Headlight design change?

[DanKearney]

I'm pretty sure the little bulb is a parking light, not a running light. When I lived in Europe, all the bikes (and cars) had them so they could be safely parked on the narrow, dark roadsides in the little villages. I never noticed when I was there, but I bet the vehicles in Asia use the same setup.

Cheers,

Dan K.

[detours]

Nice pics Lee! It could be that your camera just picks up more light, but your headlight pattern appears wider than mine. I wonder if my side LEDs are blocking light that is reflected farther out on yours.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by DanKearney

I'm pretty sure the little bulb is a parking light, not a running light. When I lived in Europe, all the bikes (and cars) had them so they could be safely parked on the narrow, dark roadsides in the little villages. I never noticed when I was there, but I bet the vehicles in Asia use the same setup.

Cheers,

Dan K.

Are the parking lights illuminated when the engine is off? I've never seen that feature in the United States, so I am unfamiliar with it.

[Lee R]

Originally Posted by detours

Nice pics Lee! It could be that your camera just picks up more light, but your headlight pattern appears wider than mine. I wonder if my side LEDs are blocking light that is reflected farther out on yours.

I tried to match it to what I was seeing as best I could. If you want to compare and have a camera with manual control and a F2.8 lens just match the settings I used.

I can also retake some with F5.6 of F4 as more cameras have that F-stop on kit lenses. I'll need a tripod for those shots though as it's going to be a slow shutter speed.


Lee

[detours]

I only have a smartphone for pics, so unfortunately I can't try your settings.

My light pattern appears in this post. Based on shape alone, your light pattern appears more round than mine, with a wider reach from left to right, while my 2015 headlight appears more oval vertically.

[Weldangrind]

Originally Posted by SpudRider

Are the parking lights illuminated when the engine is off? I've never seen that feature in the United States, so I am unfamiliar with it.

My 1979 Yamaha XS650S had a similar feature. If you locked the steering and then turned the key counter-clockwise one more click, it would illuminate the tail light. I was told it was in case you had to leave your bike on the side of the road.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by Weldangrind

My 1979 Yamaha XS650S had a similar feature. If you locked the steering and then turned the key counter-clockwise one more click, it would illuminate the tail light. I was told it was in case you had to leave your bike on the side of the road.

Thank you for posting that interesting information, Weld.

However, both of my Zongshen motorcycles have the secondary, small bulb in the headlight, and neither small bulb illuminates when the ignition is turned off, and locked. Both bulbs illuminate only when the ignition is turned on, in unison with the main headlight bulb. Therefore, I deduced these small bulbs are running lights, and not parking lights.

[DanKearney]

Originally Posted by SpudRider

Thank you for posting that interesting information, Weld.

However, both of my Zongshen motorcycles have the secondary, small bulb in the headlight, and neither small bulb illuminates when the ignition is turned off, and locked. Both bulbs illuminate only when the ignition is turned on, in unison with the main headlight bulb. Therefore, I deduced these small bulbs are running lights, and not parking lights.

I think they just changed the wiring so its on all the time instead of including an ignition switch that has the final switch position for the parkling lights to come on only.

Still just a guess on my part though. My Urals still have this feature. I think my Royal Enfield does also. My old BMW's had it too.

Cheers,

Dan K.

[Lee R]

I installed a "basic" Sylvania 9003 (H4) into my RX3 this afternoon. IR thermometer read 340F for the 35w bulb and 507F for the High beam on the 9003. Significant increase in temperature but I don't know what the melt point of that plastic is. Ambient air was 55 degrees. I'm guessing the headlight lens is polycarbonate which has a melt point of 500-600F according to a few searches. Looks like the bulb should be safe in there barely. I think Spuds advice for a vent hole is sound in this case.

I repeat the photo's I took with the H4 so we can see the difference.


Lee

[detours]

Thanks for measuring the temperature. 507 degrees! I'm glad I cut a vent hole!