When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I was reading about various headlights that can be added to touring bikes and someone dropped in a brilliant suggestion that can be made to the stock headlight to dial up the brightness. It entails the removal of that cone that sits right in front of the bulb. All you do is remove the headlight bucket and unscrew the post that holds this cup. If I recall this same piece is also where the spring that holds the bulb attaches to so you can't just take this piece out, rather you need to cut the post about half way between were it mounts and the cone. I just used a marker so that when I hit this with the dremel the cut would follow the line of the headlight dish.
Here is a photo with the cup removed:
Right below the bulb you can see where the post that held the cone was cut.
While I don't ride much at night, it is definitely seems to be brighter and the cost $0.
I'm interested to know the precise purpose of the 'cone' and it's design as well. It must be designed to effect some purpose.
The fact it exists makes it a part of the production cost -- so why the expense if there's no purpose?
Inquiring minds want to ............
That said, thanks for the experiment; on my list until there is justification to leave well enough alone....
I thought I read somewhere the auto headlights needed to illuminate the area up and to the right of the road make road signs visible. I wonder if the cone is designed to direct some of the light there?
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.