Tin Foiled the lights

[rigger4343]

I had tried a few different kinds of paints in my head light housings but never got the results that I was looking for. I had to take my front fairing off a couple of weeks ago to send back a bad ballast for one of my HID lights. While I had everything off the front I figured why not try tinfoil in the light housing. I just took my time and shaped some heavy duty foil, shiny side out, in the housing and let it hang out the sides. Then put the lens back on with the foil sticking out. After tightening things up, I trimmed off what was hanging out.

The end result ended up with my light output at what I would guess to be about two to three times as bright as they were with the most reflective paint that I could find. I have not had a chance to go riding down the highway yet but I did cruise around the neighborhood the other night after dark and I was pretty happy with the results.

I should have just done the tinfoil thing a long time ago. It would have saved a bunch in paints and effort. It was simple and it worked. Just thought I would let you guys know what I found to work.

 

[snrusnak]

Cool so did you glue it in? Triangle cut pieces?

 

[Zeroflat24]

Cool so did you glue it in? Triangle cut pieces?

Good questions. Details sir details!

 

[rigger4343]

No, no glue was needed. Besides, I dont thing to many glues would hold up to the heat anyway. I just used two pieces and took my time and shaped them in. Yes you get some wrinkles but I just mashed it all down really flat. Im sure its not a perfect solution but it was simple and it worked better than any paint that I had tried.

 

[oldblue]

I will have to give this a go. Even with my HID's light output is AWFUL!

 

[djohnk]

I did that with my old car headlights before, but used some spray adhesive from walmart

 

[rigger4343]

Even with new high heat silver and somewhat reflective paint in my lights, I was pretty unhappy with the HID set up in mine. Now even the color and brightness seems like it is where it should be. In the day light, it is hard to look directly at the front of the bike now because of the increase in brightness.

I know it may be a little bit of a rig job, but you cant see it and it works.

 

[2004xb12s]

Can we see some pictures so we can determine how "rigged" it really is

 

[rigger4343]

I did not take any pictures of it when I did it but maybe this weekend, I will take a few pictures of it with the lights on just so you can see the after the tinfoil effect.

When I first got my bike, I could see better in the dark with my flash light app on my cell phone! Now I think I could safely go for a night ride.

 

[rigger4343]

Here are a couple of pictures I took. I got a buddy of mine to ride the bike toward me in the day light the other day just so that I could see how bright the lights would be in day time traffic. i was impressed! it was almost blinding even in the day light. I have to say that the tin foil is the trick. The paints that I have tried, never even came close to thi

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[jamason_2000]

What kind of internal temps are you looking at? Could the mod get the heat high enough to melt/disfigure the plastics?

 

[snrusnak]

Thanks for sharing this. I might try it out myself.

 

[Cooter]

You need to clean your workbench


I'm going to try it too! Do HID's run cooler than Halogens?

 

[vtech007]

Great tip! Thanks! One rep point vote from me [up] I just got my 12,000K HID kits and plan on doing this when I install them, and will report my results back here. I plan to take before and after pics. Thanks again!

 

[rigger4343]

My bench is clean!

 

[rigger4343]

And I think they do run cooler. What was in it was 55w H bulbs that got pretty darn hot by my hand.

These HID bulbs are 35w and still get warm but I think they are cooler than what was in there.

 

[jamason_2000]

Ok cool. That's a good thing. Making my list for post deployment.

 

[shaferben]

Not sure about you but I was always disappointed with the dim light on the bike. I ride a lot in the country and didn't feel like I could see much of the road at all with an approaching car coming so I took the little spoon that covers the "dim" light and cut it at an angle. I went a little far (oops) but now when I flip the dims on the left lane goes dark (so you don't blind on coming cars) and the lane I'm stays lit all the way out to the ditch. Not sure when I'll take the front off again (kind of a pain in the arse) but when I do I could probably take some pictures if yall want to see.

 

[vtech007]

Yes, would like to see pics to show what you are talking about - sounds like it could be a good mod. Thanks.

 

[therealou]

I did this over the weekend and took a few pics, don't know if I did it the same way as rigger, but when I get off work I'l post some pics. I didn't take any before and after pics though[down]