bright...I dont see the issue. Yeah, when you lean in a curve, the beam leans with you, but its not *that* bad.

 

[Bruce C]

Am I the only one who finds the stock headlights not only acceptable, but actually pretty bright?

Yep, guess you are!

 

[Markovich]

I'm sure the straighter the roads, the lesser the problem, but on the windy roads around here night riding with the stock 1050 lights is not pleasant at all. Disconcerting in fact.

I can't believe how poor these lights are compared to my '01. What were Triumph thinking, who tested them prior to commitment to the design, and why has it taken so long to correct (assuming the '11's lighting is much better of course)?

Do the HID upgrades so popular in here dramatically improve the spread sufficient to be comfortable for cornering, as well as the light output?

 

[Macduff]

Am I the only one who finds the stock headlights not only acceptable, but actually pretty bright? They put out a nice, even and wide spread, pretty bright...I dont see the issue. Yeah, when you lean in a curve, the beam leans with you, but its not *that* bad.

I'm sure there are others out there who have no problem with them. However, I came from a 2000 VFR800 and the headlights (twin H4) on that make the Sprint's look like cheap flashlights. High beam in particular is completely useless. I haven't ridden a VFR VTEC but I'm lead to believe that they're even better than the original 800's. Given that the VTEC came out 3 years before the Sprint 1050, Triumph had plenty of time to get it right and they failed miserably.

Do the HID upgrades so popular in here dramatically improve the spread sufficient to be comfortable for cornering, as well as the light output?

Will let you know next week.

 

[K8]

Lets be honest here , the sprint lights suck. The setup doesn't suit bikes at all and anything to make them brighter is just a bandaid solution to a light setup that simply does not work.
Whats needed is to transplant the new GT lights to the ST. I for one , living as I do in the yarra Ranges and riding often at night hope this can be done.
I cant believe anyone who rides at night thinks the sprint lights are any good at all. I love my sprint , but wow, I hope I can get the GT lights to fit .

 

[DaveM]

Lets be honest here , the sprint lights suck. The setup doesn't suit bikes at all and anything to make them brighter is just a bandaid solution to a light setup that simply does not work.
Whats needed is to transplant the new GT lights to the ST. I for one , living as I do in the yarra Ranges and riding often at night hope this can be done.
I cant believe anyone who rides at night thinks the sprint lights are any good at all. I love my sprint , but wow, I hope I can get the GT lights to fit .

Correction K8 the Sprint ST 1050's lights suck.

DaveM:AustralianFlag

 

[Markovich]

...I hope I can get the GT lights to fit .

I'll be very interested in the result too, but I have a feeling it won't be economically very palatable.

I presume from the lack of such discussion here that the possibility of retrofitting other manufacturer's light units of same proportion (ie, projectors from other vehicles, whether bike or car) hasn't been researched or tested.

 

[SprintST]

I'll be very interested in the result too, but I have a feeling it won't be economically very palatable.

I presume from the lack of such discussion here that the possibility of retrofitting other manufacturer's light units of same proportion (ie, projectors from other vehicles, whether bike or car) hasn't been researched or tested.

In my opinion we're going to want reflectors not projectors. We already have projectors. And unless the replacement projector mirrors are better at light distribution it's not the answer.

There have been a couple attempts at it. It's a lot of hassle to cut open the sealed unit(reflector and glass) that is both headlights. To put in alternative reflectors and bulbs. And no other headlight really will fit in the fairing easily. So most run out of steam after the research phase.

I'm guardedly optimistic that the GT lights might fit. But they're probably different mounts, or at least slightly different shapes. So it would take an entire nose assembly, mounts and all. As you say, not economically viable.

I went with auxilary lighting. I mounted Hella FF50's on the upper caliper bolt, and aimed them up and out just a bit to fill in the corners. The results have been promising, but I haven't tested them thoroughly. That'll probably be sometime in the next few weeks while on the road, lol

 

[SprintST]

Correction K8 the Sprint ST 1050's lights suck.

DaveM:AustralianFlag

Sort of. The 1050 light sucks for corners. The 955 lights were just dim. They all seemed to come aimed at the front fender from the factory though, lol

 

[Markovich]

In my opinion we're going to want reflectors not projectors. We already have projectors. And unless the replacement projector mirrors are better at light distribution it's not the answer.

I was working on the possibility of much better projectors being available, given their widespread use on other vehicles.

There have been a couple attempts at it. It's a lot of hassle to cut open the sealed unit(reflector and glass) that is both headlights. To put in alternative reflectors and bulbs. And no other headlight really will fit in the fairing easily. So most run out of steam after the research phase.

And again why I was working on the availability of better projectors. If there are, surely this would have to be the simplest and cheapest option.

I went with auxilary lighting. I mounted Hella FF50's on the upper caliper bolt, and aimed them up and out just a bit to fill in the corners. The results have been promising, but I haven't tested them thoroughly. That'll probably be sometime in the next few weeks while on the road, lol

Looking forward to your review

 

[AimoPaukku]

If i were dissatisfied with the stock projectors with xenon bulbs, i would definitely go to this way.
http://xebritehidsystems.webs.com/bprsystem.htm

Imagine two or three 50w bi-xenons.

My friend has pair of those in his bike. /Honda

 

[Macduff]

I was working on the possibility of much better projectors being available, given their widespread use on other vehicles.

Think the main problem with projectors on bikes is lack of space. My A4 had projectors with HIDs that gave a much better light spread but they were 2-3 times longer than the projectors on my Sprint.

I think Triumph went with them purely from a fashion perspective. I'd rather have reflectors as they seem to work better when space is tight.

 

[Markovich]

If i were dissatisfied with the stock projectors with xenon bulbs

You're totally happy with the straight HID install into the stock projectors?

http://xebritehidsystems.webs.com/bprsystem.htm

Am I seeing things? Their standard HID kit and their Bixenon Projector Replacement HID kits (with Angel Eyes) appear to be the same price (US$350 for slim ballasts)?

An interesting aspect of the BPR kit is the choice of bulb type, so it becomes possible to use, say, H4 rather than H7 bulbs.

The voltage protection system sounds nice too...

 

[Macduff]

HIDs arrived today!

Not had time to check them but will try to fit tomorrow night.

 

[Bruce C]

An interesting aspect of the BPR kit is the choice of bulb type, so it becomes possible to use, say, H4 rather than H7 bulbs.

Here is a wealth of downloadable info on HIDs is located at:

https://www.ddmtuning.com/support/index.php?_m=downloads&_a=view&parentcategoryid=1&pcid=0&nav=0

A pdf file on guide to lamp bases(file is too large to post here) is at the top of the list.

 

[Markovich]

...A pdf file on guide to lamp bases(file is too large to post here) is at the top of the list.

Thanks, Bruce. I had read quite a lot of material on that site, but I think I must have got tired before reading up on bulb types. It hadn't occurred to me before that changing bulb type might be an option.

Is it known whether changing from H7 to H4 for 1050's been investigated before? (a bit hard to search for here as the search function will complain unhelpfully about terms <3 characters...though I s'pose there's always Google...)

Postscript: after having a bit of a look, the HID H4's appear quite different to the H7's (whereas the halogen versions of these bulb types are quite similar), with the H4's having a large shield around them. This would make me suspect the stock projectors will probably be significantly incompatible with the H4 HID bulbs as a direct retrofit. It might still be possible to consider H4's with the Xebrite BPR system that Aimo suggested, as it must be assumed they would be supplied with a suitable projector. I have to say, I quite like the idea of integrated hi/lo beams over the stock twin lo's with single insignificant hi beam. Triple lo/hi beams could be interesting! . Am i being silly?

Postscript 2: There does appear to be scepticism about HID versions of the H4 implementation, even from the distributors themselves. Single filament equivalents certainly seem to be the recommendation.

Postscript 3: At least one source indicates that high beams should always use reflectors, not projectors. What does this say about the Sprint's implementation? And does this partly explain the apparent weakness of the high beam (on my '07 at least)?

 

[Macduff]

Quite a few cars (Audi for one) have bi-xenon projectors and seem to be OK. Although they all have tungsten hi-beams to suplement the HIDs. I think that's more to do with being able to flash the headlights

Anyway, HIDs have been fitted so now I just need to see what they're like at night. With this being summer (I think!) in Scotland, it's daylight until well after 10pm so I'll have to have a later rider to test them out. It's supposed to pour tonight and my rear tyre is verging on illegal so I'll probably give tonight a miss. Getting a new pair of Roadsmarts tomorrow evening so will try them out then

Was fairly easy to fit the HIDs. Ballasts are in the void above the high beam. Trickiest bits were getting the wires for both down the narrow gap behind high beam and also cutting a nice hole in the rubber covers. I'll need to use some silicon seal to ensure that they are watertight.

 

[Neo]

2010 Headlights on a 2006 ST.....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2006-TRIUMPH-SPRINT-ST-1050-PACIFIC-BLUE-/290448584623?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item43a015afaf

I think I like that .... I think .....

Not too many 2010 donor bikes around I'm guessing

Neo

 

[Macduff]

Argh!

Must be coincidence but my indicators, brake light and horn have all stopped working. Fuse blows as soon as the ignition is turned on

I've checked the wiring and can see nothing that was disturbed when I fitted the HIDs.

Must be a short somewhere but this could take some finding. Has this happened to anyone before?

 

[ralphus]

Argh!

Must be coincidence but my indicators, brake light and horn have all stopped working. Fuse blows as soon as the ignition is turned on

I've checked the wiring and can see nothing that was disturbed when I fitted the HIDs.

Must be a short somewhere but this could take some finding. Has this happened to anyone before?

HIDs do draw a lot of current on start up and this may be the reason you are blowing the fuse. You may need a relay set up although most people seem to get away with using the standard wiring.

I would replace the fuse and reconnect the HIDs one at a time. This will identify whether one is faulty or whether you are drawing too much current on start up.