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Jan 14, 2008 | 07:27 AM

AwfHand

Thread Starter

Cruiser

Joined: Jul 2006

Posts: 151

Likes: 1

Add Lighting

Hey all,

This summer I'm going to find myself riding in deer country a little closer to evening than I have before. I want to add some additional lighting to my bike. This would be suppliment to the headlight, not running/marker lights, etc.

I'm wondering who's selling the best beam for the buck?

Testimonies? How good are they, really?

Jan 14, 2008 | 08:03 AM

Thumper26

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: May 2005

Posts: 3,146

Likes: 50

From: A barrier island in NJ

RE: Add Lighting

You're faced with a tough one. The front side lights are not particularly good for greater forward vision, but do make you more visible. A higher wattage bulb in your headlight is most likely going to be your best bet.

Good luck, and let us know what you come up with to improve your front lighting.

Jan 14, 2008 | 09:48 AM

SportyPig

Ultimate HDF Member

Joined: Jul 2006

Posts: 6,478

Likes: 12

From: Nashville, TN

RE: Add Lighting

I can't really answer your lighting question, but, in general all of the lights in the world won't really help much with avoiding deer. Hell, if anything they seem to be attracted to lights. Thus the old saying "Like a deer caught in the headlights."

Here's to wishing all of the deer hunters a VERY successful season!!! [sm=shootshoot.gif]

Jan 14, 2008 | 10:36 AM

valveguide

Tourer

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 427

Likes: 1

From: Down North

RE: Add Lighting

Adding lights hopefully will help you see the deer ahead of time.

Them dumb deer are just going to stand there afixed to those lights.

A train horn that sees deer would be a great addition.

Jan 14, 2008 | 10:42 AM

1200rman

6th Gear

Joined: Dec 2007

Posts: 12

Likes: 0

From:

RE: Add Lighting

Bright lightscan paralize a deer rather than help. The lights willhelp in giving you more light on the road and perhaps the side of the road but again, once the deer see it, they seem to simply freeze. So, it's a mixed bag. As for those deer whistles you sometimes see, the problem with those is that the sound waves (we can't hear them) "bend" behind the bike rather than project out in front of it. Therefore, their help is questionable at best. Other than keeping a good eye out for deer, (aux.lights might help at least spotting them in advance) there's not much else you can do.

One additional note: though the whistles may not help you directly, folks behind you might benefit once you pass any deer nearby. If someone in front of you has one, that could help you. Tenuous at best..but hey...anything that helps isn't a bad idea.

Good luck and keep your eyes open

Jan 14, 2008 | 10:53 AM

AwfHand

Thread Starter

Cruiser

Joined: Jul 2006

Posts: 151

Likes: 1

RE: Add Lighting

I understand where you're all coming from.

What I'm fearing is this:

Deer is alongside road and about cross. More lights would "penetrate" further and give me some more reaction time.

or,

(not for squeamish) Deer has been hit, dead, but not beaten into a run-over-able stain. More lights give me better indication of something in the road to evade.

I'm not trying to have them see me more. To me, their all blind and deaf. I just want to see them better, before they cause me a problem.

Jan 14, 2008 | 11:25 AM

Stefan

Road Master

Joined: Dec 2007

Posts: 1,125

Likes: 22

From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: Add Lighting

Quote:

Deer is alongside road and about cross. More lights would "penetrate" further and give me some more reaction time.
(not for squeamish) Deer has been hit, dead, but not beaten into a run-over-able stain. More lights give me better indication of something in the road to evade.

No matter what aux lighting you put on you will need to do a little DOT illegal wiring to run more than just a highbeam. Aux lights are not supposed to function w/the highbeam on. Make sure you have a friend at your inspection station.
Deer in VT like to stand on the corners & wait to cross when you are nearly on them. It really sucks to slow down but "don't outrun your highbeam" is about all you can do.
Dead critters are the worst, their eyes don't glow & they sometimes blend in with thefrostheaves. The biggest critter I've hit was a groundhog, straight on, not in a corner, thank God for that! The scariest critters are moose and bear, both are bigger & heavier than us Sportsters.