Constant Flashing......What about you?

[Kratos]

The Spyder RS headlights must be a pain to see head on. When hitting the back highways at night, almost every car flashes their brights at me indicating that I have my brights on. I've even gotten flashed on the interstate, and those cars are 20 feet away to the incoming side. :shocked: I flash them back to show them that they're not on bright, and that it can get brighter. I can't see their facial expressions, but I bet when I flash back, they go into a state of shock that I'm on dim setting. :yikes: I can only imagine that they are saying that whoever made that bike screwed incoming cars. Lol

My wife said that they are blinding. Whenever I ride behind her going home, she becomes unable to look in the rearview mirror. My theory is maybe the flood pattern is too wide. Maybe the beam needs a more focused pattern???...:dontknow:

Do you guys get flashed alot?....

 

[NancysToy]

Align your headlights if they are set too high. The procedure is in your manual, but they usually need to be set a tiny bit lower unless they are aligned with a rider/passenger on board.

 

[MindlessMuse]

Constantly. Every morning when I ride at least 3-4 times on my commute. I was going to have the dealer check the level of the beam next I had it in the shop.

I have the stock bulbs in and was debating the upgrade, but with the constant amount of flashes I get now, I could not imagine it with brighter HID lights.

 

[arntufun]

I have the same problem with mine and like you I always get flashed. They might be aimed to high like mine are.

There was a thread about a news story months back where a woman was driving in her car and a Spyder was behind her. She thought the guy on the Spyder was trying to get her to pull over and she called/went (I don't remember excactly) the cops thinking he was trying to abduct her or something like that.

 

[btcherm]

I ride with a large group and they wont let me ride it the back of the pack they say my light are to bright.
Ihave to led the way,all way up front so be it.

 

[asp125]

During the day I usually ride with my high beams on. Never get flashed. The way I figure it, better that they see you than not.

If you are heavier than average, or ride loaded down, make sure your lights are aligned.

 

[Bob Denman]

We had a thread in here about adjusting the headlights on both the RS and RT models. One of our members took the time to figure out how to set your lights correctly if you don't have exactly the amount of room to normally make the adjustment.
Unfortunately; I only downloaded the info on the RT's lights... pps:
Maybe if you did some digging you'll be able to find the thread!

 

[boborgera]

Like mentioned before , The lights are too high.
You do want to be seen, But you also don't want to annoy the Wrong person,
Especially if Their in a larger vehicle then you are! nojoke

 

[asp125]

I flashed them back once, but got a ticket for indecent exposure.

 

[CyncySpyder]

Something to consider. ..... You probably need to aim them a bit lower

I think the reason most of you are getting flashed, is cause on-coming vehicles think you are flashing them & not neccessarily that you just have your brights on, & this (in my experience) is especially true for the RS models more so than the RT, but is valid for both models. With the Spyders short wheel base, every bump in the road causes the front end to bounce, and it will either dip down or go up & then quickly after, the rear follows pattern. When this happens, your headlights will momentarily aim a bit higher, then lower then level back off. The way (especially the RS) our headlights are aimed/focused, that will usually cause the on-coming cars (or in the rear view mirror of cars in front of us) to think we're flashing them, hence the reason they usually flash back. I noticed this myself in a group ryde with an RS behind us. Also, if you've added Elkas or other after market shocks, they will usually raise the front end an inch or so, often requiring the need to readjust the aim of your lights. As Scotty stated, the proper procedure is in the book, hope this helps.

 

[pro10is]

We had a thread in here about adjusting the headlights on both the RS and RT models. One of our members took the time to figure out how to set your lights correctly if you don't have exactly the amount of room to normally make the adjustment.
Unfortunately; I only downloaded the info on the RT's lights... pps:
Maybe if you did some digging you'll be able to find the thread!

Assumptions:
Spyder GS/RS/RS-S Headlight Height: 32.375" on average w/200 lb driver. (This could change considerably with a heavier/lighter driver, cargo load, tire pressure, performance shocks, etc.)
BRP Specs for Headlight Adjustment: Adjust for a low beam height of 24.0" to 27.5" (25.75" halfway point) at 33' with a 200 lb driver.

[TABLE="class: cms_table"]
[TR]
[TD]Angle
[/TD]
[TD]Distance[/TD]
[TD]Low Beam Height Adjustment[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]0.96°[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]33'[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]24.0" - 27.5"[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]0.96°[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]30'[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]24.6" - 28.1"[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]0.96°[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]25'[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]25.6" - 29.1"[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]0.96°[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]20'[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]26.6" - 30.1"[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]0.96°[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]15'[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]27.6" - 31.1"[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]0.96°[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]10'[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]28.6" - 32.1"[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[Bob Denman]

Thank you! :bowdown::bowdown::bowdown:

 

[Cavman]

The street in front of my house is flat. I park the bike (truck) in a spot as if I were driving down the street. I adjust each headlight by looking to see where the light hits the ground.
When I'm finished adjusting, I walk down the street about 40-50 feet in front of the bike (truck) and stoop down. I want to see if either light is bothersome if I were driving in a Sports car? That's my check. That's the best method I've found for since I've used E Code head lights in all my vehicles since 1974. Marchal or Cibie.
I run HIDs in my RT now.

 

[Laila's Dad]

me too...

I got flashed last night. I didn't flash back but they are definitely bright. I assumed that was intentional to make sure the spYder was seen. I didn't know it was a setting issue.

 

[safecracker]

I also take mine out at night on a flat level surface. I adjust my hi beams to wear they are to my liking. The lo beams are set from there. The bad thing about the Spyder's headlights is the way they use a guilatine style device that cuts off the upper part of the headlight. This really cuts off the distance that lo beams usually reach. When I am driving at night and I am using lo beams, I really slow down due to the light just doesn't get out there. I would rather see a car style lighting system.

 

[ARtraveler]

Great information. Thanks. :thumbup:

 

[Kratos]

Going to get the manual...

Excellent info given on this thread. Thanks guys, I didn't even think about if they could be adjusted. :banghead:

I'm going to go get my manual and read up on this...

 

[zrc]

I always welcome the ladies flashing me with their... wait wait, my bad...

*takes his bucket of beads and goes home*

 

[james danny]

flashing

I think the reason most of you are getting flashed, is cause on-coming vehicles think you are flashing them & not neccessarily that you just have your brights on, & this (in my experience) is especially true for the RS models more so than the RT, but is valid for both models. With the Spyders short wheel base, every bump in the road causes the front end to bounce, and it will either dip down or go up & then quickly after, the rear follows pattern. When this happens, your headlights will momentarily aim a bit higher, then lower then level back off. The way (especially the RS) our headlights are aimed/focused, that will usually cause the on-coming cars (or in the rear view mirror of cars in front of us) to think we're flashing them, hence the reason they usually flash back. I noticed this myself in a group ryde with an RS behind us. Also, if you've added Elkas or other after market shocks, they will usually raise the front end an inch or so, often requiring the need to readjust the aim of your lights. As Scotty stated, the proper procedure is in the book, hope this helps.

that is correct

 

[Tin Man]

I think the reason most of you are getting flashed, is cause on-coming vehicles think you are flashing them & not neccessarily that you just have your brights on, & this (in my experience) is especially true for the RS models more so than the RT, but is valid for both models. With the Spyders short wheel base, every bump in the road causes the front end to bounce, and it will either dip down or go up & then quickly after, the rear follows pattern. When this happens, your headlights will momentarily aim a bit higher, then lower then level back off. The way (especially the RS) our headlights are aimed/focused, that will usually cause the on-coming cars (or in the rear view mirror of cars in front of us) to think we're flashing them, hence the reason they usually flash back. I noticed this myself in a group ryde with an RS behind us. Also, if you've added Elkas or other after market shocks, they will usually raise the front end an inch or so, often requiring the need to readjust the aim of your lights. As Scotty stated, the proper procedure is in the book, hope this helps.

The Harley guys i ride with in a group always think I am flashing them to pull over. Your right, its the movement up and down over bumps that makes it look like your flashing. And this is during daylight hours so I'm sure at night oncoming traffic thinks your flashing them.