Re: One or two beams at a time

["Neil Lindsey" <neil@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Tim -- You're right that there are even more things to consider than just
whether the headlights works together or independantly, but for the purposes
of this discussion, I'm ignoring the additional differences that exist for
countries where you drive on the opposite side of the road.

I understand that in the US, the headlights are configured to work
independantly for Y2K bikes, and that by adding a couple of relays they can
be re-configured to work as one.  If they work as one, as mine do now, AND
the lenses are known to be different from each other (as mine are), then it
would seem to follow that the way the light is dispersed is a different for
one lens vs the other (and this could apply to both low and high beams too).

To me it seems logical to assume that IF the same lenses are now being used
on Y2K bikes in the U.S. and in Canada, that there has to be something
missing in terms of light coverage if only one lens is on at a time.
Conversely, if Y2K U.S. bikes use different lenses than in Canada, then
adding the relays alone would not provide a satisfactory solution.  To get
the right light dispersion for low- and high-beam use, you'd need to use the
same lenses as are currently used in Canada wouldn't you?  And your
headlights might also require re-aiming too.

I'm not worried about my own setup since it is a '99, and particularly since
I believe my headlights work as Triumph originally intended.  The topic was
brought up because the lens differences were mentioned in a previous post
(and not by me).  I haven't heard if ALL ST's have the same 2 lenses
installed.  In particular I'd like to know about the lenses on Y2K U.S.
bikes.  If they are the same pair as being used here, then further
discussion would seem warranted.  And I suppose, for completeness, it would
be nice to know what lenses are being used on Y2K Canadian bikes too.

For what it's worth the left headlight lens on my '99 ST seems to have part
number 90-1095L-L and the right headlight bears the number 90-1095L-R.  If
these are NOT the numbers found on Y2K ST's in the U.S. then this could
indicate that getting your headlights to work togther properly involves more
than just the addition of 2 relays.

Whew, my apologies.  That was far too long-winded, but I wanted to make sure
there was a point to all this.

Neil


- ----- Original Message -----
From: Leatherbiker
To: ST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: June 7, 2000 1:40 PM
Subject: Re: One or two beams at a time


Without getting too bogged down, I was told by my first Triumph dealer in
Denmark (while I was living there) that all bikes imported into Denmark had
to be modified, particularly bikes from England, as we drive on the left,
they on the right. It had something to do with the light casting its beam
too far to the left for right-side drivers. My guess is - and I could be
wrong - that bikes are supplied "as is" or standard from the factory and
then modified by the dealers or distributors/importers after reaching the
country of import.
I believe the same thing goes for speed-modifing widgets in Sweden and
possibly also speedometers, as UK manufacturers were quite slow to put kph
on their speedos in addition mph - but I could be wrong.
I would suggest contacting the principal importer (or one of them) and
asking them what, if anything, they actually do before selling the bikes
onto the dealers.

Tim


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