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Headlight "hazing" pre 2019 RT models

askitee

Member
A question out of curiosity regarding light covers on the pre 2019 RT models.

In Australia our low and high beam headlights are in different positions as shown in the picture below:

1745454702926.png

I am on my 4th set of plastic lenses for the low beams, and I use the standard HB3/9005 bulbs. The headlights are woefully inadequate when new, so you can imagine that they are even worse as this "hazing" manifests.
On the US/Canada models I believe these are the "fog lights/running lights?"
Is this an issue on the models where these are not designated as headlights?
 
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One of my previous vehicles had plastic headlight "covers" that protected the bulbs.
I found that using a plastic polish a couple of times a year kept them clear.

The product I used was Meguiar's PlastX Clear Plastic Cleaner & Polish, which is available down under.


I used it with a "polishing ball" attached to an electric drill. The ball is made of foam, so it doesn't damage the headlight covers.
 
One of my previous vehicles had plastic headlight "covers" that protected the bulbs.
I found that using a plastic polish a couple of times a year kept them clear.

The product I used was Meguiar's PlastX Clear Plastic Cleaner & Polish, which is available down under.


I used it with a "polishing ball" attached to an electric drill. The ball is made of foam, so it doesn't damage the headlight covers.
Thanks Racoon, this is on the inside of the headlight assembly
 
I live in Canada.
Most of my riding is during the day so those lights don’t get turned on too often.
 
I live in Canada.
Most of my riding is during the day so those lights don’t get turned on too often.
Cool, I have just over 90,000 kms on mine, its garaged when not used. The hazing is a common here I, what bulbs go in the lights we are discussing?
 
I just had a quick look in my owners manual and didn’t see a part number for the light bulb.
I have just under 25000 kilometres on mine and it also gets parked in my garage.
 
This has been identified as a significant issue here in Oz, and back with the 2013-14 RT models (and maybe some later??) there was even a 'recall' on them, altho it may have been a 'Gratuitous gesture from BRP Australia' for a certain time, but soo many Oz bikes back then had this issue that BRP was replacing them free of charge for a while. I believe the cause of the hazing for our Low beam lights in particular has something to do with how close the outside of the projector lamp housing is to the polycarbonate lens cover on the RT's, so it's the heat radiating from that which is causing the haze on the inside of the lens cover. It's certainly not so obviously or quickly prevalent on other models or where RT Owners have replaced those light globes with LED's - less heat, less hazing (it's just a shame that the light beams from LED's, while nice and bright up close, don't 'throw' as far down the road! 😒 )

But you should consider yourself lucky if you've only got the hazing @askitee - I had noticed the hazing beginning and had even touched base with our local State's 'prime dealer' to initiate the replacement process for my 'still factory installed and completely OEM light assemblies and headlight globes' when I went on the Annual Toy Run just before Christmas (years ago now, I can't remember which, but maybe 2016/18 or thereabouts??) and as usual, even tho we were only travelling about 40 kph for most of the day's ride, I rode with my headlights on High Beam ALL DAY in the heat and with little airflow over the lights (and before anyone complains about me running high beam during the day, more people see/notice vehicles with their high beam lights on; and besides, during the day, high beam is not as bright as the sunlight here, so it's not an issue at all and it is actually recommended by our local State Authorities & Police as Good Practice for Safe Riding) and when I got home that evening after about 8-12+ hours of slow riding in the heat/bright sunlight, I discovered that each High Beam light had a melted and burnt hole in the poly lens cover right at the light beam's focus point on the inside of the lens/cover!! :oops: (I did post pics here waaayyy back then, I'll see if I can find them. ;))

Anyhow, to wrap this up, after taking pics & sending them off to BRP Oz, the local dealer ordered and eventually replaced all of my light assemblies (both upper/high beam & lower/low beam assemblies) free of charge, but I really don't ever recommend you ride slowly all day on a hot day with your lights on High Beam! 😣

Ps: if you do a little searching, there is some earlier discussion on this already posted on the Forum that might help. ;)
 
Unfortunately, this is a real problem for the headlights made today.
Some of you guys might remember the 'glass' headlights.
They worked for me.

It was about the cost and the 'landfills'.
 
It could be exactly the issue @PeterAawen described, or an issue with the bulbs themselves. While most Halogen auto bulbs are, some HID or LED bulbs are not 'UV Cut' or 'UV Coated'. This is a feature that eliminates UV light being emitted as UV light is known to degrade plastics.

Maybe you are using bulbs that are not UV Cut ?
 
Onl
This has been identified as a significant issue here in Oz, and back .........
.....beam & lower/low beam assemblies) free of charge, but I really don't ever recommend you ride slowly all day on a hot day with your lights on High Beam! 😣

Ps: if you do a little searching, there is some earlier discussion on this already posted on the Forum that might help. ;)
50% of my riding is at night
It could be exactly the issue @PeterAawen described, or an issue with the bulbs themselves. While most Halogen auto bulbs are, some HID or LED bulbs are not 'UV Cut' or 'UV Coated'. This is a feature that eliminates UV light being emitted as UV light is known to degrade plastics.

Maybe you are using bulbs that are not UV Cut ?
BRP OEM's for the first 4 yrs and the 1st 3 lenses

It is a common issue here in the land down under.
 
I had the headlight hazing on my 2015 RT. Took it in to the dealer since I had the BEST warranty. The dealer called BRP and they refused to honor the warranty because they said it was "cosmetic" even though the hazing was on the inside of the lens.

I had read that someone in Illinois had had their headlights replace under warranty. When I pointed this out to the dealer, he commented that it all depends who picks up the phone at BRP as to whether they will authorize the warranty repair or not. Lets just say that I won't ever purchase another BEST warranty again. I replaced them myself with a later model set I found on ebay. And unless BRP gets this electronic nonsense figured out, my 2015 will be the one and only purchase I make from BRP. Too bad, I was planning on purchasing a new S2S, but the electronics unreliability and the lack of dealers with qualified mechanics has become deal breakers for me on a 30k motorcycle. It seems like the dealer network is getting smaller, not bigger.
 
Then, you guy's down under have some kind of law against adding on running lights?
Don't forget that a Spyder IS a fairly expensive machine to start out with, and even if you do decide to invest even more $$ into adding running lights on your dime (lights which, regardless of make/quality/installed position, can also detract significantly from the 'look' of the machine 😣 ) you've still gotta have working headlights, both Low and High Beam! Once that haze gets bad (and it does!), your lights really don't work well at all, and in every State &/or Territory here in Oz, that can get you pulled over and issued with a Defect Notice (and maybe a fine too!) that can stop you from riding (ie. immediately, as in a no matter where you are/how far you might be from home, a 'do not ride any further, trailer or tilt tray your Spyder to the nearest place of repair' type STOP! 😖) until you get the lights fixed... again, and once more, at your expense!! :mad:

It sorta feels like BRP comes around every couple of years and pours a bucket of 'ugly' and 'cost' all over the front of your Spyder - a really thoughtful 'gift' that just keeps on giving! 🤬
 
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