Poor headlight on main beam

[ajg1967]

I got an NTV 650 as a winter bike in October. Its a great little bike but I have found the headlight is not much use on main beam. Dipped beam is fine but main beam is nowhere near as good as my previous winter bike (GPz 305) or my other bike (VMax). I find myself using dipped more on unlit roads as I can see the road better than with main beam.
I am assuming it is correctly alligned as I had the bike MOT'd when I got it and the headlight was like this straight after passing the MOT.
I have tried replacing the bulb with a Xenon bulb which is meant to give up to 90% more brightness but this didn't help much.
Do these bikes generally have poor headlights? Is there something else I can try to improve it?

[Jake]

Jan 23, 2011 16:54:06 GMT -5 ajg1967 said:

Do these bikes generally have poor headlights? Is there something else I can try to improve it?

The only option left it would seem, is to buy
a new headlight unit from CMS or David Silver
(see part 10 in the link below). The part number
is 33120MK4700.

www.cmsnl.com/honda-ntv650-revere-1995-englandmkh_model3772/partslist/F__0100.html

But check with David Silver beforehand to confirm
that it's the right part for your bike. If it is, then
good news.... because it's only £22 which I think
is pretty reasonable.

www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/parts/by-part-number/

It depends on the age of the bike and hence the
age of the headlight unit, because sometimes the
reflector (or silvered finish) can degrade and it may
rub off if you try to clean it.....

This happened to me when I first bought the bike,
and I had to buy a new headlight.

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On the subject of bulbs I normally use Osram
“Silverstar” H4 which are excellent...

www.consumabulbs.com/files/bdet.php?id=109

But I notice that Osram now make a bulb called
"H4 Night Racer Motorbike Bulbs".

www.consumabulbs.com/files/bdet.php?id=841

[ajg1967]

Thanks for the advice and all the links. I've ordered the part from Dave Silvers, came to £33 by the time VAT and postage was added on but still quite reasonable if it solves the problem.

[Jake]

Jan 24, 2011 8:16:24 GMT -5 ajg1967 said:

Thanks for the advice and all the links. I've ordered the part from Dave Silvers, came to £33 by the time VAT and postage was added on but still quite reasonable if it solves the problem.

Yeah...I thought £22 sounded too good to be true.

By the way, when you're fitting the new part,
watch out for the tiny phillips screw at the
9 o'clock position on the headlight rim.....

This screw is used to adjust the horizontal aim
of the headlight so that if need be, you can
illuminate the left hand side of the road.

If memory serves, this screw is also attached to
a tiny internal spring. The point is, that both screw
and spring can be easily lost when you're dismantling.
I speak from experiance.....so watch out.

[professore]

I went for a long night time motorway trip a few weeks ago on a wet windy evening (I know not the best idea). The full beam was fantastic - better than my car in fact.