Headlight characteristics

[CB77_imp]

hello all. newly registered here, contemplating buying a new bike ( CB1100 DLX, ) after taxes are done. please comment on qualities, power, brightness, etc. of CB1100 night time illumination. ever since i began riding back in the day i've loved night time riding out in the boondocks, hills, mountains, anywhere away from traffic.

[Randy B]

It is decent, but I bought a brighter bulb and feel better for it.

[rboe]

I've ridden at night in the city so your question took me by surprise. I had no idea what to think about its' lighting skills.

Back in Minnesota, on my 550Ltd I installed a 100watt high beam H4, lit up the entire road and the ditches (for deer). Illegal as all get out, but you really wouldn't get busted unless you were a jerk and didn't dim your lights.

I don't ride at night, in the country side like I used to so I have not felt a need to upgrade the bulb. But with wild turkeys a risk in the bay area LED secondary lights should be considered too. Be mindful of the limits of our stator.

And welcome to our little cozy forum.

[CB77_imp]

thnx for replies. the particular reason i asked is 'cause i test drove a new Interceptor ( daytime only, though, ) which is in contention with the big CB. i was informed it has an extremely powerful, bright, headlight but that claim is difficult to evaluate in the middle of the day. i dig UJM type bikes, although i've owned an/or driven many others, japanese, spanish, english.

[the Ferret]

Welcome to the forum. Several of our members own both the VFR and the CB.

Personally I can't vouch for the CB headlight, don't ride much after dark anymore. Too country curvy, where I live, with woods on both sides of the road and deer are way too thick. Maybe if it had the adaptive headlight of the new BMW's.

Now that I think about, I used to love bombing around at night when I was young. Dang deer.

[DAC]

I had a box stock VFR (6th gen) and the headlights were great. Not much of a night rider but even in the day those beams made me more visible. The bigger issue for me is riding position. The CB is way more comfy for longer rides.

[CB77_imp]

thanks, good info. 'till i was a sophomore at college a bike was all i had, 365 x 24/7, so all-weather & night riding was as normal as any other, though not always 100% enjoyable. did some lite bike camping, too, which usually entails some night riding out in the boonies. i love it, it's a neat feeling when you pull over for a minute somewhere kind of remote - just you, the instrument lights, engine quietly idling. remove helmet, let the moment soak in, then you're off again. feels just the same now as when i was nineteen - how many things like that are there, ha, ha? it's okay with a friend on another bike, too.

[ClassicVW_imp]

Like ferret, by choice, I don't ride much in the dark so I can't speak to the CB's actual headlight performance on dark country roads, but even if you feel the headlight needs some help, a couple hundred bucks for adding a set of Denali lights is a good investment, and probably not the most expensive farkle you'll buy!

[flynrider]

I'm not a fan of the CB11's headlight. I think the headlight on my CB750 is a lot better. The CB11's light is plenty bright, but the lens design causes the illumination to end abruptly, about 20 ft. in front of the bike. It's like a solid line, bright up to that point and pitch dark beyond it. By contrast, my CB750s light kind of tapers off into the distance. It's not as bright, but it is much more effective when riding at speed in the dark.

I'm currently thinking of getting a pair of auxiliary lights and mounting them to my crash bars.

[NightRider_imp]

Quote:I'm currently thinking of getting a pair of auxiliary lights and mounting them to my crash bars.
I like that solution.